Happy Halloween Monday!
I am in bed now early Tuesday morning making up the post that I didn't write yesterday.
It's still dark out, chilli, and misty - Typical Chongqing fall weather!
It's also Nov. 1!! Happy November everyone :)
Yesterday in class, most students seemed to be tired with a short weekend due to the sports day on Sat. and that they were stressed about the midterms week that's starting today. It made me think back when I was in high school. Exam period was definitely stressful.
I have also talked to another student about time management and about her stress. This year, I have had more students come talk to me. I feel that I am getting closer with my students and that they have more trust in me. But everytime I talk to them, I know all of them are stressed about doing well in school. They are simply great kids who work hard and do so much at school. So I have been focusing in asking them to write down their short and long term goals and their plan of action. I have also taught them about time management and using a calendar. If they were able to manage their time better, they would be more efficient in their study and be less stressed.
Also, our amazing co-worker made a pumpkin pie for everyone. That totally made my day!
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In the news today, we have reached the "7 billions" population milestone.
7 billionth babies birth are celebrated worldwide. Birth of babies should be joyful but this milestone is worrisome. This celebration brings in the focus on many of the problems associated with the rapid human population growth. Many children in the world do not have access to food, clean water, shelter, and education. We all know that Earth wouldn't be able to support such population growth long. David Suzuki has a short clip called, Test tube using the bacterial growth in a test tube as human population growth in the world.
Some food for thought:
Test Tube by David Suzuki
Monday, October 31, 2011
Sunday, October 30, 2011
TIC + Beijing Great Wall Marathon
TIC = This is China.
We use that term whenever we can't understand the Chinese's way of doing things.
Today I went to the Construction Bank to pay for the registration of the Beijing Great Wall Marathon. I am not the type of person who gets upset easily. A friend even has asked me before what makes me angry. It takes me sometime to answer him and I have said when I feel that I have not been treated fairly. That was what happened today. I went to the bank and hoping to pay for the Beijing Great Wall Marathon. I took my bike into the bank and the security guard wouldn't let me put my bike inside. He was rude and took my bike outside twice. I was furious as there aren't any places to lock up my bike and the way he was. His only response was he didn't care if my bike gets stolen and the that rule is no bikes are allowed inside the bank.
I was so angry that I even cried a bit - I might be overreacting but it was such a terrible feeling trying to reason with an unreasonable man. I wanted to make a formal complaint, too. So he would know what's the proper way to treat others with respect.
When it was finally my turn, the bank teller told me that they can't make the transfer because it's to another bank. I was super frustrated. Then they could have told me that either I need to come in Mon-Fri before 4 or do it online myself. Why do they have to make it so difficult for me. I left the bank furious, went to school, and did the transfer on my own. It was a total waste of my time for being there twice, getting myself all worked up, and that I still did what I needed to do on my own.
I hate that part of China so much! Unreasonable and Rude people!
The only good thing of the day is that I have paid for the Beijing Great Wall Marathon.
The marathon itself for expat is pretty pricy.
The registration cost is:
1500 RMB minus 100 RMB (Early bird discount) plus 50 RMB for the timing chip rental.
That's a total of 1450 RMB (not including flights and accommodation).
I have the motivation to do it this year because two of my co-workers are running it. Thus, I hope I can get into good shape and get training help from them. I have set this to be my goal for the year - run the Beijing Great Wall Marathon. It will be my first ever half-marathon and it's going to be on the Great Wall. I know it will be super awesome and I want to feel great when I accomplish it this year! I am scared as the most I have run is 10k but I am definitely excited for it as well. I guess I just need to start running!
Information about the Great Wall Marathon.
For the afternoon, I did some work at school and went for a run for 30 minutes (10 laps around the track). Then I had dinner with my co-worker.
I should just forget about what happened at the bank - TIC!!!
We use that term whenever we can't understand the Chinese's way of doing things.
Today I went to the Construction Bank to pay for the registration of the Beijing Great Wall Marathon. I am not the type of person who gets upset easily. A friend even has asked me before what makes me angry. It takes me sometime to answer him and I have said when I feel that I have not been treated fairly. That was what happened today. I went to the bank and hoping to pay for the Beijing Great Wall Marathon. I took my bike into the bank and the security guard wouldn't let me put my bike inside. He was rude and took my bike outside twice. I was furious as there aren't any places to lock up my bike and the way he was. His only response was he didn't care if my bike gets stolen and the that rule is no bikes are allowed inside the bank.
I was so angry that I even cried a bit - I might be overreacting but it was such a terrible feeling trying to reason with an unreasonable man. I wanted to make a formal complaint, too. So he would know what's the proper way to treat others with respect.
When it was finally my turn, the bank teller told me that they can't make the transfer because it's to another bank. I was super frustrated. Then they could have told me that either I need to come in Mon-Fri before 4 or do it online myself. Why do they have to make it so difficult for me. I left the bank furious, went to school, and did the transfer on my own. It was a total waste of my time for being there twice, getting myself all worked up, and that I still did what I needed to do on my own.
I hate that part of China so much! Unreasonable and Rude people!
The only good thing of the day is that I have paid for the Beijing Great Wall Marathon.
The marathon itself for expat is pretty pricy.
The registration cost is:
1500 RMB minus 100 RMB (Early bird discount) plus 50 RMB for the timing chip rental.
That's a total of 1450 RMB (not including flights and accommodation).
I have the motivation to do it this year because two of my co-workers are running it. Thus, I hope I can get into good shape and get training help from them. I have set this to be my goal for the year - run the Beijing Great Wall Marathon. It will be my first ever half-marathon and it's going to be on the Great Wall. I know it will be super awesome and I want to feel great when I accomplish it this year! I am scared as the most I have run is 10k but I am definitely excited for it as well. I guess I just need to start running!
Information about the Great Wall Marathon.
For the afternoon, I did some work at school and went for a run for 30 minutes (10 laps around the track). Then I had dinner with my co-worker.
So it was a mixed of bad and good day!
I should just forget about what happened at the bank - TIC!!!
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Sports Day Fun
Friday's Halloween Costume Night was a success.
I had two of my students MC the events. They did a great job without a prewritten script by a teacher. (Usually students MC just read out the prewritten scripts by a Chinese teacher for any big events in the school) However, they didn't translate enough in English and they had also make sexual jokes that weren't that appropriate. Those are the things that should be improved for next time.
It was a lot of fun but I was also tired and we had to work the next day for Sports Day.
I don't know how people have to work on weekends. I am sure spoiled. Even though it's a work day, we are just simply there to do some fun sports competition with the students.
In the morning team events, due to the poor planning of the Chinese PE teacher, some teams finished around 9:30 am and while the last team didn't finish till 11 am. So for teachers and students who finished early, we ended up playing some ultimate games, basketball, etc. It was a lot of fun despite how we weren't happy as how the day was run.
Then we had lunch outside of school at a restaurant that I have never been before.
They have the typical Sichuan/Chinese dishes like pepper shredded pork, kongpo chicken, fried eggplant, and fried tomato and eggs. But they also have skillet tofu, skillet beef, and the last surprise dish, a deep fried shredded potato that tastes like hash brown and was really yummy. I never like the usual fried shredded potato dish that my co-workers like. So I really enjoy the deep fried one.
Lunch! Where's the food?!?
After lunch, we went back to school and to finish supervising the afternoon school families events - relays and tug-of-war. The tug-of-war was really fun and we even did teachers v.s. the students. While the students were competing for the relays, one of my co-worker was doing some acrobat exercises with me and another co-worker. She was amzing that she did "flying" and "standing" moves with us. It was a bit scary (to balance on top of her thigh). I really had fun and I hoped to do more exercises with her next time.
8+legged event
We finished around 3 pm. I got home and did some laundry and found myself really exhausted and dozed off for a bit. Then had some food and I hit the gym with my co-workers for a yoga class. After yoga class, went home and watched a movie with my roommate and another co-worker at 8 pm. The movie we watched is called, "Across the Universe". The movie is good with all Beattles songs and the events that happened during that 60-70s time period. I find that it's hard to understand parts of the movie as I don't know much about that time period but I still enjoy the movie.
I am in bed now recapping what happened yesterday. It was just a super packed fun day.
My muscles are sore from either the running or from the yoga class.
I have to do some errands and do some work for school later.
So it will be a lazy Sunday!
I had two of my students MC the events. They did a great job without a prewritten script by a teacher. (Usually students MC just read out the prewritten scripts by a Chinese teacher for any big events in the school) However, they didn't translate enough in English and they had also make sexual jokes that weren't that appropriate. Those are the things that should be improved for next time.
It was a lot of fun but I was also tired and we had to work the next day for Sports Day.
I don't know how people have to work on weekends. I am sure spoiled. Even though it's a work day, we are just simply there to do some fun sports competition with the students.
In the morning team events, due to the poor planning of the Chinese PE teacher, some teams finished around 9:30 am and while the last team didn't finish till 11 am. So for teachers and students who finished early, we ended up playing some ultimate games, basketball, etc. It was a lot of fun despite how we weren't happy as how the day was run.
Then we had lunch outside of school at a restaurant that I have never been before.
They have the typical Sichuan/Chinese dishes like pepper shredded pork, kongpo chicken, fried eggplant, and fried tomato and eggs. But they also have skillet tofu, skillet beef, and the last surprise dish, a deep fried shredded potato that tastes like hash brown and was really yummy. I never like the usual fried shredded potato dish that my co-workers like. So I really enjoy the deep fried one.
After lunch, we went back to school and to finish supervising the afternoon school families events - relays and tug-of-war. The tug-of-war was really fun and we even did teachers v.s. the students. While the students were competing for the relays, one of my co-worker was doing some acrobat exercises with me and another co-worker. She was amzing that she did "flying" and "standing" moves with us. It was a bit scary (to balance on top of her thigh). I really had fun and I hoped to do more exercises with her next time.
 |
| cool acrobatic exercise! |
We finished around 3 pm. I got home and did some laundry and found myself really exhausted and dozed off for a bit. Then had some food and I hit the gym with my co-workers for a yoga class. After yoga class, went home and watched a movie with my roommate and another co-worker at 8 pm. The movie we watched is called, "Across the Universe". The movie is good with all Beattles songs and the events that happened during that 60-70s time period. I find that it's hard to understand parts of the movie as I don't know much about that time period but I still enjoy the movie.
I am in bed now recapping what happened yesterday. It was just a super packed fun day.
My muscles are sore from either the running or from the yoga class.
I have to do some errands and do some work for school later.
So it will be a lazy Sunday!
Friday, October 28, 2011
Halloween Fun Success!
Dress-up - Candies - Halloween!
It's definitely not a good combination for school.
So I have planned a simple class today.
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For the staffs, we had a skittle dress-up theme.
I have had a girl who's been telling me that I dress too old for my age.
I wanted to be the happy yellow color. So I decided to be a yellow skittle.
The kids were a bit confused with what I was dressed-up as so I had to show them picture of skittles. I should have downloaded the commercial from youtube or something - that'd have been better. Some teachers dressed up as the students which was also pretty awesome as well.
Right after school, we started with the scavenger hunt and pumpkins carving in the cafeteria.
The pumpkins carving was great. We had to carve with Chinese pumpkins which are not the round pumpkins that we get in Canada. We also toasted the seeds and the kids loved them.
Then we moved into the theatre around 7 pm where the party really started.
We had music like BSB going and many kids dressed up for the Costume Contest.
I think everyone enjoyed the night.
Hopefully they like the chocolate and candied apple that we have made as prizes for the winners.
Early Happy Halloween!
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Halloween Candied Apple Thursday
We are having our Halloween celebration tomorrow.
The kids all seem to be a bit of restless in class.
I am getting my pumpkins tomorrow.
Hopefully, everything will run smoothly.
My co-worker and I have also just made candied apple for costume winners (apple dipped in chocolate and with crushed orange candies on top). They have turned out really well. The kids better like them.
Anyways, need to do some marking now!
The kids all seem to be a bit of restless in class.
I am getting my pumpkins tomorrow.
Hopefully, everything will run smoothly.
My co-worker and I have also just made candied apple for costume winners (apple dipped in chocolate and with crushed orange candies on top). They have turned out really well. The kids better like them.
Anyways, need to do some marking now!
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Sport Day Meeting
Met with my team for Saturday's Sports Fun Day!
We name ourselves the OCDs...kids just love that term.
Got the candies for Halloween but still need to get 78 pumpkins...
!!! Hopefully I would be able to get them tomorrow!
----
Enjoy the present the moment!
live it up!
We name ourselves the OCDs...kids just love that term.
Got the candies for Halloween but still need to get 78 pumpkins...
!!! Hopefully I would be able to get them tomorrow!
----
Enjoy the present the moment!
live it up!
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Math Party Tuesday
Another busy day!
It was still a good day though - Nice fall weather with clear sky that I can see the mountains that are usually hiding with fog.
We had a great ultimate games with the perfect number of students who showed up to play (not too many and exactly 7 on each line).
Since there's a chapter test tomorrow, I went back to the school after dinner to give office hour. It turned out to be like a Math party. It reminded me so much of my high school provincial studying party. I remembered back then it was stressful and yet fun to be with my friends to cram and study till late. Good old times!
I have also tried to read a bit tonight - just started on the book called, "The Black Tower" by PD James.
Dilemma of the week - need to get 78 pumpkins for Friday's Halloween Pumpkin carving!
It was still a good day though - Nice fall weather with clear sky that I can see the mountains that are usually hiding with fog.
We had a great ultimate games with the perfect number of students who showed up to play (not too many and exactly 7 on each line).
Since there's a chapter test tomorrow, I went back to the school after dinner to give office hour. It turned out to be like a Math party. It reminded me so much of my high school provincial studying party. I remembered back then it was stressful and yet fun to be with my friends to cram and study till late. Good old times!
I have also tried to read a bit tonight - just started on the book called, "The Black Tower" by PD James.
Dilemma of the week - need to get 78 pumpkins for Friday's Halloween Pumpkin carving!
Monday, October 24, 2011
Monday Blues
Monday Blues~
It's a long week and it's just Monday!
I am already tired.
Guess just have to do what I have to do.
On the way home today, tea was spilled from my mug and my passport got all wet.
The passport now looks wrinkly and fake - oh well it's supposed to be good till 2015...
On the way home today, tea was spilled from my mug and my passport got all wet.
The passport now looks wrinkly and fake - oh well it's supposed to be good till 2015...
But also had a good dinner with a co-worker.
Things that I still need to do:
-read the books that I have borrowed
-make up the blog posts that I said I will write
-organize pictures
-errands
-make up the blog posts that I said I will write
-organize pictures
-errands
I am just proud of myself that I am keeping up with the blog.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
YC weekend + Potluck Success
I didn't write a post for yesterday!
So I have to make it up today.
To sum it up, the post is dedicated to be YC weekend + Potluck success.
SAT Oct. 22
-went to the gym
-then did grocery shopping for the potluck dinner
I have to say that I dislike shopping now but I enjoy grocery shopping.
In the chinese grocery store, you find things that you wouldn't find in a Canadian grocery store. (Some interesting things and some gross things for sure). For example, I bought chicken wings to make coke chicken wings for potluck. Right beside where they put the chicken wings on the ice, they have the crown of the rooster. I didn't know that part is edible (and I wouldn't want to eat that at all).
Then I was with my co-worker. We had some snack sitting beside a pond in the nearby university. It was quite peaceful with many different types of birds flying by. We went to get some Great wall wine and went back to the apartment. We just hung out a bit before going to the Fish Hot Pot.
Fish hot pot is one of my favorite food here in YC. Whenever I am craving for good fish, that's the place I would want to go. The restaurant was packed with locals. Luckily we got a table and had our wonderful meal. I was super stuffed and went to grocery store with another co-worker.
So it was a laid-back YC night.
SUN Oct. 23
Me and my roommate were cleaning our place and moving furnitures around in preparation for the potluck in the morning. She made chilli and cornbread and I made fried rice noodle and coke chicken wings. I also went to the school for a bit to make a chapter test (but I didn't finish making it).
The potluck started around 5:30. Here's the list of food that we had:
-chilli and cornbread
-fried rice noold and chicken wings
-fried noodle
-deviled eggs and cinnamon buns
-dumplings
-fried indonesian rice and ginger chicken
-sushi
-cucumber salad, melon and ginger (very refreshing dish)
-chinese buns and seaweed salad
-tuna sandwich
It was just a great party with good food and everyone seemed to have a lot of fun.
1st ever Potluck party Success!
Now need to be prepared for the crazy work week tomorrow.
We will have our Halloween party on Friday and Sports day on Saturday!
So it'll be a long week! But I know I am up for it!!
So I have to make it up today.
To sum it up, the post is dedicated to be YC weekend + Potluck success.
SAT Oct. 22
-went to the gym
-then did grocery shopping for the potluck dinner
I have to say that I dislike shopping now but I enjoy grocery shopping.
In the chinese grocery store, you find things that you wouldn't find in a Canadian grocery store. (Some interesting things and some gross things for sure). For example, I bought chicken wings to make coke chicken wings for potluck. Right beside where they put the chicken wings on the ice, they have the crown of the rooster. I didn't know that part is edible (and I wouldn't want to eat that at all).
Then I was with my co-worker. We had some snack sitting beside a pond in the nearby university. It was quite peaceful with many different types of birds flying by. We went to get some Great wall wine and went back to the apartment. We just hung out a bit before going to the Fish Hot Pot.
Fish hot pot is one of my favorite food here in YC. Whenever I am craving for good fish, that's the place I would want to go. The restaurant was packed with locals. Luckily we got a table and had our wonderful meal. I was super stuffed and went to grocery store with another co-worker.
So it was a laid-back YC night.
SUN Oct. 23
Me and my roommate were cleaning our place and moving furnitures around in preparation for the potluck in the morning. She made chilli and cornbread and I made fried rice noodle and coke chicken wings. I also went to the school for a bit to make a chapter test (but I didn't finish making it).
The potluck started around 5:30. Here's the list of food that we had:
-chilli and cornbread
-fried rice noold and chicken wings
-fried noodle
-deviled eggs and cinnamon buns
-dumplings
-fried indonesian rice and ginger chicken
-sushi
-cucumber salad, melon and ginger (very refreshing dish)
-chinese buns and seaweed salad
-tuna sandwich
It was just a great party with good food and everyone seemed to have a lot of fun.
1st ever Potluck party Success!
Now need to be prepared for the crazy work week tomorrow.
We will have our Halloween party on Friday and Sports day on Saturday!
So it'll be a long week! But I know I am up for it!!
Friday, October 21, 2011
Friday Movie Night
Watched two extremely different movies tonight at co-worker's place.
The second movie is quite new and shot in an interesting way. It's called the Blue Valentine.
I like the way it's filmed as you feel you are part of the story or watching the story unfolds through a zoom lens. The movie is about love, relationship and family life. It's very raw and realistic. It's a great movie. A big thumb up!
The first movie we watched is an old Hollywood classic called, Sunset Bolevard.
It's very unlike the movie we see nowadays. It's slow and the story line is simple.
The movie is about an old star who lives in her own world, dreaming to return to the stage where she used to be again.
Famous quote from the main character, Norma:
"I am big. It's the pictures that got small."
I find the movie enjoyable. It's interesting to see such glamourous Hollywood classics.
The second movie is quite new and shot in an interesting way. It's called the Blue Valentine.
I like the way it's filmed as you feel you are part of the story or watching the story unfolds through a zoom lens. The movie is about love, relationship and family life. It's very raw and realistic. It's a great movie. A big thumb up!
Maybe I will write about both movies more later. Now I just want to go to bed!
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Live in the moment, "Now" - the Present
My co-worker, she strongly believes about live in the moment - the present.
She wears a pendant with the Chinese character, "Jing", means Now.I also believe in live in the moment.
I have been putting off the idea of starting my blog for too long.
It has been hectic since school has started. But I shouldn't give myself anymore excuses.
To be honest, even though work has been busy, I know the main reason is that I don't feel comfortable with my writings. Numbers and math equations for me are like music and my langauge.
There has been so many good stories of my life that I just want to not to forget.
So this is my first post - a promise to myself that I am going to make "Me Time" and record down all my good stories.
Things that I am going to write about:
-Epic Heaven on Earth Amazing Race Oct. Sichuan China Trip
-Connecting with students
-Substituting for Art Class
-First China Hospital IVed story
-7am Ultimate fun
-Shianghai visit
-Great book, "The White Tiger"
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