long time no talk‏

Hey,

It has really gotten quite mundane lately. No travel...no interesting news...just doing my job (enjoying it more than the last 4 terms!). I have some beautiful girls as friends and sometimes we go out to eat or sing at KTC (karaoke) or I will have them here and cook for them. It is really nice to walk down the street with one of the girls on my arm. We get so many stares! Nice people.

I guess that I am quite used to China now and not much surprises me any more. I am comfortable. It is almost the same as a regular job at home now. Wake up, go to work, come home, get ready for the next day. Of course the beer isn't near as good as home.

I don't plan on growing old for at least 10 years and then I will be kicking and scratching. Several girls have told me that they are surprised at how young I act. I still feel young...until I look in the mirror!!! But I ride my bike, climb a mountain, fly a kite. I am willing to do whatever they want to do.

I met a couple of Chinese teachers and we went for a beer one night and we had a good time...played pool, foosball, darts. I think they are gay but I don't care. We had a good conversation. Maybe the best conversation that I have had here. They were very knowledgeable on economics and educational differences between East and West. I eally enjoyed it. I will have to do that again soon.

There is supposed to be an English singing contest here on Saturday but damned if I can find out where or when. I have asked my TA's and my liason at the Foreign Affairs Office but no one seems to know. Sometimes it is difficult to get info about anything, even for the Chinese teachers. I think there are people who are in their jobs because of nepotism or guanxi (connections). The last two terms I would only know about holidays from students sometimes. 'Oh. We don't have a class next week. Didn't you know? It is a holiday. Holiday?' It can be tough but you need to roll with the punches and accept the system. It probably doesn't matter because I work at the training school that night so if it is in the evening than I won't be able to go. But I have students who want to know and I can't tell them much. I would like to learn a Chinese song that I could sing then I would surprise the students! There was a teacher last year in Changzhou and he learned a Chinese song that he sang every year at the freshman's party. He said he only knew one song but it worked well because each freshman heard it for the first time!

I have no holidays until week 13 which is for mid-terms. We have finished week 6. In China, each holiday is a three day holiday; unlike Canada where we have one day. Their National Day is October first and that is also three days. But it doesn't matter which day it falls on. Last week was Tomb Sweeping Day. People go to the cemetery and pay their respects to their ancestors. It fell on Saturday. That meant we had Saturday, Sunday and Monday off. I don't work those days. So big deal. If it fell on a Tuesday then it would matter! THe next holiday is Dragon Boat Festival. It also falls on Saturday, so what? Obviously they don't have unions!! THere are no other holidays until July and I will be done then.

Life is good. My courses are going well. I have no idea what will happen after July but that is not unusual for me. Uncertainty is not bad. Some people need to be sure what will happen but I am flexible. I teach Consumer Behaviour and part of that course is the difference in personalities, learning methods, perceptions, etc. If you want to sell your product then you need to define your target segment. I am part of the market who is willing to try different things, who doesn't need stability, who does not place much value on acceptance by my peers, who wants to experience new things. There are many different personality traits and different needs that people are motivated to fulfill. It is an interesting course. I could give you some tests that would show what kind of consumer you are. Interesting course.

My Oral English course is going well. I am enjoying it. I make them work but I also give them some fun. THe most difficult problem is to get them to do their work in English. If I give then an exercise to do some will try to do it in Chinese and then give me the answer in English. Naturally, they want to talk to their roommates or classmates in Chinese. Some guys are especially difficult. I will make them work harder than the thers.

Have a good Spring
Don