ChinaTeacher

You know those ‘stress charts’ they talk about back home? You know, the ones where you rate yourself in terms of the amount of stressful situations happening in your life? Well, here is my latest list – what do you think of it?

1. 2 days left before leaving on my 4-week vacation to Canada/US – (final packing and preparation)

2. Oh yes, a friend is staying at my place in my absence, so I need to get it all cleaned up for her arrival!

3. One week after I return to China, I am moving to a new apartment.

4. One week after that, I am travelling to CAMBODIA for a 4-week vacation.

5. Two weeks after my return, I start my new teaching job at a university here in Hangzhou.

So, what’s the verdict? For me this is a very stressful time, even though the stress is related to positive changes in my life, but WOW! I mean, one minute I am emailing my family members and friends to reconfirm arrival times in Canada/US, and the next I am booking a guesthouse in Cambodia for my first night’s accommodation in July (I will arrive after midnight if you can believe it!). Then, I am emailing administrative details to my friend who will housesit next week, followed by contacting friends who might be able to help me with my big MOVE when I get back to China in July. It’s hard to keep everything straight in my mind, and on track! But, hey, isn’t life exciting?!?!?!!

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I mentioned in my last post how much I enjoy meeting new people, and that I never know what each day will bring, here in Hangzhou. Here is yet another example…. this morning I headed down to the Starbucks located at Xihutiandi (right beside the lake). It is a very relaxing spot to chill out once in a while. Anyway, a friend was scheduled to join me at 10:30, but I decided to arrive earlier to get started on a new book I had picked up. I plodded my way out the back door to the shop’s lakeside patio. As I sat down at one of the umbrella tables, I noticed a Buddhist monk at the next table, drinking coffee! (I didn’t think monks were allowed to consume caffeine!). Anyway, he waved me over, but I declined, pointing to my watch and saying “pengyou“, which meant I was ‘waiting for a friend’. Well, after about 5 minutes, I noticed he had vanished, very quietly, I might add.

Later on, when I found my way back to the counter to order a second coffee, I saw the monk, this time sitting at a corner table inside the shop. He smiled at me and beckoned again – I thought, “okay, why not”, and joined him. Needless to say, he spoke little English, and I spoke little Chinese. But, we were able to exchange a few niceties, smiles; he even took a picture of me with his mobile phone. We exchanged business cards. Turns out that he is some high-level monk who resides at the Lantau Temple in Hong Kong. He is currently travelling around China, spreading the word of Buddha to those who will listen. Obviously he didn’t get very far with me, because he knew I couldn’t understand a word. But, he did remove his hand-carved sandalwood bracelet and slip it onto my wrist – he gestured to me that it was a gift. I felt like I had been blessed or something! I was actually quite surprised that he even ‘touched’ me. In Thailand there is a strict rule forbidding monks to have any contact whatsoever with a woman. They have to go through a major ‘cleansing’ ceremony if such a thing should happen. Anyway, this monk seemed rather interested in my sunglasses. As a result, I presented my sunglasses to him in return as a gift. Actually, I got off pretty lightly.

 My Chinese friend arrived soon after, was treated to a ‘reading’ by the monk and then wound up having to give him 200 RMB! I was shocked!!! My friend simply said – you foreigners don’t understand – “This is how it is done in China. You must give such money to a monk; in fact I am sorry I don’t have more to give at this time”. And here I was, thinking about how much I was missing my damn sunglasses. Oh well. I think I did okay in retrospect.

See what I mean? Each and every day here in China continues to surprise me!

One of my favourite pasttimes is meeting new people here in China. I remember, last year I was in Shanghai one evening and met a couple from Singapore.  We had a wonderful chat right on the street, and exchanged business cards.  The man said, “well, if you ever find yourself in Singapore, please give us a call”.  In the past I would have laughed at such a gesture, thinking “yeah, when pigs fly”.  But, living overseas puts you in the environment of meeting people from all walks of life and from all regions of the world.  You finally believe that yes, it IS possible to travel to these countries and meet up again with such individuals, even if you met them just once.  For, we all ‘share’ something – by adjusting to life overseas, we are all living outside our comfort zone, and catching another foreigner’s eye, taking a moment to chat… it all helps us to remember who we are, and where we come from.

Today, for instance, I was sitting outside the deli of our local Holiday Inn, enjoying a steaming hot latte, when the Executive Chef wandered over to my table.  (I was there because they have ENGLISH newspapers and magazines!)  After exchanging the usual greetings, I discovered he was a new arrival, having been posted to the Holiday Inn just one week ago!  Now, I was the local and he was the visitor!  I welcomed him warmly and gave him a quick rundown on some of Hangzhou’s amenities and famous sites.  His name is Tony and he is from New Zealand.  This is not his first time in China however – he spent the last two years in the Chinese industrial city of Chongqing.  No comparison – Hangzhou wins, hands down!

Last evening, I spent an hour or two perusing the wares at one of Hangzhou’s delightful ‘night markets’, where one can purchase genuine ‘fake’ brandname watches, clothing, and even jewelry and ‘real’ antique reproductions for a song!  I bumped into a businessman who had just scored a deal on a beautiful black leather carryon bag, which he was attempting to drag down one of the narrow aisles of the market.  Turns out, he’s from Australia, heads up a large real estate development company here in Hangzhou, and is one of very few foreigners who can say he has been doing business in China for over 10 years.  We talked for quite some time, as he has seen tremendous change and growth as a result of China’s recent development.  Again, another exchange of business cards and the promise to be in touch – he comes to Hangzhou at least once a month, and promised to introduce me to the mayor!  I then continued my ramblings through the market.  Oh, yes, he also said that he and his wife are moving to Paris.  Hmm, maybe I’ll go and visit….!