Street meeting ...soft moment

Well after my big meals, I needed a walk so I went round the block, hoping to have a soft moment and that's just what happened.  I was walking though one of the busier streetsthe one in which I had earlier been street teaching.  I a cute toddler and laughed.  Mum smiled at me, and instead of smiling back I went over and talked to her and her husband.  Immedeiately he said in English, "She is my grandma!"  Cheeky guy! anyway wel talked and he sat down with me at a little table with tiny plastic stools.
in the little white box where some strips of barbequed meat.  He offered them to me and we got talking in a mix of English, Chinese and Chinglish.  He was called Bill.  After a short conversation another guy arrived with his son.  I was in for a surprise!  His son who was just thirteen years old and spoke almost perfect English.  It was his dream to meet a foreigner, and he'd met one!  We chatted a while and I was so impressed that I really wanted to offer him something English.  The only thing I had was my last ten pound note.  I gave it to him he was so pleased.  We decided that after his exams we could meet again.  His dad agreed.

 
There is a longer version of teh conversation with this boy, Jerry, but it wouldnt fit in this blog.  This should be a link to it:
The video whould open in a nnew window so you may have to close it after viewing.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Back to the earlier job and WeChat

After today's interview, one of my earlier contacts got in touch with me as I had sent him a request on Sunday.  We cleared up a few questions and he promised to put me in touch with a contact at the proposed school and send me a contract.  Meanwhile two other job agents/companies have been in touch and I need to start logging what is happening or I will lose track!  As for WeChat, I wish it would sync between my PC and my phone, like it used to.  Apparently the messages are not now kept on a server...for my privacy.  It is a real nuisance having half the messages on my phone and half on my PC.
Read more

Breakfast with Sherrie and the half marathon.

Image
Last night on my way home from the park, I got a text from Sherrie, Star's wife.  She invited me to breakfast the following day after exercise, or at least that was what I thought she had done, it turns out she invited me TO exercise as well as to breakfast. I knew there was some sort of run planned as the park had been transformed, but I did not know when the race was.  As luck would have it as I arrived the race was due to start.  I hung around near the exit tunnel and got ready to take photos.  I hate watching stuff like this because I so wish I could still run.  I am actually having trouble walking at the moment and that aggravates me even more.  Anyway, they were off.... but not as I expected, after all, this is China!  First came the keen ones in the proper gear, but shortly afterwards came a raggle taggle bunch of all sorts, most of them carrying umbrellas!  It was a big event for Jiangkou, policve, media, etc, and the main rod closed to ...
Read more

First time payment with WeChat!

Image
...just a short one here! The WeChat logo WeChat is the go-to social media platform in China. I've used it for a couple of years in the UK, but in China it has a host more features and every vendor of anything has a payment QR code which you scan with your phone and then enter the amount required, push pay, and job done. This is a QR code.  If you scanned it it would take you to this website. So,  after finally getting my Chinese phone number and bank account sorted out, well nearly sorted out, and having undergone numerous passport and ID checks and real time identification processes, I was ready to go!  I bought an ice cream and payed with WeChat.  Scan, enter amount, press pay, the shop console bings and its done!  A small but significant achievement!  Its only taken six weeks!
Read more