Here I am miles away from home and yet in regular easy contact with the folks there. I have my mobile phone (my Aussie one is set that I don't receive calls - as it would cost ME if anyone phoned me from Australia) and I can get text messages. I also have a Chinese phone that I can send and receive messages here in China, and speak with anyone.
(When the Chinese people answer the phone they say Wei Ni Haio, which when roughly translated means What do you want? Hello. So we do too when we answer our Chinese phones!)
I can use SKYPE and see and speak with family members and friends. And it is amazing to see and speak with the grandchildren as I miss them and though I can't touch them I can see them growing up before my eyes.
Family and friends regularly email me, and I know many read this blog to see what I am up to - so the communication is amazing. They can see some of the many photos I have taken - and if I wanted to show them all of them, I could easily do that too.
I also "read" the daily papers - it is easy to go online and read at least the headlines and major events happening at home. As well, I have ABC radio on all the time I am in my apartment. My favourite stations are the Jazz and Classical music - but I can listen to News updates from time to time.
So with this technology we can keep pretty well up to date with what is happening at home, or anywhere in the world. Amazing when you think about it.
Showing posts with label mobile phone. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mobile phone. Show all posts
Sunday, 1 June 2008
Tuesday, 6 May 2008
A sea of glowing faces.
The students at this college do work hard - the freshman have exercises on the sports field each morning at 6.15 am, and then go to class around 7.15 am.
They do have a break of 2 hours during the day, but are back in class again, until 8.30 pm. When they emerge there is a sea of students walking towards the West Gate where all the street vendors have lined up ready to sell their wares to the always eating students.
Often I watch them from the vantage point of my fifth floor apartment and listen to the voices as they snake their way from the class rooms to the West Gate.
Glowing faces? Most of them are talking on their mobile phones - a constant with the Chinese students. They are always talking on their phones or sending text messages. But when thousands of students walk on mass in the darkness of this time of night, their faces are lit up from the glow of the phones.
It is quite eerie. In less than an hour, and in more of a trickle, the students return as they must be in their dormitories before 10 pm. A few hours sleep before they start the next day.
They do have a break of 2 hours during the day, but are back in class again, until 8.30 pm. When they emerge there is a sea of students walking towards the West Gate where all the street vendors have lined up ready to sell their wares to the always eating students.
Often I watch them from the vantage point of my fifth floor apartment and listen to the voices as they snake their way from the class rooms to the West Gate.
Glowing faces? Most of them are talking on their mobile phones - a constant with the Chinese students. They are always talking on their phones or sending text messages. But when thousands of students walk on mass in the darkness of this time of night, their faces are lit up from the glow of the phones.
It is quite eerie. In less than an hour, and in more of a trickle, the students return as they must be in their dormitories before 10 pm. A few hours sleep before they start the next day.
Monday, 25 February 2008
The bus trip to the city
On Saturday we caught the bus into the city of Shaoxing. There are regular buses from opposite the West Gate of the College, and we line up with the other students. When the bus comes there is a rush - it is not uncommon for the bus to be already fully loaded, but everyone squeezes in to fit more in.
(I don't know whether I look like a weary senior, or whether it is the blonde hair, but each bus trip I have been offered a seat by either a young girl, or an older gentleman on the return trip.)
One of our trio, M1, had already been in Shaoxing so we felt some comfort in knowing that he knew his way. The ride was fascinating as the bus weaved its way through traffic of all sorts, and one wonders how there are not more accidents.
The bus stops at the railway station so we disembarked and wandered back through the city. We went to a huge supermarket which has more imported foods, and were able to buy cereal, milk, yoghurt, and other items. Here there are more staff who speak English so a little easier to find things. The customer service was extra ordinary!
Dragging our bags we went back to the street, only to bump into one of the other teachers (who hails from the Gold Coast). Fancy that - amongst the masses we find one of the handful of people we've already met!
We walked along the street trying to take in the sights, smells, and experience of it all. It is overwhelming.
And where did we have our lunch? KFC of course! Very much like at home, and very busy.
Afterwards we went to help M2 organise a mobile phone - and that was an experience and a half - it took almost 2 hours. All sorts of explaining to do with folk who speak little English even in the big bustling office of China Mobile. In the end he got what he wanted, while M1 and I just sat and watched the activities in the building. Chinese people are very superstitious - and they like phone numbers with the number 8 in them. There is a big wall of numbers - and those wanting to get a mobile phone spend ages choosing their preferred number.
Back onto the street, and by this time the traffic was heavier. We found our bus stop and once again had to find a tiny spot for us on the very crammed bus for the return journey to the college. It is a good feeling to be back inside the college gates again!
(I don't know whether I look like a weary senior, or whether it is the blonde hair, but each bus trip I have been offered a seat by either a young girl, or an older gentleman on the return trip.)
One of our trio, M1, had already been in Shaoxing so we felt some comfort in knowing that he knew his way. The ride was fascinating as the bus weaved its way through traffic of all sorts, and one wonders how there are not more accidents.
The bus stops at the railway station so we disembarked and wandered back through the city. We went to a huge supermarket which has more imported foods, and were able to buy cereal, milk, yoghurt, and other items. Here there are more staff who speak English so a little easier to find things. The customer service was extra ordinary!
Dragging our bags we went back to the street, only to bump into one of the other teachers (who hails from the Gold Coast). Fancy that - amongst the masses we find one of the handful of people we've already met!
We walked along the street trying to take in the sights, smells, and experience of it all. It is overwhelming.
And where did we have our lunch? KFC of course! Very much like at home, and very busy.
Afterwards we went to help M2 organise a mobile phone - and that was an experience and a half - it took almost 2 hours. All sorts of explaining to do with folk who speak little English even in the big bustling office of China Mobile. In the end he got what he wanted, while M1 and I just sat and watched the activities in the building. Chinese people are very superstitious - and they like phone numbers with the number 8 in them. There is a big wall of numbers - and those wanting to get a mobile phone spend ages choosing their preferred number.
Back onto the street, and by this time the traffic was heavier. We found our bus stop and once again had to find a tiny spot for us on the very crammed bus for the return journey to the college. It is a good feeling to be back inside the college gates again!
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