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August 30 1, 2, 3, 4...There are some things I want to mention. 1) barbecue - it was hot Saturday. Together with Oliver and his frogs (these are his schoolmates) we went to Jiuxi. The main reason was Nora's farewell. She got a job in Beijing and wanted to thank ... to thank me because I talked to her and she thinks it was very helpful. Well, I'm very happy for her. Job in Beijing in a foreign company is really something!! Good luck, Nora. 2) English corner - I had quite long break between my English corners. I was in Hong Kong, then other teachers had classes... thus the break of about 10 days! I was a little bit nervous. 10 days - maybe not so many, but I had some troubles to focus on the topic. Luckily the students were so kind and they didn't mind when I happened to lose the thread. 3) swimming pool - yeah, yeah, this is my new tradition. I try to swim every week. And I guess I'm getting better every time. It's so pleasant to jump into the water. Recently I tried to lie on the swimming pool's floor - it's damn difficult! 4) dentist - finally I decided to do something (to cure) with my tooth. I couldn't wait longer, after all it's irresponsible not to do anything. The service in the hospital was so professional! And the doctors speak English! I spent about 2 hours on a dental chair; my god, so long. It's not completely OK with my tooth, I'll have to go to hospital once again. Amazing, I'd never think that visit in dental clinic can be nice. It's because Ms. Joe, beautiful doctor, very kind girl... I could drown in her eyes.  5) Jay Chou - I discovered a nice song. Jay Chou (周杰伦) is a Taiwanese singer, very popular in China. I have only one song of him, it's "Qi Li Xiang" - can anybody tell me what it means? Nice, nice, I guess I will download some more Jay Zhou Jie Lun's songs. August 29 life is wonderfulHitlist #286 August 28th, 2006
August 25 feedbackSummer vacation is almost over. In my school there are less students than it used to be for the recent 3 months. Now it even happens that I'm free in the mornings! Well, I can sleep longer or I should think about some activities to kill this time. Of course I want to learn Chinese; my textbook has been waiting for me for many months!! I should clean it from all the dust it has been covered with. In the school where I have Business English classes (one of my part-time jobs) I got a feedback from my students. Generally they are satisfied.. but there was something I had to think over. They would like to have more opportunities to speak! Wow, I always thought that in my classes I give plenty of chances to express their opinions. I guess I have to modify my teaching style. The problem is that the classroom is too small and doesn't encourage to speak freely. The benches are in rows - like in normal school while I prefer when they are in the semi-circle. Then there is no distance between students - they can see each other; not only the teacher. But some things I can't change, the environment is just the way it is and I can't help it. Anyway, I try my best. As always. August 24 the blower's daughter"The Blower's Daughter" is a song by Damien Rice, I guess he's Irish. It's such a beautiful song... very romantic, if you know what I mean. Worth listening. The Blower's Daughter
And so it is
I can't take my eyes off of you
And so it is
I can't take my eyes off of you
Did I say that I loathe you?
I can't take my mind off of you [Damien Rice, O, 2003] August 22 Shenzhen and Hong KongI was in the southern China. Only 2 cities (Shenzhen and Hong Kong) but so many emotions! What a trip... I'd like to share at least some of the experiences. August 17 email to the futureOne of my students (Candy) told me about special website. If you want, you can send an email to yourself in the future! Just take a chance, write to yourself and read this in 5, 10, 20 or more years! I've just written an email to myself - I'll get it on 17th of August 2016. Important thing is not to lose your mailbox; you should use the same mailbox in the future. Here's the address of this website: http://www.futureme.org/ Great idea! I wonder where I will be in 10 years, what I will do and with who by my side... Future is ours if we only want to believe in it. For now the year 2016 seems to be so remote! tensionI'm getting nervous before my trip to Shenzhen and Hongkong. Well, I like taking the planes, it's quite relaxing but recently there's not so calmly in the airports. I know that the tension is mostly in Europe (UK) and USA but who knows what can happen. I'm also nervous because I'm afraid I will not have enough time to prepare. Today I'm very busy, I'll be back home at about 9 p.m., I'm also meeting Calvin tonight. And tomorrow I have to get up before 5 a.m., then take the airport bus at 5:30 a.m. My God, I should've bought the ticket for later plane!!  That's crazy.Summer vacation will end soon. This means I won't be as busy at work as now. It's good but on the other side... it's good to have more money than less, right?  Look at the earth from outer space Everyone must find a place And open up your eyes Give me strength, reserve control Give me heart and give me soul Just open up your eyes But give me love over, love over, love over this August 16 physicallyPhysically I'm not in the best shape. Perhaps it's because of air-conditioners everywhere; sometimes it is just too strong and I feel cold. And then I go out where is very hot - and it seems that it's not the best idea. Except feeling cold I have a toothache... I have to see the dentist soon. Anyway, I can't do it this week because I'm leaving Hangzhou for a couple of days. On Friday I'm going to Shenzhen and Hongkong. Shenzhen is Kai's homecity; remember Kai? I visited him in Jiangxi province and we went to Jinggang Shan. Now I will meet him in Shenzhen, I will also see Hongkong which is very near. It's the best place in China for shopping! I only hope that my toothache will not disturb me in enjoying the trip. Luckily it's not very strong and only from time to time... August 13 Ping and HarryIt's extremely hot recently. I have no idea what to wear!! Everything gets wet as soon as I wear it. Hangzhou has been the hottest city this week. We were expecting the typhoon "Saomai" on Thursday but it didn't reach Hangzhou. Maybe it's better because it was the strongest typhoon in 50 years but on the other side cooler weather would be very appreciated. Only today in the afternoon there was a thunderstorm but it didn't help much. Now it's evening and the temperature doesn't want to fall below 30 degrees. I had a dinner with Ping and Harry. Ping's English name is Colin and Harry is a girl.  They are my students. So far we've talked only by messenger; today we met for the first time. It might sound strange because they are my students so how can't I know who they are. But my classes are for all students from school and it's difficult to remember all the faces. Now I'll remember Colin's and Harry's ones.I guess I drank too much beer. Or maybe it's too hot for beer. Anyway, I like it. Just like in Poland - drinking beer with my friends. I miss them. Today is Lefthanded's Day. Woohoo, the best wishes to all lefthanded! We are the biggest minority in the whole world! August 12 like a childLast week I met my good friend Wind (it's a great name for her, she's so fresh and vital). I had very nice dinner with her and her two friends. These are ladies who learn English in their spare time. They don't want to just stay at home and take care of children. No, they want to do something for themselves. And this is the reason why their spirits are so young. This is an attitude worth putting into life. For everyone. Just do something. Don't let the time pass by unnoticably. There's only one life - although some people believe in reincarnation, i.e. second life after life in other person's body. Don't waste it, it's too precious. Today I had English corner. Oh, I like it so much. Sometimes I even get nice emails after class. Students write that they enjoyed the corner, they encourage me to take more efforts, they thank me for confidence I'm giving them... Incredible. I remember exactly how unconfident I was in the beginning of my adventure in China. Paralyzed by the fear that students wouldn't want to listen to me or (what's worse) they'd tell me it was a bullshit. And now they gain self-confidence because of me!! It is a success, isn't it? Please keep in mind that I've been a teacher for 4 months. I want to share what's the best in me. Giving is so much better than receiving. After English corner I went to the swimming pool. Let it be a new tradition! I want to swim more! It's so exciting and pleasant. Today I was swimming with Victor, one of my students, one of my friends from Web. You know - it works - if you're smiling to the world, sooner or later the world will start to smile also to you! Perhaps I'm still too naive and unexperienced but if so, I don't want to change it. Being adult who is bitter and always reasonable doesn't interest me at all. Let yourself to be a child once again, full of joy and curiousity about the world. August 07 swimmingI went to the swimming pool in Hangzhou. It was my first time for many years to swim again! Wow, there were so many people. The good thing was I didn't take my glasses (I have new ones
 ), so I didn't pay attention if someone was staring at me or not. Sometimes it is just so good to put off the glasses and feel relaxed. Maybe it will be my saying: "to put off the glasses" is "relax", "cool down", "stop thinking too much".The water in the pool was very warm. It doesn't happen in Poland. In Polish pools (those I've visited) you should swim not to feel cold. In Hangzhou you don't have to do anything - it's OK! The only thing you should do is to avoid collisions with other swimmers. I had an impression that in the pool is the same like in the street - no one cares about others. Well, this is very Chinese.
I even wanted to take some swimming lessons to swim better - I'm not the most skillful... but Bob (we were together, he's one of my students) told me that the lessons are either in the early morning (5:30 am!!!) or in the afternoon (4:00 pm). Obviously I'm too lazy to get up in the early morning. In the afternoon I don't have time.
For sure I will swim more often. I like it very much! Wo xihuan youyong! August 04 private successI went to the restaurant. It wouldn't be worth mentioning if not the fact that I went there alone! I decided to eat dinner, it was just about time to have it. I didn't want to call anybody just to go with me for a dinner. I entered the place very near to my flat, I recited earlier what I should tell. Yes, I know the names of some Chinese dishes!! I took a deep breath and... I ordered food!! In Chinese! I was so proud I've done it. And this time the food tasted differently than before. It is my private success. Now I have the courage to go to restaurant by myself! It is of course better to go there with somebody. Anyway, not always it is possible. People are busy, I'm also busy, sometimes I eat at very strange times... Please remember that I am still European and in Europe people eat the last meal (supper) at about 8 pm. It is still a good time for me to eat. I decided to start swimming. If I only have more free time, I will do it. The only problem is that I don't like when others look at me just because I'm foreigner. Then I feel like an animal in a zoo. Like a monkey with a peach observed by the excited audience... August 02 doubtsI started to have doubts if I do everything according to my life attitudes. Am I acting correctly and wisely? Recently I've been sad more often, too often!! But sometimes I can't react in different way when I feel disappointed. I'd like everything to be wonderful and peaceful. Unfortunately I keep thinking that I'm missing something, that I'm making wrong decisions. Is it endless hunting for new experiences? Is it just willing towards stabilization? Or on the contrary - fear against stabilization? I talked to Tim, teacher from Canada. He told me he couldn't imagine his life working in his homecountry, we both agreed it's boring and depressing. I also can't see my future now. Maybe it's time to make some plans? I hate making plans. And talking about plans makes me sick. Carpe diem - live the day. Feeling disappointed. I'm not talking to anybody tonight. I'm not meeting anybody. |
... Yeah, right - I woke up at 5:40!!!! I couldn't believe my eyes! How come? Just that day my alarm clock broke!! I thought: 
, terrible toothache which for that time was just a small pain. It was much worse the next day.|
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