[Fr_Chuck]

Visited a Buddhist Temple yesterday. It was over 5000 years old, and they have 10,000 full time students that live and study there. The students are from 3 to 25 years old.

[J_9]

That bottom photo is a cemetery?

[Fr_Chuck]

Basically, the more important monks, the ones who have reached higher states of enlightenment are all cremated of course but they build a monument to them, they call them a Pagadoa. On each is the Monks name and his life history.

Some go back to Ming Dynasty, the newest from about 2008. There were 100s of them. So no one is actually buried there, but they are in the monks memory

[Fr_Chuck]

Well I took a walk around the neighborhood. And yes I was humming the theme to Mr Rogers till Lady Toni made me stop.

I posted a couple dozen short videos showing where we live to my blog.

Travels of Chuck, Toni and Nate - Home

[Fr_Chuck]

Ok, hope someone is still reading these.

As you all know I can not use Facebook or YouTube here in China. Normally not a loss, but for posting video and photo for people to look at, esp longer video.

So they have something here called YouKu ( OK, it is the Chinese version of youtube)
I have set up an account and did a trial video ( very short)

But I have no idea if anyone in the US or Europe can log on and see it,

So if someone could see if this link works for them, I would love to hear back

KungFu??????????????????

I hope it worked, I have spent a long time translating pop up boxes that will not goggle translate to make this happen.

[excon]

So if someone could see if this link works for them, I would love to hear back

G'morning, Padre:

I got it... Was that you swinging the sticks?? Wow, that water must be powerful stuff...

excon

[cdad]

Well I took a walk around the neighborhood. And yes I was humming the theme to Mr Rogers till Lady Toni made me stop.

I posted a couple dozen short videos showing where we live to my blog.

Travels of Chuck, Toni and Nate - Home

Links are working. Great job!!

Already bookmaked your blog.

[Fr_Chuck]

That is some of my students here in China. We were having a English Club sign up, showing how powerful and great the English Club is. Plus the BBQ every Tuesday at 12 in the square.

I start my first official day of teaching tomorrow. They gave Lady Toni, all the advanced students and she started two week ago working. I was suppose to just be doing English speaking but they have over 1/2 my classes in formal English Writing.

Ok, lets get serious here, my spelling and sentence structure ? Glad to know even in China some things never change, find the person and assign them to the worst possible class they can do.

So I find out tomorrow if I start with what grade level. Lady Tonis advance class is at about 8th or 9th grade high school level. So I am betting my class will be more 3 to 4th grade level.

[paraclete]

Ne how ma, Chuck

By now Chuck you will have learned you don't put paper in the toilets and that you need hand sanitizer, you also drink bottled water. I hope you enjoy your stay, the smog and the stench of tobacco smoke. Try some of the exotic dishes while you are there such as the crab. I expect you have also learned the chinese can't pronouce Chuck and they have a pecular way of translating english

[Fr_Chuck]

Yes, learned the TP issue first day here in the hotel in Bejieng.

But every public toilet and they are every couple blocks have American Toliets, the only place that does not have them, is where I work ( both new and old campus) In fact the old campus does not even have the newer Chinese squat toliets, they just have a trench that runs length of building and you just squat over it, if you are down stream, you see the others float by.

But here in our apartment, the plumbing is up graded, as actually most of Zhengzhou newer areas and business areas. And upgrades going on daily.
But paper flushes fine here.

I don't teach at the old campus, but do go there to do some shopping, some things are cheaper at the campus stores, plus the medical clinic we use is on the old campus.

Water is OK if you boil it, so we use it in most all the cooking, even brush our teeth with it, as long as we don't swallow.

Smog not really that bad, no as bad as Atlanta, at least here in Zhengzhou. And it was not that bad in Bejing ( but was only there a week)

And there is not that many people smoking, again, I am living and working down town, central part of the city, There are people smoking some at the eating places, but in general, I actually see most people smoking back home in US.

Mostly the older people smoking here, from what I see there is not that many younger kids smoking. There is a very large anti smoking campaign going on.

And a super large safe driving program going. ** God only knows they need that.
One way streets are just suggestions, as are lane markings. Not sure why they have traffic lights but they are pretty.

We have traffic crossing guards on every corner, ( again this has to do with our locaton around government offices I think) but no one pays them any attention, they wave their flag, and blow their whistle but people still cross against the light.

Still hard to get used to cars driving on the side walk, that is where they park, so they may pull up on side walk 100 feet down and just drive on side walk honking for you to jump out of the way.

I was told I was a natural riding my bike here, I think that is a insult but not sure.

Not a single crab to be seen, but then we are way, way inland. So while there are large tanks of live fish to buy at the meat market, have not seen crabs.

Chicken is the main dish, and some pork. And if you get to the buther early, you can also get beef at times. We got fresh ground beef this week and did a meat loaf.

Between Walmart and the foreign food sections in several large stores, there is almost nothing we have not gotten. Pancake sryup and mustard are the only two things I have not found yet. Taco sause, no issue, cheese no issue, ( but pricey) Every American brand you want, can be gotten at the legal and the perhaps not so legal markets. ** not that I know the difference, I was told if I don't get a receipt they are most likely don't have a business license and don't pay taxes. ** sounds more like American every day, cheating on their taxes.

I am located about one block from the main province government offices, and other Communist party buildings, plus surrounded by 5 colleges. So between government workers, military, police on every street corner and 1000's and 1000's of college kids,

Yes, we got a bootleg copy of some of the movies ( just out in US) some in English, some with English subtitles, the subtitles are a laugh The person who did them, does not know english at all. Even the Google translator would have done better.

But the thing I found, China being the size of US, things are not the same in the NE, to the SE or to the Center or to the West. And get up near Mongolia and it all changes.

ne how ma, Chuck

By now Chuck you will have learned you don't put paper in the toilets and that you need hand sanitizer, you also drink bottled water. I hope you enjoy your stay, the smog and the stench of tobacco smoke. Try some of the exotic dishes while you are there such as the crab. I expect you have also learned the chinese can't pronouce Chuck and they have a pecular way of translating english

[paraclete]

Well I see you haven't learned yet and be careful of the oranges

Ah yes Zhengzhou, remember it well, couldn't make myself understood in the bus station and banged up my knee on the ice, take a side trip to Penggu sometime, the old town, not the new one

I was thinking of doing that teaching lark once but I heard too many horror stories. I will be interested to hear how you go.

You might have to go further south for the crab

Remember to bargain for everything Chuck the chinese like a good haggle, learn the numbers and remember to watch out for the hand signals where they multipy by ten

[Fr_Chuck]

Yes first chinese words learned, how much, and no too much.

I went to work for one of the larger national university. Not one of the English schools.
This school, I am the only new teacher this year. They have 3 teachers who have been here for over 6 years, another few that have been here 3 or 4 and several who are starting their second year. Most of their English teachers are from UK or Philliphines.

This school did not make any big promises, pay lower than some of the other schools promised but at this point.

They do pay, already got pay check directed deposted ( have option of being paid in cash)
They furnish apartment, all utilities, phone, TV. They furnish bus to school each day.

Most likely some of the same issues I have read some. There is not much help with any lesson plan, they expect you to design and do your own classes. There is not much communication, you find out a day or two before the class, what class you are teaching.

Even in a new campus, while the restrooms are clean, and the floors sweep, nothing else much gets cleaned. About 1/2 the lights don't work, and air condition is a open window and I have a feeling, heater is your coat on.

On second day, have no idea where the copy machine is, but found the teachers lounge and where the teachers water is ( teachers get bottled water, students get boiled water)

Learned somewhat how to buy my lunch, but I think it is suppose to be furnished free, so I stlil have to figure out how that works.

[Fr_Chuck]

Enjoyed their National holiday, I celebrated with one of the locals today by doing one of the local morning customs, We went to Dunkin donut for coffee and a donut. Strange custom but when in China do what the local Chinese do.

Yesterday, was the moon festival, and we got to be part of the reinactment of bowing to the moon when it rose into the air. Lady Toni, got to dress up in traditional Chinese clothing from about 200 to 300 years ago. Pick a outfit and use it in the reinactment.

I took tons of photos, they are on my daily blog site, listed at bottom of question

I don't think most Chinese 300 year ago, were a size XXXL, so I opted to take photos.

For those Chinese not going to Dunkin Donuts, the other breakfeast of Choice is KFC, ( they are open 24 hours a day and deliver) at our local one. They serve a sandwich that tastes just like a Egg McMuffin except on a hamber bun.

Tomorrow, since I am paying of course, my new local friend wants to show me the new McDonalds that is a few miles away, so we are meeting at the main gate at 11 am to ride out bikes there.

All Americans are required to live in a gated community with a guard at the gate. I understand it is for our protection, But we live off campus, in a older housing area where just Chinese teachers live. Most Amerian or English teachers are single and live on campus in housing for single persons. So to have a two bedroom, we live off campus where some of the Chinese teachers live.

Ours like many larger apartment complexes, have a small market and several vendors who are in the housing complex. There is also indoor parking for your bikes, if you want to pay a extra 6RMB a month for parking. We also have a police office in the complex, they are not always there, but are there if not out for other purposes.

[Fr_Chuck]

McDonalds, that sort of says it all, a Big Mac, fries and a Coke on ice for 4 dollars US. And yes it tastes exactly like the one at home, pickles, cheese, lettece and onions.
Fries were not quite as salty, but still great. Was told the ice was safe to drink. Will tell you latter tonight. Most places it isnot, since it is not purified water and it is not boiled water.

But McDonalds uses fountain drinks, just like in the US, and a ice machine, we were told all purified water. Lets us hope so.

[paraclete]

Yes Chuck it can be hard for some, I had some friends who only lasted a week. I hope you have a good experience


That sort of sounds somewhat more expensive than I remember it Chuck. 20 RMB is a lot for a hamburger. I know Macca's is the only way to get western food but when in China... I remember the sweet rolls from the street vendors were great for breakfast 1 RMB. You can buy a Restaurant dinner for two for 40 RMB and live it up, private room and all.

That rule on living is to keep an eye on you so you don't do anything too subversive, watch for the fellows in the black leather coats and yes you have acquired a local friend, interestingly did that the second day I was there, very welcoming, the chinese

[Fr_Chuck]

Yes, we have our income from the Karate school plus some of my other investments, plus Toni and I both have incomes here. So we can spend more than many here.

It is the dollar value that has fallen over the past few years. It is like a Pizza at Pizza Hut is 100 RMB but we can get one from the local company for about 60.

But yes we normally eat dinner at the local street vendors, and spend about 4 US dollars for our entire meal for 3 people. Or eat at a little more fancy Chinese place for about 30 RMB for the entire family.

The US food places are near the higher end income people, For example, stores where dresses are 800 RMB and shirts for men are 400 RMB. We looked at watches today that were 9000 RMB. This is the mall where McDonald is. Now the Chinese are lined up for this, but this is most certainly a high income area.

I bought a shirt today for 49RMB and it is a nice as the other ones. I had one hand made last week for less than 100RMB. My best shirt deal was at Walmart, a special clearance sell. All for the odd non popular sizes ( yet that is the 3XL) I got it for 20RMB.

This week we are on vacation for the National Holiday, and we have a tour guide to show us how to get to all of the US buying places. Of course we buy their meal when we go, so they get a good meal and often get us special pricing. Now they will get very loud, yell and ask for the manager. At Dunkin Donuts we all got free coffee and they get to take photos of Americans eating at their place to show off.

And we had been a month, without any of this, so a little over the top extra

But you can buy spice cake on the street or in the store bakery, donuts and most of the things. I can buy sort of of large bun and hamburger and make our own burgers.
But even their regular places have spaggitti ( they claim discovered it first).

I am getting some Chinese down, and love to bargain prices, we are starting to play ping pong and wanted to get some paddles. I looked at a set and they asked 40RMB, I made a face, just put them down and said NO ( in Chinese of course) and started to walk off, he followed and said 30, and I waved my hand and laughed. Sort of a insult I am told, that they must be joking on the price. I walked back when he said 20 and ended up with 15 as the price. About 2.25 US for two paddles and 4 balls. They have a large ping pong area near us.

Toni can read and talk more Chinese than I can, but she does not bargain as well. She shows too much emotion on things she likes. I had to act like the mean husband today, she saw a back pack, not that she does not have one already, but she wanted this purple one. Like all the "girls" carry. Yep, back pack envy. Well they asked 60 I think and she got it to 55 or something and was getting ready to pay, so I walked up and yelled like no it was a waste of money, look at cheap it is made. I got another 15 off and most likely could have got more but I think Toni was not playing along well.

I think we get followed every now and then, We are two blocks from the main headquarters of their Province government. And there are lots of government buidings all around us.
Of course they have all of the military training for the college students, we see some only because it is done in the open fields where we have to walk past.
I have a National Party member monitor in all of my classes, they don't set though all but come in and sit in the back of many of the classes.

There are two army soldiers who stand across the street from our complex all day, but I think they are guarding or watching the place they stand in front of. It looks like a lot, and I mean a lot of important people eat and meet there all the time. Lots of big cars driving in
There are about 10 foreign people in my complex, but we are the only Americans.
There are only about 3 Americans working at our campus besides us, the rest are from Europe.

[paraclete]

Hi Chuck I expect you know that there is, shall we say, special places in each city where the cadre meet privately, you are probably across the road from one. Don't make the mistake of taking photos. I find it interesting that inflation has taken over there, but I expect tourism has brought a certain amount of profiteering you should avoid buying anything for more than half the asking price. It is hard to get used to such a system but it is the way things are throughout the orient, it's sort of like tipping, not done there

I hope you do well with Chinese, hard to get used to that tonal thing. But I'm sure you will be able to use your background well to teach english

[cdad]

One secret Im going to let you in on. If you want the "best" bargin for your money on an item especially a big ticket item be the first one to buy for the day. Tradition has it that the first customer of the day is going to dictate how the day is going to go. So be first and make the sale happen.

[Fr_Chuck]

Some great videos of my day today, a giant mall, some wonderful street music of traditional music, and my eating at a street café. Funny at the café, they were using plastic stools, I guess I am so heavy, I broke it and hit the floor, they were so concerned but I just laughed to let them know I was OK, and the entire café starting laughting once I did. So polite they would never have laughed no matter how hard they wanted to unless I did.

Great mean for all three of us for 7 RMB ( about 1.10 US dollar)
If you though in the cokes, the entire meal was under 3 US dollars for all three of us to eat.

There is a video with traditional music, and another showing the areas largest mall.

My blog shows my photo with some local soldier who was helping take some of our photos and helping "protect" me in the crowd. Also a great photo with a large group of cheer leaders.

Street Music

Traditional Chinese Music??????????????????

Large mall
Large Mall in Zhengzhou??????????????????

Our sidewalk café
Side walk dinner

City Center

Two Seven Square??????????????????

[paraclete]

Hi Chuck I see you are learning about the difference between locals and tourists, yes watch out for plastic chairs, they are not UV stable and degenerate quickly in sunlight. I've done that myself and seen it happen to others. There are some really big malls in China but what ,Zhengzhou has 17 Million people? So scale is something you have to get used to. I was amazed at the width of the streets in Wuhan and the scale of the bridges