Jerod In China

Yesterday was a busy day, the kind of day where you go off budget and buy something that could be useful but perhaps a little spendy.  I went and bought a printer/scanner/copier model HP F388.  HP as in Hewlett Packard.  It seems there are only two kinds of computer printers sold in China and this is one.

I've seen this combination at work and around town.  It seems that everyone buys the same deal.  What is nice about this is that it is 3 in 1, so I'm quite happy and content to play with the thing before doing any serious work like giving homework.

One of the hardest things to do in Beijing is to get away from it all.  There aren't many big parks where you can go walking and not see anyone for a period of time.  That is my daily challenge. 

Over the weekend I bought a camera for my computer.  The camera is for live video feeds and it works well.  Already I've tested it out.  The video gives a mirror image of what is really happening.  I'm still working on getting a still camera to share one moment.  I was on the camera this morning at breakfast time and had to turn away to eat some oatmeal.  Interesting world we live in when you can peak into someone's home via computer.

The stock market in China reached over 5000 and people are going crazy.  Everyone is watching the stock market like their lives depended on it or some type of new age horse race.  There are entire rooms filled with tickers form the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Marekts.  It is the new national pastime.

Another pastime I've noticed is the taking and dividing up of things that used to be collective.  If you asked someone years a go what the space in front of their apartment was for they would say for trees.  Well the new China has seen fit to pave alot of the areas between buildings for parking spaces.

Among the new additions to the neighborhood are orange parking devices.  The devices raise and lower to allow cars to pass over and park.  The owner has to have a key to the orange device to lock and unlock.  They are everywhere around China.  Now I have them here at my apartment. 

I don't know how they determined who gets one and who doesn't.  There must be a fee to park your car.  If not, let me say whole heartedly, "Let the games begin". 

Another day goes by and I'm reminded of all the things that I should do on a regular basis.  I try very hard to watch where I spend my money and hope someday to have a routine of exercise.  It is good for the health.

My schedule teaching is regular.  Every night I am not home because  I'm at some branch teaching.  This week it is every morning.  The irregularity comes when they need me to fill in for someone who cannot take a class at a particular time.  It is too much sometimes.

The internet has been causing me problems as has my schedule.  They don't seem to make the right kinds of decisions about scheduling and I feel that I have to spend time filling in for teachers who just don't want to work.  Maybe they make bad decisions on who to hire.

The expression "leave me the F%#K alone" doesn't register in many people's minds because we've perfected the art of being nice and kind.  I'm afraid that I won't get the same respect if I decline these petty jobs.  They become less favors and more the routine.

Some of the foreign teachers are mean and take it too far and abuse some of the help.  Some of the help mistreat some of the foreign teachers.  I know people like this.  They are called A$$h@!e$ in the states.  We've got two kinds here, import and domestic.

As far as the life in China, there are a few measure where stop gaps have been installed.  I no longer accept the canned answers such as "my English is very poor", "I hate that food because it is too sweet", "I want to study abroad", etc.  The list of Chinese canned expressions can be questioned for the regularity of use and commonality in expression.  It is always the same words.  It defies the law of averages.  They must have all read the same book.

There is little space to escape from the life in China.  Books are a good measure.  Just for that good measure I've purchased several books and will do it some more when the check clears.  Work can be pretty crappy sometimes.  I need the release.

China can cause a lot of headaches.  There is the constant honking of horns, the poor quality of air and the misery of being trapped in a large greenhouse.  But China offers many the opportunity to slow down and rethink some critical life decisions.  I've met some of the foreigners who come to China just to "get away" from the United States.  I don't include myself amongst their membership.

Getting away from anything causes its own set of problems.  People may wonder what you are running to or from.  China offers an opportunity to begin again.  Learning a new way of thinking requires patience and time. 

Allowing China to teach you how life can be lived more fully with less is interesting.  You don't even need to take Tylenol to relieve your headache.  Maybe some acupuncture, massage or green tea works equally as well.  Perhaps the vegetables tell a tale of good health as well. 

It is just the throwing out of old ways in favor of the older ways that takes time and courage.

The charm has worn off.  I'm tired of seeing some of the same sights.  The job itself has become work and I've become a regular employee and my job has become well regular.  Aside from that I'm fine and surviving in Beijing.

The problem is that most think American food is McDonald's and KFC. If Sweet Martha made cookies here in China she would fine a huge market.  There is potential.

Being a Beijinger means going to bed at about 10:00 pm or 11:00 pm  and getting up around 6 am.  There is a leisure among the old who have money in the bank and a restlessness among the 20-30 year olds who are trying to take apartments, cars and girls off the market.  It is an interesting observation for any Sociologist.

I'm enjoying some of what I've seen, but too much is too much.  I enjoy the letters from home.  Keep them coming.

Welcome to September.  To celebrate I went and saw "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix".  There was flying stuff, exploding stuff and a kiss.  The kiss was very interesting.

In the movie Harry gets a grownup kiss from a Chinese girl.  The audience sort of gushed and there were a few laughts.  Since I didn't know who she was I thought that Harry was maybe moving a little too fast with this girl.