Kim's Chinese Adventure

Development Deal

Something that surprised me when I first heard it on the local news about a month ago was the broadcaster referring to China as a "developing" country.  It had not occurred to me that China was not a "developed" country.  Perhaps it should have, but it hadn't.  I guess I hadn't thought a whole lot about China before researching it when I was considering coming here to teach.  But even then I never considered it a developing country.  I think the reason is that I was more familiar with the bigger cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, which to me seemed so modern and "developed."  I should have remembered that other developing countries have large cities with modern conveniences.  However, to me China seemed so much more advanced in areas such as business and technology than those countries.  I also remembered college students coming from China to study in the US and how well they did in school.  I made the assumption that if Chinese colleges and universities were producing such talented students, the country was already developed.

It's true that in the last several years business has boomed in China, and that the recent economic downturn, while certainly having adverse effects here, has not hit this country nearly as harshly as it has the US and Europe.  China is the largest developing country in the world and has an economy to match it.  Barack Obama being in China at this very moment is a testament to this.  And the fact that Obama is the only person ahead of China's president Hu Jintao on the recently released list by Forbes of the most powerful people in the world is an indication that China is likely moving closer to the category of "developed."

Food, Glorious Food

During my first two weeks in Shanghai, while staying at the hotel near Nanpu Bridge, I visited the local Trust Mart grocery store two or three times. There are at least a few Trust Marts throughout the city, including one near where I work.

　

My first trip there was on my first full day in Shanghai, after my meal at KFC. This inaugural visit consisted of me wandering around the store and then buying a bottle of what I thought was plain still water but was actually pineapple-flavored fizzy water. I couldn't read the Chinese characters on the label, but I suppose the picture of the pineapple should have clued me in. I'll just choose to blame it on jet lag.

During those visits I took some photos of food products that I found interesting, so I'll share these here.

The produce tables looked pretty similar to what I would see at my local Jewel in Chicago.

 

The seafood items? Not so much.

 

   


The meat case was a little different as well. You probably wouldn't be surprised to know that I didn't buy any of this to put in my hotel fridge.

 


There were sticks of "ham sausage" that were not refrigerated, so perhaps they are similar to jerky. At least I hope so.

 


I don't know what these grains are, but I thought they looked pretty cool.

 

 

I also still haven't figured out what these happy guys are.

 

 

These happy guys, however, I do know.

 

And these guys made ME feel a little happier when I was stressed from work.

 


I'll have more food photos from a different store in a later post. Bon appetit!

The Colonel and I Became Quite Close

No, I'm not referring to Justin Clarke.  (That's a shoutout to my fellow GL/Venice fans:)

During my first two weeks in Shanghai, when I stayed at the hotel my employer set me up in and paid for, I was able to eat a complimentary breakfast every day.  It was a combination of Chinese and western breakfast foods:  noodles, hard-boiled eggs, steamed buns, tomatoes, pumpkin, toast, orange juice, rice, vegetables, etc. 

 
It was odd at first to incorporate green beans and noodles into my morning meal, but I got used to it pretty fast and ended up enjoying it.  It was nice to have a hearty breakfast before setting out for the day.  However, on my first full day there (Sunday), I miscalculated the time difference between Chicago and Shanghai while setting the alarm on my cell phone that was still on Chicago time.  Therefore, I disappointedly missed breakfast that day. 

Fortunately there were some cookies in the welcome pack from EF, so I was able to have something to eat to tie me over for a little while.  However, I knew this wouldn't sustain me for very long; I needed to venture outside of the hotel to get a full meal.  It might seem silly, but the thought of doing so was a little daunting.  I knew almost no Chinese.  Would I be able to order?  Would they understand me?  Would I get what I wanted?

Because EF had also included in my welcome pack a card worth 100 RMB to be used at restaurants around the city, I decided to use this to purchase my first full meal in Shanghai.

 
Yes, I did something I had always avoided while traveling on vacation before: I went to an American chain restaurant.  In this case, KFC.  I was a little dismayed by my action, but at the same time it was a little comforting.  My fears about ordering were unfounded, as the KFC staff asked me in English what I wanted when I approached the counter.  Easy peasy.  I did get some looks once I sat down to eat since there are very few westerners in this neighborhood.  I just smiled and received a smile in return.

What was more surprising to me is that during those first two weeks, I ended up eating at KFC a total of five times!  And at McDonald's once.  Yikes!  But again, not having to pay for most of those meals was very nice, and, of course, not having to attempt -- and fail -- to read a Chinese menu after a long and stressful day of work and/or apartment hunting was a relief.

After going for our medical exams, a few other new teachers and I paid a visit to Subway in one of the many malls.  Not what I would have planned for lunch but satisfying nonetheless.  A few of the teachers I had already met at the hotel but one of them, Kristin, I had not.  She said before going for the exam that her birthday was that day.  By the time lunch came, I had forgotten about her birthday and voted to just go to Subway instead of a Chinese place Kristin knew of a little further away.  Because of that, I offered to treat her to something more satisfying later that day, as I was going to check out her apartment that afternoon anyway.  I got a delicious ice cream dessert.

 
Now, American-style food is not the only thing I had during that time period.  Before going shopping at an electronics market with another new teacher, Eva, we stopped at a Chinese chain restaurant called Kung Fu.  I wasn't hungry for lunch yet, so I got only a pop.  Eva ordered a full lunch meal, including some kind of soup, of which neither of us knew the ingredients.  I offered to try it first, which Eva documented. 

 

 
One of the particles looked like fish skin, but it didn't taste like fish.  It was okay; didn't have much of a flavor.  I still don't know what it was but am still proud of myself for giving it a go.

Later in the week, I decided to walk around the park in the neighborhood where I was thinking of living (and where I ended up finding my apartment).  However, first I needed something to tie me over to dinner, so I opted for a meat skewer.  It was from a storefront take-away restaurant near the park and but cost only 1 RMB.  It was kind of a cross between a hot dog and a sausage.  Small and greasy but exactly what I needed at the time.

 

After wandering around the park (I'll  include photos in a different post later), I went to the nearby mall and treated myself to some sit-down edamame and rolls at a sushi restaurant.  Mmmm.  I think  I need to go back there. 

 

In addition to KFC and McDonald's, I also paid one visit to another American chain: Pizza Hut.  However, instead of having pizza, I opted for a salad.

 

I was amazed at the vast and varied menu at this Pizza Hut!  After going here, I did hear that American Pizza Huts were expanding their menu well beyond pizza.  Even so, I am still impressed when I think of the menu at this particular one in a Shanghai mall.  Lots of different pizza toppings, noodles, rice, salads, fancy desserts, etc. were included. 

There was even a little bit of "Chinglish" on the menu, notifying customers that a particular salad was no longer being offered.

Hmmm...perhaps the salad had another menu to go to :)

Since those first two weeks, I have gone out for various other foods including Chinese, Indian, Tai and Tai chicken wraps at a British pub :)  Although I do go grocery shopping and make many meals at home as well, I look forward to sampling more of the diverse restaurants that Shanghai offers.

Weather Report

I have to say, I'm digging the Shanghai weather!

It's now 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 20th, and it's 72 degrees F.  It was a beautiful day today with lots of sun.  Even on hot days the sun isn't out really often because the sky is so hazy due to pollution.  But today was fantastic!  I had the day off, so I ran errands and walked around my neighborhood, including a trip to the police station to register my residence with them again now that I have my full year-long visa.  (I registered the first time after signing my apartment lease.) 

Before doing that, I met an EF employee -- the woman I interviewed with -- for noon coffee.  I wore jeans and a 3/4 length knit shirt, which ended up being too warm.  Once back home, I changed into a short-sleeved cotton shirt before heading to the police station.  I was much more comfortable in this.

A couple days last week when I rode the bus to work, the first bus said 25 degrees C (77 F).  By the time I transferred to the second bus, this one said 30 degrees (86 F).  Now I don't know if these are fully accurate, but I do know that I was wearing thin jeans with a thin cotton shirt and I felt hot, so they are likely quite close.  I also still wore sandals quite a bit until last week. 

My fellow expats say that the Shanghai winters feel colder than the temperature indicates because there is so much moisture in the air, being close to the sea.  They note its bone-chillingness can often make it feel as cold as Chicago.  Even if I find this to be true, I know that the winter will be shorter and that days like today will come around much faster than I've ever experienced. 

Back in Shanghai

After my trip to Michigan during the National Holiday, I arrived back in Shanghai on Tuesday, October 6th.  My flight came in a bit early, and I then proceeded to the Health Check and Quarantine area.  Unlike my first encounter with them in August, I did not say on my form that there was anything unusual about me, i.e., stuffy nose, so there was no need to be checked out further.  And please note, I was indeed telling the truth on my form! 

Instead of taking a taxi home from the airport, which would likely cost nearly 200 yuan, I took the Maglev.  This is the brand new high-speed train that connects the Shanghai Pudong Airport to the east part of the Puxi area of the city.  It costs 50 yuan and takes only about 6 minutes because it reaches a top speed of 430 km/hour (267 mph).  I then spent just another few yuan on the Metro from the station it stops at to the one near my apartment.  The Maglev runs about every 15 minutes, so I think people in Shanghai will really utilize it.

I had a busy schedule the past several days at work, including an afternoon of training on Saturday at one of the other EF schools.  After our workshop, we headed to the roof of the school for pizza and beer.  Despite the hazy sky, we still enjoyed a cool view.  I stayed until about 8:00 and then headed home, as I had to teach on Sunday starting at 9 a.m.

I am posting this entry from a computer at the EF Megacenter, the main administrative offices for our school.  I had Chinese class this morning and stayed to use the computer.  Unfortunately my home internet is down AGAIN.  After getting it hooked up initially in September, it worked for two days and then went completely down.  I finally had the internet company tech person fix it a few days ago.  It worked okay for a day or two but now it's down again.  Ugh.  I told a fellow teacher that I am going to just cancel my internet, but she suggested that before doing so, I first insist on getting a new modem.  If that doesn't work, then I should cancel.  So that's the plan. 

I actually tried to post while I was in Michigan but had no success.  I was using my laptop at McDonald's, and I think the wi-fi connection there was too slow, at least for a post with many photos.  Therefore, I've avoided inserting photos to this current post and hope to be able to do so more in future ones.

Finally, I want to thank everyone for your kind thoughts and good wishes for my family and me during our difficult time recently.  I really appreciate it.

It's now about 12:30 Shanghai time, so I think I will go get some lunch.  Hope to post again soon! 

Unexpected turns

I had planned to blog much more frequently and am disappointed that I haven't kept up with it.  I was quite overwhelmed with work, as I was thrown into a busy schedule quite quickly, and was very focused on finding an apartment and moving in.  Then, after getting my internet hooked up at my apartment, it worked for about a day and a half before going completely off.  It has yet to be fixed.  I was so busy with work and admit I was also reluctant to have to call the internet provider myself due to my lack of Chinese language skills.  My landlord's son was nice enough to call for me.  The company thought they could fix the problem remotely and apparently attempted to do so to no avail.  He finally arranged to have them come to my apartment last Monday morning, but they ran late and I had to leave for the airport before they could get there.

The reason I had to leave was an unfortunate one:  my mother became ill and passed away.  I had already bought a ticket to fly home because I knew she was not doing well, and I found out the morning I was to leave (Monday, Sept. 28th) that she had passed away about 10 p.m. Michigan time on Saturday the 26th (10 a.m. Sunday for me).  She had suffered from Alzheimer's for over a decade.  About a week or two after I got to Shanghai, she had started losing control of her throat muscles, which is a common symptom of the disease in its latest stages.  This caused any food or drink she took in to go down her trachea and into her lungs, instead of getting to her stomach.  Hospice went to the nursing home and made her as comfortable as possible those last several days.

My plane touched down in Chicago just after 3:30 p.m.  By the time I got through Customs and picked up my rental car, I was able to hit the road for MI by 5:30.  I had to take a 30-minute nap at a gas station along the way, getting me to my dad's just before 11 p.m. on Monday  It was a tiring trip but one I was glad I could make.

The timing was actually very good.  I had the entire week off work due to the Chinese National Holiday.  It was the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, i.e., the communist party's rule of the country.  Regular schools were closed and many people had plans to travel, so our school closed as well.  A friend of mine from Chicago was actually in China for work and had already planned to visit Beijing, so I had booked a flight to meet her there on Thursday, Oct. 1st for the long weekend.  I, of course, cancelled that and will be able to use the ticket at a later time.

When I arrived at my dad's, my three sisters were there, working on poster boards of photographs of my mom and our family.  We had visitation on Tuesday afternoon and evening, as well as Wednesday morning, and the funeral was held late Wednesday morning.  It was nice to be able to see so many friends and relatives pay respect to my mom and our family.

I am still in Michigan now and will fly out of Chicago on Monday to go back to Shanghai.  It will be extra hard to leave my dad now, but I know he will be taken good care of by my sisters and our other family members and friends.  I am going to try to catch up on some posts before heading back to China.

Arriving in Shanghai

I was supposed to fly directly from Chicago to Shanghai, but that flight was delayed due to mechanical problems.  I instead flew via San Francisco, arriving a few hours after my originally scheduled time.  Fortunately I had time before leaving Chicago to email my new employer to let them know to change my airport pickup time. 

I had caught a cold the prior Monday and was still recovering from it.  Therefore, when I was told to answer honestly the health questionnaire given to me on the plane, I checked that I had a stuffy nose.  I probably should have been dishonest, as this caused me to be taken out of line and brought to one of the health workers, who questioned me about my condition.  She spoke English and seemed to understand my situation and then proceeded to take my temperature.  Upon reading its normal status, she told me I was free to go back in line to have my passport checked and stamped.  I can blame the swine flu outbreak for this minor delay.

Once I cleared Customs, I went out to the arrival hall.  Sure enough, I spotted a young woman holding up a sign reading "EF English First."  Her name is Apple Wang and she works part time for the school.  She recently finished her bachelor's degree and will soon start a master's in maritime law.  Apple was very sweet and we had a nice chat during our 30-minute taxi ride to the hotel.  She explained that the metro would have taken about 15 minutes, but all my luggage requires a taxi.  I've never traveled so heavy in my entire life, but my entire life is pretty much what I had to bring! 

As we rode, she handed me an EF backpack and showed me the "welcome" items it contained.

She also allowed me to practice a little of my very limited Mandarin on her.  I think she was impressed that I knew any at all.

Apple checked me in with the front desk staff and accompanied me to the room.  I asked her why she chose Apple as her English name.  (Pretty much any Chinese person who works at all with English speakers will choose an English name to use in these dealings.)  She responded that her Chinese name is similar to the word for apple and that she has had the nickname of Apple for several years, so she just uses that.  I told her the daugher of a famous American actress and British singer is also named Apple, which made her smile.  Before leaving the hotel lobby, she allowed me to take a photo.

 
  
It's very common for Chinese people to do the peace sign when having the photo taken.  Almost all of a fellow teacher's photos of Chinese students and friends contain at least one person flashing the sign.  Too bad it can't better describe our world now, huh?

After initially posting this, I found out that the finger gesture isn't actually the peace sign.  It's V for victory, but also is used as a way of saying you're happy and proud.  Although both males and females will use it in photos, it's apparently more common for young women to do it.  This might be linked to the fact that it was common for Japanese animated female characters and Hello Kitty to be shown with the gesture.

TEFL Training

Just a few days after I finished work at PwC, I took a four-week intensive (key word intensive) course to receive my TEFL certificate.  My instructor was Sandy Moklak, and I was in a class with eight other students.   I thought for sure I would be the oldest in the class by far.  However, there was one student older than me and another my age.  The rest were in their 20s and early 30s.  Everyone was very nice and had a great sense of humor.   After the second-to-last class, I had Sandy and my classmates over for dinner and drinks.  I forgot to get a photo of Sandy, but here are a couple photos of my classmates:


 Evelyne and Haki in my apartment

 Clockwise from far left:  Charlotte, Joel, Viki, Jehan, Shawn and Elisa on my back porch

We had a lot of fun that evening, but because we had our final exam the next day, it didn't get TOO wild.  In fact, after the party, some of them stayed over so that we could all study together.  It worked, as I received a perfect score on my exam!

Part of the TEFL training is practicum, which we did at four different ESL sites in Chicago.  One of them was the Vietnamese Association of Illinois, where we assisted elementary school children with their homework in an after-school program.  The children spoke English, but their parents did not, so it was good for them to have English speakers to help them.  Here's me with one of the students:

Probably because the TEFL class was so intense, we all bonded pretty well and hung out a bit after the class ended.   We also all volunteered for a field trip with Sandy’s ESL class, when her students explored Millennium Park in downtown Chicago.  My task was to lead a group of five through the park, at which they were required to ask directions to, and answer questions about, different sites and landmarks.

 Me with my group underneath the Cloud Gate sculpture, a.k.a. "The Bean"

After the field trip was done, we went to Elephant & Castle for drinks and official goodbyes.

But we weren't quite ready to say goodbye just yet, so some of us continued the party at a bar on the north side.  Viki's boyfriend had joined us at E&C and came with us here as well.

 

And then, because we still couldn't say goodbye, some of us met up for one last time in Chicago's Chinatown:

  From left:  me, Charlotte, Joel, Viki, Jehan, Elisa and Shawn

I had no idea at that time how prescient this photo would be.

So, Kim, how'd this all come about?

Good question!

Well, I did something kinda nutty during the long, cold Chicago winter of 2009.  I VOLUNTARILY left my job at PricewaterhouseCoopers on February 28th so that I could take a four-week, intensive course to become certified in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL). 

One doesn't need this certificate to teach EFL, but since my past experience was teaching college psychology to native English speakers, I felt more comfortable taking the course to enhance my skills.  Besides, I figured if I didn't like it, I could just look for another job knowing that I at least gave it a try.  Turns out I loved it!

My original plan after taking the course in March was to head overseas in late spring or early summer.  However, my best friend announced she was getting married on August 9th and asked me to be her maid of honor.  I decided to spend the summer in Chicago and Michigan (where my family lives) in order to start teaching in the fall.  I was offered a few different positions and accepted one at English First in Shanghai, China.  The plan is for me to teach children up to age 14; students might be as young as 18 months!  However, I assume it's possible for me to have an even wider age range of students.  Flexibility is key!  My first official start date is August 31st, but I will have orientation time before actually teaching.

I hope you will find this blog to be at least a fraction of how interesting I expect the next year of my life's journey to be.  Thanks for reading!