It's 4:41 AM, and we're throwing the last of our things in our bags.
It's time to head out to Hong Kong. Leaving the mainland has some worries attached to the excitement, including the questionable nature of our return visa, but that will all be discussed upon our return. That is IF we are granted access back into China proper, and IF I'm able to continue the blog action.
We're going to be off the grid for two weeks with an trip that will take us from Hong Kong to Shanghai, and back to Guilin as well. We're meeting up with more than a few old friends, so this trip should really be something.
See you in two weeks! Try not to be too jealous,
- Shawn
Friday, September 28, 2007
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Mooncakes
Yesterday was the Mid-Autumn Day Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, also known as the second biggest Festival in China.
The day before the festival, the foreign teachers of Future 2 were invited to a classical concert put on by the Dalian Government in appreciation to foreigners contributing to the city's economy. It's weird being thought of that way, but it was an interesting and enjoyable concert nonetheless.
And of course, there were a good amount of really strange instruments to pierce our ear drums.
The next night was the festival proper, and we picnicked out on a beach by our school, and ingested some mooncakes. Mooncakes are small special cakes flavored (but not filled) in a variety of "exciting" ways. At their best, they are edible enough to enjoy one bite, but for the most part... let's just say I've had better.
We had some Black Sesame, Red Bean, Corn, Date, Pineapple, Peach, Green Tea and other mystery flavors. None were particularly great. Some were rather bad.
It was fun though in the past month or so to see western entities like Starbucks and Hagen Daz come up with their own versions of moon cakes. A bit pricey unfortunately, although I did snag a free sample Starbucks one, and as weird as it was, it was the best tasting one. Although something tells me the Brooklyn Ice Cream ones would have ruled.
Happy Moon Festival!
- Shawn
The day before the festival, the foreign teachers of Future 2 were invited to a classical concert put on by the Dalian Government in appreciation to foreigners contributing to the city's economy. It's weird being thought of that way, but it was an interesting and enjoyable concert nonetheless.
And of course, there were a good amount of really strange instruments to pierce our ear drums.
The next night was the festival proper, and we picnicked out on a beach by our school, and ingested some mooncakes. Mooncakes are small special cakes flavored (but not filled) in a variety of "exciting" ways. At their best, they are edible enough to enjoy one bite, but for the most part... let's just say I've had better.
We had some Black Sesame, Red Bean, Corn, Date, Pineapple, Peach, Green Tea and other mystery flavors. None were particularly great. Some were rather bad.
It was fun though in the past month or so to see western entities like Starbucks and Hagen Daz come up with their own versions of moon cakes. A bit pricey unfortunately, although I did snag a free sample Starbucks one, and as weird as it was, it was the best tasting one. Although something tells me the Brooklyn Ice Cream ones would have ruled.
Happy Moon Festival!
- Shawn
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Quick! Hide! It's the Sun!
This post is being written now because the weather is starting to change here in Dalian, and if I want there to be any relevance at all, it's gotta be now.
Where I come from, tanning is a strange but welcome pass time. People will sit and bake on a beach or by a pool for hours, hoping to get as dark as they can without tempting the skin disease gods. They industry has evolved to the point of offering up tanning sprays that turn you orange, and 24 hour tanning salons where you get to chill in a microwave for a while at 3:00 AM.
Things couldn't be any more different here. The beauty supply industry is centered on whitening creams, and even cab drivers where really strange attachable sleeves to avoid farmer tans. The darker you are, it is believed, the lower your social class. Because clearly, in a city known for its beaches, the only reason you'd have a tan is if you're out working in the fields all day.
I don't need to get it, that's the beauty of China.
But speaking of the beaches, they are a strange sight. I need to apologize for not having the foresight to snap photos myself, but thanks to morally wrong facebook album robbing, I have secured some pictures of some of the very strange sites you'll see on the Dalian coastal beaches. The first that I have no shots of is a neat enough idea, but in the larger context of solar fear is really strange. Tents on the beach. Lots and lots of tents. No base camp made of towels, bags, lawn chairs and perhaps an umbrella. No siree, just tents. But whatever, I like it. Things get weird on the beach when you see THIS guy...
(photo unceremoniously stolen from Laura)
It's not just the beach though. The other day I was grabbing some lunch by school, and saw this. People are not just under umbrellas. Oh no no no. What if the sun rays fly sideways, or reflect off something. What if we're exposed! So here we go, a lunch break completely covered by an umbrella.
Delicious, but a bit claustrophobic.
I don't know if the Chinese are all Vampires or what, but either way, I'm going to go find some shade.
- Shawn
Where I come from, tanning is a strange but welcome pass time. People will sit and bake on a beach or by a pool for hours, hoping to get as dark as they can without tempting the skin disease gods. They industry has evolved to the point of offering up tanning sprays that turn you orange, and 24 hour tanning salons where you get to chill in a microwave for a while at 3:00 AM.
Things couldn't be any more different here. The beauty supply industry is centered on whitening creams, and even cab drivers where really strange attachable sleeves to avoid farmer tans. The darker you are, it is believed, the lower your social class. Because clearly, in a city known for its beaches, the only reason you'd have a tan is if you're out working in the fields all day.
I don't need to get it, that's the beauty of China.
But speaking of the beaches, they are a strange sight. I need to apologize for not having the foresight to snap photos myself, but thanks to morally wrong facebook album robbing, I have secured some pictures of some of the very strange sites you'll see on the Dalian coastal beaches. The first that I have no shots of is a neat enough idea, but in the larger context of solar fear is really strange. Tents on the beach. Lots and lots of tents. No base camp made of towels, bags, lawn chairs and perhaps an umbrella. No siree, just tents. But whatever, I like it. Things get weird on the beach when you see THIS guy...
(photo unceremoniously stolen from Laura)
It's not just the beach though. The other day I was grabbing some lunch by school, and saw this. People are not just under umbrellas. Oh no no no. What if the sun rays fly sideways, or reflect off something. What if we're exposed! So here we go, a lunch break completely covered by an umbrella.
Delicious, but a bit claustrophobic.
I don't know if the Chinese are all Vampires or what, but either way, I'm going to go find some shade.
- Shawn
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Yes, We've Eaten Dog
The headline really says it all. I could probably leave it right here and let you imagine the rest, but where would the fun be in that. So here we go, I now present you with your main course tonight: Stir Fried Dog.
And you know what, I know there are a bunch of you out there giving your computer monitors strange and dirty looks... whether your poor desktop deserves them is up to debate, but come on... when in Rome...
The meat was heavily seasoned, to the point were it would be difficult to say "It tasted like Chicken." If anything, it had more of a Mutton-y taste I guess. The consistency was the real killer. Overly gamey, stringy, and way too fatty. They could have definitely taken Rover for a few more walks it would seem.
It's still sort of weird to think of I guess. But it really had to happen. Korean designed, Chinese approved "gourmet"... dog. Can't really put an "mmmmmm" here, but you get the point.
and that's that,
- Shawn
And you know what, I know there are a bunch of you out there giving your computer monitors strange and dirty looks... whether your poor desktop deserves them is up to debate, but come on... when in Rome...
The meat was heavily seasoned, to the point were it would be difficult to say "It tasted like Chicken." If anything, it had more of a Mutton-y taste I guess. The consistency was the real killer. Overly gamey, stringy, and way too fatty. They could have definitely taken Rover for a few more walks it would seem.
It's still sort of weird to think of I guess. But it really had to happen. Korean designed, Chinese approved "gourmet"... dog. Can't really put an "mmmmmm" here, but you get the point.
and that's that,
- Shawn
Friday, September 14, 2007
Rosh Hashanah... in China?
I was going to start my post about a rather strange Jewish New Year by pointing you to an older blog post about "The Matzah Incident", but upon leafing through the old posts, I couldn't find it. So let me start from the beginning, and tell you all about "The Matzah Incident".
For Passover, it is customary for Jews to eat Matzah a delicious unleavened bread substitute that is essentially a glorified crunchy version of corrugated cardboard. It may surprise you, but this stuff is somewhat difficult to come by here in the People's Republic.
My parents, keenly aware of this, arranged a package to be shipped to me through the Beijing Chabad (which is more than likely the only Jewish organization in China). I had no idea it was coming, so I wasn't surprised when it didn't show up on time for the celebration.
Turns out, it was somehow delivered to a Jewish Family living in the Dalian suburb called Kai Fa Qu. This family spent a shocking amount of time trying to track me down, eventually getting the package delivered to me at school. I shared some Matzah with my curious Chinese coworkers (they said they liked it, I said they were liars), and thanked these mysterious "other Jews" for going out of their way to get my package to me.
I'm really surprised this story never made the blog. I apologize, and am now crippled by the fear that I may have left out other such amusing anecdotes.
Anyways, we sort of remained in touch, when I was invited to celebrate the Israeli Independence Day, which I had to decline on account of work.
That was the last I had heard of them until a few weeks ago. I was invited up to Kai Fa Qu to celebrate the New Year with a motley assortment of Jews who are also displaced here in China. With Corey and two token Israelis in tow, I made the trip out to the 'burbs for a Chinese infused Jewish New Year.
All the staples were there:
Apples and Honey
Pomegranet Seeds (an Israeli thing... but a fairly tasty one at that)
And Sweet and Sour Fish to replace the otherwise bland Fish Head.
And no, dipping apples into Honey is not made easier by Chopsticks.
They'll probably never wind up reading this, but I'd really like to thank the Manes family for inviting my friends and I to celebrate with them. I am far from the most observant Jew you'll find, even from the ones here in Dalian, China, but this was a really nice celebration, and an interesting and new twist on the old classic of Rosh Hashanah.
Happy New Year,
- Shawn
For Passover, it is customary for Jews to eat Matzah a delicious unleavened bread substitute that is essentially a glorified crunchy version of corrugated cardboard. It may surprise you, but this stuff is somewhat difficult to come by here in the People's Republic.
My parents, keenly aware of this, arranged a package to be shipped to me through the Beijing Chabad (which is more than likely the only Jewish organization in China). I had no idea it was coming, so I wasn't surprised when it didn't show up on time for the celebration.
Turns out, it was somehow delivered to a Jewish Family living in the Dalian suburb called Kai Fa Qu. This family spent a shocking amount of time trying to track me down, eventually getting the package delivered to me at school. I shared some Matzah with my curious Chinese coworkers (they said they liked it, I said they were liars), and thanked these mysterious "other Jews" for going out of their way to get my package to me.
I'm really surprised this story never made the blog. I apologize, and am now crippled by the fear that I may have left out other such amusing anecdotes.
Anyways, we sort of remained in touch, when I was invited to celebrate the Israeli Independence Day, which I had to decline on account of work.
That was the last I had heard of them until a few weeks ago. I was invited up to Kai Fa Qu to celebrate the New Year with a motley assortment of Jews who are also displaced here in China. With Corey and two token Israelis in tow, I made the trip out to the 'burbs for a Chinese infused Jewish New Year.
All the staples were there:
Apples and Honey
Pomegranet Seeds (an Israeli thing... but a fairly tasty one at that)
And Sweet and Sour Fish to replace the otherwise bland Fish Head.
And no, dipping apples into Honey is not made easier by Chopsticks.
They'll probably never wind up reading this, but I'd really like to thank the Manes family for inviting my friends and I to celebrate with them. I am far from the most observant Jew you'll find, even from the ones here in Dalian, China, but this was a really nice celebration, and an interesting and new twist on the old classic of Rosh Hashanah.
Happy New Year,
- Shawn
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Laura's Parting Chinglish
With the start of the new semester, we lost a few of our old foreign teaching staff. But luckily, Laura left us something to remember her by. Some of the best Chinglish ever seen by human eyes. The first one is quality. Standard great Chinglish. But the second... well, lets just say that this one makes so little sense that I mulled it over for months, too busy trying to comprehend what it was trying to warn me against to ever take a picture. About a month ago, I realized that it had been replaced from its spot on the Dalian Tram. Gone was the head scratching word puzzle, and I never had a chance to document it in all its glory! Luckily, others were on the lookout.
So thanks Laura for these golden contributions. We'll miss you. Almost as much as that Chinglish from the tram.
Good to know the Plump-ladies will always be able to find job.
Once found in every car of the Dalian Tram. This is the Chinglish Holy Grail.
That's all for now folks,
- Shawn
So thanks Laura for these golden contributions. We'll miss you. Almost as much as that Chinglish from the tram.
Good to know the Plump-ladies will always be able to find job.
Once found in every car of the Dalian Tram. This is the Chinglish Holy Grail.
That's all for now folks,
- Shawn
Monday, September 10, 2007
Round Two
So this weekend saw the start of our second semester teaching at Future 2. It was a nice fresh start with a slew of new classes, with a few returning faces in the seats. It's sort of strange teaching a completely different class with a few students you know, but even weirder is seeing your old students running around the hallway, waving excitedly at you. It makes you feel somewhat accomplished. Like: hey, they like you! I did something right I guess.
The weirdest though is seeing the few students I had to fail. Who would have thought they'd be just as excited to see me in the hallway? Waving just as hard and grinning just as stupidly. Hmmm... didn't mean for it to come out like that.
Most of the classes are the same here, but one new class I'm teaching this semester is C14: The much feared highest level kids class. Teaching pubescent nightmares from 13-18 without a text book, syllabus or course objectives list. Plus, a good chunk of the class has already taken the course, so I have to make sure the lessons I pull out of nowhere aren't the same as the random crap other teachers have made up. All that said, this is the class I'm most excited for. I have some ideas, I got some from them, and I just hope it isn't a waste of all of our time when all is said and done. Challenges in the classroom, gotta love 'em.
Especially the ones that don't involve five year olds breaking into tears for no particular reason. Of course, if any of my seventeen year olds break into tears for no particular reason, I'm in real trouble.
The most exciting part of this semester is our new schedules. We now have our three days off in a row. No more Monday, Wednesday, Friday days off. Now, we're free from Monday - Wednesday, which means we'll see a bit more of China this semester. Which of course translates into more interesting blog posts for you, dear reader.
Should be a good semester.
- Shawn
The weirdest though is seeing the few students I had to fail. Who would have thought they'd be just as excited to see me in the hallway? Waving just as hard and grinning just as stupidly. Hmmm... didn't mean for it to come out like that.
Most of the classes are the same here, but one new class I'm teaching this semester is C14: The much feared highest level kids class. Teaching pubescent nightmares from 13-18 without a text book, syllabus or course objectives list. Plus, a good chunk of the class has already taken the course, so I have to make sure the lessons I pull out of nowhere aren't the same as the random crap other teachers have made up. All that said, this is the class I'm most excited for. I have some ideas, I got some from them, and I just hope it isn't a waste of all of our time when all is said and done. Challenges in the classroom, gotta love 'em.
Especially the ones that don't involve five year olds breaking into tears for no particular reason. Of course, if any of my seventeen year olds break into tears for no particular reason, I'm in real trouble.
The most exciting part of this semester is our new schedules. We now have our three days off in a row. No more Monday, Wednesday, Friday days off. Now, we're free from Monday - Wednesday, which means we'll see a bit more of China this semester. Which of course translates into more interesting blog posts for you, dear reader.
Should be a good semester.
- Shawn
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
The First Semester Chinglish Awards
Chinglish (or Chinese English for the uninitiated) is a hilarious ummm... art form... that can be found all over China. Chinglish ranges from random typos, to hilarious non-sequitors to fully formed paragraphs that just make no damned sense. I could go on, but I'm gonna just let the pictures do the talking.
Feel free to click on the images for a more in your face inaugural Chinglish experience.
Pretty, pretty prinless.
Season's Greerigs to you all.
Just because it makes sense doesn't make it any less hilarious.
What makes this great, is that Christmas is spelled right right under Christma.
It's really pretty terrible when it's a simple enough word that you got right the first time...
Twenty Six is my favorite TV show of all time!
Terrifying
My notebook for learning Chinese, here's hoping no one uses it to learn English.
No words needed.
I walked on yhe bridge when I was in Dandong, it was one of yhe more interesting bridges.
Hey, they got it right this time.
A friendly warning.
Good to know.
The back of Archie's (one of our Chinese Teachers) T-Shirts. She had no idea what it all meant. I did.
Just blow up and read. Maybe twice.
Every airport needs one.
Finger licking... K?
This one gives me a headache just trying to come up with a witty caption.
Saf ety fir st.
The next few gems are courtesy of the Dalian Zoo, and then Aquarium. There will be a post all about the two sites... eventually. Until then, here are some powerful and moving signs. And remember, No beating!
There sure can be if we keep beating the animals.
Prove it.
As long as it's filtered.
I'll try not to.
Same rules apply at the aquarium.
Gotta love those European trends!
Our final bit of Chinglish for the day is courtesy of Bianca.
If you're a bit overwhelmed, then this post has done its job. Welcome to the wild and wacky world of Chinglish. The good news is that this is the first of an ongoing new feature on the blog focusing on this bastardization of the language I am here to teach. The bad news is that your head will continue to hurt as the Chinglish rolls in.
Happy all the time!
- Shawn
Feel free to click on the images for a more in your face inaugural Chinglish experience.
Pretty, pretty prinless.
Season's Greerigs to you all.
Just because it makes sense doesn't make it any less hilarious.
What makes this great, is that Christmas is spelled right right under Christma.
It's really pretty terrible when it's a simple enough word that you got right the first time...
Twenty Six is my favorite TV show of all time!
Terrifying
My notebook for learning Chinese, here's hoping no one uses it to learn English.
No words needed.
I walked on yhe bridge when I was in Dandong, it was one of yhe more interesting bridges.
Hey, they got it right this time.
A friendly warning.
Good to know.
The back of Archie's (one of our Chinese Teachers) T-Shirts. She had no idea what it all meant. I did.
Just blow up and read. Maybe twice.
Every airport needs one.
Finger licking... K?
This one gives me a headache just trying to come up with a witty caption.
Saf ety fir st.
The next few gems are courtesy of the Dalian Zoo, and then Aquarium. There will be a post all about the two sites... eventually. Until then, here are some powerful and moving signs. And remember, No beating!
There sure can be if we keep beating the animals.
Prove it.
As long as it's filtered.
I'll try not to.
Same rules apply at the aquarium.
Gotta love those European trends!
Our final bit of Chinglish for the day is courtesy of Bianca.
If you're a bit overwhelmed, then this post has done its job. Welcome to the wild and wacky world of Chinglish. The good news is that this is the first of an ongoing new feature on the blog focusing on this bastardization of the language I am here to teach. The bad news is that your head will continue to hurt as the Chinglish rolls in.
Happy all the time!
- Shawn
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