HurricaneMaine

Christmas eve in Hong Kong

Becca and Ryan flew around the world to come to China to visit and I walked them around a few of my favorite spots on the 23rd.

We woke up early on the 24th in Guangzhou to make the train to Hong Kong.

This little girl Phoebe kept looking at us and walking by. She was so shy and wanted to talk. We started talking to her and I practiced my Chinese and she practiced her English. She was so cute. When I used a wrong word she would scratch her forehead and have the cutest look. I have her one of our granola bars which she promptly ate! I so need to practice my Chinese more but have learned some phrases and have enough to get by and cause confused looks!

In Hong Kong we dropped off our bags and went to find some food. We came back to check in and napped (at least I did.) We went for a walk to do some shopping. It is so commercial here. And, I’m not a big shopper.

Becca and Ryan surprised me with a cheesecake for my birthday. We went to Kowloon Park to eat it. Mango cheesecake! It was yummy. I can’t believe we ate the cheesecake for dinner.

More walking the streets and looking at Christmas lights.

On the way back to the hotel, they had so many singers and a parade. So many people everywhere. This place is insane.

One of the malls caught our attention with this:

Inside they had a ball pit for kids. This was taken on the second floor looking down.

We walked a lot and sampled some great dim sum. Ryan loves egg tarts. Becca loved all of the dim sum.

We bought bubble waffles and bubble tea.

A good birthday, a good night’s sleep and now it is Christmas! Off to hike Dragons Back mountain!

The end of the semester

Wow. That is over. One semester under my belt! When they say it takes a year to get used to international living and teaching IB they were not kidding. It did not help that I agreed to coach cross country. Actually the athletic director kept visiting (badgering) me until I relented. Never mind I had already agreed to student government co-advisor prior as well.

For the new teacher awards I received the “dive right in” award for taking things on right away. There is usually a rule that new teachers don’t coach but they were short on coaches. It was tough but I survived. Our awards were printed on paper plates! We had a great celebration dinner that night.

Above, my friends Nicole, Killian, and Steven. Below, Nicole and Siqin (Steven’s wife).

A Chinese alcohol with gold flecks in it.

Anyway, the start of the year is a blur as I barely figured out the day to day back then. 5 months in I feel I have hit my stride. There is still a lot to learn but things are a tad easier. I say that now right before my students start their IA (internal assessment which is a full research lab and paper.)

What has changed?

Things don’t seem so over whelming. I learned to settle in and stop fighting what was holding me back.
I know where to get my basic supplies. That is huge. When you are foreign and here for awhile you need to figure it out. I have not bought too much online either. If I can’t find it locally I decide what I can substitute instead.
I have learned a few useful phrases. Microsoft translator definitely helps. I am now taking a Chinese course. This is a tough language to learn.
I know how to get around on the metro. In fact I know how to get around above ground walking many places I need instead of the metro. For those who know me, I have no sense of direction!
I DON’T know yet how to get around by bus. How hard can that be? None of the stops are in English. You may know what bus number you need, but you may not know where you need to get off the bus. Still very difficult.
Many of the places we were at during orientation I have now found on my own. They seemed far away from each other but not so on the map. This city is HUGE and not sure I will actually see it all.
The frame of reference you use to understand biology is very different for other nationalities. In my last school, some kids had different experiences than others. That is still true here, but my American lens is different from theirs. Not better, just different. I have a lot to learn and for those who wondered why I left the states, IT IS FOR THAT REASON ALONE. I can be better by learning from others. (This next statement is political as I do not believe in American exceptionalism: We are part of a bigger world. Time to learn from it.)
I made a connection at an exercise class that led to joining the local Nike run club with another teacher. I seemed like an outsider a few times but everyone now is so welcoming. They come up to talk to us (those who know English that is.) I used that same exercise group to make connections for biking. Knowing Chinese Nationals outside of school is going to be helpful.
Grading mid terms takes a long time. 2/3 of my test is free response (that is about 53 points). It needs to be so to get them ready for their IB test. My stack of papers I graded. Grading is a pain. The kids have a lot of pressure with these tests.
Take time to try something new. I printed a 3D ornament using the 3D printers in the innovation lab. While I was there I also played with the VR headset. We have a human anatomy program. My classes will use it next year. Here are pics of a colleague using it. It is seriously cool as you can choose disease states of organs, slice through sections, and step into the center of the organs. As I play I’m going to look at screencasting and see if student teams can create tours.
3D heart:
Cats helped me by having something to come home to. I could just be carefree but like taking care of a critter.
Reflecting on where your are at now and possible plans for the future allows for many choices!!

Christmas in Guangzhou

As I have been walking around I’ve snapped pictures of Christmas displays which are more evident near my apartment as it is an expat area.

At the Four Seasons…

At our school Christmas party which had the most amazing buffet ever. It was a karaoke party and a few friends and I dressed up as the spice girls:

The athletic trainer was happy to be sporty spice.

Karaoke:

When we left the party, the tree outside had snow blowing around it. It was not quite cold enough for that but was pretty spectacular.

From the lobby of my apartment building :

On the way to the Nike run club, there is a pretty posh mall area where pandora had an outdoor tree display.

Not so close to the expat area:

I joined a cookie exchange and our book club had a gift exchange of a used book. Our school also has secret Santa. Fun!

For Christmas, my kids and I will go to Hong Kong. The lights are to be fabulous and we will be sightseeing and hiking…

The Four Seasons

Our science department is overhauling the curriculum to align with NGSS science standards. It is a lot of work and during this mid term week we had time to meet. We asked to be off campus to limit distractions. They actually found space at the Four Seasons. Nice. We had a conference room, a person to get our coffee, snacks, and a buffet lunch.

Here is a view from the 70th floor

The pictures of the food look exotic. It was a great brunch but we did a lot of work.

It was worthwhile to go off site where 5 grade levels could hash out a complete overhaul. The curriculum director was there as well. We still have a long way to go but it was nice to feel free to start over rather than try to add engineering standards into an existing curriculum. What works here is that the sciences are integrated in years 6 through 10, meaning that we teach biology, chemistry, and physical science every year.

Part of the process was determining what would be taught at each level and then identifying a phenomenon that would require understanding to explain. For example, with waves we looked at this building in the UK that destroyed objects near it. After ankh the other learning experiences, they will have a project or culminating activity that puts what they have learned together. Here are images about the building and damage it has caused.

We still have a long way to go to finish but really exciting.

Hakka village

In the rural areas, families lived in Hakka houses. Each house bears a family name like the Huang family hakka that we visited today in Nanjing County, Fujian province in China. Each new generation and addition lives in the hakka. They have withstood centuries with very thick walls and a round structure for security and durability. They originally started with a square hakka and realized there was too much fighting over who had the corners. They then built the round hakkas around it. There is only one way in and out of the hakka, small windows, and thick walls. Until the last 20 years there was not much development in the area and no police presence so this type of building was necessary.

This picture was taken above the valley where the hakka houses are. They are built in a valley at 700 meters above sea level. It is protected by the mountains around. The bus could not get down into it so we took steps all the way down and of course all the way back up the other side to meet the bus again. All I can say is everyone moved slowly as almost everyone on the bus ran the half marathon or marathon the day before (this tour was part of the package for the race including hotel and meals) . My quads were screaming.

Inside the hakka a family unit has a section that runs all 3 floors. The bottom floor houses the kitchen and many have stove “units” on the patio. The second floor is for food storage and the top floor has the bedrooms.

The centre is a communal space. Since it is open to the air, many have trees, animals like chickens, wells, etc. The well looks as if it is spring fed.

It was fabulous to see where the fruit comes from and see the care they have for the land and the produce.

Families were working and children playing. They had nesting dolls.

To help make a living some of the villagers sell local produce. Teas, dried persimmon, bamboo shoots, etc.

When we walked in we were invited to tea. The chrysanthemum tea was so much better there than any other I have had. To date it is now my favourite tea. I did buy some from them as well as dried persimmon and ginger chews.

Around the hakkas can be seen other kind of houses. But what is worth seeing is the terraced fields. We saw rice terraces as well as tea terraces. These are used to make green tea or flower tea (chrysanthemum).

This is a picture taken from the bus and is a tea terrace.

We also saw pommelo trees in the picture above. The fruit is so heavy it is hard to believe the trees can hold the fruit up. On a personal note, I love how the local wet Market has change in produce. Now citrus is in season and pomelo is something I buy every week.

The views around the hakka house are amazing. We saw large wind turbines on the ridge.

After the bus picked us up we traveled a little bit down the road and stopped to take a picture. This is the view of the hakka houses we visited from below.

And… Another picture from the top of the mountain.

A close up of the inside from the top of the mountain.

Running through Nanjing County in China: the great hakka race

8 of us from our school traveled to the great hakka marathon over Thanksgiving weekend (we had Friday off). It took 8 hours to get there. We traveled high speed train to Xiamen and then a bus ride to the hotel in Nanjing County, Fujian province. Before the bus ride we picked up our packets at the airport.

The hotel was better than most in China and we were happy for that as we were able to get a good nights sleep (we see cats on everything in China.)

Before dinner we were offered tea downstairs in the foyer of the hotel. They were very nice and told us we were all beautiful. I’m afraid they would not say that after we finish the run the next day. After tea, they walked us to a local restaurant they recommendef and it was fabulous.

The bus to the race start took an hour over the mountains and to the other side. They had entertainment and warm ups.

We were asked to be in a part for their promo video. We are the group walking to the start line and I’m wearing a red top (I filmed the showing of it in when it was played at the celebration dinner.)

The run was beautiful. Gorgeous weather. We ran through the countryside through villages and we even had to run in a hakka house! I wore a go pro to film along the way. I need to learn to keep my arms out of the way of the camera. If you ever wondered what a half marathon is like or the views in China, here it is. 2 hours and 8 minutes time lapsed to 8 minutes. You can pause parts of the video.

I finished slower than I normally do but I had a fall 3 weeks ago and fell hard on the right knee striking the patellar tendon. I was unable to run the last 3 weeks so just happy I finished it. But I did finish 8th with a time of 2 hours 6 minutes. The course was more technical than the pittsburgh half with uneven trails and winding runs through alleys in villages. More hills as well.

Here is a pic from the end of the race.

While I was waiting for one of our group to finish the marathon we walked around the village and into a hakka house.

Video of hakka House. The round house holds many families, each with their own space, and a common area in the middle. They cook outside their doors. The houses have been standing for centuries.

Other pictures from the village:

They dry flowers for tea.

We will be touring the region on the second day. More pics and info to follow.

Thanksgiving in China 🇨🇳

I can’t believe it is already the end of November. Everything is green here and flowers are everywhere. Mornings are cooler but it warms up in the day. When there is a wind is the only time I feel chilly. I still wear shorts and tank tops while locals are wearing jackets. I’m sure I’ll get acclimated at some point.

I have school today though it is professional development. We started with team building physical activity which was fun. They feed us breakfast, snacks, and lunch, which is a full course meal. We also have a social gathering after work with appetisers. Tomorrow is a holiday.

With the chill in the air and the realization that it is Thanksgiving, my friend Nicole and I found a california inspired restaurant last weekend. We had lobster roll, pumpkin soup (broth based and not cream), and drinks. She had an avocado smoothie and I had an apple ginger cider. Hot of course and it was white because of the apples they use. Places are decorating for Christmas. You can see the tree in one of the pictures.

Afterwards we watched a movie (the second fantastic beasts). English with Chinese subtitles. I love that the movies start actually on time with only two minutes of commercials. Afterwards we poked around the mall, ate ice cream with honeycomb in it and fancied the donuts. Didn’t buy them though. Things here are not as sweet and rich as back home.

What an I doing this holiday weekend? Running a half marathon. Will blog that next.

I am happy to have talked to my kids this morning on wechat. They are cooking their meal together with friends. They always helped me fit the big Thanksgiving dinner and glass they are spending it together. I miss them and so excited they will be here in about 30 days to visit.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

Nike run and a mall walk (you know I hate malls)…

At a K2Fit event (a local workout group I go to) I met a couple people who are members of the Nike run club. My friend Nicole and I were invited to it.

While we were at the K2Fit event, e had a little fun with the skeleton decoration:

Back to the Nike run. We ran 3.5 miles through a pedestrian area. What is fun here is that it is where lots of people go to spend time and is over a labyrinth of malls, restaurants, and parking areas. We ran through one section of a mall that goes underneath a 10 lane highway. I vowed to go back and look around some more. It started at the Nike store. Afterwards they provided bananas and water. It was fun. Only our friend spoke English. But it is not required to understand in order to run.

It was a fun run. There were 3 groups of runners from fast to slow and we had a pacer with a light to follow. In the picture above is my friend Nicole and Ryan, a Chinese national who speaks decent English.

That weekend I walked back from a spoets store I normally go to. I wanted to see if I could make it back now that I am learning about how the labyrinth of underground malls and walkways go.

I decided to go back and look more in the new area from the run. I popped into a few other malls too. Fit anyone who knows me, I HATE SHOPPING! But I wanted to figure out directing knowing that in these spaces you can also get the metro if you need to.

This is a list of some of the sites in one small section of one mall.

There are stairs to go up and over and also under really busy roads.

There are great green spaces in this area. Water, bridges, spaces for people to be… Amazing…

The one mall below the arena is the most fun. As you walk down, there is a big screen playing Tom and Jerry.

There was a train, corridors that looked like streets, games for kids to play, video games set up here and there, food vendors, and lots of fun.

From this vendor I big sparkling white peach jasmine tea.

The corridor looks like streets and the shops like buildings.

It was easy to get lost. I did. I have learned to pop up out the next exit and see where you are. Not many chi under the street but I’m figuring it out. Outside the arena there is a big place to gather where prime roller blade, fly kites, etc.

They definitely love their malls here and I can see where you can get just about everything. I also like the ability to move quickly underneath busy roads or by pass the metro.

Change of seasons

This last week I could not believe we were heading into November. Here is like like spring. The temps get down to 70 at night and the highs are still near 90 but the air is changing. It is a little cooler with the wind and it does chill you. This was the first time I needed a light jacket since I’ve been here.

The expat area held pumpkin carving for kids and the usual day of the dead for adults.

There are a few Halloween displays but not like the States. Truck or treat is held at the elementary school and a few apartment residences but needs to be coordinated as it is not seen event that is national.

At school it was spirit week.

Twin day with the other boo teacher. We will do anything to wear athletic clothes to school. I should have been a PE teacher.

Halloween costume dress up. I was the Iron chef. Even though it originated in Japan not everyone knows what that is. I had just told the cow that I know what to do with her.

Pajama day. Ultimately my favourite.

We also had school color day and beach day. At the end of the week was open mic night.

Students and faculty sign up in advance and only practice is to check equipment. It is not too formal but very nice. Here are my student council kids.

The athletic trainer actually and too. This song from a hawaiian singer is one of my favourite.

There were singing and musical acts. People are really talented but even those not as talented were eager to perform. Something I don’t usually see back at home. You actually do get better the more you perform.

It is also the season for Jack fruit. It looks like durian and has a smell when cutting like it but due not taste like durian. Knowing the difference from the outside is important. Durian has really bumpy skin. Both secrete a natural latex that virtually everyone is allergic too. If you handle it you must wear gloves.

Each section is taken out with the seed. I cooked the jack fruit and then boiled the seeds. The outer coveting of the seeds looks like plastic and can be peeled off. When mashed it tastes like taro which is a starchy potato like consistency.

The stewed jackfruit was sweet. Most canned Jack fruit is processed in bribe to remove sweetness. I added tomato paste and spices to make a barbecue. It was really good as barbecue sauce has sweetness too. Even for here, it is expensive though.

I really would not have thought about Halloween without spirit week or the channels I watch on TV. I purchased a cake box for 18 us a month. Most channels are foreign, the CNN channel is international which is great, and the US changsha are from San Francisco. Of course, now that halloween is over, there are Christmas commercials! At least I can turn it off and won’t know how soon it is coming.

Changzhou Island and Huangpu ancient port

Some of the faculty lives a couple miles away in another apartment building the school leases. I considered living there but chose my present building instead. One of the teachers living in the other area also bikes. We met and she took me to another island that she found near her. To get there we biked to a ferry that cost 3 rmb round trip (that’s less than 50 cents).

Chanzhou island is a mix of old and new. The people who live there actually exist on all they have without anything from the outside. Unfortunately a metro line is planning on going in and it will be developed for tourism though the plan is for green space. Since there is significant agriculture there I hope so.

Here are a few pictures of old ruins that we found.

There are old buildings and an old temple. Very narrow backstreets that are beautiful with the old buildings and old large doors.

On the island is an old cemetery. This cemetery is for foreigners from all countries who were traders. They date back to the 1700’s. I had no idea that trade from the US with China occurred back then.