Wednesday, December 25, 2019
Life is...: Community
Life is...: Community: What is it about jet lag that makes you feel...reflective. There something about your body being completely alert in the middle of the nigh...
Friday, March 21, 2014
What grinds my gears
This is sort of a two post day. I'm sitting in a Beijing Hotel, waiting for the appropriate time to move around without bothering my roommate...Why does being in a new place make you a light sleeper...I mean, yeah, I was in bed by 11 last night because I've had a long, work out filled work week...but 6:45 on a Saturday morning is ungodly!
I digress...I wanted to share major pet peeves I have while adjusting to life in China...and there aren't that many. Before I say this, I will promise to support any negative comments with a positive so that I don't seem to be....complaining about cultural differences...though I am.
1. When I say something in English to a Chinese customer service person, but they don't understand the phrase, they repeat the last thing they said to me, or completely change the subject instead of address the question I've asked. This has happened to me in banks, cell phone stores, and, most recently, with my Chinese tutor. I asked, how old are you (which is not a rude question here...more on that later), and he, not hearing/understanding says: yes, I've been working for four years. The response is never immediate; there is always a moment when they are thinking about what you said, and trying to decipher it...yet, they never ask what you said. They understand that you require some sort of response and anything will do.
2. Spitting everywhere!!!!!! I was in the train station yesterday and this guy did one of those cough lougie things, and SPIT ON THE FLOOR IN THE TRAIN STATION. Now, this train station ain't like 5 points in MARTA...it's indoor and sort of nice, with tile floors and all. But this guy just spit on the floor like it was nothing. And that's how they role...with this, they smoking everywhere, too. But I guess when your government controls the cigarette companies, you have that right.
Now the positives:
1. Most of the Chinese people I've met have been welcoming and kind. They are accommodating and, despite my Chinese skills, helpful. They have also been filled with a weird sense of curiosity and wonder about who I am...which makes me feel cool....just don't stare and take pictures of me like I'm a zoo animal. That drives me crazy.
2. There are fruit vendors everywhere! And everything is so cheap. Also, spring is here and the weather has been gorgeous!
So that's it..for now. I'm tired still, so I think I will sleep for another 30 minutes. Be sure to comment and share my post. Send me questions you have and I'll be glad to get back to you!
Ayeshah
I digress...I wanted to share major pet peeves I have while adjusting to life in China...and there aren't that many. Before I say this, I will promise to support any negative comments with a positive so that I don't seem to be....complaining about cultural differences...though I am.
1. When I say something in English to a Chinese customer service person, but they don't understand the phrase, they repeat the last thing they said to me, or completely change the subject instead of address the question I've asked. This has happened to me in banks, cell phone stores, and, most recently, with my Chinese tutor. I asked, how old are you (which is not a rude question here...more on that later), and he, not hearing/understanding says: yes, I've been working for four years. The response is never immediate; there is always a moment when they are thinking about what you said, and trying to decipher it...yet, they never ask what you said. They understand that you require some sort of response and anything will do.
2. Spitting everywhere!!!!!! I was in the train station yesterday and this guy did one of those cough lougie things, and SPIT ON THE FLOOR IN THE TRAIN STATION. Now, this train station ain't like 5 points in MARTA...it's indoor and sort of nice, with tile floors and all. But this guy just spit on the floor like it was nothing. And that's how they role...with this, they smoking everywhere, too. But I guess when your government controls the cigarette companies, you have that right.
Now the positives:
1. Most of the Chinese people I've met have been welcoming and kind. They are accommodating and, despite my Chinese skills, helpful. They have also been filled with a weird sense of curiosity and wonder about who I am...which makes me feel cool....just don't stare and take pictures of me like I'm a zoo animal. That drives me crazy.
2. There are fruit vendors everywhere! And everything is so cheap. Also, spring is here and the weather has been gorgeous!
So that's it..for now. I'm tired still, so I think I will sleep for another 30 minutes. Be sure to comment and share my post. Send me questions you have and I'll be glad to get back to you!
Ayeshah
Chinese Banks
HELLO!!! I've been trying to post this for weeks...but I'm just getting solid enough internet to make it happen! I recently got my first Chinese paycheck and I am HAPPY!!! I wasn't
struggling, but getting paid just makes me wanna happy dance.
Anyway, because I still have to pay bills back home, I decide to go on a field trip with Momo to see what needs to be done. Foolishly, I thought it'd be like living in the states: stand in a long line, get to the counter, find out you were in the wrong line, and re-queue in the right line, find out I had the wrong paperwork, go home, get the right paperwork, come back, and start back at the end of the line...but all the while in the right building.
I guess you can say the experience was similar here in China...only, the bank my company set our bank account up at is not able to wire money internationally...but they can help me withdraw (as the lady repeatedly said behind the counter). The wiring money process in China may just be a bureaucratic wet dream filled with ridiculously difficult to understand paperwork and official stamps and official locations that will make your head spin!
First, you have to find the right location. One cannot blindly walk into ones bank and expect a simple bank to bank transfer. No, no. If you are fortunate enough to bank at the Bank of China, maybe....but your run of the mill local bank will not be able to help. Did I add that my company only works with one bank, and it's not the Bank of China...nor does the Bank of China process transfers for non-members...and I can't read enough Chinese to open an account, so....yeah.
Second, once you find the right place, this took about an hour and a half and 3 taxi rides, be prepared to western union your cash to someone on the other end. You'll need to be sure you have the right amount you want to send on hand. You will also need to convert your money to USD, so any fees associated must be calculated. This won't be such a bad issue for me when I repeat this process this week, but for someone like Momo just wanting to send money to the UK, you can see the problem. They don't use USD, they use GBP....
The process looks like this get your RMB changed to USD, send via western union, get the person in the UK to change the USD to GBP and then deposit for you....it's a little....aggravating. But I won't complain, at least I know the hassle, and expense, to expect when I get my sister to deposit money for me this week...
Anyway, because I still have to pay bills back home, I decide to go on a field trip with Momo to see what needs to be done. Foolishly, I thought it'd be like living in the states: stand in a long line, get to the counter, find out you were in the wrong line, and re-queue in the right line, find out I had the wrong paperwork, go home, get the right paperwork, come back, and start back at the end of the line...but all the while in the right building.
I guess you can say the experience was similar here in China...only, the bank my company set our bank account up at is not able to wire money internationally...but they can help me withdraw (as the lady repeatedly said behind the counter). The wiring money process in China may just be a bureaucratic wet dream filled with ridiculously difficult to understand paperwork and official stamps and official locations that will make your head spin!
First, you have to find the right location. One cannot blindly walk into ones bank and expect a simple bank to bank transfer. No, no. If you are fortunate enough to bank at the Bank of China, maybe....but your run of the mill local bank will not be able to help. Did I add that my company only works with one bank, and it's not the Bank of China...nor does the Bank of China process transfers for non-members...and I can't read enough Chinese to open an account, so....yeah.
Second, once you find the right place, this took about an hour and a half and 3 taxi rides, be prepared to western union your cash to someone on the other end. You'll need to be sure you have the right amount you want to send on hand. You will also need to convert your money to USD, so any fees associated must be calculated. This won't be such a bad issue for me when I repeat this process this week, but for someone like Momo just wanting to send money to the UK, you can see the problem. They don't use USD, they use GBP....
The process looks like this get your RMB changed to USD, send via western union, get the person in the UK to change the USD to GBP and then deposit for you....it's a little....aggravating. But I won't complain, at least I know the hassle, and expense, to expect when I get my sister to deposit money for me this week...
Thursday, March 6, 2014
The English name conumdrum
So, I have been slacking!!! I know. I meant to write this post a week ago, but here I am...
Forgive me.
There are many things that I am still getting used to in China and many things are becoming normal....like that squat toilet I swore I would never use...well, sometimes, you just gotta suck it up and hold your breathe....and go.
Anyway, there are many, many things I question and don't understand. But the primary thing that sort of grinds my gears, sort of makes me happy is the concept of an English name. Some of you may have met a Chinese Wendy or John and was like, oh, cool, easy name. The dark truth you may not know is that many Chinese children are forced to take English names if they are studying English. Now, this is very similar to the experience I had in Spanish class, and later in French, when I had to choose a "Spanish" name. My teacher used the name to call me in class, my classmates used it to identify me within my Spanish class bubble. It was cool. I didn't go out into the world and introduce myself as "Shakira". It was my super secret Spanish class alias and it was cool to use....in class. Many Chinese children, forced to choose English names, usually keep some sort of an English name throughout their lives...likely changing them with every time they find a better name. The meet foreigners like me and tell me their English name and you could go forever never knowing your Chinese coworkers actual government name.
This leaves me torn for a couple of reasons:
1. How dare I come to your country and demand you change your name to something easier for me to pronounce! It's like someone telling you the name your mother gave you isn't good enough and that you will now be called Heather because it flows off the tongue better than Zhihi or Ylin (neither of which are pronounced the way they are romanized). You can't imagine how many Lilies or Rachels have trouble spelling or saying their names because English is not their first languages and those sounds are not always natural! I've misheard more names in the past month than I've ever done in my life.
2. I like being able to pronounce my student's names. I've also named more kids than I've ever had the responsibility to name before. Suffice it to say, I have been playing around with many different potential future children names like Ian, Aiden, and Ezra.....anything that's NOT John, Mike, or Peter.
This English name business seems a lil' bit imperialistic to me. What do you think?
I was going to write about some other events/none events, but I think this post is pretty long. Oh, check out Jamie Cullum "Don't Stop the Music"....Listening to it right now and I'm loving him!!!!
Stay positive,
Ayeshah, Teacher
Forgive me.
There are many things that I am still getting used to in China and many things are becoming normal....like that squat toilet I swore I would never use...well, sometimes, you just gotta suck it up and hold your breathe....and go.
Anyway, there are many, many things I question and don't understand. But the primary thing that sort of grinds my gears, sort of makes me happy is the concept of an English name. Some of you may have met a Chinese Wendy or John and was like, oh, cool, easy name. The dark truth you may not know is that many Chinese children are forced to take English names if they are studying English. Now, this is very similar to the experience I had in Spanish class, and later in French, when I had to choose a "Spanish" name. My teacher used the name to call me in class, my classmates used it to identify me within my Spanish class bubble. It was cool. I didn't go out into the world and introduce myself as "Shakira". It was my super secret Spanish class alias and it was cool to use....in class. Many Chinese children, forced to choose English names, usually keep some sort of an English name throughout their lives...likely changing them with every time they find a better name. The meet foreigners like me and tell me their English name and you could go forever never knowing your Chinese coworkers actual government name.
This leaves me torn for a couple of reasons:
1. How dare I come to your country and demand you change your name to something easier for me to pronounce! It's like someone telling you the name your mother gave you isn't good enough and that you will now be called Heather because it flows off the tongue better than Zhihi or Ylin (neither of which are pronounced the way they are romanized). You can't imagine how many Lilies or Rachels have trouble spelling or saying their names because English is not their first languages and those sounds are not always natural! I've misheard more names in the past month than I've ever done in my life.
2. I like being able to pronounce my student's names. I've also named more kids than I've ever had the responsibility to name before. Suffice it to say, I have been playing around with many different potential future children names like Ian, Aiden, and Ezra.....anything that's NOT John, Mike, or Peter.
This English name business seems a lil' bit imperialistic to me. What do you think?
I was going to write about some other events/none events, but I think this post is pretty long. Oh, check out Jamie Cullum "Don't Stop the Music"....Listening to it right now and I'm loving him!!!!
Stay positive,
Ayeshah, Teacher
Thursday, February 13, 2014
No toilet paper, goodbye socks!
I've decided to avoid words like "awful" or "disgusting" when I encounter the new and...bazaar here in China. Instead, I will be as objective as possible, laying out facts....while, probably, focusing on things my Western mind is trying to understand. One of which is the public restroom siti'ation.
I say "Siti'ation" cause, to you my reader, it will be just that. Exhibit 1:
Now, I'm not going to say this is the toilet at work, or that it does not have a door, nor am I going to say that I'd have to be on the verge of exploding before I use it. I will, however, like to bring your attention to the lack of toilet paper. If you are visiting/moving China, note that bringing your toilet paper with you is some what of an expectation. Don't leave your home ignorant to this one critical rule...you'll be forced to use your socks as your body adjusts to the change of food.
All is not gloom and doom though. I have enjoyed the food here...a lot. Here are just a few...well...2... I've remembered to capture pictures of:
This chicken and rice reminds me of food I eat all the time at home, but the eggs and tomatoes must be a Chinese thing....I like the school lunch though....ask me again in 6 months.
This spicy soup stuff was basically DYI. I got a bowl, put the ingredients I wanted in it and gave it to the cook to make soup....be careful when trying this...you will not be familiar with all the foods and veggies and some may not be as....delectable as they look. overall...I like this soup.
That's it for today. I hope you enjoyed reading and will continue to follow my travels.
Ayeshah
I say "Siti'ation" cause, to you my reader, it will be just that. Exhibit 1:
Now, I'm not going to say this is the toilet at work, or that it does not have a door, nor am I going to say that I'd have to be on the verge of exploding before I use it. I will, however, like to bring your attention to the lack of toilet paper. If you are visiting/moving China, note that bringing your toilet paper with you is some what of an expectation. Don't leave your home ignorant to this one critical rule...you'll be forced to use your socks as your body adjusts to the change of food.
All is not gloom and doom though. I have enjoyed the food here...a lot. Here are just a few...well...2... I've remembered to capture pictures of:
This chicken and rice reminds me of food I eat all the time at home, but the eggs and tomatoes must be a Chinese thing....I like the school lunch though....ask me again in 6 months. This spicy soup stuff was basically DYI. I got a bowl, put the ingredients I wanted in it and gave it to the cook to make soup....be careful when trying this...you will not be familiar with all the foods and veggies and some may not be as....delectable as they look. overall...I like this soup. That's it for today. I hope you enjoyed reading and will continue to follow my travels.
Ayeshah
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Ni Hâo!
Ni Hâo!
I have safely arrived in China and am excited to say I am
experiencing the honeymoon phase right now!
Although it’s cold, yesterday was -3C according to a sign I could
actually read, I love it. I lucked out a
bit and have been embraced by the foreign community here in TEDA and it’s
great. I lived in Columbus, Ga for 1.5
years and I found it difficult to meet people who shared the same interest as
me or didn’t have a family or didn’t make me feel super weird….
BUT, I have found my people here! Wanna know where very bright expats who get
excited over books that include the title Game
of Thrones and Philosophy, people who walk all over the city to find HDMI
cables so that they can watch internet tv and DVDS on their laptop, people who
were bored at home and decided to move to another country where they don’t know
anyone or speak the language, people who love to make tentative plans and
change them at the last minute, people like me….MI GENTE.
It’s nice to have guides that go to the supermarkets with
me…It’s slightly overwhelming not being able to read things and I’m trying to
avoid the soju incident of 2008….please ask if you don’t know what I am
referring to. Lol
So far I have found my brother from another mother comrade
we’ll call Mo-Mo from the UK and a ginger pal from BC we’ll call Special
K. I don’t usually take to people so
quickly, but these two are my lifelines.
WE get on well and have excellent conversations about nothing and everything
and they both have access to either a phone or the internet…so I need them,
lol. But definitely solid people.
Plans for the coming 2 months:
1.
I walk everywhere….or take taxis if I am just
knackered. Also, this school I work at
is huge campus with man buildings all spread out and no elevators (my office is
on the 4th floor, but it feels like the 10)!!!! This is a jolt to my system because in GA,
walking was not a logical form of transportation. I have to retrain my body to
walk EVERYWHERE again….so as not to look like a complete lazy ass, I am making
an effort to walk more and refrain from taking the taxis…although a trip
anywhere is like 9¥….I think that’s $2 American…I don’t have a phone or
internet in front of me to do conversions, so I am not sure. Lol
2.
In the same vein as the previous post: Commence Operation “Get Fine”. I want to be able to shop in the Chinese
shops and not be stared at from being black AND fat, so I am forcing Special K
to workout with me a few times a week.
I’m really motivated (or sickened) by people like Mo-Mo the resident
jujitsu master and “football” (soccer) aficionado. He spends an inordant amount
of time discussing both hobbies in glories detail and teaching strangers about
the art of “trianguling” someone…..yes, it’s as weird as it sounds, but I love
it!
3.
Spruce up the apartment. I plan to post a vlog about the place when I
get internet and what not, in the mean time imagine that it lacks many of the
things you lack when you move and bring things with you other than clothes.
4.
Learn Mandarin…which is really hard. I need to first get more Pinyan under my belt
because reading characters will take too much time out of my actual life…There
are 5 different tones in Mandarin and the same syllable with a different tone makes
a different word….just like Read and Read (red) but much more difficult because
the tones are typical sounds we don’t use in English….I’m probably calling
people “Penis Head” when I really want to say “Where is the bathroom”….the
struggle is real.
Anyway, that’s my life so far, not terribly exciting, but
I’m in freaking CHINA! I hope you
continue to read my adventures. :)
Xíe-xíe,
Ayeshah
Saturday, January 4, 2014
Happy New Year...and old laughs
I've been meaning to share this: my job search is over. I'll be working at an International School in China come February!! Exciting times, yes. But more exciting (and stressful) than that was the intense job searching.
There were moments when I felt POSITIVE I had the job after an interview, and then there were moments when I experienced horrific brain deadness that lead to a lot of 1. Over talking or 2. Short (too short) answers.
Then there were the epic technology fails. I'm not just talking about misspellings in cover letters or incorrect grammar...I mean the fantastic mistakes that only auto correct can create. Exhibit A:
Yeah, I laughed, too. I've wanted to share this for a while....now is finally the time.
AyeshahTeacher
There were moments when I felt POSITIVE I had the job after an interview, and then there were moments when I experienced horrific brain deadness that lead to a lot of 1. Over talking or 2. Short (too short) answers.
Then there were the epic technology fails. I'm not just talking about misspellings in cover letters or incorrect grammar...I mean the fantastic mistakes that only auto correct can create. Exhibit A:
AyeshahTeacher
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