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Hi Everyone,
Hope everything at home is good. Things are great here!!! And they are about to get even better, as I have 7 days off due to National Holiday!!! This is the anniversary of Mao's Republic of China. I am warned that Beijing gets crazy busy around this time, as its not just schools have the week off - its almost every worker in China! To make it even more enjoyable, just got paid yesterday for the whole months work (we get paid in cash here) annoyingly, I have no bank account so I feel a little bit vulnerable having so much money in my posession.
I am pleased to report that I haven't lost anymore keys or wallets, I do however have a broken computer (again)- it doesn't even turn on :( I was trying to get on facebook (another way this time) and it gave me another virus~! Bloody facebook. lol. I have for the last week had only the school computer to work on - which is rather annoyingly all in Chinese!!!! Meaning that you often have to make educated guesses in using word and powerpoint - I am beginning to recognise the chinese for paste and copy very well. haha!! Although it does keep writing my words in Chinese, as I have to press enter after every word to make it English :S haha..
SCHOOL: The children toke their tests this week, and they did well. I'm not sure I condon young children doing so many tests, but their parents like them. In fact the principal told us to make sure they all try and achieve over 80%... which is very difficult when you have children who dont speak any English, let alone write or read English!! :S but anywho..
The education in China is very different to that of England.. children are expected to be in school from 7.20 till 5.30 and their day is very regimented. I have been told by many that this continues even in Chinese universities - where they are given strict curfews!! Very different from the UK. Relationships between girls and boys are strictly banned, as it is seen as getting in the way of your studies.. you are permitted to have a boyfriend / girlfriend after you finish education :s. They are very strict about this, one of the teachers last year was reprimanded for using the word "girlfriend" in one of his lessons. Watching pornography is also very strictly prohibited and they often tell the 16-18 year old boarding students at our school that they will be expelled if they watch porn or have an "innappropriate relationship with a member of the opposite sex".
Pat Black from Bath SPa University asked who the principal of the school was - his name is Mr Wan, a hilarious ancient old man who doesn't speak any English, and the owner of the school is the communist leader's sister - apparently she is a very overweight woman, who visits once a year - to collect the money!!! I have no dealings with the owner, or the principal - who speak no English - I deal with his vice principal Hannah, who is the one telling me that I'm doing a great job! bless her.
My teaching assistants are also very complimentary - and one of them named Clarissa decided to film me (without my knowledge) in my last lesson whilst I was teaching the kids "I am the music man...". I get really into this song, and the kids love it - but it does send them a little crazy!! I try and make it funny for them, so I often make myself look like an idiot! haha!!
SHOPPING: After recently being paid, I have decided that I need to make the most of the amazing shopping opportunities in China! So today, I went shopping with Katie, her boyfriend (who is visiting from the UK) and Matt. We went on a mission for cheap Ipones. They sold everything in this underground market, Iphones, Ipads etc etc.. They had fake Iphone 5's for 30 quid... but they looked really bad. Matt did however buy a PSP and I bought some GHD'S, so we were happy.
DRINK: The drinks here are just as bizare as the food!!! I keep accidently ordering random soft drinks, thinking - how bad can it be?! and they come out producing a drink with peas floating in it - or in one case - beef !! All I wanted was a coke! haha. The alcohol on the other hand is equally as interesting!! It is so cheap, you can buy huge plastic bottles of Chinese spirit named Bai-jo (similar to strong vodka) for about 2 pounds. This has evidently been my downfall this week :( Everything here is so cheap, cigarettes are about 50p a box, and the bus I get into work (25 minute bus ride) costs 4p!
FIGHT NIGHT: I live in a really nice area, everyone is so friendly and we stop and have a drink most nights in the courtyard and attempt to talk to locals.!! They laugh at our attempts and everyone is happy!!! However, last week it all kicked off!! A group of local old men were playing a game similar to chess and (not sure what happened exactly) but a huge verbal fight kicked off. Me, Cody and Matt just happened to be walking past at the time.. and felt a little awkward staring as 7 old men were shouting at each other, until we realised that they had an audience of about 30 people just standing and watching!! We decided to join them! It was rather fun to watch actually, having no knowledge of what they were saying - but noting the passion behind each word... Matt decided to film it using his iPhone and unfortunately missed the best moment, when an old man jumped down 8 steps from his apartment (ninga stylee) to join in the action. Using my rough knowledge of Chinese I was able to pick out a couple of words... "2" "daughter" and "bulls***". hahahahaha!!
NIGHTLIFE: This weekend was epic!! It all started relatively innocently, drinks in the picturesque area of Hou Hai, a bar area based around a lake! However it ended when Mark (a canadian who is fluent in Chinese) got annoyed with the price of alcohol and decided to tell all of the bar staff that they were a******s... this led to a caffuffle outside the bar.. as I dragged Mark away! We decided we were better off in Sanlitun - the western night life area that we regularly frequent.. and we stayed there till 6 in the morning instead. I ended up coming away with not only some great pictures, but also food or alcohol poisoining - (?) and threw up repeatedly for 12 hours afterwards :( Not a great way to start the National Holiday! haha
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