1. I heard that there was a theatre in town that had some English movies. So last weekend I headed out on the bus to downtown and then got a cab to the theatre. I got one of my students to write the name down in Chinese for me to show the cab driver. I got to the theatre but it wasn’t open yet. I waited for almost 3 hours and finally bought my ticket to see Iron Man. I was very excited to see a movie in English. Unfortunately when the movie started I found I was watching the Forbidden Kingdom in Chinese. So I consider it a partial victory.

2. There are few foreigners here so very little English. Outside of teaching, some days I never hear English and therefore don’t speak to anybody. An interesting challenge. I now know what it’s like to be isolated due to a language barrier. You can be surrounded by people yet still feel very cut off from them.

3. In Canada I am used to looking at people when I walk, making eye contact and at times saying hello. I initially did this here too. However, there are so many people around you all the time that you really can’t do this. And no one does this. I have now modified my behaviour and generally don’t look at people much.

4. It’s a cell phone obsessed culture. Everyone has a call phone and students even play with them during class. I have made a strategic decision to leave it alone which I would not do in Canada. However, when in Rome...

5. Its getting hotter and more humid than it was when I came. After five minutes of running I am huffing and puffing like crazy. Have never sweated so much. Excellent training effect and will return in good shape.

6. Many people smoke including in restaurants, etc. Whereas few are overweight, health habits for the sake of being healthy is not prevalent although it looks like China is trying to change this.

7. I have a TV in my apartment but it’s almost all in Chinese. There are a couple of English stations but not much on. I sometimes watch a Chinese version of “The Price is Right.” A bit desperate.

8. Unfortunately I can only eat at places where there is English on the menu which means I’m pretty limited. There is a place that I go that has fried eggs and through sign language have managed to get them to cook both sides. However I’m never quite sure what I’m going to get when I order food. There is no place that I go where anyone speaks English.

9. Students are getting to know me and I’m receiving some positive feedback which is encouraging.

10. There’s 16,000 students here and I’m pretty sure that every one of them has a bike. Heres the bikes and campus on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-XQveykh8o

Scott