Knobcottage in China

 On 23rd of December I got a wedding invitation from restaurant boss lady: Baozhen Li.  I translated it in WeChat and asked a friend where the place was.  it was don near the big indoor market.  I told her that I would be going, little realising that it was her son's wedding! Anyhow, the Sunday before the wedding I contacted her to confirm that I would be attending and she invited me to come and book the place with her.  I was really busy and had to refuse; I dont think my refusal went down very well!  However, on the day of the wedding, about five minutes after I had eaten lunch, I got a WeChat invitation to her restaurant to eat lunch and then afterwards have a meal at the wedding.  Unfortunately, after lunch I was teaching and could not attend her restaurant, but confirmed that I would be there at the wedding after work. After work I headed off to the big indoor food market and with a little help from a local resident and a map I found...

Today was strange and I am not sure I want to publish everything, but here goes! Teaching Today teaching was little difficult and I had to shout at a few classes.  It scared them a little but brought them back on track, however I discovered something that puzzled me. Some of the lower sets do not seem to know the concept of left and right!  I was teaching the position of objects and started to ask questions about what was on the left of and what was on the right of.  It was obvious that two of my classes had no idea what I was talking about.  I was stumped!  I was not prepared for this!  I did the best I could and carried on.  I seem to remember that in my study of Chinese, the that it was more normal to use north of south of etc. but still thought the pupils would know the idea of left and right.  I later asked a Chinese Friend and they thought that the pupils should know this.  I remain puzzled over this one. A free lunch at school f...

So it was National Day.  Nothing much planned.  I knew that if I went to the park I would see something, but chose rather to lie in bed until 7a.m.  Late by chinese standards, but they do all tend to go to bed here by 10.m. Then suddenly I got a text from Sherrie.  Ever the patriot, like most Chinese people, she was up early and in the park.  Some people had to go to their place of work to parade before the flag.  She did not, but did go to the park. we had a brief exchenge of text, and agred to meet later.  She said she would also help me retreive my missing parcels!   After a few hours at home, I decided to go out to play in the park.  It was pretty empty, everyone I suppose  was with family and freinds.  I played a while and had some food and was expecting to return home and sulk.  No such luck.  Restaurant bodss lady invited me to her 'shop' for dinner.  I told her I had eaten, but she told me to come and ...

Today I had to review my stuff for the conference and Immediately starting to get fed up with it now.  The lesson times keep changing, more details are being trickled down and lots of mistakes are being made....and nobody cares.  That's China, or at least Jiangkou.  Take today for instance.  After having already issued a 'final' timetable a few days ago, last night they issued the another ' final' timetable. I checked it.  It was full of mistakes, again.  I discreetly pointed this out to one to one of the bosses, so we have another one today.  I'm not sure what I am teaching or when and can't be bothered to sort it out because it will only change again.  I don't like that.  Plus, it seems that many of the teachers have a very poor standard of English.  It might have been good to know that before the lessons were planned! Moan over. Anyway, in the middle of all this, restaurant boss lady asked what I was up to.  I had already told ...

I had been out for a fair part of the day.  Got my haircut, nad had done some shopping.  I headed home, reviewed a translation for Angela and fell asleep.  I awoke hot and thirsty and a bit grumpy.  Too long in the sun.  I'm learning, but oh so slowly!  Anyhow, I was just getting ready to go out when I got a text.  "Do you want to come for a walk?". Well I didn't really, so I said I was going to eat.  She said she'd treat me.  I said she's treated me too much, and she came back with the 'Chinese stock answer.  It's OK.  We are friends.  I waited but heard nothing.  So off I popped to the park...I could do with a dance first.  Just as I arrived I got a text asking me where I was.  I took a picture of the park and sent it to her.  Then went into the park.  The dances were simple so I joined in for a while.  When I turned round there were two SWAT guys behind me.  They have recently started to p...