Some pictures that show the landscape of Hubei. It is mostly farm country, without much except fields, farms and the odd river.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Dogs do not have it good around here
On Mondays and Tuesdays, I am at my little place in the mountains. I kind of enjoy it there except for the VPN issue I have with my computer. I have figured out ways to deal with the situation, but I will not elaborate about it here.
Anyway, the other day after I came out of the cafeteria (where I did not enjoy a thoroughly mediocre meal of mystery fried rice and pork flavored tofu) I was greeted by the cutest, saddest, most forlorn puppy I have met in a long time.
Outside of the door of the cafeteria (the back door actually) there was a tiny white poodle puppy that was coming up to people, tail wagging, begging for some food. He was very filthy and needed his eyes cleaned. I reached down and petted him and he playfully nipped my finger, perhaps checking to see if I had a treat for him. He was still very much a young, bouncy puppy.
For the rest of the day, I kept thinking about and figuring out a plan to go get the puppy, give him a bath, get him some food, and smuggle him back to Wuhan with me.
I saw him later that day and he was still bouncing around the same area. I surmised that he is a pet or stray that workers at the school have adopted. He was not skinny at all, just filthy.
After a few beers (Tsintgao of course) I walked down from my apartments and looked for him. He must have gone to his filthy place where he sleeps.
The next morning, I did not see him. I had resolved myself to picking him up and at least giving him a bath.
I did see him at lunch time, but I was in a rush. Fortunately, it looks like I was correct in that the workers had put a bowl of rice and meat out for him. So if he doesn't get sick, I will definitely catch him and give him a bath, maybe buy him some real dog food too.
It is something of a difficult and slippery slope. I can give some kindness to this dog, and perhaps it will live longer. Will it only make it more difficult for the dog when I am unable to continue to care for it? I have resolved myself to not acquiring any pets while here, because when I eventually leave I cannot bear the thought of what their fate could be. I know, from experience, that most chinese people do not seem to view dogs or cats in the same way that westerners do. I do see people with well cared for dogs and have found a dog grooming place near my work, which means there are people who care for dogs and cats.
However, today, while walking past a pet store (where they keep large dogs in cages that are not of a suitable size) I saw a grown man kick a dog that was inside a cage. As I walked past, I heard the dog yelping and crying. I did yell as I passed the door, but had to keep moving. I heard the dog crying or a good 100 yards down the street. I felt very angry and sad in a deep sort of way. I could feel that dogs fear in the helpless yelping it made. I have to pass that pet store everytime I go to school in Shiyan.
I see way too many dogs out on the loose. I see them running frightened through traffic. It breaks my heart.
I think that I have to help the little puppy. I cannot hope that he will be there next time I see him. If he is, he is. If he is gone, there is nothing I can do about it.
Anyway, the other day after I came out of the cafeteria (where I did not enjoy a thoroughly mediocre meal of mystery fried rice and pork flavored tofu) I was greeted by the cutest, saddest, most forlorn puppy I have met in a long time.
Outside of the door of the cafeteria (the back door actually) there was a tiny white poodle puppy that was coming up to people, tail wagging, begging for some food. He was very filthy and needed his eyes cleaned. I reached down and petted him and he playfully nipped my finger, perhaps checking to see if I had a treat for him. He was still very much a young, bouncy puppy.
For the rest of the day, I kept thinking about and figuring out a plan to go get the puppy, give him a bath, get him some food, and smuggle him back to Wuhan with me.
I saw him later that day and he was still bouncing around the same area. I surmised that he is a pet or stray that workers at the school have adopted. He was not skinny at all, just filthy.
After a few beers (Tsintgao of course) I walked down from my apartments and looked for him. He must have gone to his filthy place where he sleeps.
The next morning, I did not see him. I had resolved myself to picking him up and at least giving him a bath.
I did see him at lunch time, but I was in a rush. Fortunately, it looks like I was correct in that the workers had put a bowl of rice and meat out for him. So if he doesn't get sick, I will definitely catch him and give him a bath, maybe buy him some real dog food too.
It is something of a difficult and slippery slope. I can give some kindness to this dog, and perhaps it will live longer. Will it only make it more difficult for the dog when I am unable to continue to care for it? I have resolved myself to not acquiring any pets while here, because when I eventually leave I cannot bear the thought of what their fate could be. I know, from experience, that most chinese people do not seem to view dogs or cats in the same way that westerners do. I do see people with well cared for dogs and have found a dog grooming place near my work, which means there are people who care for dogs and cats.
However, today, while walking past a pet store (where they keep large dogs in cages that are not of a suitable size) I saw a grown man kick a dog that was inside a cage. As I walked past, I heard the dog yelping and crying. I did yell as I passed the door, but had to keep moving. I heard the dog crying or a good 100 yards down the street. I felt very angry and sad in a deep sort of way. I could feel that dogs fear in the helpless yelping it made. I have to pass that pet store everytime I go to school in Shiyan.
I see way too many dogs out on the loose. I see them running frightened through traffic. It breaks my heart.
I think that I have to help the little puppy. I cannot hope that he will be there next time I see him. If he is, he is. If he is gone, there is nothing I can do about it.
Sunday, April 7, 2013
PE in China
I have observed kids running laps around the track at school. They do this at wierd times, like before school. Kids will dump their book bags and do a couple of laps. I have only seen younger kids do this, on a small track that is at best an 1/8th of a mile.
I think that there is some emphasis being placed on physical fitness by the school.
Several times a day, I am roused from my various states of dozing to the sound of a chinese man leading calisthenics on the field near my apartments here in Wuhan. Today, they were doing something with hula hoops. When I looked out, I spied some kids whipping each other with them. Picture a field of kids with hula hoops, led by a the booming voice of a chinese man.
They also play music. I think that this is mostly for little kids. One is like the hookey pokey song, but different. It has been seared into my mind, but as I write this I cannot recall the lyrics. I may amend this post later with the lyrics, so be sure to stay tuned.
I observe the younger kids doing their PE down on the field near my room. When they are doing the hokey pokey type dance thing, I am treated to the songs played over a loud speaker, which I can clearly hear in my room.
They must be doing something right, because I have not seen many over weight chinese people. There are some hefty folk here, but they are few and far between.
I think that there is some emphasis being placed on physical fitness by the school.
Several times a day, I am roused from my various states of dozing to the sound of a chinese man leading calisthenics on the field near my apartments here in Wuhan. Today, they were doing something with hula hoops. When I looked out, I spied some kids whipping each other with them. Picture a field of kids with hula hoops, led by a the booming voice of a chinese man.
They also play music. I think that this is mostly for little kids. One is like the hookey pokey song, but different. It has been seared into my mind, but as I write this I cannot recall the lyrics. I may amend this post later with the lyrics, so be sure to stay tuned.
I observe the younger kids doing their PE down on the field near my room. When they are doing the hokey pokey type dance thing, I am treated to the songs played over a loud speaker, which I can clearly hear in my room.
They must be doing something right, because I have not seen many over weight chinese people. There are some hefty folk here, but they are few and far between.
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Chuntian Lai Le
The weather is very nice here in Wuhan. I actually worse a short sleeved shirt today. Many people commented that I was dressed for the summer.
It is my experience that the spring weather here is pretty volatile. Yesterday, for instance, I took a taxi back to my apartment and stopped at the grocery store. I kind of regretted it because I had left for work in a dress shirt with no jacket, and it had started raining. The wind was also whipping and made my umbrella useless.
Fortunately, as I was leaving the walmart (my favorite grocery store) I spied a man struggling to get a big box into a taxi. I hopped over and helped him a little. I then asked in my pidgin chinese whether he was going towards the school where I live. He said I could hop in. His kindness let me get back to my apartment without getting totally sodden.
The days after a rain storm are very pleasant here. It gets cool and is very nice. Today it is maybe 65 degrees and sunny. The sky is a faint blue-grey, which is like a clear sky. Alas, there is alot of air pollution here, but certainly it is not as bad as beijing.
Wuhan's index rating is around 150 today, which is pretty bad. On some days, it is much higher in Beijing. Shiyan has a much lower smog index rating than either of these.
Today, as usual, I found out that I have tomorrow free. Until coming to China, I do not think I ever found out about days off in the middle of the work day preceeding the holiday. I attribute this to general disorganization rampant throughout China as opposed to a desire to give me a delightful surprise.
It certainly makes planning trips rather tricky.
It is my experience that the spring weather here is pretty volatile. Yesterday, for instance, I took a taxi back to my apartment and stopped at the grocery store. I kind of regretted it because I had left for work in a dress shirt with no jacket, and it had started raining. The wind was also whipping and made my umbrella useless.
Fortunately, as I was leaving the walmart (my favorite grocery store) I spied a man struggling to get a big box into a taxi. I hopped over and helped him a little. I then asked in my pidgin chinese whether he was going towards the school where I live. He said I could hop in. His kindness let me get back to my apartment without getting totally sodden.
The days after a rain storm are very pleasant here. It gets cool and is very nice. Today it is maybe 65 degrees and sunny. The sky is a faint blue-grey, which is like a clear sky. Alas, there is alot of air pollution here, but certainly it is not as bad as beijing.
Wuhan's index rating is around 150 today, which is pretty bad. On some days, it is much higher in Beijing. Shiyan has a much lower smog index rating than either of these.
Today, as usual, I found out that I have tomorrow free. Until coming to China, I do not think I ever found out about days off in the middle of the work day preceeding the holiday. I attribute this to general disorganization rampant throughout China as opposed to a desire to give me a delightful surprise.
It certainly makes planning trips rather tricky.
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Teaching American Culture with music
Over the past several weeks I have been teaching about American Culture with lectures about the many different genres of American Music.
I started with a lecture about American Folk Music. Some of my students are musicians and actually knew a little bit about different kinds of American Music. Of course, some students describe Taylor Swift as Country music. I made sure to give them a chance to listen to different kinds of music.
I started out by having the students listen to Bluegrass, Appalachian Folk, Old Time Music, Blues, Gospel, Zydeco, and a couple of other genres.
A great Blues song to use to teach english is Robert Johnson's classic song "Love in Vain". It has very easy to understand lyrics and tells a very poetic, short story about a man breaking up with a woman. I never realized what a classic song this really is until I used it to teach with.
Popular music has also gone pretty well. I have had the chance to use many different songs because there are about twenty different, identifiable styles of American Pop music.
For example, the different genres include: ragtime, blues, jazz, swing, rock, r&b, doo woo, soul, funk, heavy metal, punk, house music, hip hop, techno, grunge, and perhaps a few others I have ommited.
Earlier this week I had the rare pleasure of explaining the meaning of the song "midnight train to Georgia" by Gladys Knight, "get up offa that thing" by James Brown, and "Rockaway Beach" by the Ramones. My students especially liked listening to Metallica singing "One".
I dont just play the songs. I spend some time introducing each genre of music and then pause the song and try to explain lyrics. So far so good.
I started with a lecture about American Folk Music. Some of my students are musicians and actually knew a little bit about different kinds of American Music. Of course, some students describe Taylor Swift as Country music. I made sure to give them a chance to listen to different kinds of music.
I started out by having the students listen to Bluegrass, Appalachian Folk, Old Time Music, Blues, Gospel, Zydeco, and a couple of other genres.
A great Blues song to use to teach english is Robert Johnson's classic song "Love in Vain". It has very easy to understand lyrics and tells a very poetic, short story about a man breaking up with a woman. I never realized what a classic song this really is until I used it to teach with.
Popular music has also gone pretty well. I have had the chance to use many different songs because there are about twenty different, identifiable styles of American Pop music.
For example, the different genres include: ragtime, blues, jazz, swing, rock, r&b, doo woo, soul, funk, heavy metal, punk, house music, hip hop, techno, grunge, and perhaps a few others I have ommited.
Earlier this week I had the rare pleasure of explaining the meaning of the song "midnight train to Georgia" by Gladys Knight, "get up offa that thing" by James Brown, and "Rockaway Beach" by the Ramones. My students especially liked listening to Metallica singing "One".
I dont just play the songs. I spend some time introducing each genre of music and then pause the song and try to explain lyrics. So far so good.
Monday, April 1, 2013
The Great Firewall of China
I have been having no luck using my vpn in my little get away in Shiyan. I think it works in the office at the school, but not in my apartment, which sucks! The vpn on my ipad works, but not by net book air. A little odd.
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