Okay I take it all back dinner was not good. I’ve been sick for the past two days, yeah not going back to that resturant.

Also just because you don’t take your temperature to confirm that you have a fever doesn’t mean you don’t have a fever. I’m always thinking I have a fever when I don’t so I hardly ever bother checking as I figure I’m over reacting but when I finally broke down to prove to myself I didn’t have a fever, I had a fever.

I hate being sick when you are alone. At least now I have Julie. She came over and made me a wonderful dinner. Although I had to save it for today as yesterday my stomach was in no mood to eat.

Stuffed Eggplant!

We had a huge dinner in celebration of Polish Peter’s new daughter, Feng Feng. And by huge I mean I don’t think I’ve been to a dinner that big since the Weifang City Foreigners Banquet.

On the way to dinner I had a rather interesting run in with a new student. Julie, Charlotte, Roina (Charlotte’s beautiful baby daughter) and I ran into one of my students as we were waiting to catch a cab. I had volunteered to push the stroller as we were in our complex and never even contemplated how it might adversely affect my reputation. My student approached me and quickly began oohing and awing over Roina. She introduced herself as my student, they are are all new so I had no idea so I just smiled and nodded, that is until she started directing Roina’s compliments at me. I quickly pointed the finger at Charlotte vigilantly naming her the mother. Just what I need a rumor around school that I have a baby. So I guess pushing the stroller will no longer be an option even within my own complex, and I thought moving off campus equaled freedom. So if and when pictures of a baby girl begin showing up on my blog lets make this clear. I did not sign up for a second year to hide a pregnancy. And if you happen to hear such a rumor please squash it. Remember this is Kayte you are talking about the longest I stay in the presence of a single child is about an hour, two of a good day.

My new Dinner Pal

With that said the Dinner.

The next part might come as a shock goodness knows it did to me. Peter now has two daughters, the eldest is Monica, who for some strange reason has taken a liking to me. Whenever we go out for dinner I’m her playmate and dinner partner. Mind you the first time we met she wouldn’t speak more that two words to me but now I get rather enthusiastic Chinese and just enough English to catch her drift. Thank goodness she knows Polish is only for her father because that would be completely out of my element.

Julie is in the corner.

The dinner was to celebrate Monica’s new sister and the unofficial meet the new foreigners dinner. I was shocked at all the new faces when I walked into the room. Good thing Brad reserved the BIG room.

L-R Andrew, Manuel (German), John (American), Brad, Didn't catch his name, Leah, Ryan is leaning over Mary-Chris

There are two more pictures of people but wordpress isn’t cooperating. Needless to say there were tons of people many of whom I didn’t know. The night was filled with talking and food. Have you ever seen a Lazy Susan that big! We decided with the effort it took to turn that thing we’d call it Work-Out Susan, it wasn’t really suited for lazy people.

Monica and I had a fun evening playing with my pearls although she was disappointed I didn’t ware my separating butterfly ring, sometimes I think she only likes me for that piece.

Dinner was delicious. I walked home this evening with Charlotte and Roina. The weather is finally cooling off and it was a pleasant stroll.

I made it to class. That was wonderful. This cold is just getting worse and is relentless. I slept the rest of the afternoon.

School started today along with a very nasty cold. Not the best way to start a new semester at a new school, sounding like a dieing car that cuts in and out but a start nonetheless.

I’m am so excited about my schedule, with it finalized, oh the weekends I’ve got planned. I met two classes today and did my best to scare them. I’m quite good at that to be honest. Poor kids thought they were signed up for the snoozing film class. Meeting Julie and speaking with Victoria more I realize its time for me to change. I need to stop complaining that English Teachers in China aren’t taken seriosuly and do something about it. The first step, expecting more from my students. As long as I have low expectations the system is going to have low expectations. Looking at Julie’s syllubus my class expectations are about 3rd grade and yet I’m surprised at the 3rd grade effort I’m receiving.

So this semester is different. The first of many rude awakenings received by my classes today was the films would be shown in English with English subtitles. Second only English was allowed in the classroom with strict observance. Oh and work would be expected throughout the semester. Other than that I think it met all their expectations. Now I’m in no way saying I’m a film teacher and for that the students should understand I’m barely scratching the surface here but it had better be a darn good scratch.

Looking through the film textbook I was appalled at the negative portrayal of American culture with the films selected. As with everything in English Teaching in China the course was left to my discretion so I took half from the book and choose three to replace the less palatable movies. Really ‘American Beauty’ for a mid-life crisis theme. Really! Really that’s the best choice?

I’m excited for the upcoming discussions. I stuck with the book’s suggestion of ‘Chicago’, I’ll admit more for the shock value of the first piece. I figured once we got all the skin out of the way they wouldn’t complain about the rest of the movie changes. Obviously the person who chose the films in the book has never taught Chinese students. I had girls covering their eyes in the kissing scene from ‘New In Town’. Yes I’m perfectly aware there is no kissing scene in ‘New in Town’. Really how in the world were they suppose to sit through more graphic love scenes? ‘Chicago’ will be head turning to say the least.

Well on a lighter note, the rest of my classes don’t start until week four! Gotta love Military Training. It is so nice not to be living on campus. I can sleep past 6:30 without getting woken up by freshman military drills. The first two weeks every freshman in China must participate in military training. I’m curious what exchange students do at this time?

The world will officially end in the next week or two. Consider yourself warned. I don’t want to be blamed for not mentioning this before hand. My week or rather the last two weeks have just gone too well or dare I say close to perfect. Nothing whatsoever can explain this phenomena other than emending destruction on a global if not universal level. So you have here by been warned please pass it on, kiss your loved ones, make amends with your maker and then wait patiently for your final moments.

I attended a faculty meeting Friday for the Foreign Teachers. As usual no official schedules were ready even though school started the following Monday. The other American and I asked if there was a possibility to receive a tentative schedule at least. Our liaison Mrs. Li was kind enough to track someone down who was able to throw together something that could be passed on to the inquiring teachers but only as a tentative mock-up. As soon as I saw my schedule I wished I hadn’t. It was just too perfect to behold as a ‘tentative schedule’. I didn’t want any changes. According to my schedule I only had 2 subjects and 7 sections! No that must certainly not be the final.

I waited impatiently for the next two days. This afternoon I got the email of the term.

_____  Monday ___  Tuesday     ___  Wednesday  ___   Thursday ____   Friday

1 & 2         Film             Listening               No Classes               Listening            No Classes

3 & 4        Film                Film                                                        Listening

Lunch

5&6                            Listening

I now hold the most coveted schedule of the department. Two days off with one allowing for an extended weekend to start at noon on Thursday! How awesome is that! The Film classes alone were excitement enough. Half my semester is planned for me. Well now I have no excuses Chinese Lessons Here I come.

Really I can’t figure out where my luck came from. The Film and Listening classes were the two I wanted badly but as the newbie though I had no chances of getting either. Scoring both was unimaginable.

I’ve signed up for the gym today. One whole year paid up front there is no getting out of that commitment. Great. Julie is just the gym partner I need she reminds me a lot of my physical therapist, relentless. The only way to describe it is with my favorite joke:

What’s the difference between a Physical Therapist and a Terrorist?*

When I signed up I got a free gym bag which was great! The gym is fairly new and has quite an assortment of machines. We worked on the Elliptical for a majority of our hour and half session. Then did a circuit around the machines. Its so much more efficient to have a partner.

Then the reality hit as I realized I was the prude American walking into a very open locker room. Needless to say I’ve opted for waiting to change at home. So with the semester starting next week I’m finally settling into a routine which will be nice.

*You can negotiate with a terrorist.

Well today I hit it, my first year anniversary. I’ve officially been in China for 1 year.

As I reflect back on the year I can hardly believe it is already over. As a kid years seemed to crawl by at an unbearably slow rate, now they seem to fly by. As I look forward to another year in China I know this one will only go by faster.

I have my list of regrets and accomplishments. I hope to add to the accomplishments and reduce the regrets as my second year gets underway. I know I’ve made the goal before but this year I’m serious, I will not go home until I can carry on a fluent conversation in Chinese.

I always scoffed at those who lived in a country for more than six months without trying to learn the language. I have become the worst offender and am determined to change that this year. I can do it! I can no longer hide behind the excuse of settling in. With a full year under my belt the big surprises are gone. There is plenty of room for the little ones which will inevitably come but I can turn my focus to Chinese and the culture and way from day to day living.

I’d just like to say Thank You to my family for all they support they have given me over the year and continue to give. I could not be here without all your constant love, support and of course Skype calls.

I’m no longer the newbie! I’m officially a Sophomore!

Everyone dig in!

I Skyped home this morning and caught the family about to sit down for dinner. As the house is now hooked up with Wi-Fi and Ammon was already at the table I got to join in. So as I enjoyed a bowl of Chocolate & Hazelnut Museli for Friday breakfast the family had Thursday night dinner. Family dinners are what I miss most about leaving home.

Dinner as a family was not an option growing up, for which I will always be grateful. No matter how busy the schedules got with school, work and outside commitments consistent family meals were are intricate part of the Reagan household. Although I would start at the table I would rarely finish at the table in my younger years but as I grew up dinner time is something I came to cherish. It was a time for everyone to talk about their day. Heated conversations, debates and a volley of opinions were always being discussed in a less than formal manner. Anyone who has ever had the opportunity to eat with my family knows firsthand the difficulty it is to get a word in if you can’t make your self heard or keep up with the speed with which we bounce through topics.

For those who have not had the fortune of eating with my family watch the dinner scene in ‘While You Where Sleeping’ its my family’s favorite. We practically have the dialog memorized and if we find the conversation lacking at the table we just start quoting for pure entertainment. If the speed with which we race through topics isn’t dizzy enough there is always at least two conversations going with which everyone is expected to participate in both simultaneously. My mother has often apologized to guests as we rarely stop to clarify for anyone left behind.

Today’s dinner/breakfast was no different. As everyone sat down and started, guests arrived and the chaos began. Conversations started and opinions were coming from all over, those sitting, those arriving, someone was lost, new topic started, where were we, so that’s what I was trying to say, no Ammon you got that wrong, wait so that reminds me… Oh how I miss dinner as a family.

I woke up to rain and thus decided to spend the morning in. I was tired of fighting the puddles. I finally went out and visited the DvD store one final time and picked up a few new releases.

My stash of goodies!

I stopped by Carrefour on the way back to the hostel and practically raided the imports section. One of the big perks of Qingdao is the abundant Import Sections. Its amazing what a tub of Land O’Lakes Butter can do for ones moral. And don’t get me started about discovering the Creamy Chocolate Betty Crocker Icing hidden away at RT.

I hung out in the lounge until I headed to the Station to catch my train. The sunny was cheeky enough to come out two hours before I had to catch the train home. Not enough time for the sand to dry or lug everything down and back before heading home. So I conclude my week at the beach with never once touching the sand. Ahh well. There is always next year I suppose. After going 8 months without the beach whats another 10?

As I got to the station I realized I’d been lax in picture taking so I thought I’d snap a few of the station. I rarely take pictures of the things I see all the time but figured the rest of you might enjoy those views.

Qingdao Train Station

Shopping Across from the Train Station

Ticket Office and Waiting Rooms

The trip home was pleasant as I purchased tickets for the fast train. I don’t mind the slow train going but getting home I just want to get there quickly. I was slightly aggravated to find the sun shinning in Weifang as I had hoped for that weather all week in Qingdao.

Vacation is officially over and now onwards to a new semester. It all starts tomrrow with the official meeting with the Dean.

I hope every one’s summer was splendid. I can hardly believe mine is finally coming to a close.