Living on the 5th floor, I really hope the amount of stairs I climb daily will even out my fairly excessive caloric intake. Rice isn't healthy when it's loaded with oily fried food! And that's the only way I eat it. In addition to the stair climbing, rousing games of "head, shoulders, knees and toes" (yes game, not song, these kids are competetive) are really helping me get in my exercise.
In other news, my floors have all been mopped twice, although they still look filthy. Ill probably give it another go today. Half of the appliances are now working, only the bedroom AC and the leaky sink need to be repaired now. Repairs completed: main room AC, leaky water heater, leaky drinking water cooler, replaced power strip.
Tomorrow morning we leave early to take the train to Shijiazhuang, the capital of Hebei province. In Shijiazhuang we get to re-do all of the medical examination crap and paper work! Hooray for more time and blood given to a hospital. At least the school is paying, although we have to shell out the massive fee of 5 dollars a piece for the train tickets.
It seems to be an issue that I didn't bring my diploma. The diploma that is beautifully dry-mounted, framed, and hanging on the wall in Houston. Nope. I looked into ordering a duplicate but I was told processing could take 12 weeks, and shipping another 6-8. So who knows, maybe I won't get my residence permit, and my trip will be cut short. I can't seem to get a straight answer.
Getting a straight answer isn't exactly easy though. Other things I can't seem to get a straight answer on: getting a bike, getting a calendar, getting a finalized schedule, curriculum, books, what I'm actually supposed to be teaching, how serious they are about the 10pm curfew (the previous CIEE teachers said very serious), and many many more subjects.
Also, I don't seem to be getting accustomed to the constant and pervasive urine odor. What method are we using in the US that counteracts this, and can we possibly suggest it to China?
All in all, things are going pretty well. Oh except for the fact that my plans to head to Beijing for what I thought was a long weekend have possibly been thwarted. My schedule is such (I thought) that I have every other Friday off. It perfectly lined up for a four day weekend (I thought) because Monday is a huge holiday here (Mid-Autumn Festival -- I had better go buy some Moon Cakes, and preferably the kind without red bean paste). Last night I was informed that yes, I do in fact have off Monday (and Tuesday!) buuuut, am working Friday and Saturday to make up. So we'll see how that turns out.
If you don't have me on skype, add me, I would love to hear from you! kels974
Also, round 1 of postcards should be leaving in a week or two, so email me (kelseykadams@gmail.com), fb me, or leave me your address here so I can send you one.
In other news, my floors have all been mopped twice, although they still look filthy. Ill probably give it another go today. Half of the appliances are now working, only the bedroom AC and the leaky sink need to be repaired now. Repairs completed: main room AC, leaky water heater, leaky drinking water cooler, replaced power strip.
Tomorrow morning we leave early to take the train to Shijiazhuang, the capital of Hebei province. In Shijiazhuang we get to re-do all of the medical examination crap and paper work! Hooray for more time and blood given to a hospital. At least the school is paying, although we have to shell out the massive fee of 5 dollars a piece for the train tickets.
It seems to be an issue that I didn't bring my diploma. The diploma that is beautifully dry-mounted, framed, and hanging on the wall in Houston. Nope. I looked into ordering a duplicate but I was told processing could take 12 weeks, and shipping another 6-8. So who knows, maybe I won't get my residence permit, and my trip will be cut short. I can't seem to get a straight answer.
Getting a straight answer isn't exactly easy though. Other things I can't seem to get a straight answer on: getting a bike, getting a calendar, getting a finalized schedule, curriculum, books, what I'm actually supposed to be teaching, how serious they are about the 10pm curfew (the previous CIEE teachers said very serious), and many many more subjects.
Also, I don't seem to be getting accustomed to the constant and pervasive urine odor. What method are we using in the US that counteracts this, and can we possibly suggest it to China?
All in all, things are going pretty well. Oh except for the fact that my plans to head to Beijing for what I thought was a long weekend have possibly been thwarted. My schedule is such (I thought) that I have every other Friday off. It perfectly lined up for a four day weekend (I thought) because Monday is a huge holiday here (Mid-Autumn Festival -- I had better go buy some Moon Cakes, and preferably the kind without red bean paste). Last night I was informed that yes, I do in fact have off Monday (and Tuesday!) buuuut, am working Friday and Saturday to make up. So we'll see how that turns out.
If you don't have me on skype, add me, I would love to hear from you! kels974
Also, round 1 of postcards should be leaving in a week or two, so email me (kelseykadams@gmail.com), fb me, or leave me your address here so I can send you one.
Kelsey:
ReplyDeleteI love reading about your adventures and I'll say it again... I think you have a gift for writing! I Love you and miss you ... OH, THANKS for getting "head, shoulders knees and toes STUCK in my head!!!
:)
Love, YFA
thanks, i'm glad this crazy adventure is entertaining a couple people at least! we need to skype soon. i hope everything is going well in CO, i sure do miss you guys.
ReplyDelete