Blog to Date, One Month Mark

Friday, Sept 14

Arrived at noon. Winnie met me at the Airport. Met Judith on the plane. She is from Lebanon and teaches English at Xiamen University. Also met a student from Iceland at the airport.

Went for Lunch with Chen, Winnie Maggie and the Dean. Very nice lunch, but I was tired and thinking about Gary.

Apartment is nice. A small kitchen with a Wok, heating pad, Microwave and water dispenser. Living room has a nice TV, couch and work table with computer. Bed room has a queen size bed, desk, two cloths cabinets. Bathroom is neat. NO SHOWER STALL. Entire room is tiled (about 8 x 10 feet). There is a shower head, toilet, sink and an all in one washer / dryer. Rather unique to our standards of privacy, but very interesting

Time for bed (6 pm here)

Saturday Sept 15
Got up at 8. Had shower and felt good. Met Maggie and Chen at 10. Took me around campus then downtown Jimei. Maggie and I went shopping for small things. I have a four day weekend next weekend so will go on my own then. Had lunch with her, then home.

Interesting road rules. Drive, honk and pray. No right side/left side. No traffic lights, To our rules, seems like total chaos. But since everyone follows the same rules, and so few cars, it works. Three cars stopped and Chen called it a traffic jam.

Prices are low. A cab ride from downtown to home was $5.00 or about 70 cents Canadian. Groceries today cost me $180 or almost 30 Canadian. Had a fried egg for breakfast. Cost one dollar or about 15 cents! I need to buy many things, as I travelled light, but once stocked, cost of living will be very low.

Sunday, Sept 16
Called Roger in the morning. Wanted to go shopping. He called back and said he and his girlfriend Lilly would like to go around dinner time. I worked on material.

Left around 5:30. Had a nice dinner in Jimei and did window shopping. Got home around 9.

Monday, Sept 17
First day of classes. Interesting. The first group are “overseas” whatever that means They are all from China. The second group are Navigation students. I teach them in the same classroom for all sections. Spent first half of class talking about me, them, courses, etc. Second half was the first lesson.

Had lunch in dining hall. Full course meal cost me 5 Yuan (RMB) Went shopping alone between classes. My first venture without a chaperone. I survived. Took 500 Yuan out of my US bank account. Checked account later. Just over 70 dollars US. I can eat almost 100 meals in restaurants for 70 dollars! Realistically, only 75 meals. A top line Epson ink jet is 400 Yuan or just under 60 dollars. I was told that it is too expensive!

After second class, went for dinner, and had two lovely ladies come up and ask to join me. Athena and the other does not have an English name yet. I said I will give here one. She reminds me of Tina Turner. I may call her Tina.

They are both foreign language education students learning English. They said most foreign professors do not like Chinese food and don’t want to learn Chinese. I am different. I am good with chop sticks!

Wednesday, September 19
More fun. I went to SM Mall. A huge Walmart on the ground floor. Five floors above it. One for fashion, one for furniture, one for youth, one for electronics ... amazing place. Bought some cloths. Everything can be negotiated. The sticker price does not mean much (except at Walmart). Or anyplace where prices are scanned.

Three ladies working at the Playboy store invited me in, and just wanted to talk in English. Took taxi both ways. Only cost about 8 dollars to go 20 km or so.

Later. Bought two “new” DVDs, MASH and “12 Monkeys”. Twenty yuan for both. (3 dollars)

Students are same as Canadians. Books are not in for one section. Some show up with no pen or paper. Hard to learn trying to memorize everything said in a foreign language.

Still amazed at the “squatters”. I will have to explain this one in person.

Friday, September 21
Going into Xiamen with Don for the day.

WOW! We took a bus towards downtown Xiamen. Bus is 3 RMB, or about 30 cents. Got off a little early and walked through a low income area. Finally found the discount DVD store.

All DVD”s , 6 RMB per disk. Bought ALL 20 James Bond movies for 120 RMB or about 16 dollars Canadian, and a 54 disk MASH series for 324 RMB or about $43.00.

Walked down to the ocean and saw Gu Lanxu Island, a future trip. Ate at the PIZZA HUT in top of a building right on the ocean. Took a taxi to the downtown Wallmart, but there was not much there. Did buy a DVD player (now I have all these DVD’s) for 149 ¥ or about $20.00.

Next went to METRO. They would not give me a membership without passport and other ID, but went in with Don. Like a big COSTCO. Many foreign items, especially food.

Came home, unpacked and watched OCTOPUSSY, one of my favourites. Wonder why I paid 75 dollars for five BOND movies, when I now paid 16 for all twenty... I guess I have two nice gifts for people - Five packs on Bond movies in a gift box - LOL.

Little concerned (or paranoid) my email being censored. Have two replies, one from Avril and one from Randi Steeves (Reggie’s teacher). FIRST CLASS says there were replies, but there are none in my in box. Too bad they don’t censor all the spam I am still getting. (GOT THEM A FEW DAYS LATER... No problems)

Saturday, Sept 22
Great day. Got a QQ from three of students. Asked me what I was going. Offer to take me out. We met in front of the Library at 4. They had three bikes.

I rode one bike and two of the girls doubled up. We want all around the campus. Then we went to JiLing (sp) park, across the road, and walked around for a while. Yvonne, then asked if she could ride behind me. Brave girl taking her like in her hands.

We rode around Jimei, through little street not seen by most, then went to Aoyuan (Turtle Park) , and the tomb of Mr. Tan Kah Kee. The carvings (653) are amazing! There is Dragon lake, and a huge swimming pool. My guess is 100 x 30 mitres. Largest pool I ever saw.

We went back to the Navigation college, then for Dinner. There were 8 girls and I for dinner at a little restaurant. We ate and drank. Had tried most for before, but had Frog for the first time. It was, as is most food here, very tasty. ON the way back to the college, there was an on-campus busker, and he let me play guitar for a few songs. Played “Blackbird”, “Dust in the wind”, “Eleanor Rigby”, and sang “Norwegian Wood” and “Me and Julio”,

Finally, four of them walked me home. We sat in my apartment, talked, showed pictures of Canada, then took a few pictures. They showed me where the Electronics mall was. I will go there soon. They also invited me out again.

A very enjoyable day. Almost like being a celebrity. They want to learn. I am sure some of my students would pass on the opportunity.

Sunday, Sept 23?
Took bus to Xiamen with Don. Went to electronics mall. Three building with three or more floors ... all electronics. Still no Pentax lens!

Walked along inland (in island?) Lake, then to a new area near City Government offices. A lot of nice little cafes and restaurants. Cabbed it home (again) along a different route. Very nice

Monday Sept 24
Received a gift box of moon cakes form the Overseas students. The number of QQ friends is growing. I think I have found a way to talk to them that they enjoy. It will help their English skills.

Tuesday Sept 25
Mid Autumn Festival! What a night.

At lunch, four of the students came to my apartment. We ate moon cake and talked for an hour. They are wonderful girls. They invited me to join them that evening. I said I teach until 8:30. They said the would pick me up.

At 8:45, Two of them arrive in a taxi, and took me to Dragon Lake. Along the side of the lake next to the street, there were tables set up. Most of my Navigation students were there. (The Overseas students invited me to join them. They were down the hall in my building). They clearly had been here for some time. I joined them. We ate, laughed, drank beer, and had a wonderful night. I moved from table to table, talking with the students. The moon was big and bright, just what you would hope for on Moon night.

After we finished eating, we began playing dice game. I played a form of liars poker. I was quite good at this. Loser had to drink a glass of beer. The glasses we small, about 5 ounces. I was winning so much, I finally lost one on purpose to get a drink. Many of the students would walk by, see me and toast me. Needless to say, I drank far too much. Good thing it is only 3.2% alcohol.

At around midnight, a group of us went for a walk around Dragon Lake. It felt funny. Two of the girls held my hand (very romantic) while four others walked about 15 metres behind. Felt like they were chaperones. We walked and talked, At 2 am they rolled me into a cab, and sent me home.

Class the next morning, at 8 am, had them all show up, in body. But almost all of them tried to nap during the 10 minute break. I got to go home after the first two periods, but they had 10 periods on Wednesdays. Only six with kind understanding me.

They talked about their dorms. There are six in a room, and they must get along. The ability to adapt, and accept, would never be tolerated in Canada, but seems to work very well here. They understand that they must get along with other people. We seem to miss that skill.

Saturday, September 29
An interesting day (as most have been) Got up early and was going to clean the apartment. At 10 am, a knock on the door. Rone and Jennifer were there. They skipped class and wanted to stay here. We talked. They taught me some Mandarin, and I taught them some English.

We had lunch together in the Cafeteria. Lunch for three cost 15¥ or about 2 dollars Canadian. I splurged, and paid. We spent the rest of the afternoon together until they left for afternoon class. It is plutonic. But having two nice young ladies around me all the time is nice.

I found my zoom lens online. A 170-500 lens costs 5500¥ or about 600 CDN. In Canada it costs almost 1000. I will try to bargain then down a little.

Met Hung Min, Winnie’s boss today. I am invited to a dinner by the City and Mayor of Xiamen on Sunday night. There will be a bus to pick us up at 5:45. Shirt and tie. Should be quite the event.

Don and I went downtown around 6, looking for Bread. We bought some bread, then walked around. We went into a lane of older stores. Booths along a narrow laneway. Just enough space for one car. People all over the place, selling many different things. Don bought three painted masks for his wall. While there, the police came by and closed the booth. I got a new battery for my watch ... 5¥ or less than a buck .. For the battery and installation.

Everyday, this place amazes me. It is wonderful

Sunday Sept 30
National Day Dinner with the Mayor and other VIPs. Professor who attended were: Victoria Tofiq (English) Farideh Azad (USA), Roger Loy (Canada), Norika Tanaka and Mrs Tanaka (Japan), Therese Abondales (Philippines), Edna Salcedo (Philippines) and Dejan Pekez (Switzerland) and myself.

Nice dinner. The escargot was great. REAL fresh snails in snail shells, and garlic. Best I ever had. Funny, when dinner ended, Mayor said thanks, and everyone got up to leave. We thought it was another toast. Met four teachers from Xiamen International School. Got cards for future reference.

Monday Oct 1
Got up early and Met Jennifer and Fred (I will call him Fred because he does not have an English name, I can’t pronounce his Chinese name) at the bus. The bus depot is about 10 metres past where I had walked before. I felt a little dumb. We got on the express bus to Quanzhou.

The ride was crazy. The driver was on the horn most of the way. The bus ride was bumpy with a rough road and poor shock absorbers. Three people got sick. We arrived at 8 am. Called Rone, and she was still asleep. We have 90 minutes to kill

There was a mall across from the depot. Building NA - Nd and SA to SB. All clothes, with a nice round exhibition building in the middle. We sat around the pool and took pictures.

Rone arrived around 9:30. We found a taxi willing to take us to the beach. huang jin hai an OR Golden Beach. WE got there and there were lots of people. We went in and saw the rides. There was a big Ferris Wheel, and other rides. We went on a ride, then the maze. We then headed to the beach. ON the way we found a big Budda. Took lots of pictures with him. He has the same belly I do ( LOL).

The beach was amazing. The sand was a nice brown, and very fine. There was a monastery on the left, and Statue in the middle, and a cruise ship permanently docked on the right. Along the beach were games, including a shooting game, bungy jumping and ring toss. Several vendors had live fish for sale, including various crabs and shrimp.

We had an over priced lunch on the beach, then went down to the ocean.

Three or four waves would come in, then a big wave would follow, splashing everyone. The water was warm. I was surprised at how warm. We sat on the break water for a while, and took turns playing in the sand an water. Jennifer and I walked around to the ship. There was a crowd of people there. One could take a boat out into the surf. About 10 people were on each trip and the waves would rock and roll the boat. Other were taking tours of the ship.

At the statue, there were many people. As the tide came in, they were stranded on the little island where the statue was. It was funny watching people try to get ashore without getting wet.

We sat and played in the sand or water for several hours. Finally it was time to go.

We hailed a cab, and headed to Rone’s. We drove past a big break water with the waves splashing up against it. We got to her home. There was broken concrete, dirt and fishing nets in front an old building, looking a bit like a garage. Behind it was a magnificent house. Made mostly with marble and granite, it was fabulous. We walk into the main floor, which was like a garage, and up the marble steps to the main floor. There was a large main room, with little furniture. Four rooms and a bathroom were divided off with proper walls, and three other rooms with 2x4's and plywood. There was a refrigerator (about 15 cubic feet), and a small TV. Two wonderful chairs and matching couch. Looked like mahogany, a dark rich wood, and a marble coffee table with a painting in the middle.

I took a shower. A nice bathroom, with western toilet (thank goodness. Squatters are my bane) then had a nap. My bedroom was large, about 12 x 14, but only a mattress in it.

We had dinner at 7. Fish, fish and more fish, with some rice. We then went for a walk. We were close to the downtown area, and walked the main street. There were vendors all along the street, selling everything.

After we went to the break water. The smell as we walked as sickening. It was a cloth dye making plant, with no regard for the environment. We sat on the break water watching the tide come in. We talked and sang. The girls sang a beautiful Chinese song. It is now my favourite Chinese song.

Went “home” to bed, tired.

Tuesday, Oct 2
Rose just after 7 am. Rone had to get up because her mother told her to because I was up

They have a well outside where everyone cleans up. I dropped the pail down, got my water, and brushed my teeth.

Rone and I went for an early walk. We went past some factories, to a temple. I was cautious, as a temple is a place of worship, and one should show respect. I later learned Rone thought I didn’t like temples. The carvings and other art work are again, amazing.

We then climbed a little hill next to the temple, and over looking the ocean. What a view. You can see mansions that even rich people in Canada would love to have, next to run down shacks unfit for animals, let alone humans. The ocean was beautiful, with fishing ships anchored.

We walked back and the others were up. We had breakfast, then headed off to Quanzhou by bus. Another adventure. An hour later, breakfast intact, we arrived in the center of Quanzhou.

Rone took Fred to the bus depot, while Jennifer and I started shopping. What a place to shop 1000's of clothing stores. We walked and talked, laughed, and tried on clothes. There were not many things in my size. I need a 54 or XXXL. Jennifer tried on many things. She tried to get a pair of jeans that would fit her ass nicely, but it was hard. Hers is so small.

We went for Lunch at KFC. I had to go, an hoped they would have a toilet. Alas, only a squatter, but it was clean. My squatter virginity was lost. It was not as bad I had feared, but be ready for an interesting experience. Not since my days camping in Boy Scouts did I have to do this. I also made a mess of lunch. They had a wrap, but did not fold the bottom like they do in North America. All over myself. Life .....

We did more shopping. I finally bought two nice shirts. A little expensive at 250 and 100, but good quality. (35 and 15 Canadian). Compared to what I would have paid in Canada for the same quality, it was a steel. Probably 100 and 50 CDN. Jennifer bought some jeans and tops.

Just before we left, we were standing on the street watching people. The traffic was three lanes wide, with many cars and bikes. Some cars would drive down the wrong side of the street. I saw a very beautiful lady on a scooter coming toward me on the wrong side. Other cars and bikes would come right up in front of her then swerve around here. Finally, relief. A police motorcycle, with two cops on it turned on their red light and stopped in front of her. They looked at her, then went around her. I was agape! No ticket, no warning. She kept on driving on the wrong side for a little longer, then cut across traffic and drove on the proper side.

Finally back to the bus depot. This time we took the local. The express was an hour wait, but would arrive at the same time. We chose to rough it rather than wait.

For two hours, it was all city. The number of people here is mind boggling. We passed an SM mart two or three times the size of the one in Xiamen, and the one in Xiamen is five floors with 100’s of stores.

We got home at 6 pm. I was tired, made copies of the pictures for Jennifer, and went to bed at 9.


Wednesday Oct 3
Don and I went DVD shopping. I got 16 DVD’s for 96 ¥. This included the newest James Bond, Casino Royal and Harry Potter’s newest. Also Unforgiven, Bon Cop Bad Cop, Bridge over River Kwai, Fat Man & Little Boy, Collateral, Philadelphia, The Sting, My Left Foot, A Beautiful Mind, Casablanca, The Doors, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Last Temptation of Christ, and Enchanted Tales.

Also went to Carrefour for a bunch of small things. The big western style department stores (Walmart and Carrefour) are in basements of malls. I think this is to allow for a bigger foot print. In the west, they have big, one floor stores. Land costs too much here for a large store, unless it is underground, with parking on top! At all three stores (two Walmarts and a Carrefour) are in the basement, with large one floor stores that extend into the parking lot and maybe even out under the street. Very interesting solution to a problem.

Up tomorrow early to go to Gulangyu Island.

Thursday Oct 4
I GOOFED - BIG TIME. Couldn’t sleep last night. Fell asleep around 4 am. Called Don at 6:30. Told him I would be no good. If I went, I would be wiped out around noon, and have to come home early. Got up at 10. Not sure if he went alone, or will wait until tomorrow. There is always next week. LOL

OK, no GOOF, but I wanted to keep that entry as is. I have ANTS! I have two balconies, but only use one. Under the door of the other one was an ant colony. I have several bites on me, but they will bite no more.

I went to Suning (a store) to by Ant killer and other needs. Stopped at a restaurant for lunch. Had a beer, and a “lunch” which came on a try with six items: rice, curried chicken, soup, a tofu/egg soup, bok choi with bits of meet and what looked like sliced green onions, but tasted different. Total cost? 38 ¥ r about 5 dollars. In Canada, the beer alone would cost more.

Going to Don’s to play chess. Haven’t played in a long time. Hope we are a match. Nothing worse then mis-matched chess games. .... FOLLOW UP .. He is not bad, but I should win every game. Three games, and only one went to a pawn game. He does have potential.

Monday,Oct 8
Thanksgiving in Canada. Columbus Day in USA. Back to classes here.

Several days of R and R, and some school work. Class was good today. Many more listening. Still some sleepers.

Wife number 2 (Jennifer) and 3 (Rone) came over in the afternoon and gave me a tea set. Can of tea leaves, a tea making cup, strainer, pourer and six serving cups in a travel bag. Very nice.

Second class ... even more sleepers, and lots of talking. I had a surprise test. Amazingly, NINE people showed up between the time I called the test, and ten minutes later. IM is a great thing. Many failed. VERY EASY TEST. Maybe the easiest I have ever given. Fill in the blank, with the sentence on the board. “The right _________ quantity of the right_________ product in the right _________ place at the right__________ time for the right_________ price”.

Out of five. Average was 3.4. 19 out of 51 failed, 20 got perfect. All the late ones got zero because I refused to let them take the test.

Students are students ... no matter where you go.

Saturday, Oct 13
Some Saturday morning musings on the week that was.... Breakfast this morning ... One egg, big bowl of Congee (rice porridge) and one of the long break sticks that come with congee ... 1.80 ¥ or a quarter.

Read more careful... I went to buy body soap my first week here. In Suning (store near here) I found a full aisle of bar soap. I looked for a brand I knew, and found only one, so I bought that one.

I had one bar provided with the apartment, so only started to use my new bar of soap recently. I also developed a rash over my legs. This week I was in another store. I passed the bar soap isle, and the laundry detergent isle. I found my soap. In with other laundry bar soaps. I was washing with TIDE. I bought an aloe vera soap. The rash is gone.

Student are getting better. Slowly, the talkers have either started to listen, or really tuned out.

Went out on Thursday, bought another shirt. A nice red one this time. Have two blue and two white, needed something different. Cost me 54 ¥ or 7 dollars.

Went to SM mall Friday morning, and also the Granway cafe. Evan owner of Granway is a nice guy. They also have hi speed wireless internet. We will be back.

Bought a monopod for the camera (and new Lens). Claude, photographer for HWDSB, has one. - so I, like a child wanted one too. They are actually very good for shooting in crowds, or moving around while shooting. Went to first store, and the price was 380 ¥. A few other stores, and I found the store. Price was 120 and 140 ¥ for two different models. I offered 120 ¥ for the better one, and they took it. Equivalent of 15 Canadian. Also stoped in to see Li Li. Don and I took the bus home. That was a first, but it is easy from SM mall.

I had a 2 PM class, then Don and I Went out again on Friday evening. He went into a store and was swarmed by all three sales girls. I watched has the girls tried to use their limited English and Don used his limited Chinese. The girls handed him a piece of paper and a pen, and asked for his phone number. I helped him out by sneaking him three Canada Flags pins. Three young beautiful women picking up a 40's white male ... and he is not Hugh Hefner (in neither looks nor wealth).

While walking and exploring downtown Jimei. Found a bike shop. A motorcycle costs between 3 and 5 thousand ¥ or about 400 to 700 dollars. I may have to buy one after all. Need to find out what I need for a drivers licence.

Found the “pizza” shop... first pizza in a while ... and last!

Will Post as I can