FINALLY.......MY REAL NEW SITE!
Dam Great Firewall of CHINA!
Dec 5, 2009
Jun 23, 2009
May 23, 2009
May 10, 2009
Eyeglasses
Besides the usual cheap contraband, movies for a buck, (savings of aobut $15 or so)
games for a buck or two (depending on how many discs are involved), $50 savings?
One can also buy some glasses for a good price. These cost about $40. Not bad, eh?
It's a little different here than back home. Here, no doctor, no tests, just a simple eye exam where they put these goofy glasses on you that determine your prescription...and wala...ur done, like 2 minutes.
And, by the way, i've got some bad eyes. I didn't think the quality of the prescription would come close. BUT, to my surprise...they glasses are just about perfect.
And, by the way, i've got some bad eyes. I didn't think the quality of the prescription would come close. BUT, to my surprise...they glasses are just about perfect.
May 3, 2009
Tea House
One of my favorite pastimes to do here in Ya'an, when the weather is good, is go to the tea house, have some Hua Cha, and hang out. There is something so relaxing about sitting by the river.
U can just let it all hang out.
Give the peace sign.
Read a paper.
Or Fight the Landlord.
U can just let it all hang out.
Give the peace sign.
Read a paper.
Play a nice game of Mahjong.
Or Fight the Landlord.
And then, after a long day at the teahouse, you can go for a swim in
the river.
the river.
May 1, 2009
The Track Meet
Some of my students (the smartest in the whole of China!) participated in this extravaganza!
Track Meet from jimd on Vimeo.
Apr 23, 2009
The Newspaper
It's no wonder the newspaper business is sinking. Just look at how we read the paper. One copy for the whole campus!
Everyday this scene is repeated.
On campus the newspaper is put inside these
glass containers with what I assume is most of the newspaper. And everyday one will see the multitudes reading the paper.
Doesn't quite seem as fun as sitting down at the table with your cup of tea and paper.
Everyday this scene is repeated.
On campus the newspaper is put inside these
glass containers with what I assume is most of the newspaper. And everyday one will see the multitudes reading the paper.
Doesn't quite seem as fun as sitting down at the table with your cup of tea and paper.
Apr 19, 2009
Apr 15, 2009
Umbrella Day
It was Umbrella Day again in China. Some of you may not be aware of this special day.
Notice, it's Not raining.
Everyone...strutting around showing off their umbrellas.
Sometimes one will take a friend.
Even the men folk get in on the day...or are forced to, who knows?
And yes, why not take your umbrella for a bike ride.
That's right. We care about Skin Cancer!
But really, the women here have a high regard for the perceived beauty of white skin.
But hey, you white folks already knew that, eh?
Notice, it's Not raining.
Everyone...strutting around showing off their umbrellas.
Sometimes one will take a friend.
Perhaps a grandchild.
Even the men folk get in on the day...or are forced to, who knows?
And yes, why not take your umbrella for a bike ride.
That's right. We care about Skin Cancer!
But really, the women here have a high regard for the perceived beauty of white skin.
But hey, you white folks already knew that, eh?
Apr 6, 2009
April Fool's Day
As April Fool's Day approached, many of the students seemed to be aware of what the day was about. I believe another teacher even showed many of my English students some of the most popular April Fool's Day jokes that had occured in the past. I even started to hear a few warnings from my students to watch out for myself on that day.
No problem...I thought. I can handle these kiddies.
So I started to spread the rumor of a big surprise test coming up.
On the big day, I had a knock on my door. I heard a rattling of a can outside my door, and thought...uh oh. I slowly cracked my door open when an arm with a can of Silly String Spray came through the narrow gap of my opened door. I, just like Jason Bourne ...slammed his arm against the wall as he unleashed its contents all over my wall and floor. Amidst the loud giggles and laughs from his accomplices, I had won the battle! They missed me completely.
Then, they had the nerve to say..."come on out, we want to buy you lunch"....yeah, i am sooo stupid. So i said "sure, just wait downstairs for me while i use the restroom."
Ha...they actually waited for about 25 minutes....Suckers....
After that I had lunch, and as I was walking back to my residence an old man was ahead of me and I thought," good chance to practice my Chinese." As i started to catch him, he stopped, walked to the side of the road, and a stream of liquid started to hit the ground. And I thought "hmmm..., I better cross over to the other side...", which I did. So much for practicing my chinese. Now that, is a good April Fool's Joke, except he wasn't making a joke...just taking some liberty.
And people say this country has no Freedom!!! ha!!
I would say that my students didn't quite actually get the concept of April Fool's Day. But don't worry, I englightened them with some really hard pop quizzes that they had to do.
After giving them the instructions of an impossible test, I would walk out of the classroom, and return in a few minutes. I then started to write April Fool's Day on the board. Slowly, one by one, the students stopped writing, started to smile, and even a few giggles came out.
But Not everyone, so I had to explain what was going on.
EVEN AFTER THAT, wouldn't you know it, there was a couple of students still feverently writing....Oh man, my students...
So that was my April Fool's Day.
BTW....a little update
Youtube has been blocked now for a few weeks now, ever since the tee betan videos of the police beatin some m*nks down made it on there. They used to just block those videos...now I guess they are punishing them.
And, my X-ray to make sure i didnt break my ankle a couple of weeks cost about $11 dollars, and less than a dollar to see the doctor. Not bad, eh?
No problem...I thought. I can handle these kiddies.
So I started to spread the rumor of a big surprise test coming up.
On the big day, I had a knock on my door. I heard a rattling of a can outside my door, and thought...uh oh. I slowly cracked my door open when an arm with a can of Silly String Spray came through the narrow gap of my opened door. I, just like Jason Bourne ...slammed his arm against the wall as he unleashed its contents all over my wall and floor. Amidst the loud giggles and laughs from his accomplices, I had won the battle! They missed me completely.
Then, they had the nerve to say..."come on out, we want to buy you lunch"....yeah, i am sooo stupid. So i said "sure, just wait downstairs for me while i use the restroom."
Ha...they actually waited for about 25 minutes....Suckers....
After that I had lunch, and as I was walking back to my residence an old man was ahead of me and I thought," good chance to practice my Chinese." As i started to catch him, he stopped, walked to the side of the road, and a stream of liquid started to hit the ground. And I thought "hmmm..., I better cross over to the other side...", which I did. So much for practicing my chinese. Now that, is a good April Fool's Joke, except he wasn't making a joke...just taking some liberty.
And people say this country has no Freedom!!! ha!!
I would say that my students didn't quite actually get the concept of April Fool's Day. But don't worry, I englightened them with some really hard pop quizzes that they had to do.
After giving them the instructions of an impossible test, I would walk out of the classroom, and return in a few minutes. I then started to write April Fool's Day on the board. Slowly, one by one, the students stopped writing, started to smile, and even a few giggles came out.
But Not everyone, so I had to explain what was going on.
EVEN AFTER THAT, wouldn't you know it, there was a couple of students still feverently writing....Oh man, my students...
So that was my April Fool's Day.
BTW....a little update
Youtube has been blocked now for a few weeks now, ever since the tee betan videos of the police beatin some m*nks down made it on there. They used to just block those videos...now I guess they are punishing them.
And, my X-ray to make sure i didnt break my ankle a couple of weeks cost about $11 dollars, and less than a dollar to see the doctor. Not bad, eh?
Mar 29, 2009
Mar 27, 2009
Bad Mr. Mao
Question: What do these two pictures have in common?
Answer: They're both bad!
That's right, bad ankle and bad money!!
The top picture of Mr. Mao on my counterfeited 5 rmb, which someone pawned off on me, is as bad as my purplish ankle is. Mr. Mao, who graces his likeness on possibly all chinese money, was given to me somewhere from my local haunts, and the other day I proceeded to give it back in exchange for some copies. As with alot of the money exchanged, the local proprieter takes the bill, looks at it, holds it up to the light (somewhere along the line I had heard that counterfeiting is big business, and there's a whole lotta fake quai out there), but this time, unlike all others, the gal handed me back the bill with an exchange of assorted chinese words that I dont understand, along with giggles and laughs from some standing around. At this point, I didnt think too much of it. The bill had a crease in it, and it appeared that that's what they were commenting about. I of course thought "how odd," but then again, this is China, one can't be too surprised by too much, or one may go crazy. This might be just some funny Chinese quirk, I thought, although in the back of my head I was also thinking "counterfeit." So, I simply went to a couple shops down to buy something else. I have learned in my short time here that if U dont understand what's goin' on, dont waste alot a time on it.
SO...to my not so great amazement, the gal at the second shop, after looking at the bill for a few seconds had the same reaction. This of course to the joy and laughter of the people standing back at the previous shop who had continued to talk about me as they watched me stroll away. Now ALL of them joined in a chorus of some chinese word (and giggles) that obviously was for "counterfeit." Then some crazy guy comes over, talking a million words a minute, shaking my hand while uttering "meiguo, meiguo," and then taking the bill while laughing and pointing at it.
So now, I am clear on what is happening, and i just happened to have another 5 rmb and was able to compare the two. Wow, a very small subtlety, but YEP, different!!
MY FIRST COUNTERFEIT BILL, TO MY KNOWLEDGE.
I GUESS I HAVE A SOUVENIR TO TAKE HOME.
I hope the title of this post doesn't get me sent to re-education camp.
Answer: They're both bad!
That's right, bad ankle and bad money!!
The top picture of Mr. Mao on my counterfeited 5 rmb, which someone pawned off on me, is as bad as my purplish ankle is. Mr. Mao, who graces his likeness on possibly all chinese money, was given to me somewhere from my local haunts, and the other day I proceeded to give it back in exchange for some copies. As with alot of the money exchanged, the local proprieter takes the bill, looks at it, holds it up to the light (somewhere along the line I had heard that counterfeiting is big business, and there's a whole lotta fake quai out there), but this time, unlike all others, the gal handed me back the bill with an exchange of assorted chinese words that I dont understand, along with giggles and laughs from some standing around. At this point, I didnt think too much of it. The bill had a crease in it, and it appeared that that's what they were commenting about. I of course thought "how odd," but then again, this is China, one can't be too surprised by too much, or one may go crazy. This might be just some funny Chinese quirk, I thought, although in the back of my head I was also thinking "counterfeit." So, I simply went to a couple shops down to buy something else. I have learned in my short time here that if U dont understand what's goin' on, dont waste alot a time on it.
SO...to my not so great amazement, the gal at the second shop, after looking at the bill for a few seconds had the same reaction. This of course to the joy and laughter of the people standing back at the previous shop who had continued to talk about me as they watched me stroll away. Now ALL of them joined in a chorus of some chinese word (and giggles) that obviously was for "counterfeit." Then some crazy guy comes over, talking a million words a minute, shaking my hand while uttering "meiguo, meiguo," and then taking the bill while laughing and pointing at it.
So now, I am clear on what is happening, and i just happened to have another 5 rmb and was able to compare the two. Wow, a very small subtlety, but YEP, different!!
MY FIRST COUNTERFEIT BILL, TO MY KNOWLEDGE.
I GUESS I HAVE A SOUVENIR TO TAKE HOME.
I hope the title of this post doesn't get me sent to re-education camp.
Mar 20, 2009
On the way to the Peach Festival
Every year in Ya'an (where i live), the peach trees bloom, and all these pretty little flowers fill the hills very near to where I live. Its actually quite nice.
This is a short picture journey to the festival (sorta), as i travel through everyday life here in Ya'an.
Peace bro!
That look says it all.
EQUAL RIGHTS !!! This is what i'm talking about!! Why can't the woman push the pedal once in a while, huh??
Almost there, with the help of my two tour guides.
This is a short picture journey to the festival (sorta), as i travel through everyday life here in Ya'an.
Peace bro!
That look says it all.
EQUAL RIGHTS !!! This is what i'm talking about!! Why can't the woman push the pedal once in a while, huh??
Almost there, with the help of my two tour guides.
Mar 15, 2009
Around Town
People around here seem to sleep even more than Josh!!
My duck shop.
SEE THIS? This is why China is going to beat us!!
Carving up some eels...
ELVIS lives!
break time.
The culture of hard working.
And for a relaxing time, a little Chinese chess.
My egg sellers.
More break time.
Look at that ganster lookin' sideways wearing hat.
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