September 6th 2011
I have arrived in the People's Republic. So far, things have been so busy here since the night we landed. My school had us on some kind of "kick jetlag in the ass" program where they just threw us into an early morning schedule off the bat. I have to say I question their methods some. We've been teaching already for over a week and during that time I secured a huge apartment off campus. Moving while trying to set up my first few days of teaching is not something I would ever do again. However, it was worth it as now I've had some time to settle into my surroundings. The neighbourhood is quite "wealthy" and it provides a nice reprieve from the dirty, noisy goings on of everyday life here in Wuhan. It only costs 450$ and I'm splitting that 3 ways! Such a steal of a deal. As I am still adjusting, my stomach has begun to protest the Chinese food, or as they call it here - food, and is none too happy about the changes. My salvation: I found some Sprite, at least I think it is Sprite, and hopefully this will pass soon enough.
Today, as I was delivery a gripping lecture about Terry Fox and his inspirational contribution to the Canadian fight against cancer, I heard a ruckus outside the class window. At first I thought it was my projector speakers, but after hanging my head far out the window I concluded, though I couldn't actually see it, that the building across the street from the school was being blown down. The noise persisted for around 10 minutes and finally, with now myself and all my students hanging our heads out the window, we discovered that it was a fireworks display being shot off a short distance from the school grounds. Is this a special tuesday at 11 am? Some Chinese Festival that I am naively unaware of? NO, it seems a new business is opening up somewhere close to the fake IGA and this is a way of marking the occasion. Literally it sounded like the school was under attack. Midday fireworks, you know you're in China when...
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