Random thoughts on Sunday September 1, 2013
RABBIT!
(especially to my former students who still remember Rabbit on the
first day of the month after more than 20 years)
Yesterday was a busy day. We moved – this seems to be a theme – to
apartment 509 from 302. Same shape, mirror image and hopefully less
mould. Actually our new place is very sweet with an interesting view
out the big front windows over several of the apartments in the
Sunshine City development. Nancy, a university official who attends
to the needs of foreign teachers, brought over two young men to
assist. They got quite a workout, hauling three couches up or down the
stairs. Like all the students here they were gracious. Everything
was done by 10:30 am.
How to find us on Google maps: enter Jilin University, Lambton
College, Changchun, China and keep zooming in. If you see a Super8
Motel and a Wal-Mart you are on the right track. The residence is
actually below the marker. Keep zooming until you get the
Guangzhaoyuan supermarket and a soccer field/track just across the
road. We are in the rectangular building right across the street.
(Could send coordinates but this is more fun.)
It’s a measure of how much energy it takes to live that we have not
yet been to Nanhu Lake and Nanhu Park. The city has been divided in
half by some impressive construction on Qianjin Street. There are
temporary accommodations for the workers just outside the College
walls. And periodically we hear lengthy and seeming random firecracker
explosions, as the workers celebrate the completion of some phase of
the work. Yet more in the fascinating soundscape that surrounds us.
This morning we are going with two students to get Chinese phones.
Apparently students dislike email and prefer to text their teachers.
Details to follow.
The first year students are arriving this weekend and will spend the
next week in military training. The rest of the EFL teachers have
arrived. One very experienced young couple had come to work in the
branch of Lambton College at Qingdao on the coast. Without warning
that program closed and they are now going to work here. Yesterday we
met five even younger teachers who come from a Baptist university in
Riverside, California. The combination of their youth and energy and
the experience of the folks who have been here for a long time will
make for a very interesting experience and I am looking forward to
starting.
Time for a cup of Nescafe and sweetened condensed milk and some
oatmeal and amazingly fresh and delicious peaches. Oh, and it is
still not yet 6 am.
P.S.
7am- A few minutes ago we heard loud explosions
in the apartments next door and sounds like falling gravel. None of
the pedestrians were reacting; neighbour John said that it was either
an opening or a wedding. If you hadn't been awake before that ....
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