Courtesy of my favorite roommate, John Wayne Gregory. CLICK THE LINK!
John Wayne Gregory:The Traveling Cowboy: My Crib in Shanghai: The wait is finally over. The worldwide premier of my crib has finally taken place. Enjoy!
Monday, September 20, 2010
Closing the achievement gap... suck it TFA
Teach for America (TFA), an organization which trains US college graduates to teach at low income schools, prides itself on closing the achievement gap between students of different income levels. Well I say suck it TFA (1) for rejecting me and (2) for not realizing my true potential to close the REAL achievement gap.
As quoted from: http://blog.openstudy.com/2010/04/06/why-american-students-are-lagging-in-math-and-science/
"American students are lagging in math and science and trailing countries like Canada, Czech Republic and China, the National Center for Education Statistics concluded in a 2009 report. The study compared the ability of 15-year-old students with other students from countries that are part of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in solving real-life mathematical problems. It found that students in the US are below average in math and placed in the bottom quarter of countries that participated and trail nations such as Estonia, China and Finland. More than half of the participating countries outscored U.S. kids."
While TFA will not put the future of America in my hands, I have chosen to close the achievement gap by exposing the flaws in the Chinese education system. Yes, I am teaching at an international school, but call me crazy to think 11th graders can graph a linear equation... a STRAIGHT LINE. I remember doing this isn SEVENTH GRADE.
After TWO WEEKS of teaching this single section of the book to my students, I gave the students a quiz. I was disappointed to see students sleeping during the quiz (they were scolded and told to TRY) and to have to rescore the quizes 3 times to get anyone to pass. The average score was 23% and there was ONE student who passed out of 18.
I swear I AM A GOOD TEACHER. These students are amongst the richest and most spoiled kids in China which also makes them amongst tthe LAZIEST.
After teahing the topic for two whole week and going over the homework I actually said to my roommates the night before that I think the quiz is too easy! Because I am nice, I gave them the quiz anways.
Decide for youself with THE ACTUAL QUIZ!
4. A consumer electronics company sells 6.7 million MP3 players per month at a price of $100 apiece; when the price is lowered to $80, the company sells 10.2 million players per month. How many MP3 players can the company expect to sell per month at a price of $75?
As quoted from: http://blog.openstudy.com/2010/04/06/why-american-students-are-lagging-in-math-and-science/
"American students are lagging in math and science and trailing countries like Canada, Czech Republic and China, the National Center for Education Statistics concluded in a 2009 report. The study compared the ability of 15-year-old students with other students from countries that are part of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in solving real-life mathematical problems. It found that students in the US are below average in math and placed in the bottom quarter of countries that participated and trail nations such as Estonia, China and Finland. More than half of the participating countries outscored U.S. kids."
While TFA will not put the future of America in my hands, I have chosen to close the achievement gap by exposing the flaws in the Chinese education system. Yes, I am teaching at an international school, but call me crazy to think 11th graders can graph a linear equation... a STRAIGHT LINE. I remember doing this isn SEVENTH GRADE.
After TWO WEEKS of teaching this single section of the book to my students, I gave the students a quiz. I was disappointed to see students sleeping during the quiz (they were scolded and told to TRY) and to have to rescore the quizes 3 times to get anyone to pass. The average score was 23% and there was ONE student who passed out of 18.
I swear I AM A GOOD TEACHER. These students are amongst the richest and most spoiled kids in China which also makes them amongst tthe LAZIEST.
After teahing the topic for two whole week and going over the homework I actually said to my roommates the night before that I think the quiz is too easy! Because I am nice, I gave them the quiz anways.
Decide for youself with THE ACTUAL QUIZ!
Quiz directions: Graph the equation or system of equations for each question. Calculate the slope, x-intercept, and y-intercept, and label the intercepts on the graph. You are advised to check your answers algebraically.
1. 2x + 1/5y = 20
y = 4x - 40
2. Find an equation in slope-intercept form passing through the points (2,5) and (7,-3).
3. Annie wants to go on vacation. The flight to Japan is $500 and the hotel costs $140 a day which she would split with her 4 roommates. Annie could also fly to Bali and stay with a family member and it would cost her $675 for a flight.
4. A consumer electronics company sells 6.7 million MP3 players per month at a price of $100 apiece; when the price is lowered to $80, the company sells 10.2 million players per month. How many MP3 players can the company expect to sell per month at a price of $75?
In summary,
problem = achievement gap
solution = international schools breeding rich, spoiled and LAZY students.
solution = international schools breeding rich, spoiled and LAZY students.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Back to school x 2!
After 18 years of schooling, graduating from college was suppose to be an end... ok I will admit it, at least a break from formal education. WRONG. The reason for a full week gap in blogging? Back to school... times two.
Monday was the first day back to school for the students at Jin Cai. Out of all the days I will teach, this is suppose to be the easiest. The past four years, I took at least 5 classes a semester, multiply that by 8 semester... I sat through 40 first days of class (already two math problems in the blog, I guess I am settling into life as a math teacher). Anyways, those 40 first classes should have set the bar and given me direction. I know I can't prepare for everything but first days of class have a pretty standard formula... introduce yourself, have the students introduce themselves, and go on talking about the classroom rules and class structure... perhaps teach a little. Well give that most of the students have all of their classes together they know each other well and didn't feel like telling me much. So that 40 minute lesson plan was greatly cut down. It wasn't a disaster but I felt like I was holding on to survive.
The first problem I encounter was in my 11-2 math class. The 2 means that they are less able to communicate in English than students in 11-1. I had the text and I was told to start at chapter 7 but I wanted to know how much of chapter 1-6 I should review. Turns out I started with something too basic and I got laughed at (just a little). i felt slightly defeated but when I moved to the next topic, which seemed of equal level, they were stumped. The students can solve complex problems algebraically, often in their heads better than I can, but they cannot do math graphically. I have them a simple linear equation and they were dumb-founded as to how to graph it. I enjoyed my break on Wednesday when I didn't meet with the class but after that it was back to the grinder and we spent the rest of the week graphing lines. Unfortunately, that's only chapter 2. My boss suggested that I just move onto chapter 7 and review when necessary so please, pray for me and hope this plan works! I also have these same students for E11-2 economics which they say is their hardest class. For me, it is the most fun class since I actually enjoy the material.
My 12-2 math class is a totally different atmosphere than 11-2. The class is about half as big (12 as oppose to 25) and they speak much better english. The 11-2 class is mostly Chinese and other students whereas this class has students from Venezuela, Turkey, Egypt, USA, and New Zealand. The difference in maturity is huge and it is hard to think of this class as students rather than really cool people I could be friends with. They respond well to the threat of detention so that's how I set the boundary.
The fourth class I teach is ESL math and science vocabulary. The perfect analogy for the class would be to place it somewhere between babysitting and pulling teeth without anesthesia. The goal of the class is to get students into regular english level math and science classes next term and already I can tell maybe one will make it. Some students speak no english at all and just give up. Just like math is boring, its difficult to make a class entirely about learning vocabulary be fun. The most interesting part is their names. I teach Dew, Guitar, a girl named Ben and God. Yes, God. God is from Thailand and God is a talkative punk.
On top off all these classes I have to monitor two detention periods, I am an assistant homeroom teacher, I serve on college committee as well as represent the foreign teachers for the PTA. No I am not an overachiever, I am an underpaid slave. Oh and because I need 16 teaching period (None of activities mentioned in this paragraph count), I also teach math lab and GLEE CLUB as electives. The first glee club is tomorrow and currently there is no lesson planned. FAIL.
My obligations don't stop there either... I AM A STUDENT. RAJDHJDHJDSFHJSF. Concordia. KHJDJSHF. I'm not sure which I like less, Math 11-2 or my classes. Actually, most of my assignments are interesting but finding the time to do them is nearly impossible the into. Online classes when the Internet is slower than slow is also a setback. I wrote the intro to my business plan about selling bagels in China today and I still have another assignment to make up (literally).
Through all of this I did finally find time to party. It was more like therapy. Go big Friday night. I met up with a friend from Miami who has been living in China for a year and I went out with the roommates. Our apartment is still a hotel and we had three friends crash here that night.
Well I guess it is time to lesson plan! I didn't come close to my goal of planning a weeks worth of math lessons this weekend so I better get cracking!
Monday was the first day back to school for the students at Jin Cai. Out of all the days I will teach, this is suppose to be the easiest. The past four years, I took at least 5 classes a semester, multiply that by 8 semester... I sat through 40 first days of class (already two math problems in the blog, I guess I am settling into life as a math teacher). Anyways, those 40 first classes should have set the bar and given me direction. I know I can't prepare for everything but first days of class have a pretty standard formula... introduce yourself, have the students introduce themselves, and go on talking about the classroom rules and class structure... perhaps teach a little. Well give that most of the students have all of their classes together they know each other well and didn't feel like telling me much. So that 40 minute lesson plan was greatly cut down. It wasn't a disaster but I felt like I was holding on to survive.
The first problem I encounter was in my 11-2 math class. The 2 means that they are less able to communicate in English than students in 11-1. I had the text and I was told to start at chapter 7 but I wanted to know how much of chapter 1-6 I should review. Turns out I started with something too basic and I got laughed at (just a little). i felt slightly defeated but when I moved to the next topic, which seemed of equal level, they were stumped. The students can solve complex problems algebraically, often in their heads better than I can, but they cannot do math graphically. I have them a simple linear equation and they were dumb-founded as to how to graph it. I enjoyed my break on Wednesday when I didn't meet with the class but after that it was back to the grinder and we spent the rest of the week graphing lines. Unfortunately, that's only chapter 2. My boss suggested that I just move onto chapter 7 and review when necessary so please, pray for me and hope this plan works! I also have these same students for E11-2 economics which they say is their hardest class. For me, it is the most fun class since I actually enjoy the material.
My 12-2 math class is a totally different atmosphere than 11-2. The class is about half as big (12 as oppose to 25) and they speak much better english. The 11-2 class is mostly Chinese and other students whereas this class has students from Venezuela, Turkey, Egypt, USA, and New Zealand. The difference in maturity is huge and it is hard to think of this class as students rather than really cool people I could be friends with. They respond well to the threat of detention so that's how I set the boundary.
The fourth class I teach is ESL math and science vocabulary. The perfect analogy for the class would be to place it somewhere between babysitting and pulling teeth without anesthesia. The goal of the class is to get students into regular english level math and science classes next term and already I can tell maybe one will make it. Some students speak no english at all and just give up. Just like math is boring, its difficult to make a class entirely about learning vocabulary be fun. The most interesting part is their names. I teach Dew, Guitar, a girl named Ben and God. Yes, God. God is from Thailand and God is a talkative punk.
On top off all these classes I have to monitor two detention periods, I am an assistant homeroom teacher, I serve on college committee as well as represent the foreign teachers for the PTA. No I am not an overachiever, I am an underpaid slave. Oh and because I need 16 teaching period (None of activities mentioned in this paragraph count), I also teach math lab and GLEE CLUB as electives. The first glee club is tomorrow and currently there is no lesson planned. FAIL.
My obligations don't stop there either... I AM A STUDENT. RAJDHJDHJDSFHJSF. Concordia. KHJDJSHF. I'm not sure which I like less, Math 11-2 or my classes. Actually, most of my assignments are interesting but finding the time to do them is nearly impossible the into. Online classes when the Internet is slower than slow is also a setback. I wrote the intro to my business plan about selling bagels in China today and I still have another assignment to make up (literally).
Through all of this I did finally find time to party. It was more like therapy. Go big Friday night. I met up with a friend from Miami who has been living in China for a year and I went out with the roommates. Our apartment is still a hotel and we had three friends crash here that night.
Well I guess it is time to lesson plan! I didn't come close to my goal of planning a weeks worth of math lessons this weekend so I better get cracking!
Thursday, September 2, 2010
China's got me spinning!
So back to talking about that gym I joined yesterday.
Let me preface this post about my new fitness plan by telling you that this post being written from my couch after a bitter, burning round of baijiu. That's Chinese liquor, better known as poison, to my Americana readers.
Anyways, today I went with roommates Mike and John to the gym for spin class. Here's what I observed from this new experience of being instructed to work out in a different language.
1. There is a time and place for American music and at the gym is definitely one of them. Music is a very important part of a work out for me, and since my iPod is now broken (sad story) I am thankful the gym plays some good beats.
2. The class lacked the variation of an American spin class, there were no hills, only one brief set of jumps and no sprints (I was ok with that one). My theory on this is that the Chinese have a one track mind and can only concentrate on a single thing. I am not sure if this applies to other aspects of Chinese life but I will look into it.
3. Not only did the class lack the variation of an American style class, it lacked in intensity. When I took classes in Miami and at home, the class would continue without stopping as the song changed however in China, each 4 minute song required a 1 minute cool down/rest. As out of shape as I am, this wasn't something to complain about.
4. For all the class lacked, it made up for in heat. I would have been cooler if the bike were set on the top of the building in the high noon soon. Mind you, Shanghai is incredible hot and humid this time of year. The room had no air conditioning and got so hot that all the walls and mirrors fogged up.
5. I might be able to learn some Chinese this way. In order to be respectful and have a problem free gym visit, I am going to have to improve my gym related vocabulary in order to better communicate with the employees. Also, I could follow the class by following the other bikers even if I didn't know what the instructor was saying but it would be very cool to understand him!
In other athletic news, the University of Miami is playing its first game of the season in just a few hours. GO 'CANES!
Let me preface this post about my new fitness plan by telling you that this post being written from my couch after a bitter, burning round of baijiu. That's Chinese liquor, better known as poison, to my Americana readers.
Anyways, today I went with roommates Mike and John to the gym for spin class. Here's what I observed from this new experience of being instructed to work out in a different language.
1. There is a time and place for American music and at the gym is definitely one of them. Music is a very important part of a work out for me, and since my iPod is now broken (sad story) I am thankful the gym plays some good beats.
2. The class lacked the variation of an American spin class, there were no hills, only one brief set of jumps and no sprints (I was ok with that one). My theory on this is that the Chinese have a one track mind and can only concentrate on a single thing. I am not sure if this applies to other aspects of Chinese life but I will look into it.
3. Not only did the class lack the variation of an American style class, it lacked in intensity. When I took classes in Miami and at home, the class would continue without stopping as the song changed however in China, each 4 minute song required a 1 minute cool down/rest. As out of shape as I am, this wasn't something to complain about.
4. For all the class lacked, it made up for in heat. I would have been cooler if the bike were set on the top of the building in the high noon soon. Mind you, Shanghai is incredible hot and humid this time of year. The room had no air conditioning and got so hot that all the walls and mirrors fogged up.
5. I might be able to learn some Chinese this way. In order to be respectful and have a problem free gym visit, I am going to have to improve my gym related vocabulary in order to better communicate with the employees. Also, I could follow the class by following the other bikers even if I didn't know what the instructor was saying but it would be very cool to understand him!
In other athletic news, the University of Miami is playing its first game of the season in just a few hours. GO 'CANES!
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Typhoon bu hao!
Last night many of my Shanghai dwelling classmates received a call telling them not to come in tomorrow since all Shanghai schools have been cancelled because of a typhoon. My roommate John was particularly excited since instead of attending their first day of actually teaching, which involved they would be eight twenty minute classes to kids whose ages and abilities he does not know, he could enjoy his leisure.
I try to read and keep up with what's going on in the world but this surprised me. Kudos to John's employed because if it wasn't for him I'd have no idea that a typhoon was coming. Some doppler radar would come in handy over here.
Unlike the rest of Shanghai's academic community, I had another day of training today. STORY OF MY LIFE.
First off, for those of you who don't know a typhoon is the same thing as a hurricane, the only difference is the location. So as a MIAMI HURRICANE (an alumna of the University of Miami, Go 'Canes!), it should be expected that I may have encountered a storm or two in my four years living in Miami. false. I was one of the uber-rare classes who never got to experience the pain (no AC) and joy (no school) of a hurricane.
Before that was Emma Willard where we never had a snow day because most of the students and teachers lived on campus. Apparently the administration lacked concern for the young drivers risking their lives on slippery roads, the school rarely had a snow day.
Don't get me wrong, I don't sit around wishing for natural disasters but I do think that people should be able to stay at home and enjoy the beauty of nature.
After getting caught in the rain twice, that's exactly what I am doing now.
I first got stuck in the storm on my way to the Police Bureau Station. I got out of work early today (woo!) to go to the PSB to register myself. Authorities expect you to register with the police within 24 hours of your arrival. If you are staying in a hotel or a guesthouse you're accounted for. Even when you enter the country or get a visa to come they ask for an exact address of where you are going. Authorities here REALLY want to know where the foreigners are. There was very little communication or attempts to communicate during this interaction and it was over with fast.
The rain let off and I walked to the gym for day one of Operation Get Back Into Shape. I am hoping that can be done in just 60 minutes a day because after an hour I headed back home... in the typhoon.
I try to read and keep up with what's going on in the world but this surprised me. Kudos to John's employed because if it wasn't for him I'd have no idea that a typhoon was coming. Some doppler radar would come in handy over here.
Unlike the rest of Shanghai's academic community, I had another day of training today. STORY OF MY LIFE.
First off, for those of you who don't know a typhoon is the same thing as a hurricane, the only difference is the location. So as a MIAMI HURRICANE (an alumna of the University of Miami, Go 'Canes!), it should be expected that I may have encountered a storm or two in my four years living in Miami. false. I was one of the uber-rare classes who never got to experience the pain (no AC) and joy (no school) of a hurricane.
Before that was Emma Willard where we never had a snow day because most of the students and teachers lived on campus. Apparently the administration lacked concern for the young drivers risking their lives on slippery roads, the school rarely had a snow day.
Don't get me wrong, I don't sit around wishing for natural disasters but I do think that people should be able to stay at home and enjoy the beauty of nature.
After getting caught in the rain twice, that's exactly what I am doing now.
I first got stuck in the storm on my way to the Police Bureau Station. I got out of work early today (woo!) to go to the PSB to register myself. Authorities expect you to register with the police within 24 hours of your arrival. If you are staying in a hotel or a guesthouse you're accounted for. Even when you enter the country or get a visa to come they ask for an exact address of where you are going. Authorities here REALLY want to know where the foreigners are. There was very little communication or attempts to communicate during this interaction and it was over with fast.
The rain let off and I walked to the gym for day one of Operation Get Back Into Shape. I am hoping that can be done in just 60 minutes a day because after an hour I headed back home... in the typhoon.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Let's get physical, physical!
Yesterday was my first day of orientation at Jin Cai International school and today, in order to work legally, all of the new teachers had to get a physical. I was forewarned that the process was "invasive" and included a lot of "poking and proding" which stired up some fear. As I was waiting in line I chatted with a typical Floridian Jewish old man who was there so his hot Chinese wife could get a physical for her US visa. He was very open about how he would never get a physical from a Chinese doctor and how the whole country is run by liars and crooks. As if I wasn't already dreading getting blood drawn for the first test, this totally set me off. After the blood test, I went downstairs for a full body x-ray and a "operation check" where I was asked several times if I have ever had an operation. Then both males and femals had to get an ultrasound. The final test was an eye exam, the only test that seemed half way normal when comparing it to a regular physical back home. I remember physicals in the school nurses office back in high school where they would hit knees with a small hammer then call it a day. I was told that when the results come we are all going to be told to lose weight and change our diets. Oh well, we can't all look like Chinese women.
After the physical we returned to school by bus, famished since we were told not to eat or drink past 10pm the night before. There were more new teacher meetings after lunch from 1-4. I spent some time in between meetings working on my math course outline. Ellyse, my co-worker/classmate at Concordia, reminded me that I need to start thinking in high school mode again. Whereas in college we would cover a chapter in a single class, I have an entire semester to cover four chapters in my class. Tons more lesson planning to do tonight so I better get to work!
After the physical we returned to school by bus, famished since we were told not to eat or drink past 10pm the night before. There were more new teacher meetings after lunch from 1-4. I spent some time in between meetings working on my math course outline. Ellyse, my co-worker/classmate at Concordia, reminded me that I need to start thinking in high school mode again. Whereas in college we would cover a chapter in a single class, I have an entire semester to cover four chapters in my class. Tons more lesson planning to do tonight so I better get to work!
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Zaijian meiguo, ni hao zhongguo
That's goodbye America, hello China!
After a thrilling week of family parties and visitors, I set off for China from Albany airport on Thursday August 26. Like a prisoner on death row, I requested a last meal of Bruegers Bagels which I will greatly miss (note to any potential visitors please bring bagels).
I forgot my ipod at home which would have made in a long year with out music so my dad went home to get it after I checked in at the airport. I couldn't go through security until he came back and he didn't return until 12:10. exactly when my flight started to board. Unfortunately, this rushed our final goodbye but I did make it to the gate on time only to be delayed on the runway for an hour thanks to air traffic delays in Detroit. Therefore, I was rushed getting to my connecting flight from Detroit to Shanghai just as it was starting to board with barely a moment to spare. Yep, that's right you can fly direct from Detroit to Shanghai. As one friend pointed out, I don't see why many Chinese tourists looking to vacatioin in the States would chose Detroit but after the death of the American auto industry traffic in the city has lightened.
The 15 hour flight from Detroit to Shanghai wasn't too bad. I was able to initiate some seat changes so I got to sit next to my three friends in my program who were on the same flight. I watched four movies on the plane, The Bounty Hunter, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, When in Rome, and Just Wright. I thought staying awake would help me adjust to the twelve hour time difference and its been ok so far but I am still waking up early.
We arrived in Shanghai around 8pm local time (8am in New York). We waited to go through customs which is always a hassle but the is probably the most organized line in Shanghai since the Chinese don't really understand the concept of make an orderly line. After we got our bags we met my roommate Mike and our classmate John who showed us the way back to the apartment. That was very helpful since apparently the apartment is a little tricky to find. The apartment is even nicer in person than in pictures but I promise to post some pictures soon.
After unloading a bit, we grabbed some food at the neighborhood Xinjiang province. I never had Xinjangese food before and I was very pleased. Xinjiang is a province in northwestern China where the people look more central Asian (whiter) than most Chinese people. The area has been in the news lately because of violent Muslim uprisings. Nevertheless, the make good food and I am sure we will be back soon.
On day two, we said farewell to Jared and Carla, two of my friends who flew in with me, as they departed for Hangzhou, a city of two million people two hours south of Shanghai. About half of the students in my program will be teaching in Hangzhou and the other half are in Shanghai.
After our farwell we grabbed a snack of baozi. For those of you who have joined me for dim sum you know I am a huge baozi fan. As for the rest of you who have no idea what baozi (BAO-ZUH) is, it is a soft doughy bun filled with a bit of meat or vegetable. Zhu rou is pork but there are also niurou (beef) and sude (vegetarian) baozi. One is a good snack and two are very filling. These delicious treats costs only 1 yuan, about 15 cents. We spent the rest of the afternoon running a few errands. We went to a giant English bookstore down town, ate pork and rice for lunch and the went to Carrefour, the grocery store/Walmart like center. When we got home we waited for the two missing roommates, our Asians, Annie and John to get home. It was great to finally be reunited and have everyone in the apartment. We (mostly Miles) made spaghetti and meat sauce and then went on an after dinner walk through the neighborhood and found a dangerously fun western style shopping center nearby. It was a tiring day and I went to bed around midnight and unfortunately woke up at 7 this morning. Today we will probably run some more errands and get ready for school tomorrow! AH!
After a thrilling week of family parties and visitors, I set off for China from Albany airport on Thursday August 26. Like a prisoner on death row, I requested a last meal of Bruegers Bagels which I will greatly miss (note to any potential visitors please bring bagels).
I forgot my ipod at home which would have made in a long year with out music so my dad went home to get it after I checked in at the airport. I couldn't go through security until he came back and he didn't return until 12:10. exactly when my flight started to board. Unfortunately, this rushed our final goodbye but I did make it to the gate on time only to be delayed on the runway for an hour thanks to air traffic delays in Detroit. Therefore, I was rushed getting to my connecting flight from Detroit to Shanghai just as it was starting to board with barely a moment to spare. Yep, that's right you can fly direct from Detroit to Shanghai. As one friend pointed out, I don't see why many Chinese tourists looking to vacatioin in the States would chose Detroit but after the death of the American auto industry traffic in the city has lightened.
The 15 hour flight from Detroit to Shanghai wasn't too bad. I was able to initiate some seat changes so I got to sit next to my three friends in my program who were on the same flight. I watched four movies on the plane, The Bounty Hunter, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, When in Rome, and Just Wright. I thought staying awake would help me adjust to the twelve hour time difference and its been ok so far but I am still waking up early.
We arrived in Shanghai around 8pm local time (8am in New York). We waited to go through customs which is always a hassle but the is probably the most organized line in Shanghai since the Chinese don't really understand the concept of make an orderly line. After we got our bags we met my roommate Mike and our classmate John who showed us the way back to the apartment. That was very helpful since apparently the apartment is a little tricky to find. The apartment is even nicer in person than in pictures but I promise to post some pictures soon.
After unloading a bit, we grabbed some food at the neighborhood Xinjiang province. I never had Xinjangese food before and I was very pleased. Xinjiang is a province in northwestern China where the people look more central Asian (whiter) than most Chinese people. The area has been in the news lately because of violent Muslim uprisings. Nevertheless, the make good food and I am sure we will be back soon.
On day two, we said farewell to Jared and Carla, two of my friends who flew in with me, as they departed for Hangzhou, a city of two million people two hours south of Shanghai. About half of the students in my program will be teaching in Hangzhou and the other half are in Shanghai.
After our farwell we grabbed a snack of baozi. For those of you who have joined me for dim sum you know I am a huge baozi fan. As for the rest of you who have no idea what baozi (BAO-ZUH) is, it is a soft doughy bun filled with a bit of meat or vegetable. Zhu rou is pork but there are also niurou (beef) and sude (vegetarian) baozi. One is a good snack and two are very filling. These delicious treats costs only 1 yuan, about 15 cents. We spent the rest of the afternoon running a few errands. We went to a giant English bookstore down town, ate pork and rice for lunch and the went to Carrefour, the grocery store/Walmart like center. When we got home we waited for the two missing roommates, our Asians, Annie and John to get home. It was great to finally be reunited and have everyone in the apartment. We (mostly Miles) made spaghetti and meat sauce and then went on an after dinner walk through the neighborhood and found a dangerously fun western style shopping center nearby. It was a tiring day and I went to bed around midnight and unfortunately woke up at 7 this morning. Today we will probably run some more errands and get ready for school tomorrow! AH!
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