Half a century! - The week that was (past tense)

Hi all, this could be construed as sad that I am able to construct a blog entry on my 50th birthday even after celebrations but the truth is I am! Something to do with needing to work on a Saturday!
This is the week that was

Lunar New Year - from my balcony [all night it seems]

The week we had off was a lazy dull grey week, not that inspiring when you don't have a passport so can't go too far and don't want to spend all the pay in one go.
SZ Commercial centre Luo Hu ( end of Metro line)
Hannah and I managed to fill the time in with visits toDongMan Shopping, Shenzhen Commercial Centre just to lookie see, Visit to the International Book shop and ceremonial fleecing by local vendors, purchasing DVDs, the obligatory daily trip to Carrefours or Jusco. a venture or Adventure to Window of the World which we aborted due to grey skies and discovered more! shopping centres and Shekou Bombay
. Ceremonial fleecing of westerners by local Futian business men - a honey, nut fruit crunch log thing resembling the great SZ wall. Souvenir take home and eat for the rest of our lives (or at least until you visit).!
Another Shopping Centre Shekou

The big adventure was to Guangzhou by train for the day to meet up with Renee (EF teacher) and explore Shamien Island, Starbucks and Hooleys bar
.from GZ train at 180kph
GZ canal creating Shamien island ( seriously cropped for the photo cutting out the road and overpass) Von in GZ
Hannah & Renee outside Starbucks Shamien Island GZ

Then it was my birthday and SZ threw on the great weather, about 18 degrees, sunny for the most part, a view across Hou Hai Bay from my balcony no work and new friends to share my birthday with - Lei wished me a happy 18th!!
The day of my 50th is /was sunny, quite clear and warmer than most of the week but not horrid like Aussie with 40+++ degrees-

Quick Coopers Pale Ale at 3D Bar, dinner at local BBQ (25 RMB each) and a post dinner drink at my apartment and they day was done, ceremony over less fuss but lots of emails and SMS to answer. Cheers to all of you.


Hannah, Luke. Lei and Von at end of the meal to commemorate my 50th , in SZ China about 2 minutes from school and home !

Happy birthday to me....Hannah, Luke and Pad and I on my balcony post dinner

Paddington shared my 21st and now my 50th ! Cheers

and the biggest toast could be to absent friends but in this case that's all of you....so Cheers and here's to many more! Goodnight from us.

When a Saturday is really a Saturday

Enjoying a late morning Mountain Breeze coffee reading That's PRD magazine about the Pearl River Delta (SZ & GZ)

Lei and Luke ordering the adventurous delights of the hot pot


After 9 days of teaching, this morning was lazy and a good start to the week long Spring Festival for the Lunar New Year. Coffee at a local coffee shop where i was given a loyalty card just like home, now I feel like a local. A rare Saturday on a Saturday as days off are normally Tues/Wed. With no particular plans other than to stay out of the lazy cold wind from the cold snap (the weather knows when it is new year so it can create havoc with holiday plans), I accepted an invite from Lei and Luke from school to venture into Luo Hu and DiWan to look for DVDs and a hot pot meal.

I had my initiation to the Luo Hu Commercial Centre ( 5 floors of tiny shops and calls of "just looking,come in" , offers to buy sunglasses, bags and baby clothes galore). A gentle induction as it was very busy but not crowded. We went to find a tailor to make some work clothes (beige of course) but all the tailors were closed.

Back on the subway to the shopping area for DVD browsing and to stock up for the chilly holiday days and nights ahead.

A hot pot meal was what I was promised and in return I agreed to be adventurous with the ingredients ( I don't have to teach till next Saturday). The Chinese equivalent of black pudding slices, an eggy tofu dish , and sucking marrow through a straw just about ticked all the adventurous boxes for the day. It was bleak and gray outside so a warming hotpot broth late in the afternoon was just right.

The city centre near Diwan was not at all crowded in contrast to a two weeks ago so the tales of travelling home must be true. [A good time to visit the traditionally crowded places over the next week, with the camera and Hannah when she is not working as they do not have such a long break as us.] A quick bus trip home due to lack of traffic and passengers by comparison to normal.

I got the seal of approval on the apartment from Lei as she hadn't seen it. Tonight you can see the lights of the New Territories (HK) and the road bridge so the air is clearer than normal - maybe I will get a sea view one day soon.

Time to watch one of my DVDs, as I can't get the DVD player working through the TV (the ex-AV technician knows what to do but I can not read Chinese for in/out etc and on the remote controls) I'm taking the laptop to bed with a hot cuppa and watch one of the dozen new titles.

Goodnight from me

"I can sing a rainbow"

"Red and yellow and pink and green,

orange and purple and blue.

I can sing a rainbow, sing a rainbow, sing a rainbow too....

Not that you could tell with my voice...but drowned out by the older group it's all good fun.

The younger ones were just learning it but there were high fives all round for their efforts.

Well, apparently the jumping through hoops for new recruits is over and we were not required to show our faces at the second PSB interview. As another song goes ...."it's only a matter of time" for the visa , somewhat interrrupted by the festvities with office shutdowns.

Everyone else is going O/S(Vietnam, KL, UK) for a few days or home to China families but Hannah and I are somewhat trapped without travel documentation till early Feb. That first venture to HK could be expensive!

One more 3 hr class and a VIP tomorrow (split shift) and by 8pm Friday it's holidays for week.It is the year of the OX - Happy New Year to all my readers

You can stop looking - I found it!

Call off the dogs, stand down the search parties , I found it. My voice that is. Fortunately a night off teaching and Chinese medication and some good luck I awoke with a voice suitable for teaching youngsters about Packing a suitcase (what to take) and Italy. the theme of Winter is travelling abroad and countries or around the world in 15 days.

Teacher in EF - the dress to impress officialdom look - not for small stars classroom, but as culottes could make the grade if needed. Thanks to Image Wear for the personal service (Adelaide). It's not what you know but WHO!

Don't worry, the target language for what to pack is controlled to the basics so the mention of importance of duty free allowances and how to look like hand luggage is as light as a feather is not included. I can't wait for the lesson on day 3 which looks at emergency procedures getting my chance to impersonate the glam cabin crew I usually pay superficial attention to!

Crash position - if you can't reach the seat in front of you [you are sitting in first class you Ba@#$std!!] blah blah for us in economy, we have read the InFlight Magazine before takeoff as we are NOT quaffing champagne before takeoff.

Today I had my interview for residence permit at the Nanshan PSB. He asked me about previous trips to China and about my association with Sturt Softball Club (i explained softball as like baseball) and hockey. Amazed that i play hockey which he recognised as being a tough sport, when i said i was a goalkeeper he picked up his approved stamp and stamped vigorously on the required forms. (seemingly impressed) Next step is the Shenzhen PSB where Hannah and I have to front for inspection later in the week .Nanshan district

Self portrait with flamingo statues at Coastal City open air art show (I think),

Yesterday I taught Natalia and Ryan again from summer, it was a happy reunion for all. Several others also remember me which is touching as none of them ran away. Tomorrow is the test, I have a class of 3-4 year olds who were reluctant with even a local teacher - imagine the strange foreigner they face tomorrow....

More firecrackers outside, fireworks last night, imagine the New Years Eve - stay tuned.

TNT [till next time]

xxVonny

Lost - my voice if found return to EF

Teacher in new EF shirt and beige pants

the outdoor community gym

Hi, I've lost my voice and if anyone knows where i was clumsy enough to leave it, please return it. It's due to my cold , not teacher talking. I sound like a squeeky Darth Vader, which confuses the kids a bit. Hopefully it will be back on Monday for the start of Winter Fun and my interview with the SZ Police for my residency permit.

Everyday things still amuse me. I was walking past the back door of a restaurant near school and watched a cook trying to weigh a flapping large fish, presumably before it became dinner. I was carrying my take-away crispy BBQ pork which i know how to order - paragraph 2, line 7 on the menu.

Wed bike ride started with the tyres needing air, ver friendly service for 50c. Prefer to have FreedomFriday here, much more comfy to ride.

Karaoke on Wed night was in honour of Diana and Allen's birthdays. Mostly in Chinese but a few from Sound of Music and the Beatles for the foreigners.

The locals are not shy or singing, cameras or performing...not your average Aussie.

Red lanterns, Oxen and a wide assortment of decorations appear around the Christmas decorations and clearly the Spring Festival is gearing up. Firecrackers are heard regularly in the street , sound like a whip cracking rather than anything more sinister.

I've mastered the washing machine thanks to a helpful email from Siemens customer service, giving instructions in English to a very similar model.

the community gardens at the apartment

Winter Fun starts tomorrow Mon-Fri then its Spring Festival.

Enjoy the read, trivial it may be.

My first week as a full time teacher in SZ

After two luxury nights in Hong Kong it was time to venture to my new home of Shenzhen on the mainland. Access was quite easy with a subway station a minute from the HK hotel, transfer to the train station (all without coming above ground) and onto a train bound for Shenzhen via the border at Luohu.

Collected by a representative from EF (Evo) I was soon looking out of the window of the EF teachers hotel.

view from the 25th floor

Adventures in Dongmen shopping / walking street. Flanny PJs for 25RMB was my best purchase.


The bus to Nanshan ( 4RMB for half an hour 30 km journey)

Diwan Centre - the landmark of SZ where the EF administration is

Wandering the streets of Luohu in the late afternoon

The saga of hunting for a place to live is a chapter in its own right but here's the short version.

Sunday went hunting, looked at lots, price went up as going down was not what I was looking for ( Champagne tastes on beer budget- even in China). Found two , landlords not willing to negotiate, decided on one. Overnight it was on again, off again...decided to sign anyway and the sweet lady(! not!) went shopping so we looked at another place which was just great....in a good neighbourhood...right next door to school only 1 road to cross.

But it doesn't end there - we signed the lease with Alan from School helping with the language to avoid any confusion.

Unbeknown to us, the tax which is new and i think I am a guinea pig in this needs to have a particular type of contract so I can move in - just not apply for residential permit which has to be done in a time limit which is caught up in the Spring Festival shutdown, so I might be persona -non grata for a bit longer than hoped. The owner needs a certificate and most of them do not have it so the bank is having to generate one ( by mid week we hope) so i can do the formal contract.

It's not just me, the other new teacher is also in the same boat. As long as it happens eventually.

Now I am in the process of getting the internet connected at home, then I 'll consider the Cable channels , until then I'll make do with CCTV 9 and 2 HK channels in English most of the time.

Today ( Monday from 10.30am - 2pm) we had the big New Year Party for the Year of the OX ( signifying hard work!) with all of the SZ EF Schools Kids/Adults and Administration (EF= 300+)

Each of the schools did a skit or performance ( ours was great as Exotic dancers belly dancing - I have the belly- not sure why I missed out - oh yes because i am not co-ordinated perhaps?) Note my very trim co-workers ( teachers and admin)

Lunch was great, Chinese banquet but check out the plate of chicken closely ( no feet but...)

back to work by 3pm and I was just about to teach my VIP when they cancelled so I worked on the blog and then because i was still here i ended up doing an impromptu Life Club for 5 year olds on days of the week-ended up making each one a paper hat with a day written on it.

Now it's easily beer o'clock - must have been second sense when i turned down a beer after work with some others - Life Club duty called instead...going home for that beer brewed in SZ.

Tuesday and Wed are the new weekend so now its "Friday" night. Two days off, a real treat after the one day of summer school. Expecting to get internet connected ( and a landline phone in the package), contract signed and catch up with Hannah ( other new teacher from Adult school in EF Nanshan) who also has Wed off.

My weekend starts NOW - adios amigos - till I learn the phrase in Chinese (Mon 12th January 8.20pm)

Preparations to return to Shenzhen (at last)

Family farewell - tears from me

Beer with Duncan.. Cheers

Well, the delays in getting my work permit approved allowed me to be home for Christmas and the end of the year and spend time with family and friends.

My working days were spent between preparation for return to SZ and some OHS and Human Resources project work. Some ergonomic assessments, workplace inspections, risk assessments on a TAFE programme and analysis of the administrative instructions for safety in preparation for an audit in 2009.

Having some bonus time to be fitting in all the things i would miss by being in SZ meant trips to the wineries, trip to Melbourne to see Billy Elliot & Jill, Sturt softball, Mum's bacon sandwiches,

listening to dad play jazz, walking with Jen & Lucy the kelpie at the beach...short rides on Bike Friday (Freedom Friday) , dinner at Mr Dinh's with friends and a bush boxing day.

Chester and Louise were involved in the Stonehaven Cup sailing competition at Largs Bay Sailing Club and I hung out there to catch up with all the family (Duncan was the organiser).

Chester is in the Cadet dinghy with SA 180 sail number

New Years Day arrived and Paddington and I departed Oz for Hong Kong then Shenzhen with Jen and Deb waving us off ( I don't do farewells...drop me off and go is my preference!).

SA Icons Padd works out how to get hotel bus

Currently sitting overlooking HK Harbour from my room on the 32nd Floor of the hotel (upgraded to harbour view without asking!). I went out to HK Central and found Dymocks, bought some novels which are very rare in SZ. I was going to explore using the MRT but its underground so you don't see much of the landscape. Decided to head home and get 100% value from my hotel room given that it was a treat to myself and a bit extravagant.

The next phase starts tomorrow - Saturday when i get myself to LoHu in SZ (mainland China) via train where I will be met by a representative from English First (EF) to get to the hotel that EF use for incoming teachers until they are settled in apartments or homestay if they chose (not). Apartment hunting Sunday, (hopefully catch one, tame it and move in same day or early in the week). Teaching Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday as the new career becomes a reality.

Here's to my Mandarin improving alond with my mathematical calculations from $AUD to RMB via $HK to be accurate until I get an idea of the value of money in the new world. My Bank of China ATM card works, my China SIM card works....here goes...boots and all...SZ Nanshan Kids School - here I come! 2009 Return to SZ.