Some more pics and explanations2006 09 26

Just a few comments on these pictures.

The three wheeled blue trucks are everywhere..and some have four. But they carry everthing. I thought that they might be government trucks but haven't found anything definitive yet.

Buggered up an sent one of these already so I will go and delete the first one.

Notice the motorcycle. The helmet is optional....many do not wear them. The bike is seen all over too. All sizes, colors, styles and drivers. The motorcycle with the carrier at the back....that too is seen regularly. This one just pulled into the market as if it should be there. And you just walk around it. The guy with the big load actually forced the bus to slow down almost to a stop but the driver of the bus was blasting on his horn...the size of the fellow's haul is not unusual and it is a pedal bike....I have seen many piled higher than this. Looks like a fairly old guy too.

Terry Fox run with Mike and I ...the two hairless joined at the head twins. 4 of our staff trying in my hats. We were the hit of the run....tattooed with maple leafs, Terry Fox tattoos and generally having a good time. One student actually filmed me with his camera dancing to the beat of 3 girls on stage who were trying to get the crowd going. he posted it to the internet and told me that I was now world famous.....as if I didn't know that already.

We got paid yesterday. Just in time for the trips of the National Holiday in China. Most are going away somewhere. Even the kids do. Will be spending some of the money on a few items that I have found that are fairly cheap....according to our standards...golf clubs, bikes, some electronic stuff....we'll see how far it goes.

Had a very frustrating day at school as the students didn't know the first thing about conducting a simple survey of students in their class. The language barrier really begins to show some times. I have to find a way to stop them from speaking so much Chinese.

Others are finding out the same thing. They go to classes so late that some fall asleep in class. We are told to mark them absent...and let student services deal with them. Don gave a LCD presentation and had 13 of them fall asleep....that is the record so far...beating the 8 of his wife a few periods earlier...like I said....different. Have one student in GRADE 11 who is so far advanced, he has his calculus mastered, is reading about Karl Marx and wants to talk about Aboriginal rights in North America...he is doing a power point presentation on the Martin Luther King Jr. "I have a Dream" speech. It took hime one day to do the research and set it up...Christ he could be teaching my classes....just a brilliant kid..... the smartest I have ever encountered....
I am trying to see if he can skip the 12 and get accepted into university as an exceptional student.....kind of funny too because he tips his glasses so he can see the board but doesn't want to buy new ones because he is afraid his dad will worry about his eyesight...go figure.

Enough talk to you before I head out to Mongolia...if I have finished correcting all the test and stuff.

This week was 2 hours 2006 09 23

I put in several shots of the other side of China. The bottom one here reminded me of the old guys at the post office or pool room shooting the breeze. They were tickled that I would take their picture..I showed it to them afterrwards..even said hello...that's the total of English.

The old lady would not raise her head long enough for me to take her picture. Through the day I think trucks would come and dump loads of corn on the roadway. It looks like her job was to shuck them and leave them to dry. The drying corn is just left on the highway and is on the roadway. She did raise her head to smile and show some missing teeth. An old wisened veteran of the farm.

The first one was of three younger guys all sipping on beer in mid day of Sunday...not a care in the world and I am not even sure what or if they were selling anything. You could tell that they were saying something about the silly bugger taking pictures becasue the folks around them were having a good laugh...the old guy...notice his bike.....millions like that....and some even worse shape ...actually that is good...the guys all seated are playing a form of Chinese chess I think. Couldn't make heads or tails out of it and again some comments about me I am sure ...the guy waving is the guy I bought peanuts from at the farmer's market close to here....smiling all the time..only words.....Hello but they knew how to weigh and were able to tell you how much to pay for their stuff.

Will load up another load of pictures for some transportation ideas....

Terry Fox run in Beijing had about 20,000 people I think...400 from our school.....in front of Workers Stadium....massive place....want to get inside sometime to see what it is like..... 400 from our school. Very hot and humid...I ran it as part of my training...needed some water....at the end....and luckily it was there. apparently they ran out so the first ones in got the water. Had some funny hats...I'll include pictures in the next blog...... so may have been on China TV as they were out shooting for the tv...Riders temporary tattoo on one side of face maple leaf on the other and also on the back of my now bald head.....quite a site to behold....fun time...kids were good..on our way back to the restaurant...about 1 and 1/2 hours walk.....we didn't take any money for a cab as we were told it was about a 10 minute walk....Bob told me ..last week it was you Croc everybody was looking at....now it is your bald head....what's next?

Hope to get our first pay cheque this week but apparently not everything runs on time here. May just blow the whole damn thing on stuff.....

Next week we are off to Mongolia for a couple of days. ......Bob is being smart...he's heading to China's version of Hawaii..where it is warm

A couple of kids were throwing around a football today so I went over and started playing.....we may get some touch or flag football going as they seem keen on it.

Spent about two hours talking to Jennifer and Mark on SKYPE....a computer program that allows you to talk to people around the world..and it is free...at least for now.....if you happen to have a Skype phone number, let me know and I will phone you some time......like in the middle of the night....hahahaha....Mark even had his webcam on so was able to see the whole family...Jaxon even sang the Eagles song ...There's a Whole in the World Tonight...for me.....before he crashed.....Mark's looking into a piece of machinery that will allow me to see some CFL football...if not live at least on some sort of delay....last week we watched some NFL game that had been sent to Kris's computer and we projected it onto the wall and it was like being at a drive in......we knew the results but it didn't really matter.....I am not a big fan of the NFL anyway...the others are as there is no team out there so they may have loyalties to some of the Eastern US teams

Merle Davies and Vi Antoniuk may be coming here in the February break...I will be able to show them around....and maybe not get too lost.....but I think I would like to go to a warm place for a week or so....maybe Thailand of Vietnam or Cambodia.....the folks here seem to know where to go...I'll just be a tagalong type

Went to a restauarant on Friday...with Don and Eve after we had scouted out the Silk Market again...We were the centre of attention...we had some sort of Fondue dealie that we were supposed to use....steam pots or something and I was trying to eat the stuff that was in there for seasoning....a good laugh......the waiter gave Don a fork because he was having so much trouble with his chopsticks....they gave us all bibs.....they showed us what to do and we were having ahoot...even the chefs came out to watch and talk....the kids were even watching.....the waitress....actually we had 3 of them waiting on us...gave me her Aunt's phone number.....I am not sure if it was the bald head or not...Don said he liked my pickup line.....I'll teach you English if you teach me Chinese....

Bob and I are going to shave each other...Bob needs the hair on his neck cleared off and I will need my head kept clean shaven..aerodynamic for the marathon...he even has the shaving cream....something I asked Jay to send in a care package.

Spent a couple of hours today trying to get ready for next week teaching....would have liked to go to Tianamen Square again as it is getting ready for their National Day and it is decorated to the hilt I guess. May do that on Friday if I get some time. Will see.

Better go now and at least shave my face so that I look half presentable tomorrow.

Don't be afraid to email or send comments. It is always nice to hear from you....and find what is going on in your life too.

Bald and in Beijing

Mansions

Just wanted to show you a couple of the houses...mansions that are a stones throw away from us. I jogged over there to take these pictures. Many of them are uninhabited and still are gorgeous. all of them are walled. This would be an opportunity to have a terrific place to stay...no I don't know how much they cost but I will try to find out. The armed guard wasn't much of a guard but he was nice so I took his photo. The top middle picture has two men sitting on the roof. I thought they were putting it on...went to the other side and there were about 10 of them and they were actually taking the tiles off!!!! Don't know why. But they were looking rather strangely at me as I walked around taking pictures.

I think you would have to have some money to live here. There were some two car garages..western style sprinklers even...I think one would have to employ at gardener to keep up the yard....many very posh.

Just a couple of bald guys

Three teachers allowed themselves to be shave for the Terry Fox fundraising here. I am not sure about this but with my runs in the morning I don't quite sweat as much as before. That is about it for tonight but ENJOY and have a laugh or two...this should get some comments!!!

Some pics

I don't know where the pictures go...it syas that they are being uploaded and then i check and they are't ...what's up with that.....ONE MORE ATTEMPT. Nope I give up that was all that I could muster.Enjoy the 5 I had about 15 that I tried to get on Kind of maddening.S


Above is Bob and part of my finger...it gets in the picture a few times, and part of the skyline of the city. This goes on for miles....and kilometers too...the state sets the price that people can charge for the rent...
Thought I would be really smart and load up like 20 Pictures...well I tried only got these 4 ....don't know where the others went. These are all of Tianamen square....a fairly big place. Nothing more to add...I shall return to also see the Summer Palace. Notice the little tike there....flag in hand.

We had a couple of girls come up to us just to talk and to work on their English skills. They stayed around for a about 15 minutes.....Bob has his in tow behind him.
This is the Summer Palace and we did not go there. This was the only really big picture of Mao that I have seen. I think that they are really downplaying his influence on the Chinese way of life.
The Chinese guard..I think...something like the
Mounties...people want to have their picture taken with them...then they walk to another spot.

China 2006 14-16

Ok, so now I know how to load some pictures, the ne part is how do I move them around so that I have them where I am talking about them and how can I load them off MY camera .

Well I am trying to master some of these techniques on the fly so to speak.

There are a couple of interesting shots. The wall shot shows Mongolia to the right and China to the left. I am not sure why you need a wall to stop the hordes....seems like the terrain would do that. Another shot is that of us on the bus...I was at the back...toke westerner...not really....Another is of downtown Beijing... and this is just a miniscule portion of what it is like...I will try to get more. The other one was at the Bamboo hotel...the inner part...but there were about 4 areas like this...including a waterfall

Wednesdy was a staff meeting and we were taken by cab to Tuanli to a Muslim restaurant for supper. I will get some shots of our "staff meeting" as we got a little boisterous....Mark got far too boisterous drinking somethng call Pijou...hard liquor...and he was hurting the next day...apparently you are not supposed to mix beer and this and he did... We found out the next day that we were eating lamb's testicles and some other delicacies. Several of the women say they are now going vegetarian....actually they tasted quite good....you speared them with toothpicks....not sure what the stuff was that was on the shish kabob sticks but I am sure someone will get all the details and I will pass it on.

Thursday evening was a joint staff meeting with the Chinese teachers and interns and the Canadian staff and it was expected that you were to be there. I was late as I was preparing those Friday exams I will tell you about. It was Karaoke and apparently will be that. Only one of our staff got up....and did reasonably well. We have decided that next time...mid November we are going to do the YMCA and really do it up well...practices and all. It was interesting about 5 minutes before 10 a lady came on and said something and then there was some modern music....well, all the younger set were up and dancing to it....a middle aged man comes up behind me and tries to get me to go but I resist...finally I drag him up with me....it was a bit of a riot and we were dancing...then 10 o'clock, the light go on full bore and you are whisked out and I mean whisked.....the tables are cleared in about 5 minutes, and almost everyone is gone......done.

Friday was an uneventful day as it was test day for the students. Unit 4 for the 11s and I don't know what for the others. Anyway I have about 140 4 page tests to correct and idiot that I am, I have included some writing that I will have to read...funny how English should be about reading and writing and yet apparently, others make up multiple guess and fill in the blanks and matching to evaluate it. Maybe changes are coming for me.

Lesson plans have to be created on Friday so that we are sort of justifying our positions and perhaps giving someone something to do......Anyway, a bus is charted every Friday for the staff to take into but not out of Beijing. I drop off some laundry 5 shirts and 2 pairs of pants to dryclean....cost about 40 yuan....7 dollars

Stopped by Starbucks in the China World Trade Centre. Girls got theres and Chris and I wandered around. We found all the expensive places to shop. Apparently some don't even put price tags on the stuff because it would offend people who have the money to pay whatever they want. The Louis Vitton store even has guards and about 12 guys around the store. It is vulgar the richness of the place and how much money some people have and can throw away. This is truly the upper class area. ...The centre has a small hockey arena as well. Chris and i found it and then tried to get back by another route...lost...return the old way....best Idea.

My troop of cohorts who are going to Inner Mongolia had to go and pay for our escapade. Took us over and hour to find the place...I knew where it was but was not told the place it was near...I know where the Gloria Plaza is but that was only in the last couple of directions so we walked almost around a kilometre of block to almost get back to where we started...life is an adventure... Found our travel agency and paid out fare. In order to save some fare I guess I get to share a room with Jennifer and Angela...or Chris and Grace...as well as sharing a room on the train...they say they will flip and the loser gets to take me...hahahaha

Should be interesting...I will be able to run in the Gobi desert...It is all inclusive....don't know what the food will be like .....includes overnight train ride there and back, one night in a Yurt ...Mongolian sleeping quarters....one night in a hotel....trip into the Gobi desert....some entertainment....but not the camel rides or sand sliding...supposed to take some warm clothes as it get to 10 there...but apparently the wind can get up pretty good...just like in
Saskatchewan...

Left there and went to Pizza Hut along the main drag. The places are lit up like Niagara Falls. The food was almost exactly the same. Some smaller portions of things like garlic bread but the food was Western.

Went back to the Silk market where I got hosed and bought 3 shirts for 150 yuan...about 8 bucks apiece and 3 ties for about 1 dollar and 25 cents each. Will come back for the golf clubs after I get paid.

Bob and Mark went to a tailor in Tongzhou and were sized for a Tuxedo for the November Ball...and you thought I wasn't sophisticated...got a $1000 Tux for about $70 American. Again after payday, Don and I will be heading out to do the same thing...Can you get a Tux without tails????

Came back on the subway and then caught a taxi from the station to the centre. This was the best one so far. First of all, you negotiate the price..2 shr 20 yuan....then we get in the 2nd cab but he is not hanging around. He's off like a rocket...off onto the main and does a U turn right at the first intersection....ignoring completely the cars coming directly at us and it would have been me that would have been hit....no problem and we are off...and he just goes. We have a red light and we do stop ....for about 5 seconds..and then we take off...I look back at Angela and sy wasn't that a red light...yes....oh well....and we going like hell...passing just about everything....trucks, big, small, bikes, motorbikes, weaving in and out....we come to a traffic jam...aa truck to our fight is holding up traffice behind him and a couple of cars have pulled up beside him..our guy pulls out in front of these three lanes of traffic...almost nails a motorcyclist...mutters something under his breath...pulls in front of the truck and just nonchalantly keeps right on going.....down a road with no lights and a jeep coming right at us in our lane ...jeep pulls over alongside the truck it was passing...we pull over a little to the right and pass each other....all going fairly fast...miss about 6 people who are crossing at the end of a bridge....5 make it one stays on the right side...cut in front of two buses as we are making a left hand turn and down the road to our complex....miss a 3 wheeled bike with no back lights or any reflective material at all..miss a few more people and stop in front of out place.....I pay him, shake his hand and say thanks for the best ride ever....it was a hoot...this is better than at the exhibition... We go into the store, buy 4 beer ...take it to the Canadian Club by our residences, go upstairs for a pee and are heading back down to the Club when the two people from the other cab are coming up the stairs.... What Kept Ya? HAHA

We stay for a couple of beer at the Club, decide to have a Different Drinks night throughtout the winter and call it a night.

Went out for my jog this mornng...100 minutes...outside the compound...you really get to see stuff. About 5 minutes from here there are townhouse...just like you would see in Canada, and many of them are empty. Don't know why...I think they would definitely be expensive....garages, columns, neat rooflines, big picture window, detailing, yards with walls...amidst poverty......farmers drying their corn on the road....selling their produce from the roadside....interesting stuff...some places the stench of garbage....sewers......industry pollution....noise.

Got back and did my laundry and then decided to tackle the exams. 2 hours for 1 class and I have 4 of em. Oh well..get one done...come back and make lunch..hang up my clothes all aaround the room to dry out.......2nd done and it is about 5 o'clock...decide to go to the market to get some supplies.....buy a lid for our hotplate.....a pineapple...some apples....kiwis......bananas ( our staple)... some peanuts and some types of bread..no milk can't find the good stuff anyways....Go checking around back and see that the pigs that will probably be the meat tomorrow are outside the back of the butcher shop on the back of a three wheel bike.....you see everything...two little boys come up and smile at me and wonder what strange guy is this....even the adults do it.

Come back and find some milk ...still not sure if it is the right stuff...splurge on a chocolate bar and head back and make poached eggs on toast....go back to the office and finish the 3rd set...will do the rest tomorrow.....and then I work on this....hey Meghan and Romain phoned on Skype and we have talked for about 45 minutes....from the other side of the world and it is as clear as day and costs nothing....what technology.....

Time to sign off...I am eating my peanuts and they are not quality controlled ..I think some of them are more like sunflower seeds...

Angela and I are going for a massage tomorrow in TongZhou. I think it is about 5 bucks for a half hour and they hurt you real good.

Talk to you again

China 2006 09 14 or thereabouts

Ok these are somewhat
out of order. If I happen to include the same one twice, bear with me. Also last night I tried without success to get the stuff into the pictures but something I was doing was wrong. But at least there are some pictures. The first one here is of Angela Power and I at a dope smoking place and we as you can see are just gettiing into it. Actually, Angela is my office buddy, we share a desk area and she is the rookie and I am the old bugger. This was at the restaurant for Bob's birthday bash. Now this is still at the resatuarant and this is part of our crew. The mural is gorgeous. The food there was good and the atmosphere was terrific. AThe fellow in the white striped shirt is our fearless leader, Colin.
This is Darryl taking a fast trip down from the wall. The little jut out in the river valley is where you eventually land. There is only one harness going up and one coming back. When it goes by you , it feels that if it hit you it would take off your head. I could have walked but I thought that this was worth the time and effort. Besides, the first ones down got the best seats at the restarrant and got to start drinking beer and eating first.
AThis was the gang along the canal that Bob and Mark scouted out for us. In behind Bob, the guy with his hadns raised is a canal. There are paddle boats and other non mototized boats going up and down this canal, therea are candles floating in the river and there are tons of bars along the way that you can stop in and have a beer or two. From the looks of our crew we did not stop anywhere. Right.
And last but not least, this is my grandson, Jaxon on his third birthday. This was him with his new car. He was not sure about how to drive it. But he did say to his grandpa that he was hoping to get as many kilometres out of it as his grandpa got out of the Honda. YUKYUK It is at times like these and also when I talk to my friends and family in Canada that one begins to realize how precious life is.
Tonight we had a staff meeting at the restaurant in TongZhou. Our principal sprung this one on us. I think he is trying to ply us with booze and take advantage of us. From some talk, last year's group ws not the least bit as fun as this group. Our Theme song is going to be "Big Black Horse and the Cherry Tree....woooohoooo. Just to let you know that I do have some influence on them . Bob is going to send me some picture to show you what staff meetins should be like. We were not able to have lamb's testicles tonight so the boss will have to spring another meeting on us. I will try to get some others as well, pictures that is. Perhaps in a week or two I will have my new camera. they are about the same price.

I have decided to go to Inner Mongolia for the October holiday. I need to keep up my running and I will but this was a chance to say I have been to the Gobi desert and even run there. Alos, may get to ride a camel and do some sand sliding...sleep in a yurt?...all for about $250. About 5 days.

Jay , you should see the eyes turn as I wear my Crocs down the street. I think I could franchise them here. The people weren't even staring at me as much as at the shoes.

Ahhhh Saskatachewan......Ahhhh Canada

China 2006 09 12

Well folks a couple of pictures..this one is a real abnormality...Darryl actually pretending he is thinking. This was about 1/2 way up.

Had a couple of interesting things lately.

They have Teacher Day here. Students gave gifts to their teachers. I got a couple of cards. a hat, some candles and a little ornament to hang on the wall. Some got a gift of toilet paper and that is popular as it is a practical gift. Jennifer got some sort of musical instrument as she had mentioned that a brother liked playing music. A weird looking thing it is too. don't know what it is. Also they honour teachers with a dinner, and flowers are given to teachers who have five years at the College here.

More students are coming out in the morning for exercise. I notice them...many times paired up and studying....at 6:30..for them this is one of the outs to another college. Apparently about 200,000 write entrance exams for 40,000 seats at the universities. So what do the other 160, 000 or so do. Some try to get into universties around the world. Can you imagine...how hard you have to work and how good you have to be to be able to get in...amazing. That is why many of them study amost non-stop. Angela was showing me an article written by a girl who says that they turn out the lights to the dorms so some of them go into the stinky bathroom to coninue until late at night....amazing

Most of the teachers are leaving for the National holiday break the first week in October. 4 are going on a trip to Inner Mongolia...I would go there if it wasn't for my marathon...where do I train there....run in the Gobi Desert..but it is cheap.....about $250 for a 5 day all expense trip and that includes return on overnight trains.....still may go as it may only be a couple of nights off the running....have to decide by tomorrow. Bob is going to a tropical place as are another couple ...fun in the sun..I think I could go for that in the winter. Chinese New Year which we haven't found out when it is yet????

May stay around Beijing and just relax and mellow out....see the opera...go get hosed again at the Silk Market.....try to find out some sports venues.....Shanghai is having an F1 formula car race on the 30th of September but I think we are stuck here for a school function.

Found out that they don't turn on the heat in China until a certain day and that day is determined by someone unbeknownst to anyone it appears. No matter how cold it gets, this date is supposed to be the one when the heaters come on.....so you may be freezing but until this guy throws the switch, too bad.

Had roast leg of mutton last night...no it did not taste like chicken...even though I joked that it did. Ha popcorn tonight in the microwave...and guess what only one little spot of Chinese..not even any French on it. Speaking of which, two boys in my Grade 11, Class 10 want to learn a little every day so after class they come up and I am actually stunningly impressive with my knowledge of French.....Last night walked by the badminton building....cement floors just like Chaplin and was watching a guy play...he is a student....so this morning I asked him if he would like to play as I said I think we could have a good game. "So you think you are confident"....his reply. Seems like a challenge to me....I gues it is game on but maybe not until after the marathon. Some outdoor cement table tennis as well.

Getting a few more people on my Skype network so will be talking with all of Canada soon.

Had some extra classes added so my clear Wednesday afternooons are now not....

Have been keeping up with the news via CBC on the net, also Riderville, U of S Huskies...so not completely severing the ties.

Terry Fox run on the 23rd of September..students are raising $ so I have , along with a couple others volunteered to have our head shaved, one guy's goatee, one girl.... a few inches of her hair. Any Money raised will be matched by the owner of the college. I figure it will be cool running for the marathon..maybe will have to put some suntan lotion to stop the reflection....heck I am halfway bald anyway...guess I'll see what the next few years will look like as I continue my galloping receding hairline...may not send back many pictures of me for a while...

Tried to put a picture of Jaxon here and can't do it. Tried a couple of times no luck. I will start a new blog and just put some miscellaneous pictures on them.

Sow Zhung How

Finally some pictures..2006 09 11

Ok don't mess with some success..I have put on several pictures of the wall one at a time
They are in random order and are a little cloudy but that is what the day was like. Bob has some dandies aw well and I hope to be able to get some from him and put them on here as well I will try to become a better editor and maniputlate the pictures around so that the

captions match the pictures but suffice it to say that I am happy just to be aable to bet some of them on here. The golf one...was interesting as bob could have had a franchise for his clubs...lots of people wanted to take a picture of them golfing on the wall. he actually hit a ball into Mongolia. Mark Chapman and I made it to the top of the area you were allowed to go. The tower at the back used to be open to tourist but I guess that they lost a few so they closed that portion to tourists....fairly steep wouldn't you say.


Me looking over the great wall...to see if the hordes are here..I have tried to put several on at a time but got stuffed and so I will do it one at a time.But the typing may not correspond with the picture. I will learn soon enough.

Nice backpack..courtesy of Zone 3. Darry wore his jeans that day and dseated off about 20 poounds. Didn't have to jog taht night but did a little anyway.

Hope you have enjoyed the first live pictures from China..sounds like a CBC broadcast. I am going to get another camera asmine is eating batteries. Hope to get a little more expensive one and will be able to more easily put them on and edit them as well.

I will tell you how the first real day at school went in my next blog.

This is your roving photographer and reporter signing out.

I I am fishing around here now as I try to put pictures on here. The time warp is obvious to you. The first pictue is of the wall from a distance. My second picture on the Blog...this is Bob my room mate and preserver of life as I wend my way through China. This was us at the restaurant at the Bamboo Hotel for his birthday bash. Angela Power, my desk companion in the office is sitting beside him. Some more will be coming but I am not sure in what order. Just be patient with the techno-idiot. Thanks

China 2006 09 10

Well the first week was done and we all survived....some alittle batterd and bruised but all alive an kicking. Many of us ate over at the Chinese Restaurant....oh, I think they may be almost all Chinese restaurants!!!!

We also let our hair down a little at the room called the Canadian club. We listened to some music and had a few beers tring to come down after the first week. It was good.

Well, I guess it was too good ...I missed my morning run. Oh well 5:30 comes too early anyway. Had some breakfast...yogurt and Sugar Pops...I think I'm done after another 2 feeds. Geez

Bob and I decided to go into Beijing in the afternoon and go to Tianamen Square. I wanted to go by bus and Bob wanted to go by taxi. I won because I wanted to know how to get back and forth...and a little more cheaply. Also wanted to NOT GET LOST this time. Don and Eve came in with us. We missed our drop off but were able to get back.

Ate brunch the rest of the Canadians at Pauls. I had a Club Sandwich..equivalent cost to Canada.

The pm, we headed over...This week ..I promise pictures but I am working hard on lessons and correcting. Was avery large square...all of chaplin could be held in it. Interestingly, it was the 30th anniversary of the death of Mao and there were 1000's of people streaming through the museum..the were backed up for about 750 metres....4 across. And that hardly scratched the surface of the square. They are getting ready for National Day..Oct 1 and are constructing all sorts of stuff for placards, banners and advertising..speeches etc Four museums and the Summer Palace and we did not go into the palace. Bob has some awesome pictures and I will see if he can send me some for me to put in here. One interesting phots...Bob said that some of the indentations that I noticed on the cement blocks were not just indentations but perhaps bullet "divots". If you read about the history of some protests on the square you might realize why. We took the subway there and back. I think I could have walked...this is the start of the marathon so I think I will be testing that out before.

Picked up some groceries at the Friendship Store. Heck..splurged and bought some steak..2 Big Turk bars ....whole milk...cooking oil...orange juice. Stopped by the market after being dropped off....I chose the right bus this time and made the exchange and everything...bought 12 eggs, a cantelope, bananas, and some Chinese form of Bagels

Got up early and did my run...90 minutes...45 into Tongzhou and 45 back. It was chilly this am and I almost thought I should be wearing my running jacket. By the time I got back it was ok.

Spent the rest of the day at the centre trying to prepare for tomorrow. Was listening to musci about 45% of the time. They give some outlines of what to do...but you know me,I have to put some personal touches...Herman cartoons, music...hey Jay, I even used Keith Urban...Who Wouldn't Wanna Be Me as part of a Health theme topic...go figure...mental health..

John Regier, the fellow who I stayed with in Moncton, has moved back to Ontario and he phoned me on Skype and we chatted for about 45 minutes. He had some interesting experiences at the house he stayed in after Dales...husband was a pimp....wife ran the brothel...last straw....was the guy bought himself a gun....John figured it was time for a change of scenery...and you guys thought I had an exciting life. He's still wting his books and we promised to keep in touch. With the Skype it is quite easy.

I am still at the centre and it is 8:00 but I am just listening to music and doing this. Two Chinese students just came in and brought a flower and a package of throat lozenges and said it was thanks for Teacher Week or day I am not sure.

SWEEEEET

Some images from the weekend...traffic in Beijing just seems to be ongoing. Saw another fender bender and it didn't seem to impress the lady who was run into...night comes early...apparently there was a wife beating outside the compound and several people just stood around....this is a middle class area...we live in a walled compound inside a walled compound. There is security for that...the market is for all the rest and I am sure that this is not the real poor.....there is garbage and plastic bags strewn along the open roadways and the smells can sometimes be overwhelming.......in the market area someone always cleans up and there seems to be always someone with the 3 wheeled bikes cleaing up....hundreds of old people always out walking...strolling bike riding...got the thumbs up from a couple of people while I was out for my run....sky has been blue for severals days.....contruction or destruction almost continual...there seems to be no day of rest so to speak...just keep on working....will stand at a corner and shoot a whole "roll" of film just to show the different aspects of life here and the constant change and flow....saw one fellow who I think, his job was to clean out the manhole and its contents....can you imagine...he used a long scoop to lift the stuff out and put it in a bucket...just ran by him...didn't stay long enough to find out what was done....firecrackers in the afternoon announced the arrival of a newly married couple to what looked like a reception in our restaurant area....lots of dogs here....I think a show of some sort of wealth....

This week may get a webcam so that you guys can see how much weight I am losing. Had a good chat with Mark and Tammy. Saw Jax and Jada too. Hey, maybe I can watch football by pinting the webcam on the TV and I will dial up and watch. It will work for Friday and Saturday games but not for Sunday as I will be teaching when they are playing.

Zai Jian from China

Hi Dar
I don't know what I'm doing but I got on. Hopefully this gets to you and doesn't sit in space. I was very happy to hear from you last night. Haven't guite read all your bog but it sounds very different!! I will download skype and get Tony to pick me up the headphone etc. Am going to Cranbrook with Shelley tomorrow and will be back Sunday. Then I hope to head for Mom's on Tues or Wed. Am planning on getting together with Jenn and Marina if all goes well. Let me know if this message works.
Love Jan

China 2006 09 07

A fairly normal day. Got up at 5;00 and did my Yazoo 800 for the marathon. 80 minutes of off and on hardrunning. I was sweating a lot and thhe T shirt was so heavy that it was rubbing n my nipples and it was a little tough. Do I need a jogging bra? In some marathons, some guys eeven tape bandaids over themso that there is no arubbing.

One of the students (Echo -they choose their English names) came out to talk while jogging. She was surprised at how fast I was frunning so only kept up with me , and having a tough times with it, when I was on my slow cycle.

We were working on calendars and had the students put important dates so that they can be more organized . Used the rider's football game days as important days as well as the Terry Fox run and Mark's birthday. Students had a good laugh.

Phoned mom and Jan this morning using Skype, something that we all can do so that we can talk without paying anthing. All you need is a computer and headphones with a microphone. If you want, you can actually phone a land line for some money...takes a credit card and some navigating on the internet.

Signed up for a Thanksgiving dinner on the Friday before and then may have another one on the Sunday at the Canadian club here at the school in Tuan Li.

Will be going in to Beijing again this Friday after classes. Not sure when we will return. Will try to decipher my way around so that I can get in there on the Friday or Saturday prior to the marathon to pick up my packet of goodies.

Take for granted things like hot water for the sink when you want to wash the dishes and have none...also in the bathroom, the same thing. Do you use the water froom the spout when you brush your teeth???? Buying milk at the local store...that is not only 500 mls and hardly lasts one meal...no such thing as a 4 litre container...having to buy water for just about everything you use..no stove ...but a microwave and hotplate...not being able to turn on a radio and getting news or music...making sure you go to the bathroom before you head to the classes so that you don't have to use the ones there...

Starting to know some of the names that are attached to faces. I had a taco syle brunch with eggs and peppers and some dough material with a sweet part of the middle. It is supposed to be very nutritional and also veing clogging.

I'm done for the evening.

Need to do some of the correcting before tomorrow.

China 2006 09 05 & 06

I am back

Missed a day as it was busy and we had a late meal and I was trying to get on Skype so that I could at least phone home. Losing that Cell phone really put a crimp into my communication with the outside world. I have lost all my phone numbers..birthdates and some email addresses...on my phone. Maybe someone could phone the number and see if anyone Chinese answers????

If you are reading this, you could comment and give me your phone numbers so that I could create a list. That way I can at least get soome contact with you.

My clas load will get bigger as we have chat rooms set up with the kids who want to talk with us to improve their English. They all want 90-100 maarks for their English.

I am trying to get to know the kids but I have about 145 of them in my 11-7, 11-8,11-9 and 11-10 levels. I think I get the highest loads...but what the heck. I am coping so far and hope to get into the meat of the subjects next week. Have had an assignment already due for this Friday.

Morning runs have been cooler and I actually saw the stars and the sun and the moon yesterday. I guess the wind blew out the pollution for a few days.

Now know that Sask is -2 hours and the opposite time of the day for example if it is 9:00 here, I subtract 2 hours and go to the opposite part of the day. I phoned Jennifer and it was 6:00 in the morning..a good morning wakeup call.

Went in to register for the marathon today....what a zoo..you think we have traffic and traffic problems...think again.....In and out of Beijing was a 3 hour adventure. I did see an accident. Trying to find my way is impossible...I need GPS and about 20 years to figure it all out. Have to go into Beijing on October 14 to get my registration package and then again on October for the actual run. I am actually looking forward to it.

Also had my first experience with a squatter.....a bathroom with no place to sit and you have to try to hit the hole while you squat. I guess your aim improves with experience. Also the paper does not go in the squatter as the system is not able to handle the paper. So the paper goes into a basket or some sort of receptacle. Interesting. I'll get a camera shot of one of them before.....

Also got stiffed today for the first time. A shirt I bought for about 400 yuan, could have been bought for 50....sucker.

Made poached eggs on toast tonight so that I could get away from Chinese food for a meal. We have purchased a hot plate with a pan. We can now whip up stuff in no time flat. We can get a lot of Western foods but it is a little more costly.

Spent a lot of time in the office working today. Don't know whether I accomplished too much but the time was put in anyway.

I think there is a bit of a party this weekend for those people who haven't had a birthday or won't have a birthday party over our year. I will go into Beijing by bus this time.

Tried to put some of my pictures but can't seem to find out where they went. If you find them, that would be a bonus.

TTFN

China 2006 09 04

First day.

Slept in but not for school....for my run...only got about 45 minutes in.

Flag raising ceremonies at 7:30 for the first day's festivities. After this we are not expected to attend. My classes...36,32, 34 and 33 students. The rooms are packed. In two rooms more kids that in Chaplin. And what a variety. They are allowed to choose and English names and there are some interesting ones. Of course the usual, John, Tom etc. But Nemo, Future, Sky, Green, Elemer, Arteste, Yoyo, Iverson...may take a few days to get used to them but I hope to have them memorized by Friday. Had an interest inventory and found out many love basketball, many are looking forward to travel and education overseas, many of the same interests as North American kids..music, videos.

Showed an "I Love Alberta Beef" sign and asked the kids to take a guess at what it was. They are reluctant to be wrong but I said you are allowed to make mistakes in my classroom...because that can be how we learn. Couple of interesting concepts.....I love eating beef....which I have chosen as the closest and will have to have a draw to see who wins..but I love Chicago Bulls, and the best was I love Saskatchewan Bull...do they know me or something. Had a good laugh over that one.

It will be a real challenge to keep some of these kids on track as their English is very poor and yet they are expected to perform to get into university. Many cannot understand the questions and I have said that they should only speak English in the classroom so that can be a real challenge. Impressed a couple with my ability to count to ten and say hello and good morning.

May stay in China forever if that is what it takes to make the Riders a winner. Nothing but W's since I left and convincing ones too. Was able to listen to some of the game over the internet Monday morning until classes started. No one knows who they are. Even put the Huskies web page up as a favourite so I can keep contact there.

May go into Beijing on Wednesday to register for the marathon. Colin has given me the ok to do so. Have downloaded all of my pictures from the camera to the computer so I will spend some time this weekend and try to get some of them on the blog. The party on the weekend can be seen at panjandrum.ca (I think). If not, I will get the right one. It is a comic website and shows some of the hysterics that a couple of the kids got into on birthday Bob's day.

No plans yet for the weekend.

Will get Bob to email me some of his photos and then will have a variety to choose from. Will email them so that if you want to have some they are available.

Tata from Tuan Li

China 2006 09 03

Morning run....80 minutes. I went outside the compound today and ran with the real world. Not too many people up at 5:30. It was dark. The guard was catching a few zzzzzz's so I let myself out. You really notice the poverty when you are up close. The pollution...the smells..the garbage all around. China does have some beautiful places but it surely is a country of contrasts. Wore a t shirt out on the run and it was soaked by the time I got back ...I will lose 20 lbs probably running in the marathon if I don't drink. Some day I will just go around and film the normal day in TuanLi. Terry Fox run is on Sept 19th so we will be tryint to raise some money for it by grades....I think they will be having Pizza nights.

Loads of building being built and or torn down. I am continually amazed at all the scaffolding that is used. Massive amounts and they are used for apartment buildings and bridges and stores. Even used for holding forms for cement

Got our teaching assignments and I have the largest classes in the Grade 11 English group. Total of 133 student in just my four class. Hell, in Chaplin that is almost 3 times the total school population. But that's ok. I hope to do a lot of good teaching. Also got my schedule and I have Monday morning first two classes as prep, Wednesday pm off completely and Friday only one class in afternoon at 1:30 -2:10. We'll see how that works.

Going to check out the rooms that I have for teaching so that I know where I am supposed to be when I am supposed to be and "got all my ducks in a row."

Will finish off later in the evening.

Bob's out golfing today.

Went over to the office and spent the whole day there trying to get my activities together I know that this will be a challenge all year but that's what you get the big bucks for doing. There are going to be a lot of levels that you have to try to reach.

Got my M and M's for the first class. They get a color and the colour represents a category ie Hobbies, Sports, Family...and the student must say something about it. A little incentive...Bribery?

Also will give a Sask pin away to the first student who properly pronounces Sask.

Lots of students here now. They are getting their books and administrivia dealt with. Tomorrow we have to be there for the flag raising at 7:30. I guess that is very important. So since we miss one class, we have to make it up on Thurs.

Bob said the golf was good. And fairly cheap. No carts but you have a caddy carry your clubs for the course. Plus, and Bob says this is a bonus, you can carry your own beer with you. We had supper together and will have enough for next meal as well.

So long to you from the Beijing Boy

China 2006 09 01& 2

Normal woring day at the office except that I am a little frustrated because I don't know the level of the kids and therefore do not know how to plan for the week ahead, Colin says the first 3 or 4 days are not going to seem very productive and that you may be talking alot and doing a lot of involving activities to try to get them to speak. So I'll muddle along until then

Shitty news. The tickets for the softball game came to Tongzhou (supposedly) , the deliverers could not find Beijing Concord College ( scary) and they said they phoned our celll phone (no trace of that). The phone call said after that, that they put them on genreal sale and of course they were snapped up. So we don't go.....what a pisser. Sounds like this is a common frustration from Kirsten and Mike. They said if we are able to get tickets to any playoffs...if we make it...they will go get them themselves. Sounds like a plan. Phoned the Canadian embassy and also emailed softaball Canada to see if they could get in contact with the teams here for any info ...hopefully.

Took the Bus into Beijing from the school. The only time I am late and the bus has to be on time. Usually I wait and the bus is about 10-15 minutes late. Didn't leave a great impression on all the Chinese teachers here. Oh well, that too will pass.

Celebrated Bob's birthday at a quaint and old and neat hotel in middle of Beijing....he bought the booze and we each paid for our meal. His theory about the buying was....the last two guys who held his former job as a police captain or whatever he was in the Halifax police force, never made it past their 54th so he said he would like to and do it in style. 16 of us celebrated and then 10 of us stayed at the hotel. About $40 Canadaian each...sharing...not bad for mid Beijing....and it had a head massage free of charge...more on that later.

Afer the meal Bob and Mark led 10 of us down to the bar district and we had several beers at several bars. Finally 3 of us shut the district down...all the Canadaians were gone anyway...at3:00 in the morning. Had to have the night guard..I think that 's who he was, let us in.

Good sleep...but I think I have caught a shitty virus if you know what I mean. Showered and went for our free head massage..Bob decides we should have the full treatment so we do. A full hour that really worked you over. Felt good. I think I will have one mid September and after the marathon. Have to get into Beijing to registerby Sept 22. The teachers here say they will come and seee me off and then be at the end to drink a toast ....I said if I make it.

Am on the social committee aa
long with Eve who already has everybody's birthdays and each room is going to have to host a party. I thinkI volunteered Bob and I to host a To Hell With Winter party sometime in January. Seems like a good group.

Tried to stay in Beijing with several people but couldn't stay as they were just sitting around sippint Starbucks Coffee. So I decided to take the bus ...on my own and start an adventure...and it was. Supposedly only one stop in Tongzhou ..not really I got off at the first stop and waited for 15 minutes for a 649 Bus ...no it wasn't lucky......then had to take a cab....cost me 30 rmb to go about a half an hours drive....less than $5....hell that's what the meters start at in Canada.....I can get lost anywhere! Bought some vitamin C and E...couldn't just get the C.

Finally have our fridge somewhat stocked and the initial desire to purchase is over. Oh, bought 3 Rolex watches. Also have taken some pictures and will learn how to put them on here as well as some of the others will be sending me some to put on.

Sucess... Bob has found a golf course 10 minutes from here at about $40 a round. He and Sherry are going out tomorrow to play a round so I will find out if it is worth while to go and get some clubs early so we can golf here on the weekends...I think I willl do more sight seeing first ...I am not that good of a golfer ...but I am a good "Getting Loster"

Lots of excitement but I do miss my friends and the Riders and the news...but I have been able to get CBC for the morning edition and so get to keep up on the Sask news and the Canadaian news.

Will sign off for now as Bob and I bought a pair of speakers, yeah I know another set, and a hot plate and a frying pan and had a coffemake thrown in so now I am going to use my computer as the stereo system and let this one go back and forth if necessary.

Take care