The Mysterious Knife

I am sure I have written about the mysterious knife in my possession. This morning I used it to spread my fig jam (yes, home made by me) on my toast, and it made me think of the knife's story.  The story is also an example of something that happens in China.  If you do the right thing, or show kindness and friendliness to someone, they will undoubtedly help you.

When I was in Shaoxing I went to the post office often - I would post parcels back to Australia from time to time, and it was during this strange process that I befriended two works in the post office.  One was a lady who sold lottery tickets from a small desk that had no space other than the cash register, and space underneath.  She sat here for hours on end selling her tickets and chatting with her customers and passers by.  She was positioned almost in the the thoroughfare in the post office.  In her quiet time she would open her English study book and read and try and learn English.  I'd often call by and sit with her for 15 minutes or so answering her questions about English and conversing with her and helping with her pronunciation errors.  We became friendly.

Only a few feet away was 'the box man' - he looked after the cardboard boxes, so if I needed to send items to Australia I could not wrap them, but I would take them in a plastic bag to the box man, and he would select the right size box for me, and I would take it to the desk opposite where the girl would look through all my items and if approved, she would seal the box, weigh it, and give me forms to complete (customs, list of contents, details of receiver etc.) and when I paid I would leave the box and hope that it arrived back in Australia.  I must say I had 100% success rate.  Everything turned up.

When I had arrived in China I had to buy all my utensils and most I left behind but there was a cutlery set - one knife, one fork, one dessert spoon, and a teaspoon, that I purchased early on and I loved the set and at the end of my tour - I decided to include them in a parcel back to Australia.  The goods were duly packed in the box, but the girl behind the counter found the knife and said it could not go.  "We cannot send knives in boxes."  I protested but she took it out.  The box man came to listen to my protests, and quietly observed my argument that a knife in a box was not going to do any damage to anyone or anything.  It wasn't a sharp knife and would have trouble doing damage to a block of butter!

The knife was put on the counter.  I subsequently filled out the paperwork, the box was sealed, I paid my dues and then looked for the knife.  At least I could take it with me in my luggage.  But it was nowhere to be seen.  It appeared that someone had taken it. I shrugged.  No big deal.  And went on my way.

Can you imagine my surprise when my box of goodies arrived back in Australia, a few weeks after I had done so, and when unpacking I found the knife.  I can only guess that the box man surreptitiously had slipped the knife into my box.  I'd love to thank him, but of course I cannot.

I remember him when I went back to China on my third 'tour of duty' - he had been excited to see me and called out across the post office in a loud voice "Adalia" - Australia!!!  He had remembered me from my previous time there some 12 months before. I guess I am not difficult to remember - tall and blonde, but it did surprise me.

Now, I have my knife, fork, spoon and teaspoon - and I will always remember the  man in the post office.  Xie Xie.

Where to next?

I am house sitting - at least for the next year as I complete my Master of Arts, and complete some writing tasks.  One work that I am almost completed is an e-book with information about teaching/living in China.

I set out to try and describe what life was like living and working in China, but I am already at around 10,000 words and there is not a lot of advice for would-be teachers, but it could be a good read.  It does attempt to describe the challenges of living and working in China, without scaring anyone off.  I would not set out to 'scare' anyone  but there are some things worth knowing before you go to China.

It is not a "free" country as we in the west would know it - the communist party members are everywhere, and sometimes there is a dislike of foreigners (laowai) so one needs to be careful about obeying the country's rules, and certainly any criminal or civil disobedience is not acceptable.  Still, I  keep writing.  When will it end?

China? Not in 2011.

I had been procrastinating about going to China.  How I wish I could - but I had too many issues home in Australia to deal with, so here I will remain for 2011. Still though I can keep in touch with everyone, and with any luck can have one or two students stay with me later in the year.

My study will keep me going - and I may try to get some of my m/s finished/published this year.  As well I have a long to do list.  I don't make resolutions - but I have a lit of things I wish to accomplish during the year.  One of course is to do well at all subjects for Swinburne (Masters)  Perhaps by end of February 2012 I will be finished.

It looks like I could have some long term house sitting adventures, so I will wait and see - and save my dollars. 

Meanwhile I am reading a fantastic book about China.  Peter Hessler is a journalist in China, and has written several books.  The one I am reading now is "Country Driving" and he tells the tales of his driving around China.  It means a lot more to me having been there, and having some understanding of the complex Chinese culture, and while it is a big book, I am slowly wading through it - as well as coping with my studies.

Time goes so quickly..............

It seems like only yesterday that we welcomed Mandy and Rita to Brisbane - and last night it was all over as they departed via Singapore Airlines to return to their families.  Changed people no doubt.  I think  any travel changes one, but for these two young ladies to experience life in the freedom of Australia after the cloistered life in China will change them in many ways.

Apart from improving their English, and learning much about another culture, I suspect that they will question many things about life in China now.  They did find out about Tiananmen Square and the events of 1989 - not from me - but someone thought they would know, and then on finding out that they did not, chose to tell them.  

One of them saw the movie "Mao's Last Dancer" and this made her ask a lot of questions.  Why did Li Cuxun not return to China?  He should have!!!  One of the girls bought the book in a second hand book store, so I suspect they will both have the opportunity to read it and read ALL the story - not just the abridged version of the movie.

One of them learned some cooking skills, and we learned that there is little interest in cooking, and that they don't know much about "Cook Books" though I know I saw them in the shops in China.  Many people do not have much in the way of kitchen space - nor do they cook much at home.  One of the girls said that her parents have a cook that comes into their workplace and cooks for her family, in conditions that even she felt were unsavoury!!!  She'd like to cook at home.  One issue is that they do not have the tools that we do - and I sent one of the girls home with a set of measuring spoons and measuring cups.  I will send some recipes, and I know I will have to make sure that the recipes are simple - and the ingredients can be measured in measuring cups.  Kitchen scales are available - but not in many homes.

It has been an extra ordinary learning curve for us all.  Wonderful experience - but now I am not as time poor for my own endeavours as I have been in the past few weeks, so I can explore the study that I have committed to at Swinburne University.

My course materials arrived this week - I was expecting a large parcel - but a small packet arrived with 6 CD's which contained the welcome lecture, and course information on the subjects that I am studying.  I though I only enrolled for 2 subjects, but I find I have 3 - will have to decide in a day or two if I am going to take on the whole 3 - or bail out of one.

I am fascinated at how well it is organised using the new technologies which were not in use when I was last at university.  How amazing it all is!!!

I am glad I did not commit to returning to Shaoxing this semester, and that I can focus on the study.  I am really looking forward to it.

My E-Bike

In 2008 I had a bicycle in China.  I had gone alone to a bicycle shop near the small Trust Mart in Jiefung Lu (there are two Trust Marts and they are both on Jiefung Lu - one in the centre of the city which is big - and this one, further along near a canal which was smaller and generally easier to access!)

 I'd looked at the bikes in the supermarkets, but chose to go to a shop, where I did a bit of haggling with the Chinese shop owner, much to the amusement of the locals.  I duly paid him the cash, he fixed the seat to make it comfortable and when we were both happy, I rode the bike back to the university.  It was quite alarming as it was late afternoon and the traffic was building up, but I managed to ride without any dramas!

The bike and I went on many adventures over the following months, and when I left, I gave the keys to the locks to one of the other teachers and left it behind to have its own adventures with whoever wanted to ride it.

It was a sad and rusted machine when I returned in 2010, but by then I'd become fascinated with e-bikes, which were in all shapes and sizes.  I wanted one that looked a little like a bicycle rather than a scooter, and I set off on a hilarious adventure to find the bike that suited me.

Other teachers advised me, and I went to several shops.  Most wanted to sell me something bigger and more expensive than I had planned, so I just kept looking.  I had been told about a shop not far from the campus and one rainy day I caught No 2 bus expecting to reach my destination.  There had been road words at one end of Jiefung Lu, and the bus route for weeks had gone via another road, the one the bike shop was on. It was a Sunday, and I was shocked when the bus did not take the expected route, and went  another direction as the Jiefung Lu intersection was suitable for traffic.

I walked back from the city in the pouring ran trying to find my way back to the road where the bike shop was, but in the rain, somehow I missed the turn off, and ended up back at campus without a bike.

The following day I set off again after classes.  By then another place had been suggested, so I set off on foot and did quite a bit of research as I walked from shop to shop looking at their wares.  Eventually I reached the shop I'd been seeking the day before and found exactly what I was looking for.  My students are in awe at times as I happily manage to negotiate without any English.  It is surprising what one can do with hand signals, facial expressions, and a sense of humour.  In the end I happily negotiated a price, and was soon practicing riding it on the footpath in front of the shop.  I handed over my money and with not a lot of confidence road it back to the campus.  I had asked for a purple one.  "Mayo" No.  So it was a pink one!

How I loved my e-bike.  The e-bike and I had many adventures.  It was perfect.  Never did I have a problem with it.  I could power up the battery through my kitchen window, and ride off to where ever I needed to go.  I wished I had bought it earlier instead of procrastinating the way I did.  

I didn't need to ride into the city - it was safer to go by bus, but I managed to ride along the canals, around the near suburb, certainly around the campus, to TESCO supermarket and other destinations nearby.

The road traffic is chaotic nearer the centre of the city - I didn't need to  take any risks.  I managed to dodge the strange traffic on the Ring Road, and I enjoyed my travels.  In the end I sold it.

How Time Flies

I've been back just over two weeks so far and still trying to get my life back into "normal" whatever that is, but I doubt that will happen any time soon.

I have applied to do my Master of Arts at Swinburne University, so will wait to hear if I am accepted, and next week I fly to Adelaide to see my parents, and then come back to meet up with two students from China who are going to stay in Australia for a few weeks, and I will be one of their "tour guides."  Shall be interesting.  I've started a blog to document their visit.  

Today I had a pedicure.  Oh, bliss. 

Tomorrow I will attend a business lunch and be the "official photographer."

Adventures continue

Although they are not all mine. I will update though, as it does give some idea of the topsy turvy life I can lead I guess.

I've had two Skype conversations today - one with my friend who is now in Korea, finding out how complicated life can be there. I was of course supposed to be there last week, and my students met, as they do from time to time, and were hoping I would be there with them, but as the plans changed, that was not to be. My friend then was going to meet with them, but that didn't happen either. She has spent some time in Jeonju, and was headed to CheonAn today.

The accommodation which was supposed to be organised for her (or me) a week or so ago, is still not ready. There's a mattress to buy, and a desk, and so on. I don't know if she will stay there tonight - it does sound a bit "iffy" as we would say.

From China I was in touch with a student from the university in Shaoxing - we always talk about me going back there. She is a working girl now, but still wants to show me around her home town which is not far from Hangzhou. I am looking forward to seeing her and her family.

I was reading a website which is a network of teachers in China and recognised the name of someone who was in our writing group. She went to China some months ago, but went through an agent. It turns out this guy is a rogue and he had her booked into doing so much extra work. She had not got her Z visa before she went to China, so was rather restricted in what she could do too. However, she has been able to negotiate a better plan but still is not happy. She was initially required to mark 8000 assignments in one year! How would that be!!!

Anyway I have heard from her and she is OK, but not sure of her next move - back to Australia or something else in China.

Then I received a message from someone who had discussed with me a program in north China, and teaching nurses English so that they could come to Australia and train/work here. The project fell through though. She is back in Australia - but needs to update her qualifications - things have changed in the few years she has been out of the country. So she is betwixt and between.

Meanwhile I have been working on lesson plans to teach at a college in Brisbane tomorrow. I was due to go and sit in on a lesson, but the teacher has called in sick, so I got a call to delay my arrival tomorrow. I've found it somewhat challenging to do a lesson plan - with so many unknowns. I don't know the students, am not familiar with the English program they are doing, and will be "winging it" as they say.

Then came the snakes!!! MM has been working on the front garden - a long overdue project that is all but complete today. Planter boxes have been built and are in situ, and he was piling the dirt from a pile that has been sitting on the front lawn for several years. Growing with each mowing as the clippings were thrown onto it. Seems Mrs Snake chose this place for her nest and he came across a dozen or so baby snakes. They were around a foot long and scurried all over the place as he spaded the dirt into the new planter boxes. Quick - get the camera!!!

Meanwhile, in preparation for the meeting of the Society of Women Writers tomorrow (yes, I was going to fit that in before going to the College), where we have to swap one of our favourite books after writing about 50 words about it. Only 50? OK.

The Book I have chosen is one that I have bought (and given away) on many occasions. It is a book called "Random Acts of Kindness" which set me on a course with the Kindness Foundation in Australia. I confess I have lost touch with the organisation, after being their quite active Queensland representative. A long time ago I think. Maybe 10 years ago.

In any case, I found their website and saw that the founder of the Australian Kindness Movement has been ill. I have sent a message giving him my best wishes for a speedy recovery. I've also learned that it is Kindness Week in November - in fact Australian Kindness day is November 6th.

I love the book - it is a little book of short stories about extra ordinary kindnesses. I shall exchange it tomorrow - but will buy a new one at some stage. Perhaps I'll get involved with the Kindness movement again.

We've just emptied the compost bin - putting all the lovely new nutrient on to the new garden bed, and maybe in a few days we will plant something in the soil. We might wait for rain, as watering is still taboo here.

And that's not all...................

Still betwixt and between......

Maybe I will know in the next 24 hours if the next South Korean venture is on - and at the moment I am indifferent about it. I'd like to go - especially as it is a new challenge and I might get to Pusan and North Korea, but such a lot is happening here, I'm OK not to go at the moment.

I received an email about a photo contest - I'd forgotten I'd entered, and it has a couple of weeks to go, so if you want to see (and vote for my entry) go to ESL daily - there are not a lot of entries, but the sunrise over Wynnum is my entry. You can vote for me if you wish.

I'm hoping to have some resolution to my hearing/ear problem this week - and it is with some trepidation that I will have a skull scan - most pundits joke about looking for my brain.

I'm reading an extra ordinary book at the moment about an Australian nurse Valerie Browning, whose brother is an Anglican Bishop in Australia. Valerie did her nursing training in Australia but has been working for much of her life with the Afar people in Eritrea. The book is called "Maalika My Life among the Afar nomads of Africa" Authors Valerie Browning and John Little.

As I am keen to write about Australian nurses myself, I've been mesmerised by her story - just an amazing woman. "Maalika" means "queen" and she is revered as such with the Afar peoples.

An amazing read.

In between doing everything else I've had emails from students in South Korea and China, and strangely enough a doctor in Egypt who is hoping to migrate to Australia. Interesting guy to chat with - and he needs help with his English too.

It is good to hear from my students though.

Time flies and I'm not even having fun!

There seems to be so much to do and I have found little time to write, but hopefully in the next few days I will get some of my major tasks behind me.

I'm trying to "downsize" in the house. I think it makes you think when your partner is stricken with a major health issue, and you realize the task of moving if one has to, would be pretty daunting. We've had occasional Spring Cleans over the 16 years we have been in this house, but there is much that we've not used in that time, and won't use. What does one throw out? I am being rather ruthless, and the loungeroom is piled high with books and magazines that I have chosen to give away or sell. Anyone want to buy some books? We will have a garage sale, as soon as MM is able to as he is a better sales person than me. In the meantime I am doing the hard work of making some hard decisions.

I've finished the bookshelf - and almost filled it and there are piles of books waiting for some decisions. MM has not been able to do anything and I won't throw his books aside. He has heaps of John Grisham books, and others that he will never read again, and quite a lot of good books that he is yet to read.

I have had coffee with a couple of friends, but find that there is little time for things. Next week I will have more time I hope.

I've had messages from students in China, and feel so much for them. One failed his CET6 exam - this is an English test that students must pass to get certain employment. His English is good - but I'm not sure how to comment on the tests. I've not seen much detail about it, but from discussions with a Chinese teacher last year, I found it all strangely confusing. It was not an area that we got involved in, though I am sure we should have been. I'm sure the native English speakers might have been some assistance to the students doing these exams.

I'm still keen to return to China and will follow up on some offers I have had - but not this month!

I still have a big "to do" list - but thankfully each day the list gets smaller. I have managed to do a few things - and next week I will do some writing I hope.

Today I went to an Open Day at the National Archives. Luckily it is not far from home, and it is a place that I have visited often in the past. It is amazing the collections of items on every day life in Australia - and especially if one is writing family history or life stories. I'm keen to do more of that!

The Open Day was called "Shake your Family Tree" and there was much information for anyone exploring their family history. There are so many resources there.

The Museum

I'd heard about the museum which is opposite the entrance to Lu Xun walk and made it my business to go there.

It is called Shaoxing Yueguo Heritage Museum and I think is about the Yue Kingdom, which is famous around here.

Sadly there is NO ENGLISH anywhere in the Museum - not on any of the museum pieces, and the staff I spoke to had no English language skills, so it was rather disappointing not to understand the detail about the exhibits.

On paying the fee, one is presented with a rather grand brochure - the English on the front "Existing dust-covered history here let you see civilization's passing And dynasties' substitutions; Your ancestors stories here Make you aftertaste contend for hegemony And talk the world events at will" and on the back "Only in here Can you see more and better finer and nicer Elites of enriched culture and wisdom of Ancient Yue Kingdom's ancestors: Only in here Can you know truer and kinder Wider and deeper Historical and cultural Shaoxing."

Now I don't meant o be disrespectful, but I have no idea what it all means!!!! I wish that after translation from Chinese to English an editor be employed to make some sense of it.

Many of the exhibits are pottery items - with such fascinating items as a "Long Neck Fragrant Fumed Bottle." and a "Lucky Beast Pulse Pillow" There were daggers, swords, urinals, bowls, mirrors and jewelry and on the top floor which has a grand view over Shaoxing was a wonderful display with the "Tomb Figures of Military Forces"

On the second floor I was escorted by a delightful Chinese lady who had no English skills, but using hand signals endeavoured to show me what the exhibits were all about.

It is a wonderful place and I am sure if I could have read some English information on the exhibits it would have made more sense for me.

The top floor was amazing - quite a grand view over Shaoxing, with an exhibit of Tomb figures of Military Forces during the Tang Dynasty.

The entrance was grand, there was quite a hefty entrance fee (40 RMB) but I'm glad I saw it.

(Do you like the sign - KEEP OFF THE GRASS!)

Snow

This morning it is cold - and it snowed for the first time. Not a lot as you can see - and I didn't see it fall, but it is there none the less. The temperature gauge says -2, but there is a wind blowing so outside it feels a lot colder than that.

I don't know if we will have any more snow forecast - but hopefully we will see a little more of it.



There is a little snow on the car which was parked there overnight. Actually the guy that drives that car is currently in Victoria, Australia. My apartment is directly behind the snow covered car. Ground floor (or first floor as it is known here) - I'm told it is warmer than the floors above.

Day tour to Wuzhen and Haining (1)

Once a month the college takes foreign teachers on a tour. There is always an element of confusion with these tours - we are given only a few days notice, just the names of the cities or town we will visit, and the day before we are given the starting time. This one was an early one.

7 am we groaned!!! But the trip had promise so around 20 folk arrived at the West Gate to catch the bus. A nice airconditioned bus - it is still pretty hot here, so that was a necessity. We set off for the drive of 2 hours to Wuzhen.

This is an ancient water village - with a long and intersting history. People still live in the village - though it seems to be only the older ones, as the young ones have moved on. Too much for them! I guess having thousands of people tramp through the place, especially at weekends.

And they leave the doors open of their little old homes, and it is intersting to peep inside. Some of them have been updated with tiled floors and modern kitchen, most seem to have television and even computers.

Others seem to be dark and dingy and some have Chairman Mao's picture on the wall. Not in a frame, but just stuck on. I guess there are many who still remember the past well. The village has many narrow alleyways, stone bridges over the canals, and mostly timber buildings that are on either side of the narrow main alley, which winds its way through the village.

There are interesting places all along - the ancient medicine shop (all restored), the Bed Museum (a must - very fascinating), The Rice Wine factory, the fabric place, the home of MaoDun, the Wood Carving Museum, and so much more.

When you come out of the laneway, there are shops everywhere, and as we were there on a Saturday, crowds and crowds of people and lots of noise and smoke. (It seems that so many of the men wer puffing away at their cigarettes!)

We had lunch at a restaurant nearby, but three of our group were missing. There was confusing information given when we set out. First we were told that we had to meet back at the entrance, and then later told that we had to meet at the other gate. Not all got the message it appears. One of the students with us was sent back to find the three missing Aussie teachers and bring them to the restaurant and he got a taxi. But the taxi too them somewhere else, and it was all a bit of an adventure for them. They all missed out on a lovely lunch!

Eventually we caught up with them again. In time to board the bus to Haining. Wuzhen is very interesting, but we always regret that we travelto these places on a weekend - it is so noisy and crowded. But for us, there is little choice.