If the truth be told, it's been an interesting few days. I have, you see, broken myself. Well, broken is perhaps a little strong, but I have definitely caused damage - to my lower back to be exact. Yes, I have broken my butt, just in time for Christmas...
The tale begins at around 4:30am last Sunday morning when my drunken self and two companions were going for post-bar noodles on Yucai Jie - the street where I live. As we strolled noodlewards, I inadverdantly strode onto a patch of icy pavement and, my cowboy boots not having the best of grips, found both legs pointing skywards as I fell flat on my arse. It was, as you may guess, a comic moment; and despite being momentarily unable to breathe, I was soon able to appreciate its humourous qualities.
I felt no pain whatsoever until Tuesday when the slightest of twinges emerged, but by Thursday I had to slide sideways out of bed just to get up in the morning! Having been prodded, poked and, indeed, thumped in the back by a jolly Chinese doctor, I have been told not to teach for a week and have to go to the hospital every day for treatment (shining a lamp on my back achieves what exactly? Advice please!).
It being the week before Christmas, I have some wonderfully festive lessons lined up for my little cherubs, so I am going to bypass the no-teaching suggestion. I am, however, bending as little as possible, mainly because it rather hurts. So, no alcohol-fuelled dancing and general merry making for yours truly this weekend. Alas.
Sympathies on a postcard,
Bec
x
Saturday, December 17, 2005
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Yes, yes, I'm still here! Thanks for your concerned emails - I have been adventuring once more, and then suffered the torture of living in an internet free zone for almost a week! Argh!
The weekend before last I went to Chengde in the north of Hebei Province. It was great, but blimey was it cold! Here are a few snaps:
Here I am demonstrating the amount of headroom and general level of comfort on the mid-berth of a hard sleeper train. Not too bad if I do say so myself. We were provided with a big flask of hot water to drink and make our noodle pots with, and the bed was really rather comfortable!
We arrived in Chengde at around 5:30am and it was, quite literally, freezing. Later that day I bought the rather striking hat and scarf ensemble that I can be seen sporting here, in amongst a rock formation at the Mountain Resort.
A deer in the snow. Aww. How festive.
I love this photo. Contrary to appearances perhaps, I did ask the monks' permission before taking it. There are many temples in Chengde, but this is the only living one. From what I could gather, they spend their time playing kickabout and listening to their MP3 players. All in all, very cool.
Woo! Is it just me, or does that bit of rock look aboout ready to fall?
The weekend before last I went to Chengde in the north of Hebei Province. It was great, but blimey was it cold! Here are a few snaps:
Here I am demonstrating the amount of headroom and general level of comfort on the mid-berth of a hard sleeper train. Not too bad if I do say so myself. We were provided with a big flask of hot water to drink and make our noodle pots with, and the bed was really rather comfortable!
We arrived in Chengde at around 5:30am and it was, quite literally, freezing. Later that day I bought the rather striking hat and scarf ensemble that I can be seen sporting here, in amongst a rock formation at the Mountain Resort.
A deer in the snow. Aww. How festive.
I love this photo. Contrary to appearances perhaps, I did ask the monks' permission before taking it. There are many temples in Chengde, but this is the only living one. From what I could gather, they spend their time playing kickabout and listening to their MP3 players. All in all, very cool.
Woo! Is it just me, or does that bit of rock look aboout ready to fall?
Saturday, November 26, 2005
Hoo hoo!
I found this little beauty at a hotel buffet last night!
It's the name of the dish, and was sitting alongside other cards saying, "waldorf salad", "fried steak" and the likes. This one says, "the card really braises the mushroom". Tee hee! I tried it and I see exactly what they mean.
Sorry, it's partially obscured by the flash, but the hotel were good enough to give us a free feast (and the food was great!), so I didn't want to risk drawing their attention towards my irreverence by taking another shot!
Happy weekend!
Bec
x
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Deary me
Hello, how are you all? Thanks, as ever, for your emails!
Time seems to be in fast forward! Argh! Things are generally very good here, but I seem to be ridiculously busy doing this, that and the next thing. I have more photos, but my PC has taken a disliking to the Kodak software at present, so there's a minor (I hope) delay.
Just in case any of you are considering wandering east at any point in your life, I have been mentally compiling the following list over the last week:
Bec's China 'Best To' and 'Best Not To' List
1. Best not to step in puddles - especially on days when it has not been raining.
2. Best not to assume that the little green-light man making a walking motion on the opposite pavement is an indication to you that it is safe to cross without hesitation.
3. Best not to think that the left-turn traffic filter light will ordinarily not light up at the same time as the aforementioned little man.
4. Best to laugh at yourself when speaking Mandarin to locals.
5. Best to tell yourself that when locals laugh within hearing distance of your dodgy Mandarin, they are actually laughing along with your aforementioned mirth.
6. Best not to clean your bathroom with Captain Bathroom - he has an, erm, unusual odour.
7. Best not to order from the pictures in restaurant menus before establishing (a) exactly which part of the animal you will be consuming, and (b) how heavily chilli peppers feature in the composition of the dish.
8. Best not to start watching Chinese television advertisements - they are one of the greatest hypnotics known to man.
9. Best not to let people get on the bus before you.
10. Best not to wait until a lift appears to have enough room for another before you get in - unless you have a week to spare, that is.
I'm going to my first ever Thanksgiving dinner on Saturday! Woo hoo! Oh hell, I'm talking about food again! Photos soon I promise!
Take care of yourselves and wrap up warm now!
Zàijiàn!
Bec
x
Time seems to be in fast forward! Argh! Things are generally very good here, but I seem to be ridiculously busy doing this, that and the next thing. I have more photos, but my PC has taken a disliking to the Kodak software at present, so there's a minor (I hope) delay.
Just in case any of you are considering wandering east at any point in your life, I have been mentally compiling the following list over the last week:
Bec's China 'Best To' and 'Best Not To' List
1. Best not to step in puddles - especially on days when it has not been raining.
2. Best not to assume that the little green-light man making a walking motion on the opposite pavement is an indication to you that it is safe to cross without hesitation.
3. Best not to think that the left-turn traffic filter light will ordinarily not light up at the same time as the aforementioned little man.
4. Best to laugh at yourself when speaking Mandarin to locals.
5. Best to tell yourself that when locals laugh within hearing distance of your dodgy Mandarin, they are actually laughing along with your aforementioned mirth.
6. Best not to clean your bathroom with Captain Bathroom - he has an, erm, unusual odour.
7. Best not to order from the pictures in restaurant menus before establishing (a) exactly which part of the animal you will be consuming, and (b) how heavily chilli peppers feature in the composition of the dish.
8. Best not to start watching Chinese television advertisements - they are one of the greatest hypnotics known to man.
9. Best not to let people get on the bus before you.
10. Best not to wait until a lift appears to have enough room for another before you get in - unless you have a week to spare, that is.
I'm going to my first ever Thanksgiving dinner on Saturday! Woo hoo! Oh hell, I'm talking about food again! Photos soon I promise!
Take care of yourselves and wrap up warm now!
Zàijiàn!
Bec
x
Sunday, November 06, 2005
Bec meets Beijing (the story continues...)
A selection of my favourite Beijing signs (take heed: leap not).
Our chauffeur, and the view from the back of his limousine!
The Forbidden City - how much room did one man need?
Bec versus the Beijing subway system (victory is mine).
Beijing: it's tree-hugging good!
Bec meets Beijing
Artist in Beijing bar...
Me, artist and, umm, me..?
Ooh, pretty! Beijing lights.
Tiananmen Square... and the military bods shooing us away! Boo!
Fingertip Mao: a necessary accessory for the modern girl
Thursday, November 03, 2005
Phototastic
Hello, hello!
Time is very short because we're leaving for Beijing in an hour, but I finally have some photos to share!
My apartment:
I'm not going to tell you what an agonising battle it has been to get these photos onto my PC! Argh! Have a great weekend - Beijing here I come!
Bec
x
Time is very short because we're leaving for Beijing in an hour, but I finally have some photos to share!
My apartment:
I'm not going to tell you what an agonising battle it has been to get these photos onto my PC! Argh! Have a great weekend - Beijing here I come!
Bec
x
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
Woooooooo
So, yesterday was Halloween. I recalled, with a pang of nostalgia, that on 31st October last year I was at Bethan's Halloween houseparty dressed as a black cat, and the stairs were lined with the candlelit results of the design a pumpkin lantern competition. I had been living in Cardiff for just a month, and I hadn't even tried teaching a real class! Here I am, twelve months later, spending Halloween in a teachers' meeting and hair salon. In a culture where superstition is alive and well, partying with ghosts and ghouls is not appealing. No, I did not venture to have my hair done yet - I let Lyn play guineapig instead, and the results are most encouraging!
Friday, October 28, 2005
She lives
Hello lovelies!
Yes, it is I and I live on! I know I'm being most shoddy about keeping this blog up to date, and responding to your emails, but otherwise (or perhaps because) life is very good! Thanks for your name suggestions for my reptilian chum - Dad's in the lead with 'Pimples', and Wayne is last with 'Wayne'.
Here we go with a brief update on my life in the east: I went for my first hotpot last week (cook your own food in a big pot on your table) and involuntarily wrinkled my nose when a plateful of live crabs were placed on our table! Blimey! I couldn't bring myself to put the little critters into the boiling water, but as Yoko readily saved the rest of us the task, I did venture so far as to eat one. Not without a tinge of sadness, I must add - I'm not used to seeing my dinner waving its claws at me shortly before I eat it. I also had my first taste of donkey a few days ago in the form of donkey jiaozi (dumplings) - yum! Poor old Eeyore! Why does my blog seem to be morphing into a food review?
Last weekend we went for a BBQ next to a lake (oops - food again) - it's great spending time with the Chinese teachers away from the school. Many of us live and work here, and seeing each other in a different setting is refreshing! The food was great - we prepared most of it next to the lake and cooked it on little metal box grills. The spices added by the Chinese teachers nearly blew my head off though!
Tonight we have another foreigners' free feast at a swish hotel in the city (hell, I'm doing it again!). Tomorrow I am speaking at an English Corner, which entails telling several hundred Chinese people about my country and culture (what's that?). On Sunday I am judging a university English speech competition - muhahahaha! Those of you who know me well enough will know why that may pose some difficulty. Umm err...
Then my weekend is over once more and I am propelled into another hectic week of teaching, guitar lessons, Mandarin lessons, confused wandering, and eating poor unsuspecting creatures! Next weekend Lyn and I are going to stay in Beijing - my first stint in a hostel! I can't wait!
Dan has very astutely observed that my blog seems only to be telling the amusing elements and, reading back over this, I note that he has a point, so here we go: I smashed my bottle of foundation on the bathroom floor! Awful. It's laughable that I safely transported it all the way to China only to smash it in my apartment!
We've had a sad week here due to the death of two of the teachers' father. They are sisters from the Philippines, and for paperwork reasons they were unable to go home. We held our own service at a local church (fairly rare around here) (churches, that is), lit some candles and had some quiet time. I know how much they must wish to be at home, and even the Philippines suddenly seems a very long way away.
I must go and lesson plan! It is always wonderful to hear from you all! Be good!
Bec
x
Yes, it is I and I live on! I know I'm being most shoddy about keeping this blog up to date, and responding to your emails, but otherwise (or perhaps because) life is very good! Thanks for your name suggestions for my reptilian chum - Dad's in the lead with 'Pimples', and Wayne is last with 'Wayne'.
Here we go with a brief update on my life in the east: I went for my first hotpot last week (cook your own food in a big pot on your table) and involuntarily wrinkled my nose when a plateful of live crabs were placed on our table! Blimey! I couldn't bring myself to put the little critters into the boiling water, but as Yoko readily saved the rest of us the task, I did venture so far as to eat one. Not without a tinge of sadness, I must add - I'm not used to seeing my dinner waving its claws at me shortly before I eat it. I also had my first taste of donkey a few days ago in the form of donkey jiaozi (dumplings) - yum! Poor old Eeyore! Why does my blog seem to be morphing into a food review?
Last weekend we went for a BBQ next to a lake (oops - food again) - it's great spending time with the Chinese teachers away from the school. Many of us live and work here, and seeing each other in a different setting is refreshing! The food was great - we prepared most of it next to the lake and cooked it on little metal box grills. The spices added by the Chinese teachers nearly blew my head off though!
Tonight we have another foreigners' free feast at a swish hotel in the city (hell, I'm doing it again!). Tomorrow I am speaking at an English Corner, which entails telling several hundred Chinese people about my country and culture (what's that?). On Sunday I am judging a university English speech competition - muhahahaha! Those of you who know me well enough will know why that may pose some difficulty. Umm err...
Then my weekend is over once more and I am propelled into another hectic week of teaching, guitar lessons, Mandarin lessons, confused wandering, and eating poor unsuspecting creatures! Next weekend Lyn and I are going to stay in Beijing - my first stint in a hostel! I can't wait!
Dan has very astutely observed that my blog seems only to be telling the amusing elements and, reading back over this, I note that he has a point, so here we go: I smashed my bottle of foundation on the bathroom floor! Awful. It's laughable that I safely transported it all the way to China only to smash it in my apartment!
We've had a sad week here due to the death of two of the teachers' father. They are sisters from the Philippines, and for paperwork reasons they were unable to go home. We held our own service at a local church (fairly rare around here) (churches, that is), lit some candles and had some quiet time. I know how much they must wish to be at home, and even the Philippines suddenly seems a very long way away.
I must go and lesson plan! It is always wonderful to hear from you all! Be good!
Bec
x
Friday, October 14, 2005
Reptile at large
THERE WAS A LIZARD IN MY KITCHEN!
I use the past tense here because it has since crept away, I know not where. Between the initial sighting and my scaly friend's subsequent disappearance my windows were closed, so I can only conclude that he (I suspect it was male, I know not why) is currently at large in my apartment.
In Kenya I liked the lizards because they were colourful, and because they snacked upon the ridiculously large, nightmare-inducing moths. Kenyan lizards, however, did not feel the urge to share my living quarters.
He must have really wanted to move in, considering that I live on the fourth floor. It was a considerable climb for his little legs, so I'll try to be charitable when I next encounter him. I might even give him a name - suggestions on a postcard...
Kisses and whatnot,
Bec
x
I use the past tense here because it has since crept away, I know not where. Between the initial sighting and my scaly friend's subsequent disappearance my windows were closed, so I can only conclude that he (I suspect it was male, I know not why) is currently at large in my apartment.
In Kenya I liked the lizards because they were colourful, and because they snacked upon the ridiculously large, nightmare-inducing moths. Kenyan lizards, however, did not feel the urge to share my living quarters.
He must have really wanted to move in, considering that I live on the fourth floor. It was a considerable climb for his little legs, so I'll try to be charitable when I next encounter him. I might even give him a name - suggestions on a postcard...
Kisses and whatnot,
Bec
x
Thursday, October 06, 2005
Newsflash!
I can now see comments on my blog! I've found a most helpful feature which mails me any comments!
We cycled to some rather pretty temples today. Our EJD (Expected Journey Duration) was 1.5 hours, but actually proved to be nearer 4! My legs will testify to the expedition tomorrow! I took some charming photos with my mobile (still my only mode of photography), including one of a sign next to a lake reading: "Caution, drop down", which caused us great hilarity!
On Tuesday I had my first experience of a Chinese karaoke bar - blimey! It was a series of individual rooms, big enough to fit you and your friends in (depending upon popularity I suppose, but it was big enough for me and mine!) Each room contains a very comfy, u-shaped seating area, a large flat-screen TV, a computerised karaoke system, and people who pop in and out with alcohol and snacks! It transpires that I am something of a karaoke legend.. ahem!
The adventures of Bec continue...
x
We cycled to some rather pretty temples today. Our EJD (Expected Journey Duration) was 1.5 hours, but actually proved to be nearer 4! My legs will testify to the expedition tomorrow! I took some charming photos with my mobile (still my only mode of photography), including one of a sign next to a lake reading: "Caution, drop down", which caused us great hilarity!
On Tuesday I had my first experience of a Chinese karaoke bar - blimey! It was a series of individual rooms, big enough to fit you and your friends in (depending upon popularity I suppose, but it was big enough for me and mine!) Each room contains a very comfy, u-shaped seating area, a large flat-screen TV, a computerised karaoke system, and people who pop in and out with alcohol and snacks! It transpires that I am something of a karaoke legend.. ahem!
The adventures of Bec continue...
x
Monday, October 03, 2005
Success!
Woo hoo! I've finally managed to post this picture! It's the only China snapshot I have so far: here we are after walking up and down the mountain!
The man waving in the backrow is Mr. Wong, one of the school's drivers who, despite numerous corrections, takes great delight in shouting, "Rebec" every time he sees me. Hello Mr. Wong.
Check out my Chinese trainers - they cost 35 RMB! That's 2.46 GBP! Bargain!
**Brief bid for sympathy**: I sustained seven insect bites overnight - four of them are on my face! Alas, poor Bec...
Be well,
Bec the Bold
x
Bec on a Bike
Greetings and salutations!
I am embarking upon a well-earned (mm hmm) week off… so much to tell and so little time to tell it in! I will give you a condensed version of my recent activities:
We spent last weekend in the mountains, in a town called Yesanpo, which was beautiful! It contrasted wonderfully with the city and, in addition, the air was clear and I could see the sky! We can see the sky sometimes in Shijiazhuang, but it is always hazy at best – some days it’s completely obscured by a cloud of pollution. Take heart, however, it is apparently a great improvement on a few years ago!
We arrived in Yesanpo in darkness (do not believe Chinese ETAs! It is safest to add on at least two hours!), and went to an open air show in which what appeared to be children (?) climbed up ladders made of knives and spun around, without a hint of safety equipment! Bravo! It wasn’t until the next morning that I could fully appreciate the landscape – we were surrounded by HUGE, sheer-faced mountains.
We walked up into the mountains and admired some rather pretty waterfalls and whatnot. I have to admit to wussing out on the opportunity to climb a flight of rickety wooden steps up the steepest section of the mountain. In the afternoon we went rafting on a lake which was just fantastic! The rafts were made of bamboo and looked incredibly flimsy, but turned out to be quite the opposite. Drew and I were the rafting champions, punting around the lake at top speed! The locals seemed to particularly enjoy the spectacle of two blonde-haired, blue-eyed foreigners on a bamboo raft – glad to be of service! Rafting was followed by a brief stint of horse riding and, later on that night, an outdoor karaoke party around a jolly big camp fire! Mike, Aidan, Corinne and I regaled them with a wonderful rendition of 'Bohemian Rhapsody'!
The next day we walked up and down a GREAT BIG mountain! I mean GREAT, GREAT, BIG, BIG! I actually thought I was going to die on the way up, but the view was worth it, as was the sense of satisfaction at having made it!
I have bought a blue guitar – finger picked Streets of London here I come! I also have a sparkly pink bike! Yay! I have started my bike tour of China – my suburb first, then Hebei Province, then the whole country!
I have twice partied at a club with a bouncy dancefloor, and visited a range of fairly funky Chinese bars! I will make this small observation: they have a strange interpretation of the word 'vodka'!
Photos will be provided at the first opportunity – I am reliant upon other peoples’ photography at present! Thanks again for your mails – an erratic internet connection is making my generally slow response time even slower, but please do not be deterred!
I hope that you are healthy and happy!
Much love, from the land where ‘privacy’ has no meaning,
Bec
x
I am embarking upon a well-earned (mm hmm) week off… so much to tell and so little time to tell it in! I will give you a condensed version of my recent activities:
We spent last weekend in the mountains, in a town called Yesanpo, which was beautiful! It contrasted wonderfully with the city and, in addition, the air was clear and I could see the sky! We can see the sky sometimes in Shijiazhuang, but it is always hazy at best – some days it’s completely obscured by a cloud of pollution. Take heart, however, it is apparently a great improvement on a few years ago!
We arrived in Yesanpo in darkness (do not believe Chinese ETAs! It is safest to add on at least two hours!), and went to an open air show in which what appeared to be children (?) climbed up ladders made of knives and spun around, without a hint of safety equipment! Bravo! It wasn’t until the next morning that I could fully appreciate the landscape – we were surrounded by HUGE, sheer-faced mountains.
We walked up into the mountains and admired some rather pretty waterfalls and whatnot. I have to admit to wussing out on the opportunity to climb a flight of rickety wooden steps up the steepest section of the mountain. In the afternoon we went rafting on a lake which was just fantastic! The rafts were made of bamboo and looked incredibly flimsy, but turned out to be quite the opposite. Drew and I were the rafting champions, punting around the lake at top speed! The locals seemed to particularly enjoy the spectacle of two blonde-haired, blue-eyed foreigners on a bamboo raft – glad to be of service! Rafting was followed by a brief stint of horse riding and, later on that night, an outdoor karaoke party around a jolly big camp fire! Mike, Aidan, Corinne and I regaled them with a wonderful rendition of 'Bohemian Rhapsody'!
The next day we walked up and down a GREAT BIG mountain! I mean GREAT, GREAT, BIG, BIG! I actually thought I was going to die on the way up, but the view was worth it, as was the sense of satisfaction at having made it!
I have bought a blue guitar – finger picked Streets of London here I come! I also have a sparkly pink bike! Yay! I have started my bike tour of China – my suburb first, then Hebei Province, then the whole country!
I have twice partied at a club with a bouncy dancefloor, and visited a range of fairly funky Chinese bars! I will make this small observation: they have a strange interpretation of the word 'vodka'!
Photos will be provided at the first opportunity – I am reliant upon other peoples’ photography at present! Thanks again for your mails – an erratic internet connection is making my generally slow response time even slower, but please do not be deterred!
I hope that you are healthy and happy!
Much love, from the land where ‘privacy’ has no meaning,
Bec
x
Thursday, September 15, 2005
Touchdown!
Hello boys and girls! Here is the eagerly awaited first installment of Bec's Eastern Escapade!
Those of you on my email list will already be aware that my blog is presenting a few difficulties at present - I'm unable to view my own blog! Or anyone's for that matter (including you, Dan. Harumph!).
The journey was actually pretty good, and I didn't spend the whole flight waiting for the plane to crash (that must have been a passing phase). Upon arrival I spent an hour and a half wandering Beijing airport (flight time confusion), before being taken for lunch and a ride around a golf range in a golf cart. Fun, if not a little surreal! It was 30 degrees and jetlag was kicking in, so I was immensely grateful when we finally got to Shijiazhuang and I could shower! Not, I might add, before having my first encounter in over 10 years with a squat toilet. It will take some getting used to, and having a local walk in on the experience was not helpful. Eek!
China is just amazing so far. Amazing. There is so much to take in, I don't even know where to start! The school is great, and the kids are sooo cute! I actually start teaching this afternoon - a little later than initially expected because I have been observing kindergarten classes. I'm already getting happily acquainted with my role as a 'foreign expert' - it's just fab to have everyone assume that I know what I'm talking about!
I am still mystified as to why drivers constantly parp their horns whilst driving - I've been offered several explanations for it, but none of them really satisfy! I'm surrounded by tooting cars and, erm, interesting smells!
My first solo shopping expedition was a little daunting due to my status as a novelty around here! I am going to have to get used to being the focal point for staring eyes - staring as in: stop what you're doing and gather round!
We all only teach Monday-Thursday every week, so each weekend is a long one - how excellent is that? Next weekend the school are taking us on a trip to somewhere near Beijing - more golf cart rides maybe? Hmm.
I can't wait to explore this city properly - just crossing the street is an adventure!
Cheerio for now devoted readers - you may comment on this if you wish, but I can't see it. Alas.
Be good to the weekend, and it to you,
Bec
x
Those of you on my email list will already be aware that my blog is presenting a few difficulties at present - I'm unable to view my own blog! Or anyone's for that matter (including you, Dan. Harumph!).
The journey was actually pretty good, and I didn't spend the whole flight waiting for the plane to crash (that must have been a passing phase). Upon arrival I spent an hour and a half wandering Beijing airport (flight time confusion), before being taken for lunch and a ride around a golf range in a golf cart. Fun, if not a little surreal! It was 30 degrees and jetlag was kicking in, so I was immensely grateful when we finally got to Shijiazhuang and I could shower! Not, I might add, before having my first encounter in over 10 years with a squat toilet. It will take some getting used to, and having a local walk in on the experience was not helpful. Eek!
China is just amazing so far. Amazing. There is so much to take in, I don't even know where to start! The school is great, and the kids are sooo cute! I actually start teaching this afternoon - a little later than initially expected because I have been observing kindergarten classes. I'm already getting happily acquainted with my role as a 'foreign expert' - it's just fab to have everyone assume that I know what I'm talking about!
I am still mystified as to why drivers constantly parp their horns whilst driving - I've been offered several explanations for it, but none of them really satisfy! I'm surrounded by tooting cars and, erm, interesting smells!
My first solo shopping expedition was a little daunting due to my status as a novelty around here! I am going to have to get used to being the focal point for staring eyes - staring as in: stop what you're doing and gather round!
We all only teach Monday-Thursday every week, so each weekend is a long one - how excellent is that? Next weekend the school are taking us on a trip to somewhere near Beijing - more golf cart rides maybe? Hmm.
I can't wait to explore this city properly - just crossing the street is an adventure!
Cheerio for now devoted readers - you may comment on this if you wish, but I can't see it. Alas.
Be good to the weekend, and it to you,
Bec
x
Monday, September 05, 2005
Oh, and, by the way...
Feel free to comment on my blog! Once there is something to comment on, that is!
My last weekend of intoxicated revelling in the western world is behind me and I feel five years older for it! Hurrah!
Susan, my contact at Shijiazhuang Language School, called this morning to say that my Letter of Invitation (think: golden ticket to Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory - less the chocolate. And Willy Wonka. Hmm. This analogy is crumbling...) was posted on Saturday! It didn't arrive today, but I think it might arrive tomorrow! Eek!
Mm, some of you have asked about my mobile phone - not sure about that, but it's best to assume it won't be working. Just in case. So, Ma, don't worry!
I have so much to do that I feel the urge to procrastinate further, but I must resist! I'm going to halve my internet time this week - I've turned into quite the little addict since returning from summer school!
All the best to you and yours,
Bec
x
My last weekend of intoxicated revelling in the western world is behind me and I feel five years older for it! Hurrah!
Susan, my contact at Shijiazhuang Language School, called this morning to say that my Letter of Invitation (think: golden ticket to Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory - less the chocolate. And Willy Wonka. Hmm. This analogy is crumbling...) was posted on Saturday! It didn't arrive today, but I think it might arrive tomorrow! Eek!
Mm, some of you have asked about my mobile phone - not sure about that, but it's best to assume it won't be working. Just in case. So, Ma, don't worry!
I have so much to do that I feel the urge to procrastinate further, but I must resist! I'm going to halve my internet time this week - I've turned into quite the little addict since returning from summer school!
All the best to you and yours,
Bec
x
Sunday, September 04, 2005
Shijiazzzy what?
Howdy partners! Welcome to my first stab at this blogging lark! I'm still tweaking at present, as no doubt you can tell!
In a week's time I leave for Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China where I will live and teach for a year! Woo hoo! This will be the chronicle of my adventures, so check in often for fantastically entertaining updates...
Thanks for stopping by,
Bec
x
In a week's time I leave for Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China where I will live and teach for a year! Woo hoo! This will be the chronicle of my adventures, so check in often for fantastically entertaining updates...
Thanks for stopping by,
Bec
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