So today was the first day I taught.. I got up at 3:30 after passing out exhausted ..
I was nervous about the class and having everything the way that I wanted it… I had hoped to go back to sleep but I kept on tweaking little things.. I took a few minutes to call Kent, make it so this blog was mailable (thanks Kent) and even chatted a little on Skype as I took care of work emails.. (I am glad enrollment should be done now)
So class went well.. the computers are more notably internet connection is very slow.. and I find it difficult to wait for it sometimes. They say part is the great firewall and part is that internet is slower here.
A large group of us ate lunch together outside the gates at a nice Schezuan restaurant. One student ran into his wife, so she and her child joined us. We each spent about 15 rmb or $2.19 USD. We ate a large meal with rice, cucumbers in a vinegar oil (but not as tart as our pickles), we had a meal item that very old eggs – that are fermented.. (I will have to look that up) We also had lemon chicken, a kind of breaded and fried beef, something that reminded me of cashew chicken (with peanuts), and some very good green beans and spinach. We ate family style in a private room. There was a lazy susan in the center that people used to pass the dishes around.
Class overall went well. At first, the cabbie let me off at the wrong gate.. its difficult not knowing any of the language or where you are…. The students did great on the digital scavenger hunt but they all want smartboards. So later in the day when we explored technology, I showed them the smartsoftware – honestly, not as exciting as the board.
Students spent a lot of time setting up their first wikis a good place to start.
After class, I met my friend Min Shi from Indiana. It was wonderful. She came to my hotel and since I don't have my bearings yet, I really appreciate it.. We took a taxi to the subway and then the subway to the stop just past people's park. We ate at a local restaurant. We had chow mein with pork, some steamed dumplings, wonton soup, another soup made with all parts of the pig, little pieces of beancurt sliced witih egg yolk. It was good.. but I liked the bean spouts that tasted like spinach best.
We had a great conversation and talked about how our lives had gone on.. its amazing how similar some of our experiences have been dating and being a well educated single girl. I really enjoyed getting back in touch with her. She is working on a book project which sounds wonderful, but will be in Chinese.
Min wanted to have me get a foot massage.. but given my wanky feet, I opted for hair massage instead.. There was a little risk and panic at the beginning though.. This was a full service salon called herborist.. like nothing I had seen before. Min is a regular there.
It is all very pretty, very zen.
When we got to the room for the massages, they asked us both to shower and change out of our clothing.. but the manager told min that they had the biggest outfit there for me, and it may not fit.. I was very uncomfortable, and was not sure what to do.. I was only getting a scalp massage, right? But then I saw the outfit.. by US standards the pants were maybe a size 4 or 6.. well maybe 6T – it was so ridiculous that Min and I burst out laughing and we took my picture with my new pants..
After that I did not know if I could relax into a massage.. but then I fell asleep during it so all must be well. I had a scalp and shoulder massage and it felt very good.. I had never had a real massage before, especially not a scalp one so this was interesting.. As much as I tried to stay in my head, I could not – so a successful massage.. Min checked in with me to see how I was doing, and I think I just grunted.. so it was good for sure..
This spa was clearly full service. At first, there was not a spot for us (Min had even tried to call ahead) but they served us tea anyway when we stopped in to see.. Then the manager saw Min and asked the masseuses to stay late. I told her in the US that they would not offer you tea if they were full, they would send you away as quickly as possible. Even after the massage we had tea and they offered us crackers – kind of rice and onion – and Min said – that normally it's a real dessert..
I cannot help but think of Miss Elly and how much she would have enjoyed this.. maybe I will try it again sometime before I go now that I know how it works.
It was late so we took a taxi back to my hotel. Min was wonderful looking out for and escorting me.. I am very thankful.. I am still figuring stuff out.. It was a great way to see the skyline and understand how far out we are to the city proper here at SMIC.
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