Well Thanksgiving has just passed, and I had a great time...
I got a turkey from the local BBQ shop, yeah the owner is a Texan and really did a good job of cooking it up. I took an hour metro ride to the southern part of Shanghai, carrying an 18 lbs. turkey, to my friend's house. Tons of people showed up and brought a great deal of food. It was a great time, good food, wine and beer, and good friends. I got home kind of late, but that was well worth it.
Now Christmas is coming up... So, Chris and I went to Ikea and bought a tree with some ornaments to decorate it with it. We also got some other things for out rooms. I spent a bit of time putting this tree up and expanding all of the branches! Then I invited Joanna over and we all decorated the tree. It was her first time to decorate a tree! So, we let her put on the giant gold star topper, even though she could barely reach it....
Well, Xmas is around the corner, so we are going to have a party for everyone at some point... I'll keep you posted.
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Asia has something to learn...
Well, winter is coming and it is getting colder...and colder...
Yeah, it is cold in China, it was also cold in Japan, but not the same. The school is the damnedest design too... it is an open U-shape design. All of the room doors face in to the the middle and all the hallways are open to the elements. I guess this would be great on those nice HOT days, but not in the winter.... The wind here can cut through you like a knife, and it does in this poorly designed school. Each classroom has a small heater, which can only be compared to the heaters at Motel 6, you know the ones under the windows. Except these are mounted towards the ceiling.
It is currently 9C or 48.2 F, and the heaters are only half on here. It's strange lecturing a class wearing a sweatshirt and the students are bundled up in scarves and coats. MESSED UP! I know I try to live in other countries, while inderstanding their culture, but I just can't do it here...
China NEEDS central heating, and that goes for the rest of Asia as well. Oh the joys of that good old concept of central heating, I feel warmer thinking about it now.... What I wouldn't give to be home in a nice, warm house....
Freezing....
Yeah, it is cold in China, it was also cold in Japan, but not the same. The school is the damnedest design too... it is an open U-shape design. All of the room doors face in to the the middle and all the hallways are open to the elements. I guess this would be great on those nice HOT days, but not in the winter.... The wind here can cut through you like a knife, and it does in this poorly designed school. Each classroom has a small heater, which can only be compared to the heaters at Motel 6, you know the ones under the windows. Except these are mounted towards the ceiling.
It is currently 9C or 48.2 F, and the heaters are only half on here. It's strange lecturing a class wearing a sweatshirt and the students are bundled up in scarves and coats. MESSED UP! I know I try to live in other countries, while inderstanding their culture, but I just can't do it here...
China NEEDS central heating, and that goes for the rest of Asia as well. Oh the joys of that good old concept of central heating, I feel warmer thinking about it now.... What I wouldn't give to be home in a nice, warm house....
Freezing....
Friday, November 24, 2006
Teaching....
Teaching can be quite the experience.....
The other day, I gave an exam to my students. Well, most of them don't seem to understand the need to be quiet. So, I took 1 point away from their exam score. Yea, all of them! In order for them to gain back that point, I made them clean the classroom, which was done quickly and quietly. Then Yesterday, we did some Thanksgiving stuff and corrected a quiz from the previous week. Well, again the class got rowdy, so it was time to put the hammer down. They waste my time, I waste theirs. And I know as a kid, passing period is precious time. Well, I took 2, then 3 minutes from them. While I was holding them after the bell, another kid from another class was distracting them, and they couldn't be quiet. I opened the door and pulled that kid in and sat him down to join in on the punishment of my class. This bought them another minute. So, what is my point? I am going to break this class of its lack for listening.... I have all the time in the world as of now....
Some of my classes are great though. I don't need to use these punishments for them. I wish they were all great, but that would be too easy I guess. As I was just told, I need to remember this is a learning and growing experience for me and I will cherish some day.....
Well off to class.....
The other day, I gave an exam to my students. Well, most of them don't seem to understand the need to be quiet. So, I took 1 point away from their exam score. Yea, all of them! In order for them to gain back that point, I made them clean the classroom, which was done quickly and quietly. Then Yesterday, we did some Thanksgiving stuff and corrected a quiz from the previous week. Well, again the class got rowdy, so it was time to put the hammer down. They waste my time, I waste theirs. And I know as a kid, passing period is precious time. Well, I took 2, then 3 minutes from them. While I was holding them after the bell, another kid from another class was distracting them, and they couldn't be quiet. I opened the door and pulled that kid in and sat him down to join in on the punishment of my class. This bought them another minute. So, what is my point? I am going to break this class of its lack for listening.... I have all the time in the world as of now....
Some of my classes are great though. I don't need to use these punishments for them. I wish they were all great, but that would be too easy I guess. As I was just told, I need to remember this is a learning and growing experience for me and I will cherish some day.....
Well off to class.....
Sitting Alone
Thinking back to a book my friend Eric once read, "Why do all of the Black Kids Sit alone in the lunchroon" or something like that, I feel like the title. Well kind of.
As you know, I am currently living and working in China. I teach at a private school outside of Shanghai, where I am apart of a rather large English department, although I am one of 2 full-time native speakers. Like the rest of the faculty and staff in the school, I eat lunch in the Mess Hall.... However, I usually sit alone or with the other native speaker. And when my other classmates are working with me, I sit with them. Though it always seems that the foreigners sit alone.... there are always 2 empty seats at my table.
So, Why do all of the foreigners sit alone in the lunch room?
As you know, I am currently living and working in China. I teach at a private school outside of Shanghai, where I am apart of a rather large English department, although I am one of 2 full-time native speakers. Like the rest of the faculty and staff in the school, I eat lunch in the Mess Hall.... However, I usually sit alone or with the other native speaker. And when my other classmates are working with me, I sit with them. Though it always seems that the foreigners sit alone.... there are always 2 empty seats at my table.
So, Why do all of the foreigners sit alone in the lunch room?
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Sad News
Why is it, that when you live far from home you only hear about sad news?
Well today is another gloomy day here in China and I got some sad news that made it worse. I learned today that my boss from the Wabash College Bookstore has passed away. I am still in shock, because Mike Bachner '70 seemed to be one of the healthiest guys I knew.
I began work at the bookstore as a sophomore intern during the summer. I guess I did a good job, because Mike kept me around until I graduated from Wabash. I even got the usual free diploma frame as a gift, which now the most valuable piece of Wabash I own. Mike taught me a lot about working in a small bookstore or shop, he himself owning one or two over the years. But, I think I taught him just as much about technology and being on top of things. What can I say? Mike made working at the bookstore a valuable experience for me, that only added to my already wonderful college life.
Some things I will always remember about Mike:
I was once the lucky recipient of a CD shower. Mike sat at his desk and flung CD's at me, though I believe I sent a few back his way. Working could always be fun at the bookstore.
French Fries. I don't believe Mike ever ordered Fries, but he had a nasty habit of stealing mine from my lunches... and some from others as well.
"Hugs or Slugs?" Mike always offered me these two choices. I usually took the slugs, but Mike was always trying to work in a hug and sometimes he did. I'm really going to miss that choice when I go back to the bookstore.
Well, things just aren't going to be the same when I go to the bookstore next time. I know things change, but this is probably the biggest change next to the PINK Wabash College sweatshirts we had at an all male school.
For now I will relish in my memories of the bookstore. So, how bout sending me some good news sometime?
Well today is another gloomy day here in China and I got some sad news that made it worse. I learned today that my boss from the Wabash College Bookstore has passed away. I am still in shock, because Mike Bachner '70 seemed to be one of the healthiest guys I knew.
I began work at the bookstore as a sophomore intern during the summer. I guess I did a good job, because Mike kept me around until I graduated from Wabash. I even got the usual free diploma frame as a gift, which now the most valuable piece of Wabash I own. Mike taught me a lot about working in a small bookstore or shop, he himself owning one or two over the years. But, I think I taught him just as much about technology and being on top of things. What can I say? Mike made working at the bookstore a valuable experience for me, that only added to my already wonderful college life.
Some things I will always remember about Mike:
I was once the lucky recipient of a CD shower. Mike sat at his desk and flung CD's at me, though I believe I sent a few back his way. Working could always be fun at the bookstore.
French Fries. I don't believe Mike ever ordered Fries, but he had a nasty habit of stealing mine from my lunches... and some from others as well.
"Hugs or Slugs?" Mike always offered me these two choices. I usually took the slugs, but Mike was always trying to work in a hug and sometimes he did. I'm really going to miss that choice when I go back to the bookstore.
Well, things just aren't going to be the same when I go to the bookstore next time. I know things change, but this is probably the biggest change next to the PINK Wabash College sweatshirts we had at an all male school.
For now I will relish in my memories of the bookstore. So, how bout sending me some good news sometime?
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
New Apartment
Who likes moving?
Probably not many people. Especially ones moving around a foreign country. Well, I have joined the masses and moved last Friday to what was supposed to be a "bigger, better" place.
So, on Friday, I work all day, my busiest day of the week, ride the bus for 2 hours home, then finish packing. The moving guys come and load our stuff onto the truck. Then I wait around for the damn landlord to come and check us out, making my day even longer at this point. Well, she shows up with her calculator, and tells us that we need to pay 1000RMB today for utilities. WTF?! Apparently, my company doesn't pay for the internet, nor did they believe in telling us that the landlord was getting the bills for the last 3 months, plus other bills we have in general. I can't believe it, it is like money grows on trees here too. Actually they copy it here, i just need one of those copiers. Anyway the company spotted us the cash for the utilities and off we went.
On our way..... So in a meeting we were told we would have one new roommate, a girl staff member from the company. No problem says we. BUT, this poor girl is so scared to live alone with us Americans, that she needs to have another person live with her. GREAT! Two girls, two guys, three rooms. I AM BEGINNING TO HATE BEING LIED TO AND TOLD THINGS AT THE LAST MINUTE. Well we get to our new place, which is much bigger and dirtier than our last place. At this point I am really disappointed in everything.... We went out and bought cleaning supplies and had dinner. Then the girls came over to talk for a bit... during the time we were talking, the girl stayed in her room and never came out to say hi or anything.
Well, I am going to make this short. I spent a lot of time mopping, turning the water back each time. Man, the place was dirty. Chris did the same, but he found the roaches on his adventures, all 30 of them. We went hella crazy killing them...
I'll keep writing about this, slowly.... as of now I still don't know the names of the girls in the other room....
Probably not many people. Especially ones moving around a foreign country. Well, I have joined the masses and moved last Friday to what was supposed to be a "bigger, better" place.
So, on Friday, I work all day, my busiest day of the week, ride the bus for 2 hours home, then finish packing. The moving guys come and load our stuff onto the truck. Then I wait around for the damn landlord to come and check us out, making my day even longer at this point. Well, she shows up with her calculator, and tells us that we need to pay 1000RMB today for utilities. WTF?! Apparently, my company doesn't pay for the internet, nor did they believe in telling us that the landlord was getting the bills for the last 3 months, plus other bills we have in general. I can't believe it, it is like money grows on trees here too. Actually they copy it here, i just need one of those copiers. Anyway the company spotted us the cash for the utilities and off we went.
On our way..... So in a meeting we were told we would have one new roommate, a girl staff member from the company. No problem says we. BUT, this poor girl is so scared to live alone with us Americans, that she needs to have another person live with her. GREAT! Two girls, two guys, three rooms. I AM BEGINNING TO HATE BEING LIED TO AND TOLD THINGS AT THE LAST MINUTE. Well we get to our new place, which is much bigger and dirtier than our last place. At this point I am really disappointed in everything.... We went out and bought cleaning supplies and had dinner. Then the girls came over to talk for a bit... during the time we were talking, the girl stayed in her room and never came out to say hi or anything.
Well, I am going to make this short. I spent a lot of time mopping, turning the water back each time. Man, the place was dirty. Chris did the same, but he found the roaches on his adventures, all 30 of them. We went hella crazy killing them...
I'll keep writing about this, slowly.... as of now I still don't know the names of the girls in the other room....
A day teaching
For those of you who don't know, I am an English teach in China. I am currently working at a school in Kunshan, China, which is about 1.5 hours outside of Shanghai. The school is for Taiwanese students, so most of their parents are rather well off, because it is a private school. I don't know what to really say about the school, I just sort of make up what I am doing on any given day and start teaching English. The kids seem nice...
Anyway, today. Things started out ok. I began by making copies of my midterm for one of my classes. My first class was good, not problems really. Generally, I have a break after class, but today I spent is preparing for my observation lesson. For once in my life at this school I actually had to make a lesson plan for the observers. No sweat, just put some good old bullet points in word and I was on my way.
Then I went to my class with the midterm. Since most of the students just jack-around in class, I made it a bit difficult to prove a point. Many of the students' jaws hit the desk at the sight of a 3 page midterm. I got some back within the first 10 minutes. Nice. As i waited for them to all finish, Josh threw a piece of paper out of the window. Normally I ignore Josh, but not today. I made him go and get it, in the rain. From that point the class started to get rowdy, not my thing really. So, I subtracted one point from everyone's exam score, what hell. This made the room quiet. So to earn back that point, I made them clean the classroom, I also did this, because they like to throw paper all over hell and back. After everything was done, I held them after the bell for 3 minutes, just so I could have some silence....God, I hate this class.
Finally, my observation class. I told the students earlier about this special day, so they wouldn't mess it up for me. They didn't. It was the smoothest class I ever taught! The vice-principle even liked it.
Well, after my prison lunch, which was terrible as normal, I did some grading. Some of these kids are just plain ignorant. They don't pay attention and won't even guess at a true/false question for a point. Seriously, how lazy can you be? Oh, well, I am finished with school, well at least at this level.
When I took a short stroll around the school I noticed something odd. Here it goes, "What do you do with an autistic kid, who generally disrupts class?" Sit him in the back of the class and give him fire to play with. No seriously, this is what goes on at my school. I doubt the kid gets the attention he needs for learning. BUT FIRE? come on, please.
Well that was another exciting day in teaching....maybe not exciting, but interesting to say the least.
Anyway, today. Things started out ok. I began by making copies of my midterm for one of my classes. My first class was good, not problems really. Generally, I have a break after class, but today I spent is preparing for my observation lesson. For once in my life at this school I actually had to make a lesson plan for the observers. No sweat, just put some good old bullet points in word and I was on my way.
Then I went to my class with the midterm. Since most of the students just jack-around in class, I made it a bit difficult to prove a point. Many of the students' jaws hit the desk at the sight of a 3 page midterm. I got some back within the first 10 minutes. Nice. As i waited for them to all finish, Josh threw a piece of paper out of the window. Normally I ignore Josh, but not today. I made him go and get it, in the rain. From that point the class started to get rowdy, not my thing really. So, I subtracted one point from everyone's exam score, what hell. This made the room quiet. So to earn back that point, I made them clean the classroom, I also did this, because they like to throw paper all over hell and back. After everything was done, I held them after the bell for 3 minutes, just so I could have some silence....God, I hate this class.
Finally, my observation class. I told the students earlier about this special day, so they wouldn't mess it up for me. They didn't. It was the smoothest class I ever taught! The vice-principle even liked it.
Well, after my prison lunch, which was terrible as normal, I did some grading. Some of these kids are just plain ignorant. They don't pay attention and won't even guess at a true/false question for a point. Seriously, how lazy can you be? Oh, well, I am finished with school, well at least at this level.
When I took a short stroll around the school I noticed something odd. Here it goes, "What do you do with an autistic kid, who generally disrupts class?" Sit him in the back of the class and give him fire to play with. No seriously, this is what goes on at my school. I doubt the kid gets the attention he needs for learning. BUT FIRE? come on, please.
Well that was another exciting day in teaching....maybe not exciting, but interesting to say the least.
A Little information
Well here it goes....
I have recently moved to Shanghai, China to work on my Masters from Concordia University. Things are truly different here, as you can imagine. Not only am I studying, but I am also working as an English Teacher for a Taiwanese school. So, I am rather busy Monday-Friday at school and with my own studeis as well.
Before coming to China, lived in Japan for nearly 2 years. Now that was an experience of its own, but a rather good one in the long run. I had a great time and made a ton of friends there. I kind of miss it.....
I am going to start posting to vent some anger about China, my job, and my university. Just so you know, I have had a rough time balancing all three together...it just doesn't work sometimes.
Until the next post. - Seth
I have recently moved to Shanghai, China to work on my Masters from Concordia University. Things are truly different here, as you can imagine. Not only am I studying, but I am also working as an English Teacher for a Taiwanese school. So, I am rather busy Monday-Friday at school and with my own studeis as well.
Before coming to China, lived in Japan for nearly 2 years. Now that was an experience of its own, but a rather good one in the long run. I had a great time and made a ton of friends there. I kind of miss it.....
I am going to start posting to vent some anger about China, my job, and my university. Just so you know, I have had a rough time balancing all three together...it just doesn't work sometimes.
Until the next post. - Seth
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