Today makes it one week I've been in China. Wow, seems much longer. Guess that is what happens when I try to cram too much into each day. Found out first thing this morning that there are two words for foreigner in China, one literally translates to 'honorable guest' and the other to 'alien'. No wonder I felt like I was on an alien space ship going through the medical exams yesterday.
To answer some of your questions: I am teaching in an International School in the city of Shanghai. Shanghai is divided into two parts by the river. The part where the international airport is located is called Pudong, while the part where the domestic airport is located (and me) is called Puxi. The school population consists roughly of 25% American, 15% European, and 60% of Asian decent. The school costs $30,000 a year to attend, so it is considered competitive and expensive as far as schooling goes. They are picky in their admission criteria and all children are college bound, such that all students take Algebra II or pre-calculus in 10th grade, and the IB math program starting in 11th grade, which is quite intensive. I am teaching that IB program this next year and also have all of the 6th graders. We are on a block schedule, which means I see each class for 108 minutes three times a week. That translates to me teaching three groups a day and having 108 minutes of prep each day.
The school is 6 stories high, 5 above ground and 1 below. There are no elevators. I'm on the third floor. Supplies are in the basement as is everything else I'd be interested in other than duty time. I have a 15-minute duty between the 2nd and 3rd hour, which is break time for the kids, and it is 2 floors below. Putting it mildly, I climb stairs all day. Today this was especially true, as we got to pick up all of our teaching supplies, which were in the basement and run them up the stairs to our rooms. It took me 5 trips going up and down three flights of stairs. Twice, part way, male teachers took my heavy basket and hauled it a few stories for me. Lets here it for male manners, so extra nice. There are a nice variety of ages represented in this school. Think our youngest is around 26 years old and the oldest one that I am aware of is 62. There are just as many couples as single people, and many couples have children. There are many people in their 50’s, which is grand as I fit right in. Floors are designated by subject matter with all math and some science classes on the third floor. The students I feel for are the ones who have PE on the 5th floor of my building and then have Spanish class, which is on the 5th floor of the building next to mine. There are 4 minute passing periods and those students have to hustle down the 5 flights of stairs here after working out for 1.5 hours, run to the building next to ours and climb 5 flights of stairs. Let me add that our ceilings are incredibly tall, nice when you are in a room, but not so nice when climbing stairs as it is almost as if there are two flights of stairs between each floor.
My campus consists of 4 large, tall buildings. One is for the elementary school, one for the middle school and one for the high school, and one is the cafeteria and awesome theater. Then there is the garden area and the field, which is large. The campus is gorgeous and can be seen at www.scischina.org for those of you who are truly interested.
Last night was our first social and we went to the 'French district'. The private room/bar for our group was on the fifth floor. Why was I not surprised? Again, there was no elevator. There are elevators in the apartment buildings as they are mega stories tall. The area was quaint and I would have liked to explore it more, but shortly after we arrived a thunder/lightening storm started and lasted nearly three hours. By then, I was ready to return home. The popular drink of the evening was ginger beer. Water here is called sparkling or flat. : ) Flat is our typical bottled water. Water as it comes out of the tap has a very faint funny smell, and no one drinks it. All use bottled water.
So far the weather has been hot and humid with periodic and lightening storms. I have been caught in three storms now and ended up drenched each time. Yesterday, while walking home, it started to sprinkle. I was 1/2 way home. Experience has taught me to immediately get out my umbrella once the first sprinkles are felt, as it won't be but a block more of walking before the flooding starts. By the second block I'm in puddles up to my ankles. Storms here, so far, last around 2-3 hours and then stop as suddenly as they start.
Oh, other good news, one of the ladies here, who has been here for years, wants to share her IE. Who knows the real spelling of that word, but it is pronounced I, E. That is a maid, person who runs errands, etc. So, I am hiring an IE for 4 hours a week. Remember, my place is only 450 sq feet and so doesn't require much. She'll come in once a week, clean and do laundry and then post any mail that I have. This service will cost me 15 rmb an hour, for a total of 60 rmb, which is $10! And, most IE's get paid 10 rmb an hour so ours is spoiled and wants to do extra well as she is paid so very well. Think I can handle this. She's worked for the other lady for a few years now and comes with good recommendations. She'll come to see me after school on Monday, with a translator, so the first time in my apartment she'll understand what I want. This is cool. Am excited and glad to be able to employ someone and help her while she is helping me. Yahoo.
Oh, attempted to do laundry for the first time. Didn't do very well as my shirts came out dirtier than when they went in. Had to put them back in and try something else. Imagine not having any directions on your washing machine, just a bunch of buttons in unfamiliar locations and one dial. You've got to figure out which is hot water, which is cold, what type of wash you want, gentle or regular cycle, wash or rinse, thunder etc. Then you have an idea of what I saw as there is no way I understand their symbols. Now also please picture a washer with a door in the front like most of our dryers and a cylinder inside the same size as a medium depth kitchen sink. Small. It fits two tops, one pair of slacks and a few socks and is full. Hiring an IE just to do laundry is worth it.
Not much else is new except that I rearranged my few furniture pieces again today. Wanted to create room for the drying rack. Will write again once I experience some more cultural stuff... probably not for a few days to a week now. I so appreciate hearing from you, even when it is just a few sentences. It helps me feel in touch as there are moments I feel very far away and totally out of touch. Blessings my friends.
The best news came today, and that is that I am suppose to get my Internet service tomorrow at home.
Went to a function in the French area of town tonight. The shops, restaurants and bars looked really interesting however, I passed on seeing them tonight as within an hour of our staff being in the bar, the downpours, thunder and lightening started. During a small break in the weather, 2 hours later, 4 of us hailed a cab and went home. The place wasn't all that far form school and was a fairly cheap taxicab ride home (21 rmb =$3.50). It was a great evening out. Oh, some of the stoplights are really interesting here. There is another green light above the regular green light. This extra green light is numbers, which slowly count down the remaining time on the green light before it turns yellow. Cool idea.
