Early Morning in Yuyao

It's 5:30 a.m. and I wake to the sounds of life on the street below. Cars are already honking, buses are on the go and young women on motorcycles weave in and out of traffic. They wear a shirt that is put on backwards to protect their clothes from the dust? Some wear helmets with a visor that comes down over the face. Most wear colorful, nylon dresses. An old woman with brooms made of heavy straw works tirelessly sweeping the area around the hotel. My skinny little pedicab driver is stationed at the corner and talks to another driver across the street.

Sally and I had made a plan to join the ladies at the river for some morning exercise. At 6:30 we were on our way! Another beautiful hot morning. (Dave is a bit under the weather this morning. That's what happens when you decide to eat in a 'western' restaurant!... hopefully, he'll be feeling better SOON.!) My new Chinese friend from two days ago , Lu Ly Ahn, was so happy to see me again and to meet Sally. We did our best to mimic the graceful movements of our fellow dancers for about ten minutes, and then the ladies started to disperse. It turns out practice starts at 6:00 a.m.,not at 7:00. Oh well... 10 minutes of graceful movement is just about perfect.




Then, Lu Ly made it clear that she wanted us to come home with her. She grabbed Sally's arm and motioned, "Come my home." This was definitely an opportunity...

So off we went to Lu Ly Ahn's apartment building. She lives in a nearby complex in building #4 on the first floor. We walked in and took off our shoes. I could hear a man's voice coming from what looked to be a bathroom and wondered if there was a TV in there!! I looked at Lu Ly and said something about a TV... "My Mista", she said with a big smile.
We were seated on the couch and then Mista appeared. He was dressed in what appeared to be silk boxers and a nice shirt. He was very pleasant and extended his hand in greeting. By now, LuLy is serving slices of watermelon and bringing out photos of her children.



What happened next was too coincidental. Sally noticed that the girl in the photo looked like one of her students from the Experimental School. I didn't think much of it. But then, Lu Ly said that her grand-daughter was good table tennis player. Sally said, "She is my student. I played table tennis with her yesterday!" Unbelievable!! It's a small world after all, a small, small world!



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Location:Yuyao Business Hotel and along the Yao River (July 30, 2012)

Tea with Mr. Tau

Mr. Tao is the Dean of Students as well as a math teacher at the Experimental School. He is a very kind, soft-spoken man and appears to interact well with the students. He has excellent posture! He is our go to person when we have questions about logistics. He speaks no English, so all communication with him must go through one of the English Teaching Assistants.

Yesterday, he invited our group of teachers out for tea. He picked us up at the Business Hotel at 6:00 pm in the school van, and drove us into old Yuyao.







I have been wanting to go into one of the tea houses along the river, and that is exactly where he took us. Located on the oldest street in Yuyao...

Red lanterns hang along the front entry and inside the wood is dark. Along the back walls there are glass covered shelves with a variety of tea sets. Going upstairs, we were seated in a private room with windows overlooking the street/river. A round table, a huge piece of glazed petrified wood and a number of chairs completed the decor.

A woman appeared with a plate of sun flower seeds and Mr. Tao proceeded to order four kinds of tea, each from a different area. There was a traditional black tea, a green tea, something called Dragon tea and a 4th from the local region. As each tea was brought, Mr. Tao served us each a tiny cup. There was a large thermos of hot water. He would use this water to replenish the tiny pots when they were empty. Loose tea leaves filled the tiny teapots, so it didn't take long for the water to have flavor... they do not steep tea for as long as we do in the states, perhaps because the leaves are much more pungent and fresh.


This was the first time that we had all been alone with Mr. Tao for an extended period of time. Through Tracey, who has become our constant companion, we were able to ask him many questions about himself, his work and his family.

Mr. Tao grew up near Simmi Mountain which is outside of Yuyao. His father was a farmer. I'm not sure where he was educated, but I got the feeling he has been a teacher for 30 years. Today he is 49. His wife is a doctor who runs her own clinic in a village 30 minutes outside of Yuyao where they also live. She works seven days a week from 7:00 am until 9:00 pm every day. She takes a day off when she chooses to do so. She does not deliver babies... women go to the hospital. He has one daughter Aki. Aki has spent time with us, and she looks just like her Dad. Her English is excellent. I get the impression she is a stellar student.

When asked about teaching and discipline.. Mr. Tao said that parents are still the best teachers. In China today, as elsewhere, money talks. Parents who are more wealthy are more demanding and less forgiving of the system. However, to get into the best schools, test scores are still the ticket regardless of how much money you make.

All in all, it was another window into the life of the Chinese. Mr. Tao has a wonderful laugh, and I wish I were able to communicate directly with him. Lucy Liu is of no use in these situations!!

Before going back to the hotel, I shared a bowl of beef noodles with Elizabeth!

Zai Jian,
Joan



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Location:Old Tea House on Oldest Street in Yuyao

Sunday Afternoon at Yuyao's Grand Pacific Hotel

After last night's meal at Funn's House, Dave was looking for some more recognizable food! Could there be a Sunday Brunch at the Grand Pacific Hotel?



After class, Megan, James, Dave and took our favorite Bus 205 downtown to find out. The lobby of the Grand Hotel is fabulous. Here is what we learned: The city of Yuyao boasts a long history and a profound culture. In particular, the discovery of Hemudu Neolithic Ruins pushed back the history of the Chinese nation by more than 2000 years and established the Yangtze River Valley's status as one of the cradles for the Chinese civilization. The history of Yuyao can be traced as far back as 2200 years ago when the Qin Dynasty first established a county here. Today, Yuyao's distinctive spirit of Hemudu Culture is reflected in the Grand Pacific Hotel. Since 1999,the hotel began to incorporate patterns and graphics from Hemudu relics into hotel interior design. Aspects of ancient Hemudu culture can be found throughout the detailed modern decor.

No offense, but a visit to the Grand, made me look at our Business Hotel through new eyes! Let's just say that it doesn't boast a lot of ancient Hemudu Culture...



Yes, I hate to admit it, but we decided to have lunch in the "Western" restaurant. (Dave's Idea). He just wasn't up for another bowl of noodles. The dining room was lovely. The four of us were seated at a cloth covered table and each were brought a glass of lemon water. I ordered the first salad I've tasted in three weeks... bits of tuna and some vegetables scattered over a bed of lettuce. Megan and James opted for pizza and Dave had two pork chops. He was looking forward to some fries, but it turned out, surprise, surprise... only rice was available. For dessert we shared a slice of some kind of chocolate cake and were asked if we'd like a cup of 'normal' coffee or 'black' coffee. I enjoyed a good cup of normal coffee and Dave had black. The waitress's treat!

After lunch, Megan and Dave headed out to buy train tickets to Shanghai, Dave worked on travel arrangements, and I spent a lovely couple of hours in the dining room hooked up to the internet. After not having access for a few days, I was very pleased to be back on line and able to communicate with all my readers.

Very refreshed and full to the brim with lemon water, I said goodbye to the Grand Palace and headed out into the hot Yuyao afternoon and a ride on Bus 205.

Xai Jian,
Joan

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Location:Situated next to Yaojiang River and Longquan Mountain

A Visit to the Doctor

We had a great time role playing "A Visit to the Doctor"! Armed with some vocabulary and props, students assumed the roles of doctor, patient, patient's mother and nurse. Special thanks to Ann Beatty for sharing her props!















A few doctors did not do a very good job and their patients died!!
One student told the worried mother to start looking for a tomb!!!
They love to laugh... , and so do I!


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Location:Yuyao Experimental School

Dinner at Funn's Home

Last evening, our group of 7 enjoyed dinner at the home of one of the Chinese teachers.. Her Chinese name is pronounced Funn! I had been walking around the school taking photos and run into her... she is a very tiny, smiling woman who teaches English here. She asked me if I'd like to come for dinner and bring a friend. I told this was a wonderful offer, and the other teachers would be jealous! "How many are you?" "Seven... ??? Without a pause, she replied, "That will be fine. We will be ten with my and my husband and my son."






Funn and her family live about 10 minutes from school. The van dropped us off... we came bearing 2 bottles of wine and a case of beer and some pop..
Entering the building, the foyer and walls looked to be in rough shape. She lives on the fourth floor. There are no elevators, so up we trekked. What do people do if they can't do stairs?? Chinese characters on a red background framed the door. Once in the entryway, everyone quickly removed their shoes and put on one of the many available pairs of sliippers.

Funn's husband is the principal of a high school as well as a science teacher. He doesn't speak a word of English, and spoke Chinese in a very loud voice. He smiled a lot and could use some dental work from Dr. Erie D.D. S.!! A round table covered with a variety of dishes was ready forr us!

Funn had spent the afternoon making jaudza (meat filled dumplings) with her Mom. They were delicious. Also to eat was dried squid, pulled crab, jellyfish, tofu and cilantro, egg rolls filled with sweet bean paste, dried sardines, and tiny little prawns with eyes and tails attached. Mixed in with the above were a variety of store bought cakes and cookies. To drink there was beer or pepsi. We brought two bottles of good wine. I hope they enjoy it!!! Could have used a glass of wine that that meal!! Oh, I almost forgot... each person also enjoyed a bowl of gelatinous sweet stuff with a couple of dried plums on top. At the end of the meal, Mr. Funn offered us rice and also made some tea.

As we finished eating, Funn invited us to take a tour of the apartment. It was quite spacious with two bedrooms and a third room used as a study for Funn and her son. Another smaller study for her husband was off this room. Each bed was covered with a large netting to keep away mosquitos. On the bed is a bamboo mat and rolled up blanket. Apparentlyy the bamboo slats make for a cooler sleep. SIgn me up!! A small balcony to hang laundry was off the living room.

As we said our thank you and goodbye, Funn gave each of us a beautiful tin of local tea. Her hospitality and generosity were above and beyond.

I am reminded how much it means to be invited to someone's home for dinner when in a strange city or country.

Joan
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Location:Yuyao

Morning Exercises

Waking up bright and early.. around 6:30, I debated... should I head down to the river and see if the women are doing Tai Chi or roll over...
Well I am sooo glad I decided to check it out..

It's about a 20 minute walk to the other side of the river where I'd seen women gather a few mornings ago. Wearing my Yoga clothes, I wanted them to know I meant business. I was already in a bit of a sweat when I arrived... it's going to be a warm one, surprise, surprise..

A group of gray haired ladies were sitting on a bench. I smiled and mimicked exercise. They pointed to my watch and pointed to 7:00. I motioned I'd be back in 10 minutes and kept walking. Lucky for me... A bit further on, I found a group of about 20 women doing a beautiful type of exercise dance to music. I indicated I'd like to join them and they were very welcoming. I'll let the photos tell the rest of the story.









One woman in particular really wanted to visit with me. I learned that she had been in America twice and she is 74 years old. She was adorable. Doing her exercise and wearing her pearls. She got someone else to take some photos of me with the group. She pointed to her home, a building 10 minutes away. I have a feeling we could become friends. Conversations would be very short! She reminded me a bit of Mrs. Su! I hope I can go back another morning and do it again!



Stopped at my favorite little bakery on the way back to the Business Hotel and now will make myself a cup of Nescafe and cool off!

Xai Jian,
Joan
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Location:Along the bank of the Yao River Saturday, July 26th, 2012

An Evening Along the Yao River

The group met at 6:00 p.m. in the lobby. This has turned into a prettyregular occurrence. Every evening the question is, "Where should we eat?" We've tried many of the little restaurants around the hotel and as the days go by we are getting braver. There are quite a few tiny restaurants, 4-6 small tables and pictures of various dishes (or not) on the walls. Greg has a little spiral notebook and when he eats something he likes he motions for the waitress to write it down in Chinese. This has been very helpful. We know we can get pork with noodles, pork and rice, beef with noodles, beef and rice, egg and rice, tomato and rice and beef with peppers!

Tonight the plan was to head down to the river. Greg found out that people gather along the banks of the river every night... we thought we'd check it out. On our way, we spotted a tiny restaurant.. it looked clean and there was a little girl in the doorway. We were the only customers in the place and the owner was very welcoming. In about 5 minutes, we were all enjoying a Chinese beer and several baskets of small dumplings... very tasty with soy sauce and hot sauce. Several people ordered plates of some kind of fried rice. The total bill for the 6 of us was 60 RMB which is about $10.00. Apparently, tipping is not expected... I wonder how the owners can survive.

After dinner, we headed down to the river. We could see a line of water fountains pulsing up and down and groups of people doing what looked to be a kind of line dance to beautiful music. Crossing the bridge, we walked to the other side and joined in! It was very fun!! I was waving my arms around and trying to fit in with the natives!! People are so welcoming and smiled at our efforts to follow the moves.

Many groups of people were milling around. The atmosphere was a bit like a county fair... balloons for children and some roller blade activities. Another group of dancing couples reminded me of "Dancing with the Stars".... all in sync with each other... some of the couples were clearly excellent dancers and many of the women were very well dressed in flowing dresses and high healed shoes. It was a pleasure to watch.
We were all impressed by the sense of community and the evident enjoyment experienced by all.... There were easily five to six hundred people...

We're going to have to go back and see if this type of gathering is really a nightly affair. After the long hot day, the breeze along the Yao was so welcoming. I have been surprised by the number of people with dogs for pets. Until recently, I know that dogs have been used as a source of food, but clearly that is changing.

Time to call it a night... might get up very early and see if I can catch the opening ceremony of the Olympics... 4:30 a.m. in China!


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Location:Yuyao, Friday, July 25th

Wuzhen: A Holiday Destination for the Chinese

Wuzhen, as I have learned, is a tourist destination for the Chinese. I recall when brother Paul visited China, he told us that people would stop him on the street and ask to have their photo taken with him. That experience was very much an hourly experience today. Sitting on a bench along one of the canals, I felt very popular!


Our group of Americans was very noticeable. I saw one other person who looked like an American.

A bit more about the Scenic Zone of Western Wuzhen... It is an area consisting of lakes and canals. Arched shaped bridges criss cross the canals and restaurants line the water. Lots of shops selling popular indigo fabric shoes, bags, and scarves are everywhere. We waited until the sun went down and then rented a small boat to take us for a ride on the canal. LIghts from the shops glimmered on the water... it was magical.







Around 9:30 p.m., we left the WEST scenic zone and caught a taxi to take us to our hotel in the EAST. The hotel was located on a very old street. A single door, #403, opened into a small room. Stepping over the threshold we met the proprietor who told Tracy that there were two bedrooms in this building and three others, over the bridge and down the path. Elizabeth and I headed over the bridge and were happy to be in our room facing one of the canals.

In the morning, I was able to open the windows and enjoy a beautiful view of the canal below.



It was going to be a very hot day, but at 7:00 a.m., it was still pleasant. Elizabeth had some instant coffee, and the water in our blue thermos was still hot, so we enjoyed an early morning cup! Met the rest of the group and headed off to find breakfast. We left the East ....

As soon as we ate, we bought a ticket (150 RMBs) to get back into the East! Yes, you did just read that correctly. As it turns out, there is a section of Wuzhen called the East Scenic Zone. In this zone a ticket is needed to visit the many exhibits. Even though our hotel was located in the East, we still had to leave and reenter with a ticket in order to visit these exhibits! It was worth it. Small, old streets along which we saw a Coin Museum, the former residence of Mao Dung, a Woodcarving Museum, an old Fire Department and an Indigo Fabric Workshop. Lots and lots of people.

The tiny streets were thick with tourists! And the temperature continued to rise... Walking over one of many little bridges, I was struck by the sea of colorful umbrellas. Most every woman, and also many men carry a pastel colored umbrella to provide protection from the glaring sun!



About mid-morning, I had to find a bench and sit down. Felt kind of dizzy from the heat. You've got to keep drinking fluids and none of the water is cold... met up with the rest of the group for lunch (more pork and rice and beer) before leaving the Scenic East! Tracy and Estelle are both very careful shoppers and good to have along when entering a shop... no one is going to take advantage of foreigners when they are around!! In the indigo factory, I actually squeezed into the largest available Chinese traditional dress and will be sporting it back in Rochester! Also found a Chinese scroll for a very special artist I know!

Three hours, two busses and one taxi later, we arrived back in the Yuyao Business Hotel, and I am glad to be here! The place is looking more famiiar all the time. Really wasn't very hungry tonight... shared a bowl of beef and noodles with Sally... and a beer.
Time for bed...
Back to school tomorrow. Greg kindly offered to let me teach mornings this week for which I am grateful.
Good Night,
Joan



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Location:Wuzhen, Scenic Zones

Where East Meets West or Where the Hell are We?

It's around 10:00 pm and just checked into our room in Wuzhen. Knotty pine paneling on walls and ceiling, flat screen TV and computer... can't wait to catch up on my Chinese soaps! Bathroom has shower coming out of wall right across from toilet. No partition so when shower is used water is all over the floor around the toilet and sink. There is a drain in the floor, but the water doesn't appear to be disappearing quickly. Bottom line... be careful if you need to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, so you don't slip. No toilet paper that I can locate.



No towels, but on request received two tiny hand towels, green and pink. A blue thermos of hot water, but no tea bags. People must enjoy a cup of hot water before sleeping, or bring their own tea bags!

Elizabeth and I are sharing a nice queen size bed. We opted to share the bed versus having our own beds in order to have a room with a view. Can't tell what the view is as the windows appear to be all boarded up for the night, but I'm confident that in the morning, we will enjoy some picturesque view. (John understands the importance of a room with a view!)

Just woke up and opened the window...


Tracy is turning into a stellar guide. She is continually counting to make certain that all 7 of her chicks are close by. When called she repllies in her sweet little voice,"I'm here. I'm here."

We enjoyed a great late lunch this afternoon. I don't know if we were just so hungry, or if the food was that delicious, but it tasted great. I think it was a duck breast wrapped in bamboo leaves and simmered in a dark, savory broth. Before serving, the cook removed the leaves and cut the meat into about 8 juicy squares. We ordered rice and and something that looked like tabouli, but was a mixture of finly chopped green herbs and tiny pieces of tofu. Polished it all off with, guess what? You've got it... another beer... I must say the beer here is very light, almost like drinking a watered down version of Coors Light! (Best meal to date!)





Wuzhen is divided into the East and the West. This sounds fairly straight forward. However, it is anything but simple. I know we got off the bus in the East. A man from the hotel met us, had us pile into a van which then dropped us off in front of a tiny restaurant in the East. This area contains lots of little shops. He said we could leave our suitcases in the restaurant. We were a bit confused as to why we were not going to the hotel. Tracy explained that to go to our hotel we would have to pay 150 RMB because it was in the East. If we waited until after 9:30 p.m., we could enter the East at no charge. A few minutes later, the man took off on a motorcycle with our bags. Tracy explained that he was taking them to the hotel. "Where are we now?" "We are in the East." It was a perfect Chinese version of "Who's on First" I kid you not. Usually I can figure out what people are trying to explain, but this was beyond me. In desperation, Dave suggested we go talk to the people who sell tickets to get into the East to find out where in the heck we were! Then Estelle (the other student guide) set off at a very determined pace and we all followed. About 10 minutes later, I stopped Tracy and asked her where we were going. "We are going to the West." What's in the West?" "I don't really know. I have never been here!" Well Estelle, knew what she was doing.... We followed her toward the sun setting in the West to get to the West... and lo and behold there was a big arch entrance that welcomed us to the West... and this area is a treasure. A bit like Chinese Epcot Center.



Will write more about the Wuzhen Experience, both West and East, tomorrow! Good Night from the East!

Joan
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Location:Wuzhen: Small air conditioned room overlooking old canal

A Ride to School

This morning I arrived at school without my I-Pad... this is the only place I have access to Wi-Fi, so I needed to go back to the hotel to get it. My right hand Tracy agreed to go with me. She found a parent to take us to the hotel and then we took a pedicab back to school. Here is a photo of the driver... for 5 RMB (about .90 you can travel between school and the hotel.) I am a big person, so I gave him a 10!! He looked very happy.








Today, I took a few photos of the students to give you an idea of the class size. Also, note the blue and white uniforms. There is an LCD projector mounted on the ceilings... Students stay in the same desk for the entire day and teachers move from class to class. This particular room has more space than most.






View from the school



Hopefully, we can take a drive into these mountains before we leave.

ZAI JIAN
Joan

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Location:Yuyao, July 24, 2012

A Few More Photos from Trip To Hangchou

Here are a few more photos from Hangchou...


Joan, Sally and Megan on a Ferry on West Lake


Shopping on the Ancient Street in Hangchou


Silk scarves are the thing to buy!!


The Foreign Teachers and their Guides!



At the park in Hanchou



Our Guides Lily and Aki

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Location:Hangchou

A Chinese Massage

According to colleagues who have visited Yuyao in the past, the Chinese foot massage is well worth the effort. For a very small price, you can get a very long foot massage. Well, yesterday was the day. After a morning expending a lot of energy in the classrooms, I decided to check it out. Armed with Lucy Liu, (my English-Chinese I-phone ap), I set out to find the massage parlor. Now, I need to interject that there appear to be numerous locations for massage. Fellow teachers Sally and Dave had discovered a location that they recommended I try. I cannot tell you the name... only that it is located near the Coffee Cafe. It has a bright yellow panda in front and some hanging red lanterns.

Walking in the door, I came into a large open area with a reception desk. A smiling, thin man looked at me expectantly. I smiled and quickly pulled out Lucy. She told him I wanted massage. Ahhhh.... he called upstairs to a woman who appeared wearing a traditional Chinese jacket and trousers. I followed her up the stairs and into one of many smaller rooms off the main hall. ( Yes, I was a bit apprehensive... could have used someone other than Lucy Liu for reassurance!)

I followed my masseuse into the room. There were three massage beds, each with a lovely pillow. She motioned for me to sit down on one of them. Then she disappeared and reappeared with a large basin of water and motioned for me to put my feet into the basin. Then she started talking to me and, of course, I had no clue what she was asking. Lucy Liu kept coming up with faulty translations. How difficult can it be to say I want a massage!!! Finally, I just pointed to my feet and my shoulders and she nodded. I wondered if I should take off my clothes and wrap up in a sheet, but I figured she would let me know. She, let's call her #28, (I'll explain later) brought in a glass of steaming tea covered with floating flowers, and a plate of sliced watermelon. She also turned on the large flat screen TV, so I could enjoy my favorite Chinese soap!

So, back to the feet. Now, #28 removed them from the bucket and placed them on a wide stool at the end of the bed. What happened next is difficult to describe. Let's just say it felt like each foot was put into an agate grinder. That woman had strong hands. She dug into parts of my foot that I never knew existed!! HARD HARD HARD! I lay back and tried to relax and enjoy myself! Whew! Then she took some lotion. Smoothed it on and was at it again. I am sure she spent 15 minutes on each foot. She was the one who should have been sweating!! After she was finished with each foot, she slapped it hard on the sole and then slapped her way up each calf...

Now, #28 was ready to tackle my shoulders and neck area. She motioned for me to turn over. I asked her if I should take off my shirt as I didn't want any lotion on my new Chinese shirt! "OK, OK", she said. Well, I have heard of the 'Deep Massage' and now I know what it means! Every cord in my neck was rubbed down hard along with each shoulder. I must have ordered the Deluxe Package because she continued to massage muscles right on down....

You get the picture... One and 1/2 hours later, #28 stopped. I couldn't move for a few minutes. I wondered if I'd be able to get up.

I pulled out Lucy Liu and had her tell #28 that this was the best massage I have ever had. She smiled and said, "xiexie". Then she wrote down the number 28. I had been told the massage would cost around 80 RMB, so I figured she was asking me for a 28 RMB tip which I couldn't argue about after what we'd just been through! OK... I gave her a 100 RMB bill. (About $20.00) She took it and I followed her down the stairs to the receptionist's counter. She gave them the bill and I was given 20 RBM's in change. I then gave her the 20 and was digging around in my purse for another 8. I didn't have 8, so I pulled out another 100 and tried to explain that I needed change. Well, things got very complicated. Everyone was saying "No, No" and she was pointing to 28. FINALLY, I got it!!! She wanted me to know that she was #28, so I can ask for her the next time I decide to have myself pummeled.

Everyone was very happy, and so was I!!!
I highly recommend the Deluxe Package.

Zai jian!
Joan


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Location:A Parlor Somewhere in Yuyao

Sunday Morning Classes, July 22

The only reason I know today is Sunday is because it says so on my I-Phone! For this enrichment program, students and staff are on 5 days and then off one. As the program started on a Sunday, our first day off was last Friday, and our next day off will be the upcoming Wednesday.

When I started class this morning I told my students that if I were in Rochester, I would be going to church today. I explained that in Minnesota, most people are Christian, and there are many churches. When I asked if they had any religion, there was a pretty blank look and then the T.A. piped in that older people sometimes go to the temple to pray... would be interesting to find out more about religious beliefs or lack thereof.

In any event, I would say that God is alive and well in the people of Yuyao! Sincerely friendly and warm. Very respectful of other and unassuming. Today, at lunch, the T.A. with whom II was eating didn't have any watermelon on her tray. I had a large hunk. One of helpers was passing out watermelon. I asked her if she wanted some, but she said she didn't want to ask. "Really? Why not?" "I don't think it is for me," she said. "I think it is for the students." I quickly got up and got her some watermelon.

Standing in the long lunch lines, no one shoves or pushes ahead. Students seem to wait patiently until it is their turn to go to the window and be given a tray of food. Every day, lunch consists of a large square hunk of sticky rice, some chunks of beef or pork on bones in a broth and vegetables in a sauce. Vegetables consist of cabbage and/or peas with tofu in a tasty broth. And everyday, there is a slice of watermelon for dessert. When you are finished eating, you take your tray to an area and dump the uneaten food in a large garbage bin, rinse off your tray at one of many spigots along the wall and throw your spoon into a container. The floor is gross and you have to be careful where you step! Workers are rinsing trays and I don't know how they get washed after that! There are no napkins or beverage provided with the meal.

I thought it was appropriate that today I introduced the song by Hannah Montana called "The Climb". I explained that life is a journey and each of us is on our own journey. My T.A. translated so I was sure they understood the gist.... and then we sang...

"There's always gonna to be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose
Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb

The struggles I'm facing
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes might knock me down
But no, I'm not breaking

I may not know it
But these are the moments that
I'm gonna remember most, yeah
Just gotta keep going

And I, got to be strong
Just keep pushing on...

There's always gonna be another mountain...
IT'S THE CLIMB"

zai Jian
Joan

P.S. I used the gonnas and wannas to talk about American reduced speech!! *(Don't worry Mom!)

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Location:Yuyao Experimental School

Joan Goes Shoppinng, Saturday July 21

Shopping in Yuyao is an adventure! Yesterday, I decided I would look for a new purse. The zipper on the one I am using broke, so this was my excuse! I decided to take a bus into downtown Yuyao. The Business Hotel is located on the south side of the city and too far away from the main shopping area to walk. I figured if got lost, I could always catch a pedicab or taxi back to the hotel.

To ride Bus 205 only costs 1 RNB (less than .20). As soon as I took a seat, I could feel the eyes glancing my way. An elderly woman (50 plus in China) kept looking at me. I smiled and then she decided to smile back! That was the extent of our interaction. Other than our group of 7 teachers, I have not seen one other white person in Yuyao... no wonder people are curious! I knew I had to get off as soon as I saw the McDonalds. There are very few landmarks to latch onto, and McDonalds is one of them. Acting like I knew what I was doing, I got off the bus and casually followed a couple of young women through some thick hanging plastic strips to find myself in some kind of shopping mall. All kinds of tiny stores branching off maze-like in many directions. I remember reminding myself to take a good look around so I could find my way back!

Up the elevator, I entered a small shop. Shopping is universal and so are female clerks! 5 minutes later I was trying on some cropped black pants Only 60 RNB (about $10.00) and too big for the average Chinese woman. I am an XL here!! Well, they fit perfectly, and I wore them out of the store! That's right, I did say I was going purse shopping didn't I? Into another store I went, this one filled with many colorful bags. I took out Lucy Liu (My Jibbigo English to Chinese I-Phone Ap) to find out how much they cost. Sometimes Lucy has a mind of her own and doesn't translate things the way they are intended which can prove to be quite humorous. The people think it is very funny when I talk into my I-Phone and all of a sudden a Chinese voice is talking back at them Technology is truly amazing!
I am not the proud owner of an orange bag, another good deal.

Well, after all my efforts, I was in a slight sweat and thought I would treat myself to a nice cool drink. Three young people were working behind what looked like a beverage counter. Lucy proved to be USELESS when I asked if there was any drink with ice. "No there were no drinks with eyes!!" Very funny indeed. So, I bought some glass of liquid beverage filled with tapioca balls. Just hit the spot!!!

Wearing my new black Chinese pants and carrying my orange Chinese purse, I thought I might blend in with the natives, but that was not happening. Across the street, I spotted Bus 205 going in the opposite direction, and I made a mad dash. The ride back to the hotel was uneventful... next time I go out I really must find some Chinese shoes as my bright red Kuehns seem to be attracting a lot of attention.


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Location:Downtown Yuyao

One Week Ago Today

It's hard to believe that I arrived in China just over one week ago... I feel like I've been here much longer. What does that mean?? It is 6:20 and I'm up, showered, dressed and ready for the day. I've got a hot water pot in my room and some nescafe, creamer and sugar, so I just made myself a cup of coffee. Outside my window, the sky is blue today!! I believe this is the first morning I've seen blue sky. Everyday last week it was very overcast and the air was filled with humidity. I was thinking that was the way it would be every day. But thankfully, I was wrong...
Lots of traffic on the streets below my window already.

Breakfast is available at 7:00, and I'm looking forward to my hard boiled egg and various pickled items. Everyday, soupy rice is available and Sally says it is very good with a sprinkle of peanuts, but I haven't tried that yet!
A van from the school will pick the morning shift up at 7:20. (The school is a 10-15 minute walk from the hotel, so it is easy to walk back.) I've got the morning shift for the next 5 days for which I am also glad. Not teaching until 2:00 in the afternoon makes for a longer day!

I hope everyone is doing well. I realize you can't comment on my blog, but please know that regular e-mails are appreciated! bachmanjoan@gmail.com!!!

Zai jian
Joan

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Location:Early Saturday Morning, Yuyao Business Hotel

Shopping for Silk and a Visit to West Lake

This morning started with a coffee at Starbucks! Yes, and it was a shrewd move. That hot soy milk doesn't quite compare! Coffees in hand, Lily showed us a store, and we bought a few silk items which we may or may not have purchased for loved ones reading this blog!!


Then it was on to the Qing Dynasty Street. This is a well- preserved ancient style street with blocks of vendors selling silk items and tea and clothing and native products. It was a shopper's paradise! Found a couple of beautiful silk scarves. I was able to purchase a chop with my name written in Chinese.

Let me put it this way... today was a very hot day. I bought a large visor to protect my face from the sun... it must have been 95 in the shade... except there is no shade... air conditioned stores provide some respite... after lunch, we dripped our way to West Lake... first a beautiful park with weeping willows and bamboo... and then, a huge lake. All that water, and not one person was swimming! One of the highlights was I got a 10 RMB discount on the boat ride because I am 60!! (I'm sure they couldn't believe it when I showed them my passport! haha)

The ride across West Lake to the island provided a nice cool breeze and the walk around the island was beautiful. There is an ancient temple and a zigzag bridge. Lots of people walked along the paths.. I am continually impressed by the well-dressed Chinese women. Beautiful silk dresses that look so cool... lots of pastel colors and attention to detail. After making our way back across the lake we joined Elizabeth, Aki and Lily and continued our walk through the park. The late afternoon light was lovely and the hustle and bustle of nearby streets seemed far away. I can understand why tourists include this city on their visits to China.

Luckily we found a restaurant near the train station to have a dinner and, yes, you guessed it, another beer.... what I wouldn't give for a cool gin and tonic... sampled some spicy tofu on rice which was very tasty.

The train station was PACKED with wall to wall people at 8:00 pm. I wonder if this is because it is Friday night and people are leaving the city for the weekend. Seriously, our little group were the only non-Chinese people in the waiting area. We get lots of stares... as soon as I smile, people are quick to smile in return. I am very impressed with the warmth of the people. ALso, I am much taller than the average Chinese person. One of the students at school asked me why I was so tall. Must look strange to them...

I am now back in the Business Hotel and coming into Yuyao felt a bit like coming home... even this little familiarity is welcome.

Ooh did that shower ever feel great! Turn up the air and good night!


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Location:Hangchou

Overnight in Hangchou

Well, it's been quite a last 32 hours! After teaching classes on Thursday, and
lunch of rice, vegetables, meat and watermelon, we were taken to the train station for our first excursion to Hangchou. The head master kindly arranged for me to teach my classes in the morning, so we could all leave in the afternoon. Lily and Aki accompanied us, and all I've got to say is, that was a good THING!

I anticipated a smaller picturesque city near a beautiful lake. The reality was a huge metropolitan sprawl with one skyscraper after another and store upon store. Rolls Royce, Lambergini, and Bentley car dealers were one indication of the wealth. Armani, Vercace, Luis Vitton... every designer label was evident. Amidst this opulence were the thousands of cars and bicycles and motorcycles and peticabs and buses, lots of buses, that wove through the maze of streets! And the construction... lots of construction. The city is in the process of building an underground which might relieve some of the above ground congestion! Our guides led us to a bus that took us through the streets to the Starway Hotel... I shared a room with Elizabeth. After checking in, we headed out to eat dinner. On the street, we ran into an American man who suggested we eat at Bai Lu (White Deer) Restaurant. We took his advice and had a great dinner on the second floor of this very popular restaurant. Waiters were running up and down the stairs carrying plates loaded with fish and a wide variety of dishes.

Deciding what to eat and ordering is a challenge and would provide good fodder for Saturday Night Live. It is customary to order a number of dishes and share them. Aki and Lily worked so hard to make sure that each person could order what we wanted. This is a bit tricky when you can't read the menu and have no idea what is available. Pictures are very helpful!! On my way to our dining room I saw someone feasting on a plate of what looked like beef and green beans. It turns out it was beef and peppers, but anything tastes better with a nice cold beer! Note: Beer does not come cold unless requested! Bai Lu is a very good bargain and if I am ever back in Hangchou,...

On the way back to the hotel, I treated myself to a mango drink. Lots of vendors on the streets and places to buy steamed buns, meat on a stick and other unusual treats.

Felt great to hit the sack. The beds are very hard...

Good Night!




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Location:Fast train from Hangchou to Yuyao

Dinner in a Chinese Home

This evening, I had a lucky break! I had gone to the train station with two of the teacher aides to purchase train tickets for the group. Friday will be our first day off and we're planning to travel to Hangzhou which is said to have some beautiful lake panoramas. It's about one and a half hours from here. In order to buy a train ticket, all passengers must present their passport... apparently there was a bad train accident last year, and now passports are required to buy a ticket so they can keep track of all passengers. It was around dinner time. I planned to go back to the school to check my e-mail and skip the school cafeteria. (That could be another blog...anyway..)
Lily (American name) asked me if I'd like to come to her home for dinner. Well... I quickly considered my options and rapidly decided to take her up on it... "Will it be OK with your mother?" "Oh yes..." Lily and her parents live in a new apartment building in a large complex. They are on the 4th floor. Walking in I thought the stairwell looked run down and/or unfinished... we proceeded to walk up 4 flights. Then Lily opened a door into a beautiful entryway. She quickly gave me a pair of slippers to put on and told her Dad the teacher was here. Lily's Dad was sitting bare chested reading the newspaper. It was a bit awkward! She gave me a tour of the apartment... lots of room. A guest room, a laundry room and a couple of large unused spaces. The dining room was right off the kitchen. Beautiful wood shelves filled with various bottles and food items were against one wall. The dining room opened onto the living room which had a large TV attached to one wall and very large pieces of wood furniture. Two huge carved wooden chairs and a large wooden couch. She said they were made of a very special wood. They were beautiful but looked very uncomfortable.

Lily's Mom was in the kitchen and smiled at me and then motioned for me to sit down. On the table were at least 6 different dishes. I'll do my best to describe what was in front of me:
a bowl of roasted potatoes and meat in a beefy broth, a bowl of cool cooked cabbage, a plate of grilled chicken pieces, a plate with 2 complete fish soaking in a very delicious sweet savory sauce, a bowl of peanuts and another bowl with some kind of marinated vegetable. It was very good, but I have no idea what I was eating. Well, each person used chopsticks to take morsels from dish and eat them. Oh yes, there was also a bowl of tiny little shrimp. With the chopsticks, you would pick up the shrimp, put it in your mouth and put the uneatable shell parts directly on the glass topped table. She did give me a little bowl to use for bones, but I was the only one who didn't just put the uneatable right on the table surface. After about 10 minutes enjoying these morsels, we were each given a bowl of sticky rice. At this point, the father stuffed his mouth with rice, ate it quickly and got up from the table. He went back to reading his paper. I felt a bit disappointed and hoped it was nothing I said! ha ha....
Lily's Mom and the two girls and I continued to enjoy the food and I really tried to find out more about Lily's Mom. She works in a factory, 6 days a week. Lily's Dad works in the country in some kind of government position. He wasn't a very talkative guy....
For dessert there was a bowl of sliced pear and some kind of candy from Mongolia. I even tried a special kind of fruit that was in a liquor that is a specialty of Yuyao. Whew!! To drink there was coke and I drank plenty... nice change from all the beer I've been drinking!

Then it was time to leave and Lily's Mom drove me back to the school. I told her it was the best meal I've had in China and it was true. She told me that I could come home with Lily anytime! What a gracious, lovely person she is... It was an evening to remember.







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Location:Yuyao

The Students of Zhejiang Yuyao Experimental School

Students who attend Zhejiang Experimental School come from families who can afford to pay around per year for their private education. There are also some very top students (about 10%) who are given scholarships. Another interesting fact is that with few exceptions, each child is an only child. This means that each child has 6 doting adults in his/her life, two sets of grandparents and one set of parents. Needless to say a lot of loving pressure to succeed is felt by each student.
The summer program is an enrichment program. Students live in dormitories. They attend 7 classes every day from 7:40 until 4:40. They get up at 5:45... I need to find out what they do before classes begin. There is a 2 hour lunch/rest break. Lights out at 8:50. Approximately half the students are girls and half are boys. Uniforms consist of navy trouser and white collared shirts with blue trim.
There are 7 foreign teachers and we each have a different schedule. The two couples have been assigned morning schedules and the rest of us will alternate between a morning and an afternoon assignment. This first week, I don't start teaching until 2:00. Sunday, July 15th, was the first day of classes. This brings up the fact that there appears to be no sense of weekend. Starting on a Sunday,we teach 5 days and then have one day off. This repeats itself 4 times. After the last 5 day block, the school will take the 'foreign' teachers on a three day excursion, place to be determined.
So, I really have no idea what day it is!!!
On the first day of classes, the students attended a large assembly. Mr. Tao, one of the lead math teachers, spoke to the students and then we were asked to introduce ourselves. I happened to be first. I took the mic and said Good Morning and paused for a nano second. A resounding
"Good Morning" erupted from the crowd. After a few sentences about myself, I ended with "It's nice to meet you." They quickly responded, "It's nice to meet you, too!" Lots of smiles and good vibrations.
Students stay in the same classroom for most of their subjects and teachers move from classroom to classroom. Music over the intercom signals the end of a period. There are 40-50 (closer to 50) students in each class sitting in 7 rows with very narrow space between each row. Classrooms have a large chalkboard in the front of the room and most appear to be equipped with some kind of LCD projector. (We've been told that students will help us learn how to use them...) Also of note are the morning and afternoon eye exercise breaks. A soothing voice and music come over the intercom. Students immediately close their eyes and spend the next 5 minutes massaging their eyes, temples and neck. We could all learn something from this!!
I decided to start each period with a quick "Hello" song and end with "So long, farewell, it's time to say goodbye. I hate to leave, but I'm not going to cry... goodbye, goodbye... goodbye." They all chime in on the goodbyes!!
They love call and response and pronunciation is quite good. More difficult is open ended conversation which is typical. We've had some good laughs with short role plays on introductions and "You look nice today. I like your shirt. That's a good color on you. Where did you get it?" and so on. Thank you to Cindy Wright Delanave for her suggestion to use Action English Picture stories. Lots of great verbs and real language opportunities.
Well, that about it for now... I've got the morning to myself as everyone else is over at the school. There is no internet for me at the hotel, so hopefully, I can post this later today. It turns out access to gmail is difficult for me, so I have no way of checking out the blog, but Anna and Maria tell me they are coming through. Terri, I know I should be including more photos and will try to do so...
The hotel provide breakfast. Now, I am going to go eat a boiled egg, some white looking tea, a bowl of soupy rice and some assorted pickled accompaniments.
The lady in the breakfast area is very sweet and gives me some salt for my egg!!
Next blog topic: The Efficacy of the Jibbigo I-Phone Ap!
Good byeL Zai jian




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Location:Yuyao

An evening at the Yuyao Business Hotel

The Yuyao Business Hotel is a small 4 story hotel. I have a feeling we are the first group of Americans who have ever stayed here! No English is spoken or understood by anyone at this hotel. That said, if you need something, you have to point and then they do their best to accomodate.

I've been trying to find a channel on the tv that I can understand. After punching every button on the remote covered with Chinese characters, I gave up... intuition was not successful. Opening the door, one of the housekeepers was having a cigarette in the room next door. I motioned for her to come with me. She and her friend came into the room and started punching buttons and found some Chinese movies. I said English please, but they, of course, didn't understand. I said, "Don't worry". I figured I'd ask Dave down the hall who said his TV worked. Well, the two women and another man all followed me to Dave's room. I told him I needed help with the remote. "Come on in"... I was followed by my retinue who proceeded to fiddle around with his TV which at that moment wasn't working. Poor Dave had been happy reading his book! I decided to go back to my room as now the attention was on Dave's TV. The next thing I saw, a different TV was being hauled into Dave's room... it was hysterical...
I only wanted help working the channels and now Dave was getting a different TV!

The moral of the story??? Don't watch TV in China!

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Location:Yuyao, Sunday July 15

The First Evening in Yuyao without a Chinese Guide

Sunday evening, after our first day in the classroom we headed out of the hotel to find a place to eat dinner. Joansey, our Chinese leader, has accompanied us to every meal up to this point. We considered going across the street where we'd had lunch a day earlier, but decided to head down the street. Sally remembered seeing a little restaurant. Well... I wish someone had had a video of what ensued!

Walking into what looked like a cute little restaurant, Elizabeth, who speaks some basic Mandarin, asked for a table for 7. We were then sent upstairs to one of the dining rooms. Apparently these rooms are popular for larger groups and private parties. I noticed several other rooms filled with food and cigarette smoke and people sitting around a large tables. Once in our room, two servers proceeded to put a glass of warm water with seaweed in front of each of us as well as two small containers of sauces.

I had not yet come upstairs as the hostess motioned for me to take a look at the selection of dishes displayed along a wall. Nothing jumped out at me so I pulled out my magic cell phone ap and asked if a person could eat chicken with noodles! She smiled and said OK and kept talking and talking as though I were understanding every word. Elizabeth was also downstairs and we chose a couple of appetizers that looked non-threatening. Then, Greg who had been upstairs came down and looked concerned that perhaps we had gotten in way over our heads price wise. The server had shown him a price list next to a list of items all in Chinese characters of course, that no one could understand. It appeared that NO ONE in that restaurant spoke ONE word of English!!! I was thinking maybe we should gracefully exit stage left, but by this time Elizabeth was working so hard to make this work that we agreed when in Rome...

I thought Oh well, maybe I can just order a glass of wine and try and relax... but oh no, it turns out I would have to buy a bottle and none of it was chilled... and I had no idea what it would cost, so I said a beer would be fine. I have a feeling I will turn into a beer drinker in the coming weeks. It's the only thing that is kind of cold.

The appetizers which Elizabeth had cancelled showed up... a plate of endaname, some kind of chilled cucumber and I'm not sure what was on the other plate. I had a couple of peas and then the hostess showed up and Elizabeth told her we did not want these appetizers, and so she took them away... she left the cucumbers as a couple of pieces were missing!

Then, the entrees arrived. 5 people go a piece of sliced cold chicken (skin on) and Elizabeth and I got a plate of beef and green beens. IT was pretty tasty compared to the chicken. I looked up the word for rice in my book and then everybody got a bowl of sticky rice as well! There was a large plate of tasty noodles that appeared for which we were all grateful. Complimentary melon slices were also available.

This meal was enjoyed for about $10.00 I think... and definitely one not to be forgotten!


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Location:Business Hotel Environs

First Day of School

Today is the first day of classes. My assignment is with 8th graders and I've got three sections in a row. This morning we had to introduce ourselves at an assembly. Reminded me of Mayo assemblies as all the classes poured into the room... I'm eager to get started. Will write more after I meet the kids...




- My fellow teachers in front of the school...

Location:Yuyao

Day 1

Thursday morning, July 12, 2012

Here I am waiting to board the plane to Shanghai! Lots of Chinese people in the waiting area...
One of the other teachers, Elizabeth is flying standby on this flight and she just got upgraded to first class... I will try and be happy for her!

John arrived home from Panama at midnight... he had quite a week and was glad to be home... seems crazy that we were both up at 4:30 to take me to the shuttle... but he wanted to spend a few extra minutes with me... what a guy... we are seriously 'two ships passing in the night"!

I'm glad to be on my way... the flight is supposed to last around 14 hours..
I better go walk around the airport and keep the blood flowing while I can.
Wonder what we'll eat on the plane....

Thank you to all who wished me well... I am traveling with many guardian angels

Joan


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Location:Chicago Airport

Day 2 Flight to Shanghai and Arrival in Yuyao

The flight over was LONG. As I headed to the rear of the plane, I spotted two little Chinese boys, short hair and long dread locks... they turned out to be my seat mates for the first 6 hours. "What is your name?" I asked and he said, "Nathan, what is your name?" "How old are you? "6, how old are you?' They were a family of 4 children.. which is unheard of, but they were traveling to China and looked very Chinese. Later a woman told me they were either very wealthy or they don't live in China. The father kept coming back to check on the boys and give them treats. Eventually I asked him if he would like to trade seats... (get me out of here ...). He was very grateful and showed me to his seat which was against a window and much quieter.

My new seat partners were a Chinese woman, her baby and Mom... heading back to China because the Grandmother is very sick. Turns out she lives in Iowa and works for a seed company. She is married to a man from Taiwan and likes living in the U.S. This is her second child. She explained that since 1981, if you have more than one child, you must pay the government $1,000.000.00. When I told her I was going to teach in a middle school, she reminded me that each of the students are only children and most the center of the universe for 6 doting adults, two sets of grandparents and parents.

A very smooth landing in Shanghai. Through customs and met my friend Elizabeth, looking very rested I might add, and we picked up our bags. A young Chinese college student holding a sign welcomed us to Shanghai and we were wisked into a very lovely air-conditioned car and driven about 2 hours to the city of Yuyao.

We are staying at the Yuyao Business Hotel. It appears to be right in the center of town surrounded by an assortment of stores and lots of cars and electric bicycles. My room is fine... a window overlooking the street... lots of electrical wires in view. I have two double beds in case any of my readers decides to take a quick jaunt to see me!
There is wallpaper and dried orchids and tiny little towels in the bathroom.
There is a pot to heat water... I'm not quite sure if I can boil it enough to drink it. We were here about 30 minutes and then taken our for a welcome dinner at a large hotel across from the school.

Samples of many Asian dishes were on the lazy susan and rotated around. I struggled with the turkey foot... couldn't do it. The noodles were good and vegetables. We shared some beer and red wine. Joansey, one of the English teachers in charge was very welcoming. Two college students also helped us to get settled. I have a feeling the spoken English skills won't be very advanced. Tomorrow we'll meet the other teachers and get our assignments.

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Location:Yuyao Business Hotel

Visit with Terri

Terri is helping me get my technology together for China. We'd rather be sitting out here.

Location:Rochester, MN