October and Bday Celebrations

I kinda woke up on the wrong side of the bed today. It wasn't anything in particular but I was just in a strange mood, thank goodness I got my coffee maker a few days ago because I wouldn't have survived my 8am kindergarten without a pick me up! Besides some grumbling about poor restaurant service, a few misbehaved students, and the experience of stepping in dog poo (or maybe it was human, both are equally likely), it wasn't that bad of a day buuuuut my first peek out of the window this morning was a bit ominous.

Just for reference, this is the view from my apartment on a typical day...

But nope, this was today. Actually kinda cool, but quite eerie as well.

All in all I haven't had too many "bad days," it's usually just one or two things that bug you a little bit. It's been a very relaxing October, I had a blast on my bday, the weather has been similar to Colorado for the most part, and teaching is going well.

I bought a bike at the Yixi market for $20-25 but let me tell you it is, how should I say, an authentic Chinese bike.

Ridin' like the locals.

It's honestly fine for what I need, it's cheap, functional, and not likely to be stolen. Add in the basket on the front and I got a grocery haulin' machine, however long distances prove to be a bit more uncomfortable on this old piece of scrap metal. But luckily for me I got two awesome presents this year from some of my friends out here in Daqing! I already mentioned the coffee maker from the school, and Liam was looking for a home for his old mountain bike and I was the lucky recipient of its awesomeness. I still have the junker for missions to the grocery store.

Much thanks to Liam and the school!

Last Sunday I went out to Ranghulu and a bunch of us foreigners had a hibachi-style dinner and then headed over to Orange Bar to celebrate my 23rd year of existence, and I'm lucky to be around for 24 (just kidding Mom). Will and Katie provided the couch as usual, Monday I slept in and around noon Kurtis and I went to find a taxi to get us home.

It would be difficult to find a taxi on this particular day, because after a phone call or two we found out that the taxi drivers were on strike and we wouldn't be able to get a taxi anywhere until Thursday. By some mystical stroke of luck, a random pulled over and offered us a ride to Xincun for 35 yuan (only 5 over the usual) and we caught the bus home from there.

On Tuesday I took the bus out to Xincun and picked up the bike from Liam's house, it was about an hour bus ride there and I made it back in just under an hour on the bike, but also I got a pretty good workout. That night Kurtis, Susan, and I had dinner for my real bday and out came the Baijiu (Chinese rice liquor, much stronger than sake), needless to say I slept in on Wednesday as well...

Even my pops would flinch at the smell of this stuff, it's pretty, pretty strong.

Almost forgot to mention, my Tuesday/Wednesday classes all sang me happy birthday and it was epic. Those 4, 5, and 6 year olds can hype you up like you wouldn't believe! And my kindergarten has been going fairly smoothly as well, minus kids throwing up.

Can I get some help over here? Yup, bring the mop.

And finally last night Dean and Liam came out to Yixi and we had dinner at the lamb leg restaurant, and in truly epic fashion we ended the night watching Caddyshack. I told you there isn't much to do here in Yixi, and I wasn't lying!

But that means there's plenty of time to teach the waitress how to use your camera, the poor girl was having a hard time and you can see it in the following pictures.

Ok, now just move down a bit...

Kurtis attempts to help...

And that's as good as it gets!

The best part about restaurants in Daqing is the option to take a shot at a scratch lotto ticket/receipt when you get your bill. And just like that I was 5 yuan richer.

Gettin' rich in China! (5 yuan < $1)

In addition to all festivities mentioned above, Kingsley is having a Halloween party on Sunday, we'll see if I can come up with a costume in time. Other than that I have been soaking in the simple, small town life here in Yixi. Kurtis and I laced up our bball shoes and took on some Chinese guys in a little full court 5v5, which will likely become a weekly event. About a week or two ago I took a ride on my junk bike to the outskirts of the city and once you get into either the farmland or the marshland it is pretty scenic.

Just headin' out to the country

And that pretty much sums up my October, my Chinese is (very) slowly progressing, I've been trying a lot of new food, I'm learning more about teaching each day, and I've managed to avoid falling into last place in Fantasy Football, despite losing to Rob's Last Place Noobs and merely slipping to 2nd to last. Ahh, you're welcome Rob.

I also found out I'm going to be teaching the "Christmas Choir" class starting next week, I think it's because they wouldn't dare try to give that class to Kurtis...I'll let you know how it goes.

And any skateboarders out there should appreciate the sign of one of my Kindergartens:

The Entrance to my 2nd Kindergarten

Skate or don't!

Until next time, TIC!

Chinese National Day, Mudanjiang, and Two Weddings

So it’s been awhile but you’ll have to excuse me, I had a week off school for Chinese National Day and I’m just now getting back into the swing of things. So without further adieu, a quick update on what has been going on here in Heilongjiang Province.

After bumming around on the first weekend of break, a bunch of us foreigners headed to Shan’s wedding for an awesome time. The venue was huge, the ceremony was fairly short and sweet, and the food was pretty, pretty good. I will say though, if it wasn’t for us foreigners staying late, playing music, and having a rowdy time, the wedding would have been over in two hours easily. Chinese weddings tend to be earlier in the day, and don’t last long; show up, watch the ceremony, eat, and bail. But Shan’s was an exception and after we danced to a few songs (Kurtis did the Soulja boy dance…) we headed to Orange Bar to continue the festivities.

Wayne (legally certified) Performs the English Segment of the Ceremony

Chowin’ Down

During the week we took a trip to the local bowling alley, which is funny because I seem to go bowling much more often when I am outside of the U.S. (went twice in two weeks in Utrecht). The stars aligned during the tenth frame of our last game, I bowled a nice ball right down the middle for a 9, and then missed the spare. But! It turns out all I needed to beat Dean was 9 pins, and victory was sweet.

Sweet, Sweet Victory

Outside the Bowling Alley

Then it was off to Mudanjiang, an 8 hour train ride away, for Canadian John’s wedding. We headed over to Saertu (yet another part of town in Daqing), hopped on our train, and off we were.

Daqing Railway Station, in Saertu

We arrived in Mudanjiang Wednesday evening and got some food, but we called it a night rather early because we had to be up in the morning for the hour and a half bus ride to the small town where the wedding was held. Australian John came down with some sort of stomach bug so I lost my roommate. So to avoid paying for a full room by myself, I was able to ruin a potentially romantic getaway for Kurtis and Susan.

Of Course Kurtis Has His Buckeyes Gear

John’s wedding was a lot smaller but I really enjoyed the authenticity and it was an amazing experience to see life in small town China. Us guys hung around and had a few drinks but we could only prolong the inevitable, we were back in Mudanjiang in the early afternoon.

John and Crystal Getting Slayed by Confetti

We bummed around Mudanjiang for awhile, checking out the markets and the main square which was pretty cool. I definitely didn’t get as many “Hellloooooo”s or “Laowai”s as in Daqing which was nice, and I enjoyed the awesome nighttime atmosphere. We ate “pancakes” at a nice restaurant that was surprisingly cheap (pancakes aka crepes that you put meat and veggies in, more like soft tacos?) and the next morning we were heading back to Daqing.

Mudanjiang in the Day...

...and Night

View from the Balcony of John’s Wedding

Mudanjiang Market Street

Scenic Countryside, Nice to See Some Hills! (Daqing is as Flat as Nebraska)

And finally we were back home, I really enjoyed the holiday and the chance to see Chinese and Western culture meet. It was great to get out of Daqing for a bit, not that it’s bad here but I imagine my travel opportunities will diminish now that I’m in school until January without any big breaks. Before classes started again on Tuesday, Kurtis, Susan, and I went back to our newly found Leg-O’-Lamb restaurant and here is a glimpse of the epicness.

MMmmmMMMmmmm!

A few quick funny teaching stories:

At one of my kindergartens I was helping all the kids move their little plastic chairs into a semi-circle in order to begin class and I gently nudged one little rascal in the right direction when all of a sudden he turned around with the most furious 3-5 year old face I have ever seen. He then proceeded to shake his finger at me and scold me in Chinese before finally taking his seat. In a state of awe I looked over at my assistant teacher who was just as shocked as I was and asked her to translate what my student had said.
“I am NOT playing with YOU tomorrow! I’m so MAD at YOU Foreign Teacher!!!”
We couldn’t help but start laughing and I had to collect myself before the lesson!

In one of my “Shen Tong” classes I have a little girl named Mary. Mary is a very peculiar little girl, or curious if you want to call it that, but I called her up with another boy to act out a conversation I had taught that day. Hello, how are you, I’m fine thanks etc. Simple stuff. When all of a sudden Mary puts her arms around this unfortunate little boy’s neck and proceeded to kiss him on the cheek and start mauling him (for lack of a better word). I ran over to break it up but she seriously had a vice grip on this kid! I finally pulled them apart and I had to hold Mary in the air and carry her back to her desk and physically put her into it before she would cut it out! Every class I have to watch out for Mary, because not only does she do this to other little boys but every once in awhile she goes for me as well. I’m pretty sure one of the assistants who was observing my class got a picture, so I’ll try to track that down.

Once again, TIC!