ChinaTeacher

APRIL – The month of April is slipping away more quickly than I expected. My birthday on the 1st was a non-event and I planned it that way. I could have made sure everyone knew about it and had a big social ‘do’, but I just didn’t feel like it. Now, next year is an entirely different matter – I will turn the big 50! That is definitely cause for celebration (especially since I only feel 35!).

CHANGE – Now, in response to “how’s it going?”, some people back home would reply with “same old thing – I hate my life!”. But here is China, change is the norm! For example, Hangzhou continues to evolve on a daily basis – hell, on an ‘hourly’ basis, with highways and wider roads being constructed, new green spaces appearing everywhere, to new western-style restaurants opening up.

COFFEE – And, if that isn’t enough, Segafredo Italian Coffee Shop has also opened its doors and has a fantastic location ride beside West Lake. It’s a little more expensive than Starbucks, but the quality of their coffee is much better!  Many people haven’t discovered it yet, which is great for me! I have already spent several afternoons/evenings sitting on their patio with friends, or indulging in my favourite book, all in relative ‘peace’, while hordes of locals ‘jockey’ for space on the nearby sidewalks running along the water’s edge. Unfortunately, I will probably have to find another spot to relax, because the secret is sure to get out soon about what a great place this is.

TRAIN – Okay, enough about coffee, let’s talk about transportation. I mentioned the new “CRH Bullet Trains” in my last post.  But I have just learned that these modern Japanese-style trains are equipped with WIFI! All routes affected have been drastically reduced, time-wise. Fore example, starting this week, it will only take 80 minutes to get to Shanghai from Hangzhou (instead of the original 2+ hours! Eventually, the time will get down to 68 minutes! The new ‘seamless’ track system provides a ride so smooth, you’d swear you were on an airplane! In Hangzhou, our train station has accommodated the new CRH service by building a brand-new ticket office and waiting lounge. Initially, only the major routes in Eastern China will feature these special trains, but China’s long-term plan is to have high-speed train service country-wide. It’s a fantastic innovation!

MONEY – Starting in 2008 I will be able to ‘deposit’ money into my bank account back home in Canada! It’s been easy for me to take money OUT of my account (I’ve been watching it slowly deplete over these past few years), but soon I will be able to replenish my account! It will also be easier for us foreigners to exchange RMB into US$. Currently, to do so requires a tremendous amount of red tape; many foreigners just pay local Chinese to do it for them.

BABIES – I learned just recently that no one takes pictures of their babies here in China until their 100th birthday! I guess no one here takes delivery-room movies like we do back home. Wonder how that would go over, here in China! Talk about a ‘faux-pas’!

MY STUDENTS – I think I have said before how ‘emotionally-immature’ many Chinese university students are, despite the fact most of them are 20/21 years of age, right? For one thing, they often buy each other large stuffed animals to sleep with, and they are very much into buying things that are cute and child-like to decorate their handbags, clothing and dorm rooms. Well last week, I was stunned by this latest observation. Most of my students bring water bottles to class – no problem, right? Well, one of my students brought a baby bottle to my class. Her excuse for using this as a water bottle – “well, I think it’s very cute”. She did, however, hasten to assure me that she doesn’t use the ‘nipple’ – she removes the entire lid to sip her water. But, while relaying this tidbit of nformation to my colleagues, one of the teachers said he actually saw a student sucking her green tea from the nipple of a baby bottle! Some suggest it might be considered a fashion statement – FASHION STATEMENT?!?! Can you imagine this back in Canada!

Life in China continues to amaze me and sometimes throws me curve-balls. But boring it is definitely not! Thank goodness, I thrive on variety and change! And, for your viewing pleasure, I have attached a few pictures from around West Lake – enjoy!