Thursday, 10 January 2013

Fuzhou - Things Have Improved

15th October 2009

Well, two weeks have passed since my last despondent email and things have improved... I get on well with the school administrator who looks after my every request: I now have my own classroom on the 5th floor where I have custody of the multi-media key (no more signing for it every day!); I have a new whiteboard as opposed to other rooms which still have chalk and old blackboards; I have even requested and been granted a remote control to operate powerpoint slides from the middle of the classroom, hence, no longer a need for the microphone. Moreover, all the teachers are getting new PCs to replace the existing very old and incredibly slow ones.

The weather has cooled down to a comfortable temperature and we just had an 8-day "National Day" break, even though we had to teach on a Sat and Sun either side of the break! As the traffic was incredibly quiet during the break I took the opportunity to explore some of Fuzhou on my ebike: I got lost a couple of times but managed to find my way home with a map, even though it was in Chinese.

I have bought some things to make my apartment more comfortable, with the help of a Chinese English teacher (in photo B01) who lives nearby. I have also met my young Chinese landlords who seem quite obliging e.g. they installed a TV digital set-top box for me (with 100+ channels) so that I could receive some Chinese channels which broadcast in English: I've been "touring" around China (via TV) and watching the Shanghai Tennis Open.

I've been trying different restaurants and have found a new favourite one across the road where the manager speaks some English: it's a little dearer than my previous favourite, as it's now costing me AUD$2 for an evening meal, but hang the expense! (haha).

As it's not worth buying a pedal bike this time around, and I desperately need to exercise, I have selected a modern gym which I hope to join soon, if the price is right.

I'm still very busy with school, having just set a mid-semester exam which the students will sit for next Monday and Tuesday. As most of the questions are multiple-choice and True/False type they will be relatively quick to mark, but I do have 400+ students!

Lastly, I have a request from anyone who can assist: I'm looking for some light relief for myself and the students on this module called "Managing Effective Workplace Relationships" which includes such topics as communications, leadership styles, trust, work performance, conflict resolution, negotiation strategies. Does anyone have any fun exercises that the students can do (eg we did Chinese Whispers), or better still, some John Cleese management-type videos that I could borrow? Anything on my other module: Australian "Occupational, Health & Safety" would also be appreciated.

As I type this email I am listening to my favourite internet radio station which plays very enjoyable and soothing classical music; it's a German station and every so often they have an ad which I don't understand, except that it's advertising something called "fart"; the bottom line of the ad is in perfect English and it says "fart - feel the difference!": with that I'll leave you, as I'm going for a short walk...


Regards... Renzo

Photos:
  1. Yu Shan Scenic Spot: it dates back to the Warring States Era (475-221) BC. It's located on a hill which I can see clearly from my window.
  2. me on the hill.
  3. Westlake, some 10 minutes by ebike from where I live.
  4. A temple located on top of another nearby hill; some 300 steps, after a steep path climb!
  5. sight one on the way to the temple.
  6. sight two on the way to the temple.
  7. A shot of the sunset from my window (on 10x optical zoom).





No comments:

Post a Comment