Preparing for a VERY new school year

Ninmen Hao!
First off, thank you everyone who has been commenting on my blog, I miss all of you! Please keep it up.
I received my schedule today, of course classes start tomorrow so... I teach two classes tomorrow, 2 classes on Thursday, and no classes on Friday (Margot: Just for the record, I did not negotiate for this, My first schedule didn't have me teacher on Monday or Tuesday, so at least now I'm working 4 days a week).  My Mondays and Tuesdays are very full.
The students have returned today, I haven't seen so many kids actually excited about school before, very odd.  I'll post some pictures from my classroom tomorrow (5 years of teaching and I finally have my own room, I just had to got to China). 
Today has been quite the adventure, Medical checkup this morning, exchange money at the bank (not the shady guys out front with the sacks of suspect cash), go back out with Michael and Skyla to Computer City (imagine a all digital flee market with 3 floors and countless booths), go back out with Gail, Michael, and Skyla to Dennis (yet another department store) and then insure I'm set for class tomorrow.
I don't have a whole lot of time time, so here are some pictures, I'll let all of you know how my first day went tomorrow.

First Faculty meeting, Exactly like back home, but with assigned seats and mostly in Chinese

Shady Bank Guys, they offer a higher exchange rate, but some of their bills can be suspect

Dennis...

Mr. Zhi (our department leader) gave me a tour of Old Town Luoyang.  This building is 200 years old and still used daily

The "Original" city gates (Roughly 500 years old)

A 500 year old signal tower (right between a bread vender and a "meat" guy

More to come tomorrow!

Zaijian!

Setting up in Luoyang

Ni hao,
This post was a bit delayed, I planned on posting it last night, but... well let just say that my new Principal (Mr. Bie) introduced me to some of the local specialties namely Luoyang Bijiu, it didn't kill me, but it sure tried (and I was thoroughly warned by Margot that this would happen).  We had an amazing banquet with some of our new colleagues last night then caped the evening off with our first trip to Carrefour, the French version of Wal-mart.  Below are picture of my home for the next year.

My living room and office

My TV

My Bed and Bedroom... it came with those sheets

My Kitchen; which is actually behind my bedroom

My pantry and Water purifier... The water still smells odd though

My Bathroom and Shower... yes the shower is just a spout in the corner

My toilet; which seems to already be on the fritz...

And last but not least the results of intense 2 hours of shopping...

Zaijian!

Final Day in Beijing

Ni Hao!

Stage 1

So yesterday we went to the Great Wall with about 15,000 of our closest friends. This place was intimidating from the start.  I'm not sure what I really expected, but the worlds largest staircase was not on my list.

The gentle slop is very deceptive

This being THE Great Wall we ran into people of all nationalities, which seemed to be the most entertaining for the local Chinese, I've never had to pose for so many pictures with complete stranger before.  It was quite a site to see the large groups of Sikhs walk ten feet get stopped to get a photo taken then walk another ten feet only to be stopped again.  As it turns out, many of the Chinese we encountered on the wall were actually there for the first time or on their first vacation in a decade.  Many of them had never seen foreigners before, so even we were quite a site for them.
So after getting out of the parking lot, our real challenge began, Jacob (our guide) gave us 2 hours to "explore".  So two hours up and down, no problem... apparently I underestimated the idea of a "Great Wall".  The first 5 minutes were cake, then we came tot he first set of stairs, even I had to stretch to make some of these steps, it was a bit entertaining to see a small Chinese child leap up these  stairs like they were nothing, entertaining and humbling.  But the first set of stairs only took us up 10-12 feet, and then we saw  the second set of stairs, a mere 80-90 feet... Crap.

Apparently construction code was very flexible.

I will spare you the tale of my heroic struggle, needless to saw some of the pictures will illustrate the trails and tribulations of my climb.

Top of the First staircase

1st third of the second staircase

Last third of the second staircase

Second Staircase...

Feigning strength on the fourth staircase (Katie is amused)

At the Top... No I did not go swimming...

The view at the Top, I mad it thanks to Katie and Jean-Jacques Tatu and Robyn Crispe (not pictured)

The Wall was absolutely amazing and absolutely exhausting, and as it turns out, two hours was exactly what it took, man Jacob really knows his business...

The real incentive for surviving this grueling climb was the lunch Natasha had planned for us.  Hot Pot was possibly the most amazing meal I've had yet (including the duck feet)

From left to right: David, Natasha, Jean-Jacques, Robyn, and Rex

I leave for Luoyang in a few hours so the short adventure in Beijing is coming to an end.  I'll post again soon.

Zaijian

Truely 4 Out of 4 Stars

Good morning everyone,

This is Jacob our tour guide

Yesterday we spent the morning with our program director Mr. Yu.  We learned about some of the potential pitfalls we may encounter in the coming weeks and we got a few types on our Chinese from possible the smartest women in the world, she spoke at least 8 different language fluently.  After that we were off to the Forbidden city.
Unfortunately I'm unable to post all of the pictures from the tour, there isn't enough space on this site... As a group we spent 2 1/2 hours moving through the city form the North Gates to the Meridian Gate on the south end, the whole complex is a bit awe inspiring and overwhelming this 600 year old structure dwarfs anything I have ever seen.   All that said, it key that I share the Beijing Tourism Administration's most important innovation, the "Star system".  That's right, the Beijing Tourism Administration actually goes around and ranks public restrooms, the ranking system is out of a total possible 4 stars, yet to earn this apparently difficult and honorable ranking, one does not need to supply toilet paper.  We did manage to find a 0/4 star toilet, and well... you're better off holding in...

After Exiting the Forbidden City, the roughly 80,000 daily visitors are filtered out onto the one open open walkway strafing Tian'an Men Square.

The Southern Gate, just before you reach the Meridian Gate

This was as close as we, or actually anyone, were aloud to get

Tian'an Men Square is reserved for military parades and National celebrations.

Proof I'm actually in China... or in front of a great green screen

Since it's almost breakfast time for me, and dinner time for most of you, I'll leave you with one of the more interesting meals I've had so far... Boiled Duck foot marinated in hot Chinese mustard.... who knew you could make a dish that was mushy, crunchy, sweet, and ungodly hot all at once...

TASTY!

One more whole day in Beijing then off to Luoyang.  I'll probably post once more from the Great Wall later today.
Zaijian!

Disorented in China

Good Morning Everyone!

My Massive Room

Well at least it's morning here... I arrived safely last night and enjoyed a tradition meal with my group and Natasha, our guide for the week.  we have lectures all morning and then we're off to the Forbidden city and Tian'an Men Square, I'm sure all have tons of great pictures this evening, But here are a few random ones from my first 12 hours in China.

The Bus ride in

Hard to tell here, but it's not just a clever name...

My First (and second beer) in China, with Rex

T-Minus 16 hours

OK so here is the first official post on my blog... rather lack luster.  I leave tomorrow morning at 8.  Feel free to send this address to anyone you feel might be interested.  Below you can find my contact info for the next year.  When I get a phone number I will let all of you know.  Thanks for all the well-wishes, I look forward to sharing my adventure with all of you.


Ben