So what have we done the last 10 days since students have left the building? Good question! First of all there has been some major furniture and apartment reshuffling going on.... Russ completed his third year and returned to the States, Damien is taking his apartment. Derick is headed to South America next, and Robert took his apartment. Jeanette moved to a hutong on the east side, so Carlos took her apartment. Zuong and her mother and son are taking Paul and Dawna's apartment who have retired and are returning to the Pacific Northwest in the US. Liz is taking a job at a prep school in Boca Raton, so Stephanie is taking her apartment. Carlos bought Derick's couch, Jeanette bought Russ' couch, Carlos gave his sofa and chair to Rob W., Brandon took a job at another international school in Beijing, so he and his family also took an apartment in the Sunlitun district, and if all of this moving has your head spinning- EXACTLY! It's been nuts. But we Western teachers are a small community, and a second family of sorts, so we pitch in and help with the packing and moving. If no help is needed, we toast each other at going away parties and housewarming parties :) There's been a lot of parties, the last of which is this evening at Great Leap Brewing. I will be skipping out, as it is time for me to pack and clean my own apartment before my 9:30pm departure.
As for school- it has been more of the same- packing and moving- ugh. Normally I pride myself in being an expert packer and organizer, but even the OCD in me has gotten a bit bored and weary with all of the decluttering, organizing, labeling and packing. I'm not sure I have ever uttered those words in my life- 'bored with cleaning and organizing'. Who would have thunk it?!?! I guess we all reach our limits- even too much of a good thing is simply too much :)
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| Floor by floor (we have seven in all) they have been dismantling our classrooms, removing the smart boards, projectors, speakers, computers, printers, teacher desks and students desks. They are blowing out the south wall entirely and expanding the whole building. We've been concerned they might hit us up with the wrecking ball before we even vacate the place! We are in a full blown construction zone, but we are expected to carry on as usual. |
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| We have all been instructed to pack and label all of our office supplies, teaching materials, furniture and such, and set it outside of our doors. One by one, workers have shown up with carts to move several boxes at a time across campus to the library building where we will be temporarily housed for about six months. |
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| We will occupy five floors in the library; my classroom is on the second floor. I am the third one down along the bottom row of the above picture. |
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| I am happy to be along the outside wall where I have windows! I need to be able to look outside to see if it's a good air day or a bad air day here in Beijing. No really, I need to know these things :) |
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| Next year we will share our classroom with a Chinese teacher, and our 'office' will be in our room, as it typically is in the US. However, it will be a challenge to do office work, meet with students, take phone calls, go make copies and such, while there is another class in session in the same space. I imagine we will have a lot of bugs to work out in the first few weeks. I am going to miss my office mates- we were the 'cool office' here at BNDS; we all got along well with each other, shared many laughs as we learned about each other, and we just generally got along well together. I have been so blessed, y'all :) |
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| What a fun bunch; Eric, Chase, Yin Li, Kathy, Helen, Carlos and Edwin, my best man on the ground in China. I <3 these people; I sincerely do. |
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| As I look out my empty classroom on the seventh floor, this is the construction scene taking place. What amazes me about much of the construction that is done here, is that it is done BY HAND. You see men walking to the work site, carrying their shovel, pick ax, jack hammer, etc. Yep, those men in the big hole are digging with shovels. But because there are so many people available to work, things still happen fast, even without the heavy equipment. It's astonishing, really. Those you see 'in the trenches' were those not fortunate enough to attend formal education, or if they did, they did not pass the gaokao. I explained the Chinese education system in a previous blog, Click Here |
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| As I walked over to the library with some of my colleagues to check out our new digs, I was ASTOUNDED to discover that we have a HUGE rock climbing wall on our campus!! How have I been here for eleven months and did not know this?! I know what I plan to do when I get back to school in August; I'm going climbing! I LOVE rock walls :) |
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| One of the first to move was Jeanette, who worked with no less than nine 'agents' to help her find the perfect apartment in one of her favorite hutongs. It is near the Drum and Bell Towers. |
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| It is perfect for her. While I am happy for her, I am sad for me that my bestie in the 'jing is now across town on the east side. On the plus side, I have someone to call up to hang out with on that side of town, and if it's too late of a night, there's a sweet place to crash :) She's got a little courtyard, room for planting vegetables and flowers, and she has all the cool markets, cafes, pubs and such right out her front door. |
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| Though she hired movers to get her across town, Kathy, Ray and I helped her to get settled on the other end. Then we celebrated at our favorite dumpling place, Mr. Shi's which is literally right around the corner from her in the next alley. |
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| Earlier this week she had a housewarming party to share her new place with everyone before we fan out all over the world. Mahoma (from Mexico) is doing some extensive travel in western China. |
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| Robert and I were being silly (nearly orgasmic) over salted caramels that Dawna had squirreled away from Trader Joe's when she returned to the States this past spring for the birth of her first grand child. They seriously tasted just. that. good. lol. |
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| Jared, Jeanette, Kathy and Ray left earlier today for an eight day trek to inner Mongolia before they return to their respective homes in OH, MO, and Canada. Jeanette, the biologist, organized the whole trip which has them on horseback for three days, staying in ger huts with no facilities. At all. Not even an outhouse, lol. They'll be diggin' a cat hole in the Gobi desert, which is fine for a field biologist, but not for her travel companions! We were laughing until we were crying at the funny stories they are likely to come back with- I cannot wait to hear all about it. (Yes, I am secretly jealous that I am not making this trip, too.) |
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| Dawna's husband left earlier in the day with five suitcases, bound for their home in the Pacific Northwest. They have been here for four years, and are now retiring. Eight suitcases of accumulation in four years sounds about right. Dawna will be SORELY missed. She is the executive secretary, the voice of reason, and the best source of information from the powers at be. It's the Chinese way to withhold information, which is exasperating at times. I cannot imagine who will fill her shoes. I pity da' fool. |
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| I love these two- not only has Kathy been my office mate, but she is a mother of grown children like myself, and has the challenges of an aging parent back at home as I do. She has become a trusted friend, and I am so thankful for her. I have given her my ducks, 45 spf lip balm, and my COLTS neck pillow to sit on in the saddle- just the thought of her on a horse sends me into giggling fits! |
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| Ale and Eric are headed to Chicago then Honduras, and Robert has a lovely cruise and trip planned in Alaska. This is Key Largo Robert, and our AP principal will be in Key West later in July so we are planning dinner at Burdine's in Marathon, Florida on July 25th. It will be awesome to get together in our neck of the woods! It really is a small world, after all. |
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| The next housewarming party was at Brandon and Maria's who also moved to the east side, near his new school. Their home is truly beautiful, and I am so happy for them :) They are returning to his hometown of Indianapolis for a few weeks this summer, before seeing her family in the Philippines. Indianapolis?! I told you it's a small world, after all :) |
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| I do not know how Maria stays so tiny when she cooks such delicious food- she shared some traditional Filipino dishes with us, so tasty! |
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| Thank you, Maria, for all of your delicious cooking! |
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| And thank you for sharing baby Calliope with this Mimi....I <3 this little girl. |
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| We have all made multiple trips to the Silk and Pearl Markets this last week after work to load up on gifts to take home to our loved ones. It's been great, as we all share where we got the best deals and what's the best price we can barter:) I've become quite the stern barterer! |
Calliope was adorable hauling around Mommy
and Daddy's new bed linens. She is quite the shopper!
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| While Daddy dickered for some Colts jerseys, Calliope had the full attention of all the other Chinese ladies who were working in their stalls. |
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| After our power shopping trip, we got fortified at Pizza Hut, where little Miss helped me with my Hawaiian pizza :) I went the next night to the market with Jeanette, and a few days later with Ale and Eric. We all need to weigh our suitcases so we do not go over the limit to get home! |
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| Three nights in a row on the subway to go shopping, and it is safe to say I will not miss this madness for the next seven weeks. |
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| To share some final glimpses of my neighborhood before I head for home....it is common that workers are lined up on the sidewalks and streets for 'morning exercises' and 'instructions' before they begin the work day. Every group I have seen- whether bank tellers, security guards, restaurant workers, or trash pickers- they all stand in this formation while they are 'briefed.' |
I still am humored by all the interesting ways
the Chinese 'exercise' at any hour of the day-
whether practicing Tai Chi, dancing, slapping
trees, doing lunges as they walk, smacking
their calves, or all-out slapping the s**t out
of themselves like this old gal!
I couldn't help but giggle ;)
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| I have shared pictures previously of this 'street dog' who has roamed occasionally around our complex. I found her a few days ago outside my apartment, after being MIA for several weeks. She was skin and bones, and was curled up in the grass barely able to lift her head. I ran to my apartment and got some fresh water and sausages, and it took a great deal of coaxing to eventually get her to eat. It made my heart hurt...what will become of her while I am gone? I can't bear to think of it. If she is around still when I return, I am seriously considering taking her in to nurse her back to health. She reminds me so much of my Simon who I had to leave behind. That also hurts my heart and I know he is well fed, well cared for, and very much well loved. This puppy has nobody. Sad face. :'( |
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| After some food, she perked up :) |
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| I saw this article in the Beijinger this week- there's SCUBA DIVING in Beijing! You can dive the aquarium at the Beijing Zoo, and there is a section of the Great Wall under water that you can also dive. Stay tuned, these will be on the list of adventures for when I return in August! |
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| I cannot close out the school year without showing another funny sign lost in translation. On the back of an Audi... "Baby on Road." Somebody better stop the damn car if there's a baby on the road! What a difference a few letters can make. Oh China, you keep me smiling :) |
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| As for my summer plans, Len and I have purchased a home together in south Florida. It is a 'down the road' plan, but at least we have a plan for when it is time for me to retire, It looks like adventures await me there, too :) I can't wait to get started on the renovations this summer- I love getting dirty, working with my hands, and making things pretty. The kitchen and great room are first- stay tuned! |
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| As I left the campus today for the last time this school year, I have such a mix of emotions. It has been a year of tremendous challenges, changes, and growth- both personally and professionally. In spite of the hardships, I believe it was a step in the right direction. I have to continue to face forward, with gladness and gratitude in my heart. I am so incredibly blessed; I truly am. As I looked at the flag flying on the soccer field for the last time, I must admit, the happiest girl in China is ready to come home. While home is where the heart is, I must admit to myself, that much of my heart will always resides in the good ol' U S of A. Time to get packing- the cabbie will be here in less than four hours :) |
G'nite, y'all!
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