Year: 2013

Modem

Bought a modem to try and get the internet in the flat to work.

The guy at Suning gave me some old bullshit, but after getting it home, it turned out to be pretty useless.

Ping from Kunshan, China

I’m going to have to go to China Mobile and get them to sort it out, with the help of one of my Chinese colleagues who might understand what they are talking about.

Once we can get this installed, then I can get back on to the ‘net.

Ok, so this has been going on for about a week now. I’ve asked 3 times for someone to come around to fix it.

After much consultation and consideration, chin rubbing by the necessary authorities, I managed to sort it out by myself.
I read the manual.

Those of you familiar with China will be familiar with this kind of set of circumstances. Often the Chinese will be willing to help when they aren’t in a position to do so.

Like so many other things in life, you’ll find it a better result if you simply help yourself.

Sunday Meal

Dora, Jerremy, Robine

With some members of Linestart.

Had been out doing interviews at potential new school contract with the other members of Linestart pictured here.

No bad fish

Jerry, Mary, Joyce, Edshel

This was a kind of fish dish, which you have to very careful not to choke to death on. The bones are sharp and plentiful. I’m not usually tempted by this kind of fish, just because of the bad experiences I’ve had in the past (a lot like women). This time I stayed away also.

Spinning table

We had some other dishes on the rotating table, a pork and peppers with Sichuan sauce, bitter cucumber and egg, green beans and chilli’s, as well as some jasmine tea, rice and a prawn and Sichuan sauce style dish.

It was very much like Sichuan.

Didn’t over eat, and went home to do my lesson plans.

Kindie


So. This is one of the Kindergartens I work for.

Kids are having a little competition, something the Chinese seem to do so well at…

They have to get their yellow pyjama’s on before the time runs out.

Not sure who won this one, think the guys name is Eric. He’s very smaalll.

Coma Kids

They have a tradition in many countries where they treat young children just like little adults. Just like you’ve been in a coma, woken and your not knowing anything again.
That’s a kid.

Maybe it works.
It’s better than treating them like this and working it so they learn quicker.

Then I can treat the adults like kids.
It’s a great deal for everyone.

Linestart

So this is where I’ll be doing some of my work.

Linestart Kunshan
Linestart Kunshan

It’s the training suite for Linestart Kunshan. I’ve captured a picture of one of the ‘English Corner’ type lessons that we’re paid to organise along with Kindergarten and company training sessions.

These take place at different times during the day.

I’ll be doing more Kindergarten tomorrow, after having had my first lesson today, which went very well, considering I had no lesson plan or anything else prepared before hand.

Tomorrow, I have to catch a taxi, which should be a nightmare. Must have spent over an hour waiting for taxi’s in Kunshan so far and I’ve only been here for 6 days.

Still, looking forward to the lessons, they should be fun judging by todays.

Kunshan night out

Invited to night out in Kunshan to round off Friday I guess.

tinglinpark_kunshanWent to place called Fubar which was an English style pub at the top of a three storey waterfront cylindrical tower block.

Pretty posh. Nice beer.

Scrabble

Played Scrabble which was pretty unusual.

Moved on to place called the Whale bar in Kunshan which had a live band playing and was a lot more lively.
More bar-ish, no scrabble boards in sight.

Had a few drinks and a shao kao to top it off. Nice.

Kunshan KTV

Last night went to the KTV, which I had been warned about. Had the full room laid on by one of our pupils, as much weak beer as you could possibly wave a stick at, or a microphone. They had a little booth, you could stand in or you could walk, or sit.

Was fun, much more fun than doing it in a pub full of people.