Pandas are delicious...or back row Americans studying Chinese

Tuesday and Wednesday mornings are very similar. The order varies only a little. On Tuesday my day starts with a Chinese class and is quickly followed by me teaching a listening class across campus. Wednesday starts with listening class and finishes the morning with Chinese class. It is kind of fun changing from teacher to student in a manner of 15 minutes, and it does help me empathize with my students more, but for some reason it doesn't motivate me to be a better student... hmm, ironic.

This is my first semester actually taking a formal Chinese class. Although I have had years of tutors who come over and taught me Chinese one-on-one, there is nothing quite like learning in a real classroom. My classroom consists of students from Korea, Russia and Mongolia. On Tuesdays I sit in the back row with fellow American Sonny. Sonny's love for the Chinese language is most apparent when he gets to break down the different parts of a character to come to the "logical" definition. (actually, I joke about this, but it is actually very interesting). As our fairly short, energetic 30 something teacher jokes with the class and asks the if we understand Sonny is giving me 23 other possible uses of the new vocabulary word that he has found on his ipad while the teacher was talking.

Wednesday add another element of fun because Johnny joins Sonny and me in the back row of the classroom. Now, I have to admit my Chinese is the lowest of the 3, so I have to pay close attention to what the teacher is saying. In the meantime Jon and Sonny are using the new grammar structures to make various jokes usually involving pandas. So for example today's grammar pattern was: "not only (A) but also (B)." Which of course became; “Not only are Pandas (cute) but they are also (delicious).” （不但熊猫可爱而且好吃）Or the pattern; "A compared to B, A is adj adv." So naturally this became, "Panda meat compared to pork, Panda is much better." (熊猫肉比猪肉很好吃）And finally the structure; "You shouldn't just (verb) (noun) without (verb) (noun)." Which could likely became, you shouldn't just drink tiger blood but also eat panda. （不要光喝老虎血不吃熊猫肉）Okay... maybe they didn't come up with that last one.

Either way my first introduction to a formal Chinese classroom has been a positive experience. And although joking about eating one of the national treasures may not be found in the next Chinese textbook I buy anytime soon, it is sure helping remember grammar structures!

my alternative (online) universe.

For those who don't know about China's online world there are basically 3 things things you need to know.

1. China has about as many people online as the US has people.

2. China has a firewall. And it blocks pretty much everything we use on an everyday basis in the states. Okay that might be an exaggeration, but basically no facebook, twitter, youtube and most blogs. If you want to see what is blocked, check here.

3. Yet how has China appeased all of it's netizens? China has a pretty much all the same stuff that the US has... kind of. China has a copy of each popular program that the US has.

For example:

a. They blocked facebook, and then suddenly this website called Xiao Nei 校内网 appeared. (now called Ren Ren 人人网).

b. Youtube was blocked and then I learned about Youku.

c. Tweeting in China? Forget it. But you can always micro blog! 微博 (wēi bó)

d. Did I mention Google?? yeah they have Baidu.

So what is an American in China to do? Fight it with VPNs or proxies? Or... just join them?

Here is my renren and microblog accounts. Now I just have to find a way to link my facebook with my renren and my twitter with my microblog...

The Madness of March

I am pretty sure the biggest contribution I made to the Central High School Panthers' basketball team was a hole in the wall. I was a overanxious short 5'7" kid who was quick to pick up on "D" and foul out. (3 fouls in under a minute was my record if I recall.) I really do love basketball and I think I have good looking form when I shot... however, the ball rarely went in if I recall most of my high school basketball career. So I will probably be most remembered for the day I got kicked out of practice for attempting a flip off the wall over Sean Deadorff on the new gym wall.

The whole thing was going so well. I got plenty of height on my lift off, Sean was right behind me as I was running. How was I to know the wall was made out of just plaster? My size 12 foot went right through it. On the upside I still made it over Sean with no injury to neither him nor me. The bad news... coach walked in immediately after that. He wasn't too pleased. (did I mention that I may or may not have accidentally kicked a hole in the Library wall messing around with the team earlier that week? Seriously why the thin walls for new school buildings?) So i got kicked out of practice and that is pretty much where my basketball legacy ended. Sure I still played a lot, but I think that was my "highlight" of playing high school basketball.

Which brings me to today, I just started coaching my third men's basketball team in China. Who knew all those drills I did for hours after school would actually come in handy 13 years later? I have been going over plays and of course my Chinese Vocabulary for basketball terms. Go figure that the best website for college term was done by Kansas University. Now lets see if those Jayhawks can live up to their #1 seed this year. So as you follow your brackets for March Madness know that Coach "hole in the wall" Halligan will be running his boys at the wee hours of the morning getting ready for the school wide tourney next month.

Japan Tsunami Reactions from the Northeast of China

Although the China blog world has been more open about their opinions about the earthquake and past feelings of pain and present feelings of appreciation for the way Japan has reacted in the face of such destruction, my students have not volunteered their personal feelings as readily. I am aware of the ultra-nationalistic feelings my students have so I tread on most issues with Japan lightly.

Yet we have got wind of the rumors. There have been a couple rumors that have been going around our area. One has caused a salt shortage in China. Some cities have been forced to rationing the amount of salt sold in stores. This comes from a belief that iodized salt can prevent effects from nuclear radiation. Here are a couple stories translated from the CMP in HK.

I also got a text message from a student warning me not to go outside, wear a mask and beware of toxic rain. hmm.... Well since I am pretty sure I am not close enough to worry I still went outside. I thanked my student for the advice nevertheless. A Beijing blogger had some great comments about these "toxic cloud rumors."

As I think of the pain and hurt I don't what to write. I am glad my friends in Japan are safe but I hurt for those whose friends and family are not. Godspeed to those "Fukiushima 50" and all those who are helping with the relief effort. Japan you have our thoughts and prayers in these dark times.

blog-worthy

I am still not in the habit of weekly blogging. I was once reading a site that talked about how to maintain a good blog. I think out of all the recommendations given I did... none. But I will try to keep to one: Voice.

I was talking to my fellow expat teachers and we were discussing how our everyday activities might actually be interesting. I have been in this country to close to 7 years now and I forget how different every little step of life is here my home in the states.

So, for example, in the winter this is my common day walking to class:

As I come out my revolving door to tear-causing, then tear-freezing cold air, I slide on the black ice / frozen snow to class as I narrowly miss cars and bikes that, while also sliding on the same mix of ice and snow, are engaged in their constant game of "how close can I get to you while I pass you" that is common of these Northeast China streets.

As I balance my coffee, overstuffed bag (my students always comment on how the foreign teachers bring too much stuff to class), and whatever third object I always seem to be taking to class for some reason, I think through the days lessons as I walk through the small frozen park that sits in between my apartment building and the main building on campus. I am usually in front of or following a local teacher who seems to always be wearing the highest heels I've ever seen...on the ice and snow. If following, I always am asking my self, “It is a cultural faux pas to pass her or not?”

After passing her (this is usually my course of action... I blame driving in LA for 4 years), I find myself in the main teaching building asking the elevator operator (actually he just makes sure that students take the stairs) if he has eaten. He always has. After the awkward elevator entry and exit with other teachers. (You have to make sure you let the older and higher position teachers get off first. Who knew Confucian principles applied to the elevator?) I get to my best part of the day... the moment I walk into the classroom and see my students. They are usually waiting with smiles and then proceed to tell me I need to wear more clothes and I drink too much coffee.

New Zealand Rugby

Tonight the Canterbury Crusaders defeated the New South Wales Waratahs in the New Zealand city of Nelson. I am not by any means a fan of Rugby and am probably the last guy you would ask what the difference between the New Zealand Rugby league and the New Zealand Rugby Union, but I know I wanted the Crusaders to win more than any other team I cheer for in the states. I have been keeping in contact with a friend from Christchurch and I just got a message from him simply saying, "our local rugby team won tonight... happy news."

Happy News. Something that Christchurch has heard very little of for the last 10 days.

As Christchurch rebuilds remember her and her people in your thoughts and prayers. There is a long road ahead, but spirits in Christchurch are high tonight.

This past vacation I was able to visit New Zealand. I had a wonderful time and fell in love with that country. Its varying landscapes and twisting roads are unlike anything I have ever seen. I had heard about the sheep and seen the landscape in movies such as Narnia and Lord of the Rings but still was amazed. Rain or shine the sights were breath taking.

The city of Christchurch was remarkable. Although there were swarms of tourists everything was still very kiwi (New Zealand-ie). The traditional architecture had me baffled.

"there are so many churches here." I say in an astonished tone.

"Its called traditional british buildings." says the condescending Canadian. (only joking... kind of)

"oh." I answer sheepishly.

The city of Christchurch was beautiful. It is hard to imagine it being in ruins. Here is a link of some pictures from before and after that my New Zealand friend sent me.