Hotpot

Yesterday evening the Korean and foreign teachers all had dinner at a hotpot restaurant just to hang out and also to celebrate Mark's 23rd birthday. Hotpot is basically the Chinese version of fondue, but a lot less oily and stinky. I also had my first taste of "baijiu". For those of you who don’t live in China, which I'm pretty sure is everyone, baijiu, or “white alcohol” is the traditional liquor of China. It is very strong and from what I can tell is a mix of wine and rubbing alcohol. I clearly didn't enjoy it, but obviously drank my whole glass, and am not willing to write it off yet. However, I was happy when the glass was empty and a could refill it with the delishness of Tsingtao beer. We sat at a huge round table and all the food was put on a turntable in the middle to be wheeled around at your convenience. It was very good and a perfect way to kick off this cold weather season that we have suddenly been rocketed into.

Where's Waldo

Can you find me?????

Settling in

As you probably have noticed, I have bought a card reader and can now include pics. I went back and added them to my past posts.

This weekend brought me back to Qingdao very briefly. I didn't go to work on Friday but instead hopped a bus to Qingdao to get my resident's visa. I had been given directions by bus to the bus station. Which of course I managed to mess up. I ended up on this tiny bus that stopped at literally every bus stop on the way out of the city inviting people to join us. Not only every bus stop but anyone who was walking down the street as well. They didn't even have to be near a bus stop. Needless to say, it took a lot longer than the standard 3 hours. I spent a couple hours in Qingdao, waiting in various lines and then returned by a bigger, much nicer bus. It even came with free green juice.

Saturday morning I went with some teachers and students climbing up a mountain about an hour out of town. It was beautiful and the kids were pretty funny. We got to the top and everyone busted out all of these snacks. They were very well prepared and very happy to share. Here teachers are not called by their names, just teacheeeer (they like to stretch out all their words), which is what I heard a lot when they were handing out their treats.

Saturday night I met some people out for some barbecue and beers and then of course back to Alibaba for an evening of dancing. If memory serves (which sometimes it doesn't) I have vague recollections of doing the macarena on a stage. The macarena you ask? Oh yes.

I have gotten a Chinese language tutor and my first lesson is tonight. I'm very excited. My cooking lessons have been postponed as my teacher's wife is in the hospital. I suppose that's a pretty valid excuse. It seems, for now, that I am happily settling into life in Yantai.

bae go pa

"I'm hungry"
More Korean.
You guys can learn along with me.

ha se yo

That is hello in Korean, which is the only word that I have picked up so far working in my Korean school. After working for a week here I think it will be fine. The very first thing every class told me when I walked in was "teacher, you have a very small face." Um, ok. I absolutely love my 7th graders. They are so silly and make me laugh everday. The 8th and 9th graders have a bit of an attitude, but then I try and remember what I was like back then (sorry mom!), and have to try to understand. My 11th grade students are pretty cool. I only teach them writing, which comes with a different set of issues than teaching writing at home, but it's interesting.

The teachers here are pretty nice. I basically only talk to the foreign teachers but some of the Korean teachers are very friendly. Every other Friday we have Club Activity for the last 2 periods of the day. So I played soccer with the boys, as the only girl. The students thought it was hysterical, but wouldn't come near me when I had the ball. Which made it much easier to play! They also play a lot of badminton and ping pong. Maybe next week.

I am still enjoying Korean food for lunch and am able to try something new everyday. Literally, everyday there is something on my plate that I have NO idea what it might be. Sometimes it works out well for me, sometimes not so much. I like that I get to try all sorts of different things. Yesterday when I was downtown I ate octupus legs skewered on a stick from a street vendor. Surprisingly, very delicious. I have to work my way up to the whole squid skewered on a stick ,which I am sure is equally delicious, but a little more frightening to look at. I also met a man yesterday who told me he would teach me how to cook Chinese food, which I am VERY excited about. They like things really spicy here, which is right up my alley.

I had a good weekend. We went out on Friday to the bars. Well I should say "bar", as the teachers here like to frequent one specific one, Alibaba. It's a mix between a bar, dance club and pool hall. We stayed in the dance club most of the night, where I was of course a dancing machine. I was not quite as coordinated as the Koreans, who have synchronized dances to most every song. Most of the people in the bar were foreigners and I met people from South Africa, England, Portugal, Sweden, India, Mexico, Australia, and of course the US. Like my dad said, it was like a meeting of the United Nations. Throw on some dance music, add a beer or two and maybe we can achieve world peace.

Saturday I spent most of the day walking around with one of the other teachers here and went for a run. Yantai is very beautiful. It's on the sea and there are mountains in the background. I wish all of you could come live with me here, it's really a very cool place. The only thing it's missing is my friends and family. and cheese. and flushing toilets. and mattresses. Ok, so it's missing a few things, but regardless, I think everyone should at least come visit.

Yantai or bust

I have made it to Yantai! I can finally start settling in, which is a nice feeling. It was a 3 hour bus ride from Qingdao, and then another hour and a half waiting for someone to pick me up. I should expect that by now. Everyone at the bus station was very nice to me, even if we didn't speak the same language. It involved a lot of arm waving and laughing. Maybe at me, I'm not sure.

I was taken to a very delicious lunch of potatoes, broccoli, sea urchin and a giant spicy fish head, which quickly made me forget about my long wait for their arrival. I was then taken to my apartment, which is actually very cute. It's a studio with an attached kitchen and is big enough for me, seeing as everything I have fits into 2 suitcases. I also met one of the coordinators of the foreign teachers at my school, Leo. He lives very close to me and is very nice.

Sunday I went to the mall, Jusco, which is only a 5 minute bus ride from my apt and has pretty much everything I could need. It has normal shopping, restaurants (both Chinese and Western), and a giant supermarket. With cheese! Hooray! I did go grocery shopping for other things, however it is very difficult to buy things based on the pictures on the container. We'll see shortly what I ended up with.

I am halfway through my first day of teaching. I have taught 2 classes and have 2 more to go. So far we have pretty much just played getting to know you games. They all have English names, some of which are pretty amusing such as: Yello, Huck, Clyde and even one Paris (oh no!). Lunch is always Korean food (maybe this blog should have been called 'Amanda eats her way through China') and was only half edible today. And I'm not that picky, especially when I'm hungry.

Qingdao City

Yesterday we got up early and left for the actual city center of Qingdao. It's about an hour and a half by bus, but totally worth it. It's fantastic, and made me wish that was where I was living. It was full of normal people, stores, restaurants, etc. It reminded me a little of downtown Chicago, without all the skyscrapers. Although I suppose that doesn't make it like Chicago at all. Anyway, it is right on the water and it's very beautiful. I will post pictures of everything hopefully very soon.

We spent the day poking into shops, walking around the parks, and attempted to see where the Olympics were held. However, the Paralympics come in a couple days and everything is blocked off in preparation. It's a very lovely city and I could see being very happy there, if that's where I was staying.

I got my teaching schedule yesterday and beginning on Monday I will be teaching 6 classes: 3 conversational English to 7th and 8th graders (Beth, we need to talk), 2 writing composition and 1 essay writing class to Juniors. I think the Middle school classes have books and the other three classes I have to figure out on my own. I'm glad they gave me ample amounts of time to prepare. Oh wait...

I leave for Yantai tomorrow, fingers crossed. Things change here on a minute to minute basis. It should take me 3 hours by bus, which is actually a good way to see things so I don't mind. I have to take the bus myself and just hope I know when to get off and that someone is waiting for me on the other end. I have too much luggage to be tromping around a city by myself.

Today is a lazy day, but I don't mind since I know I will be leaving for Yantai shortly. I had meat dumplings, a churro, and vegetables squeezed out of a pouch for breakfast. Very weird and I don't feel all together fantastic right now. Must skip lunch. However, I did find the "European" half aisle at the grocery store where I can by olive oil, pasta, and Swiss Miss. I think I may be able to survive for a year on those items alone. It was actually a very welcoming sight after shopping through the aisles with livers, kidneys, intestines, and other unidentifiable items. It's not the food that grosses me out, it's the smell. There are a lot of fruits and veggies to eat and when I actually have my own apartment to live in, I think I will be ok. I know you all must be worried :)

Crazy days 1 and 2

The days have been fun for the most part. I went to the travel hospital yesterday and got an ecg and an ultrasound (i'm not pregnant - hooray!! anyway, i'm pretty sure they weren't checking for that) and xrays and they drew blood. apparently only very healthy foreigners allowed in china. we went to Cindy's neighborhood after and went to this super crazy outdoor market. of course i didn't charge the battery in my camera but i'm sure there will be more later. the market had tons of fruits and veggies and stuff and a whole lot of unidentifiable items. sort of scary. they made lunch which was delicious. i inquired about cheese. apparently very hard to find. there is a kfc though. great.

Everything here is very cheap so far. I have eaten every meal, mostly noodles and veggies, for under $1. Can't beat that. Except for McDonald's which I know has 59cent hamburgers on Tuesdays, but I'm pretty sure my meals have been better!

I spent today walking around a very beautiful park, but it is very very hot here today. It is nice to sit in the internet cafe and cool down.

I think that I will not be heading to Yantai until the weekend, which will give me a little more time to explore downtown Qingdao, which is where the action is.

Observations so far: we drink lukewarm water, but bathe in the freezing cold, no one wears sunglasses despite being sold almost everywhere, babies pee on the streets through a slit in their pants, and crossing the street is a free for all - done at your own risk.

Arrival

So I have made it to China, after almost 24 hours of travel. I was picked up from the airport by 3 people from the organzation, which made it a little awkward when we all tried to fit into a very tiny car with my 2 very large suitcases. Several references were made as to their enormity. Oops! Apparently I've overpacked, but a girl has to be prepared right?

I'm currently in Qingdao and moving to Yantai by the end of the week. I haven't seen too much here yet, but plan to do some exploring tomorrow. I have a built in travel guide with me while I'm here, Cindy, and she seems really nice. Everything is new and weird and so far very exciting. I will start teaching Monday, although not 100% sure what yet.