Monday, June 8, 2009
Last Week!
This is my last week as an English teacher in Shenzhen. I will never see my students again. I will miss them, even the ones that really annoy me. I have no idea if I helped their English or not. For the students in the back of the class, I do not think I had any effect. I hope I can stay in touch with some of them.
Dragon Boats and Spaceships
Over the Dragon Boat Festival (May 28th-29th), I saw Star Trek. On the actual festival day, the 28th, Ben, Alaina, and I went to Hong Kong to watch the races at Stanley Beach. The beach was FULL of racers and watchers. There was hardly enough room to move. It was great to be around other foreigners. I heard so many different languages, like French and German. The races themselves were short, so we saw many races. Everyone had a great time. We watched a few more races after it started to rain, but then we decided getting wet was not fun. And what better way to spend a rainy day than sitting in a movie theater?
Star Trek was a fantastic movie! We three were surrounded by Chinese. The movie had Chinese subtitles, but just like another film, something was “lost in translation.” When we Americans laughed, the Chinese looked unfazed. I guess we laughed too much or too loudly because the Chinese started to watch us. They looked confused at what we found laughable. (Spoiler Alert!) When McCoy asked Spock if he were out of his mind, the subtitles read, “你的脑子进水了吗?” or “Did you brain enter water?” I laughed at the translation; the Chinese did not. Maybe Chinese do not show their emotions in public, even if it is a dark movie theater.
Star Trek was a fantastic movie! We three were surrounded by Chinese. The movie had Chinese subtitles, but just like another film, something was “lost in translation.” When we Americans laughed, the Chinese looked unfazed. I guess we laughed too much or too loudly because the Chinese started to watch us. They looked confused at what we found laughable. (Spoiler Alert!) When McCoy asked Spock if he were out of his mind, the subtitles read, “你的脑子进水了吗?” or “Did you brain enter water?” I laughed at the translation; the Chinese did not. Maybe Chinese do not show their emotions in public, even if it is a dark movie theater.
China Vagina Monologues
On May 22nd, I saw The Vagina Monologues in Shekou, Shenzhen’s foreigner haven. I had not seen the play since college, so it was a nice reminder of American life. However, I am so used to being surrounded by Chinese, I was afraid of being around foreigners. I am not like the Shekou foreigners because I do not make much money or live in Shekou splendor. Foreigners in Shekou appear to isolate themselves from the Chinese population, which the play only encouraged. We foreigners isolated ourselves in a foreign restaurant watching a foreign play with foreign actresses in a part of Shenzhen dominated by foreigners. That is foreign! The play was dinner and a show, and the food was also foreign: Thai, Indian, Irish, etc. Even though I shut myself off from Chinese culture for a night, it was a nice change from constant China in Xili.
The Bay of Sick Pigs
One of Ben’s friends came to visit during the swine flu ‘pandemic.’ As an American, he was a potential virus carrier and destroyer of society’s precious health. The school and education bureau knew that he was visiting, but they were slow to act on it.
I understand the fear China has with any virus. With its dense population, a virus can easily spread, especially when the people do not wash their hands with soap. Hong Kong cleans more public places. Shenzhen, on the other hand, only uses a health form. I have yet to see any sanitation precautions. On each side of the border with Hong Kong, there are tables for more extensive questioning and health examinations. One of the health form checkers mistook the “M” in “Mainland China” as “Mexico,” so he sent a friend to more questioning. That woman read “Mainland” and not “Mexico,” and had a great look of ‘my coworker is so clueless.’ China needs to teach those checkers how to recognize countries in English.
Now back to Ben’s friend. After four days of him staying at the school, he was told to minimize his contact with the students. He already had attended classes and students wanted to meet the new foreigner. He was allowed to live in the dorm, eat with the teachers, and sit in the teachers’ office, which confused me. It was okay for him to possibly infect the teachers (who would thereby infect students), but it was not okay to be in direct contact with the students. He was also allowed to hang out with Ben and me, so he could possibly infect us, and we come in contact with the students. It seemed like a failed attempt to have complete control, like the rules were half-done.
I am proud to say that my school has no cases of swine flu. The only visible signs of precaution are temperature checks at the school gate and ultraviolet in the classrooms. The guards check everyone’s temperature with a temperature gun they point at your forehead. It is a new toy for those bored guards; I am glad they have some fun randomly pointing the gun at each other. At night ultraviolet lights are turned on to sterilize the classrooms.
I understand the fear China has with any virus. With its dense population, a virus can easily spread, especially when the people do not wash their hands with soap. Hong Kong cleans more public places. Shenzhen, on the other hand, only uses a health form. I have yet to see any sanitation precautions. On each side of the border with Hong Kong, there are tables for more extensive questioning and health examinations. One of the health form checkers mistook the “M” in “Mainland China” as “Mexico,” so he sent a friend to more questioning. That woman read “Mainland” and not “Mexico,” and had a great look of ‘my coworker is so clueless.’ China needs to teach those checkers how to recognize countries in English.
Now back to Ben’s friend. After four days of him staying at the school, he was told to minimize his contact with the students. He already had attended classes and students wanted to meet the new foreigner. He was allowed to live in the dorm, eat with the teachers, and sit in the teachers’ office, which confused me. It was okay for him to possibly infect the teachers (who would thereby infect students), but it was not okay to be in direct contact with the students. He was also allowed to hang out with Ben and me, so he could possibly infect us, and we come in contact with the students. It seemed like a failed attempt to have complete control, like the rules were half-done.
I am proud to say that my school has no cases of swine flu. The only visible signs of precaution are temperature checks at the school gate and ultraviolet in the classrooms. The guards check everyone’s temperature with a temperature gun they point at your forehead. It is a new toy for those bored guards; I am glad they have some fun randomly pointing the gun at each other. At night ultraviolet lights are turned on to sterilize the classrooms.
Minsk World
A week after my birthday, we visited Minsk World, a park highlighting a Soviet aircraft carrier given to China as a gift. The ship is in Yantian, on the other side of Shenzhen from Xili. There were also Soviet planes, cannons, and a helicopter, even old and fake missiles and other weapons. It has been awhile since I’ve seen military equipment. We walked all through the ship, top to bottom, stem to stern. We could venture basically anywhere. At the end of our tour, we saw a musical performance. It may have been an audition because numbers were called and performers were in the audience. Some of the performances were military related with dancers dressed as sailors or soldiers. On a military ship, it made sense.
My First Chinese Birthday
(Note: I apologize for taking so long to update anything on this blog, but a few days after my birthday, China started blocking Blogger. I do not know why, but even proxys would not let me log on until now. For fear of writing something rude I will just write my blog now.) I spent my birthday in China, but not just China…Hong Kong Disney! It was the ‘magic kingdom’ because we left Chinese society and briefly visited Western civilization. I love Chinese life, but bless its heart it can be disgusting. At Disney, there was no spitting; it felt and looked and was clean. I know not all of China is as dirty as Xili, but when Chinese do not touch food with their bare hands you develop an idea that all of China is the same.
Anyway, we took the numerous subways to the Disney rail, where the car windows and handlebars were in the shape of Mickey’s ears. As you lounged on the plush seats, you saw statues of famous Disney cartoon characters.
I was super excited. Not only was I jumping up and down like a pogo stick, I also had a smile plastered on my face. I wonder if anyone thought I had a problem. NOT ONE CHILD looked excited to be at Disneyland. I did not see smiles of any kind. Chinese need to learn to display their happiness; otherwise we Westerners will constantly think they are unhappy. As we alit the train, we heard Disney songs. It was comforting not to hear C-pop (Chinese pop music); my ears can only take so much of sappy-sounding love songs. China should develop its rock music selection, but that’s a blog for another day.
Hong Kong Disney was a copy of Disneyland in the US. There was Main Street, USA, Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, and Adventureland. I experienced brief culture shock at the entrance with Main Street, USA, which is reminiscent of the Old West. I saw old, Western buildings that were not apartments. They were homes! China does not have houses, only apartments.
Since we arrived around lunchtime, we ate a wonderfully delicious, horribly expensive lunch. I ate fried chicken and fries and Coke. What could be more American than that? And this was real fried chicken, not a misguided Chinese version.
Then it was time for rides. Space Mountain was so much fun. Like any other ride at a Western amusement park, you get your photo taken at the end, which we made sure to pose for. The line for Space Mountain was almost non-existent because roller coasters are moving rides, which can easily make Chinese ill. We even got a piece of paper warning us about this “roller coaster type ride.” It did not stop us Americans. ^_^
I will not bore you all with tales of every single ride, but I want to tell you about the Lion King musical performance. Rafiki, Scar and Simba were played by black people! Blacks are a novelty in China. I have to point them out in China because they are near impossible to see in Shenzhen. I expected the whole cast to be Chinese because it was Hong Kong after all.
After spending the day at the wonderful world of Disney, I think I can survive the next few months in China. Disney offered a nice respite from Chinese society and culture. I believe that when you live in a different country, you should surround yourself with the culture and society. However, there should ALWAYS be places to go that remind you of home. McDonald’s does not cut it.
Anyway, we took the numerous subways to the Disney rail, where the car windows and handlebars were in the shape of Mickey’s ears. As you lounged on the plush seats, you saw statues of famous Disney cartoon characters.
I was super excited. Not only was I jumping up and down like a pogo stick, I also had a smile plastered on my face. I wonder if anyone thought I had a problem. NOT ONE CHILD looked excited to be at Disneyland. I did not see smiles of any kind. Chinese need to learn to display their happiness; otherwise we Westerners will constantly think they are unhappy. As we alit the train, we heard Disney songs. It was comforting not to hear C-pop (Chinese pop music); my ears can only take so much of sappy-sounding love songs. China should develop its rock music selection, but that’s a blog for another day.
Hong Kong Disney was a copy of Disneyland in the US. There was Main Street, USA, Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, and Adventureland. I experienced brief culture shock at the entrance with Main Street, USA, which is reminiscent of the Old West. I saw old, Western buildings that were not apartments. They were homes! China does not have houses, only apartments.
Since we arrived around lunchtime, we ate a wonderfully delicious, horribly expensive lunch. I ate fried chicken and fries and Coke. What could be more American than that? And this was real fried chicken, not a misguided Chinese version.
Then it was time for rides. Space Mountain was so much fun. Like any other ride at a Western amusement park, you get your photo taken at the end, which we made sure to pose for. The line for Space Mountain was almost non-existent because roller coasters are moving rides, which can easily make Chinese ill. We even got a piece of paper warning us about this “roller coaster type ride.” It did not stop us Americans. ^_^
I will not bore you all with tales of every single ride, but I want to tell you about the Lion King musical performance. Rafiki, Scar and Simba were played by black people! Blacks are a novelty in China. I have to point them out in China because they are near impossible to see in Shenzhen. I expected the whole cast to be Chinese because it was Hong Kong after all.
After spending the day at the wonderful world of Disney, I think I can survive the next few months in China. Disney offered a nice respite from Chinese society and culture. I believe that when you live in a different country, you should surround yourself with the culture and society. However, there should ALWAYS be places to go that remind you of home. McDonald’s does not cut it.
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