Stephen's 30th Birthday

On Saturday we went to celebrate Stephen's 30th birthday at a bar called Beijing Love Story, formerly known as Banana Bar. Scott, Jerra, Sarah and I took a cab there since we had no idea where it was, but it turned out to only be a five-minute walk from our place. Oops.

The party was a pretty amusing event. Stephen, a future politician in the making, invited tons of his Chinese friends and students. He has been in Qiqihar for several years and is dating a Chinese girl, Bonnie, who is also a student at the university. There were live singers and musical performances on the stage. The music was so loud you could hardly think. Stephen stood up and made a speech and was presented with a bouquet of alcohol. Such a great idea! Bonnie had put together a slideshow full of pictures of them together. It was really cute to watch.

Taking pictures of people taking pictures:

One issue I have in China is with their pastries and cakes. They always look so good and delicious, but more often than not they are pretty revolting. Following suit, Stephen had two massive cakes. They both looked scrumptious, only until you bit into them and discovered it was layered with a weird pineapple tasting paste. On top were all these chunks of candied fruit that did not taste good. Needless to say, I stuck to the icing.

Speech with some cakes and a bouquet of alcohol:

Stephen had also invested in a giant box of fireworks. Unlike the fireworks in the US, these ones looked a little like shoeboxes. The guys working at the bar set them off using their cigarettes. Very safe. We were all standing less than 50 yards away watching all of this. Also very safe. Gotta love the safety regulations in China.

Some super safe fireworks:

The rest of the night was a fun mix of dancing and singing. Sarah and I tried to sing 'Call Me Maybe' on stage, expecting the version with the lyrics. Once we heard it was only the music, we promptly forgot all of the words. Oh well! Deb serenaded Stephen with her version of 'Happy Birthday Mr. Hunter.' And Bonnie sang him a Chinese song. We all danced to copious amounts of 'Gangnam Style,' a huge hit here in China. All of my students know the song and the accompanying dance moves. Whenever I mention it they promptly start calling on one of their classmates to stand up and do the dance. It's all good fun!

We stayed at Stephen's party until shortly after midnight, so we could ring in his actual birthday, then we walked on home to get a nights rest before our morning classes!

I have internet again!

So after four days of not internet (which is a surprisingly long time) I now have internet again! My time cut off from the real world was quite relaxing. I watched almost both seasons of Downtown Abbey, my new favorite show (probably because it reminds me of my Mum). I also did several chapters of my chinese textbook and started a new book.

Several interesting things happened in the past week. The first being Halloween. For Halloween in Qiqihar almost all of the foreigners ate dinner together at a pizza place. It was a really fun dinner and all of the waitresses kept taking pictures of us, they were absolutely loving it. Halloween isn't really celebrated at all in China so they were so confused about our weird costumes. We were impressed that there was even a Halloween area of goods at RT Mart (it consisted of overpriced masks and plastic jack-o-lanterns).

All the waitresses and their friends taking pictures with me:

I dressed up as a hipster Pikachu. Basically they sell these full body suits, or onesies, here as PJs since it gets so cold. I bought a Pikachu one and some red frameless glasses. Soooo many people in China love the frameless glasses. It's hilarious. They sell them almost everywhere. I tried to get mine for cheaper since the lenses were scratched but instead of changing them or giving me a lower price, the man just popped them out and gave them to me. I figured when in Asia go all out, and they worked surprisingly well with my costume!

Our gang- ninja Sarah, me, medusa Robin, cow Jerra, and dinosaur Scott:

So after dinner we went to the Mini酒吧 where they had a costume contest at 11pm. It was probably the most disorganized thing ever. The club was full of Russians, Chinese, and our motley crew. The voting was based on cheers and it came down to a Russian guy who looked like he was trying to be the joker form batman, and Deb, who was dressed as a belly dancer. Unfortunately since we were outnumbered, the Russians won the free bottle of tequila. I left around 12am since I had a full day of Qida classes the next day.

The disorganized Halloween contest at Mini:

The second major thing that happened this week was a fire in Aoqi. On Friday morning I was heading to the high school and saw some black marks on the floor, wondering what they were. Apparently on Thursday night a light on the fourth floor caught fire and was smoking all over. Of course, since we work and live at Aoqi, we were all oblivious to the chaos going on two floors down. Luckily someone noticed and put the fire out, but it's really scary to think what could have happened.

The best part is apparently the smoke detector's batteries were running low, so instead of changing the batteries (that would cost too much money), they just took the batteries out. That's why none of us had any clue there was a fire in the building. What a smart idea! Ummm no.

Also now there are notices all over the building that we're not allowed to use electric blankets during the winter. Clearly the fire was the teachers' fault and not due to shoddy Chinese building... Got to love Aoqi.

So that's what has happened in the past week in my eventful life. Tonight we're going out to celebrate Stephen's 30th birthday. Should be lots of fun!

Dinner and Chinese Superstitions

On Wednesday night Sarah, Robin and I went to the soupy noodle place near our school. They make these great beef noodles, despite only having about 4 pieces of beef in them. We were sitting there enjoying ourselves when the Chinese men at another table came over to sit with us when we were paying. He refused to let us pay and payed for our meal. He wanted us to have a drink with them, which we would have done. However he didn't order anything and then kept touching Robins face and passing her an empty Pepsi bottle. It was confusing and he was drunk. Eventually, once we realized nothing was really happening, we explained we had to teach tomorrow so needed to go home and sleep. He then proceeded to accuse Sarah of not being an English teacher. Don't know where he got that idea. Anyway, it was nice to have our meal paid for, the after meal drinks were just a little confusing!

In my classes at the University this week I taught Halloween and beliefs. One of the vocabulary words was superstition so I explained some Western superstitions to them, such as having a black cat cross in front of you, having bad luck for seven years if you break a mirror, seeing the bride before the wedding etc. They then told me about some of their superstitions which I thought were interesting so I'll share them:

-If you dream of a fish it is supposed to mean you will have good fortune and be rich.

-If you see an owl at night it means somebody has died and it is considered bad luck.

-At weddings the drains are covered with red cloth so it will be a good marriage.

-You must never eat onions and garlic together.

-A person born in the year of the dog must not marry a person born in the year of the chicken because dogs eat chickens. (There are some other combinations that I can't think of right now).

-You mustn't get married in your animal year. So since I am year of the horse I mustn't get married in a horse year.

-Its bad to point your chopsticks up because people think they look like graves if you do that.

Di Zi Gui Chapter 7：余力学文

The final chapter!!

余力学文

'Wen' refers to the benefits of learning the six arts of ancient China, and to the learnings beyond that. If you have extra time or energy you should learn beyond the six arts of ancient china (rites, music, archery, chariot riding, reading and writing, and arithmetic).

不力行但学文

长浮华成何人

If a student struggles to practice, studies mechanically, easily forms the habit of showy characteristics, he/she cannot become a truly useful person.

但力行不学文

任己见昧理真

If one only knows strong conduct, has stubborn opinions, doesn't study readings or writings, then one cannot understand principles, and cannot distinguish between true and false, or rights and wrongs.

读书法有三到

心眼口信皆要

There are three points to reading a book: heart, eyes, and mouth. The heart must remember, the mouth must read aloud, and the eyes must see. These three things are truly very important.

方读此勿慕彼

此未终彼勿起

When one is reading a book, don't go wanting to read another. When the book one is reading is still unread, don't go read another. When reading a book, one should be single minded in order to achieve.

宽为限紧用功

工夫到滞塞通

When setting time limits for studying, allow ample time, but when studying make the most of the time. When one encounters obstacles, or areas one doesn't understand, they will become clear.

心有疑随札记

就人问求确义

When reading, if one's heart has a question, one should immediately write it down. That way one can seek advice from other people and seek an accurate meaning.

房室清墙壁净

几案洁笔砚正

One's house should be tidy and orderly, the walls should be kept clean. The tables should be kept clear, the ink pen and ink pot should be placed straight.

墨磨偏心不端

字不敬心先病

If you rub the ink unevenly, it proves one's heart is not right. If ones words are illegible and sloppy, not neat, it proves one isn't concentrating, and one's heart isn't fixed. One should study wholeheartedly.

列典籍有定处

读看毕还原处

Ancient books should have a stable/set place. When one is finished reading a book, one should put it back in the same place, so it is easy to look for next time.

虽有急卷束齐

有缺坏就补之

People who read books like to cherish them. Even if there is a crisis and one doesn't read, one should make sure the book is ok. If one discovers a book is damaged, one should immediately repair it.

非圣书屏勿视

蔽聪明坏心志

One should read more saintly writings. One should avoid reading useless books and periodicals because the books may not have legitimate information. They can deceive people's intelligence, and corrupt people's wills and intentions.

勿自暴勿自弃

圣与贤可驯致

Don't give up on oneself and don't abuse oneself. A person who cannot know self respect, can be willing to go to the bad. Saintly and virtuous levels, can be achieved gradually if one studies hard.

An Email from a Student

One day I was teaching class at the university and noticed someone standing outside of the classroom watching. It's not unusual for people walking by to look in fast. They see a foreign teacher and are like 'wowwwwww.' What was unusual was how long this girl was standing there. I thought for a moment she was a university professor judging my class. I managed not to get too flustered and to continue on teaching (it was the lesson where I brought in a bunch of my clothes to teach clothing, the students loved it and thought it was hilarious that the teacher had brought in her clothes).

It turns out the girl was another university student who has always dreamed of having a foreign teacher but has never had one. She came up to me after class was done and talked to me for a while. I gave her my email, like I do to most of my students, and thought nothing of it.

A week later, after the National Holiday I received the following email from her. I thought it was so sweet of her, not to mention quite funny, so thought I would share it!

"Dear teacher

    Hello,nice to meet you .Do you remember me ?Zoe!Today,i brought a letter to go to listen your lesson(the letter for you ),but so sad ,the teacher wasn't you.I ran to the library and send you this e-mail.

    That day I passed by you class inadvertently and I was absorbed in  your voice .so i have a look,oh,a beautiful foreign teacher, which is my night and day dream .At the first time ,i decided to stand out of the door in order to listen your lesson.I found your lesson was very interesting because everyone was happy to pay attention to your charming voice.

   At that time,i told myself that i must caught this opportunity to introduce myself in English and hold to make friends with you.But when i talked with you face to face ,i felt excited and not quiet result in i forgot how to express what i want to say .However ,making friends with you is really my honor!

   I have some happiness memory in this National vacation,so i want to share with you .During my vacation ,i was going to my friend's home.Wow,that is a quiet beautiful small country.Not only can i see the sun rise and down,dut also can breath the clean air ,listen the voice of the birds and smell fiowers fragrance.My friend's families were very easy-going.They made much tasty food for me and treated me as a member in their family,so i was moved by what they did!In a morning ,i rode a bike in the road and enjoyed the warm snushine.Suddently,many sheep appealled in front of my eyes and  made me surprised.Ha,ha,ha!

  I really felt happy because i can share my experience and feeling with you in English.Yeah,welcome to Guangdong!Wish you safety and happiness!

  love

zoe"

Di Zi Gui Chapter 6: 亲仁

亲仁

This is the sixth major chapter for students. 'Qin,' is close. 'Ren,' benevolence, means a person with morals and learning, this is a 'qinren' person. One must acknowledge a teacher, and want to study with him. If one chooses a teacher, benevolence is invincible.

同时人类不齐

流俗众仁者稀

All people on earth are human, but their morals differ. Most ordinary people follow the trends, truly kind and benevolent people are rare.

果仁者人多畏

言不讳色不媚

Truly moral and noble people are feared and cherished by most other people. Because they are outspoken when they speak and don't flatter others.

能亲仁无限好

德日进过日少

If you are close to and able to learn from a moral and noble person, you will have boundless benefits. Day by day your morals will grow and your mistakes will be reduced.

不亲仁无限害

小人进百事坏

If you are not close to and do not learn from a moral and noble person, you will have boundless harms. Lowly people will seize an opportunity to approach you and you will not be able to achieve a lot of things.

Di Zi Gui Chapter 5: 泛爱众

泛爱众

This is the fifth major text for students. 'Fanai' is universal love, is getting along with friends, speaks of equality and love. It talks about making friends. Loving people, and permanent love.

凡是人皆须爱

天同覆地同载

No matter who it is, we should all mutually protect and respect each other, because we all live under the same sky and on the same earth.

行高者名自高

人所重非貌高

A noble person naturally has a high reputation. Because people have a high regard for a person's moral character and behavior, they don't pay attention to wether or not the person has a good appearance.

才大者望自大

人所服非言大

A person with an abundant ability for learning can naturally have a lot of fame, because people admire these people with real knowledge and true ability and who don't blow their own trumpet.

己有能勿自私

人所能勿轻訾

If you have an ability, don't just use it for personal gains, you should do things that benefit everyone in society. If other people have an ability, don't envy them or look down on and slander them.

勿谄富勿骄贫

勿厌故勿喜新

Don't flatter wealthy people, and don't be rude and arrogant to the poor. Don't abandon past friends, and don't only like and associate with new friends.

人不闲勿事搅

人不安勿话扰

If other people are busy and don't have free time, don't disturb them with personal matters. If people aren't at peace, don't talk bother or disturb them.

人有短切莫揭

人有私切莫说

If a person has a weakness, you mustn't publicize it. If a person has private matters, you absolutely cannot freely talk about it.

道人善即是善

人知之愈思勉

Praising others' virtuous behavior is a virtue itself. Because other people know after, they are encouraged to work hard and also do good deeds.

扬人恶即是恶

疾之甚祸且作

Publicizing other people's bad behavior, is a bad behavior in itself. If you excessively loathe and detest, you can provoke disaster yourself.

善相劝德皆建

过不规道两亏

Friends admonishing each other to do good deeds, can increase both's morality. If you don't advise each other not to do wrong, your moralities will decrease.

凡取与贵分晓

与宜多取宜少

When taking people's things and giving people things, you must make the terms clear. When giving people things you should give more, when taking people's things you should take less, this is a principle of human emotions.

将加人先问己

己不欲即速已

When planning to do things for others, first ask yourself if you would want it.  If you wouldn't want it, then you must immediately stop.

恩欲报怨欲忘

报怨短报恩长

If someone does a favor for you, you must be grateful, don't forget, and remember to repay them. If other people have sorry's to repay for, the past is the past, you shouldn't bring the old into the new, you should be broad minded and quickly forget the past.

待婢仆身贵端

虽贵端慈而宽

You should treat maids and servants in an upright and proper manner. Although having good conduct is extremely important, you must also be benevolent and generous.

势服人心不然

理服人方无言

Using power and influence to force someone to submit will cause someone to submit by words but not by heart. If you use principles to persuade someone, the other person can say nothing more.