Well, gosh. Hi. Sorry about that, it's been a little while since I've been back and yet I haven't blogged at all. Silly of me.
Anyway, back in Baoding I'm actually still unpacking, funny as that is. I've just been going so fast these past couple weeks that it seems I've hardly had time to hit the ground. I got to Beijing in good spirits, and found a smiling boyfriend there to meet me. After the typical 12-year-old-esque shy and exciting greeting we were able to take a few moments to relax and get a coffee in the airport itself before making the journey back to HeDa. The university would have sent a car for me. But being frivolously romantic's more fun. Plus we're young, we can carry my bags, right?
Fast forward 6 hours and I've taken a shuttle bus, taxi, train, second taxi, and shower before arriving at my pillow. Yusi was a champ, and carried my heaviest bag around Beijing, up to my room on the fifth floor, and then agreeably left when I told him I needed to crash. What a guy.
The next day I was able to get up early (a perk of my jetlag) and move a good deal of my belongings into 401, my designated new home after 501's ceiling drip. Luckily I packed everything before I left. This is, however, not excellent planning on my part, but instead the result of my thinking I'd move previous to leaving town for the summer. Anyhow, it worked out.
Kim, a fellow MCLAer and new teacher at HeDa, and I pow-wowed a little that night and I got my first week started off well. I don't even really remember all that we did that weekend, but I know I got hardly any things unpacked in my room.
Classes themselves are great. I like my students and the diversity of the groups. My first lesson was 4:20-6pm Tuesday of last week, and the chattiness of the class really made me feel at ease. The first class period you take for introductions anyway, but their willingness to participate was unreal. This class, Group 2, apparently had the idea that changing their English names from the previous year would be trendy. The following classes proved to have one that had nearly no English names period, and another that wanted the meaning of their English names. So I had some homework myself. In general though, I'm happy with my students... and though this semester has one fewer week than last, I think I'll be able to fit everything into the course that I want.
Last Thursday Tara got to school and not soon enough. I feel for the girl, her process of getting to China was not easy. But I'll let you read her blog for that ;) Anyway, Kim, our two new Russian friends Slava and Dasha (students), and I took her out to Charlie Bar for a hearty introduction to Baoding. And yes, that means bai jiu was imbibed. Nothing to clean the airplane vapors out of you like some 100 proof sorry excuse for rubbing alcohol. Ok, ok, I take it back, bai jiu is a national treasure and icon of Chinese society. I just don't care for it.
That weekend we took off to Beijing, and what a hell of a ride. Long story short, there were signs telling me not to go... I almost didn't get paid in time, missed two trains getting there, caught a cold the first night... BUT STILL I ROCKED MY PUNCTUALLY INEPT SNIFFLY SOCKS OFF! Getting to see Richard and Charlotte made my weekend I think. The 80's night at The Kro's Nest was ok, but they downsized one of our pizza orders and just plain never delivered the other. The hostel we usually stay at in Sanlitun'er got a great facelift though, and had some yummy new stuff on the menu in their dining area. I had a 23 kwai chocolate-banana milkshake and loved every. overpriced. minuteovit. It reminded me of Jess Bouchard actually, but in a nice way.
Now it's my second week of classes, I'm getting my extra-curriculars in order, and slowing down a bit. I think I'll go hang up some sweet National Geographic maps on my hospital-white walls now.
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