Lunch at XAIU

This what 75 cents will buy you in one of the many school cafeterias.  This was soup or"tang" as they say here.  Very hot as in boiling.  Full of noodles, bok choy, lettuce, sea weed, and tofu.   It was very good and if you add a little of the hot pepper sauce it was even better.  The food is very good I just hope I don't get fat.

New Post This is the view from my apartment balcony.  Lots of construction going on in the area.  Actually all over the city.  The city has about 8 million people and for China, that is not a large city.  The balcony is where I hang my clothes to dry.  The have a rack with hangers on it.  I did not realize that it was raised up and stored out of the way.  I am tall enough to still use it.  Tomorrow we will start taking classes.  I think everyone is ready to get started and get back to a daily routine.  Tonight I will have dinner with Katie Evans, the lady from England, that also works here and has taught the same type of class that I will be teaching. I hope to get some more information.  It will be nice to be able to actually talk and not have to email.

Shaanxi History Museum

At the Shaanxi History Museum see were able to see many artifacts from prehistoric China, through the Tang and Qin dynasties. I was going to treat this visit like a notebook stop on the ICC science field trip but I could not bring my back pack into the museum, so I hope the dynasties are correct.  The museum also had replicas of the terra cotta warriors, which we will see in the near future.  Right now I am just trying to get use to posting pictures and how best to work this Blog program.  I will post a few more things that I hope will be interesting.   As you can see this is a picture of an old pot that caught my eye.
While we were driving to the museum we were on a two lane highway and I could see five cars in front of the bus and they were all in their own lane.  At the museum you could get your picture taken by the "no pictures" sign.  Everyone had a camera, even though it was posted not to take pictures.

Getting ready for school to start

I was getting ready to start writing this and had to stop and go out on my balcony to watch the fireworks.  They seem to shoot off fireworks a lot around here.  We had our departmental meeting today.  I know what building I will teach in but will not know anything more than that until Thursday.  The one bedroom apartment that I am staying in, is very nice.  I have everything I need.  We are just a few blocks from the grocery store, a Chinese style super Walmart type store.  The cooked food in the store smells so good.  I like the smell of the spices. We went out for street food tonight.  It was interesting to walk down the alley filled with food vendors and little walk- in restaurants.  It had rained all day and the alley was muddy and full of little puddles of water.  I felt like Anthony Bourdian on a quest for some pork, except we ate at a Muslim restaurant.  Sorry Tony.  The food was good and two meals cost less than 3 dollars.
Today everyone was learning how to use the Chinese washing machines.  I don't think some of the students know how to use the one in their own home, so these machines were quite the adventure. The hotel laundry staff has been very helpful to the students and assisted them with the operation of the machines.  You have the combination washer and spin cycle.  You wash your clothes, put them in the spin drum, while you are spinning the clothes you fill the rinse drum , after the clothes spin you put them back in the larger wash drum to rinse, and then after the rinse you put the clothes back in the spin drum. The big problem today was the water pressure was low.  Drying your clothes is easy; take them back to your apartment, and hang them up.  You have to plan ahead for what you are going to wear because it will take time for them to dry.
Today the laundry tomorrow I will learn how to turn off the television.   I have pushed every button on the remote and it still stays on.  At least I know how to work the mute button.
It has rained the last three days but that is also the first rain for the last 3 months.  The dust has settled.  I am glad of that.
Tuesday we will go to the Shaanxi History Museum and on Wednesday just about everyone will start their Mandarin language class.  I will also be in that class.  I plan to do some more review tonight.
I think this city is around 8 million.  I am not sure because I have read and heard different populations from different sources.  I really don't mind all the people because I guess lots of people is what I expected to see in China, and there are lots of people here.
I did learn about the traffic signals.  The flashing green person walking means you can cross the street but be careful. The flashing red person standing means you can cross the street but be even more careful.  I am sure glad I am not driving a car.  The rules of the road here are definitely different here.  Horns, must have a horn and use it.,

first full day in Xian

Today we went to the Bank of China to exchange money, use the ATM, and some people opened bank accounts.  I guess there is some benefit to having a bank account here.  The main grocery store only takes one type of debit card and it was not the one that one student had.  Cash works every where.  I just need to see how much my bank will really charge me for using my card.
I have a better appreciation of what the Chinese students must feel when they first come to ICC.  The grocery store was quite the experience.   Everyone was amazed by how difficult a simple task can be when you have no idea what things are.  You don't know where things are, because you have never been in the store.  Then you don't know how to read,  simple things are not what you are use to, and you cannot communicate with most of the people working there.  I did enjoy the experience.  I know how foreign students must feel.  Tomorrow we have the orientation to the campus.  Students should find out more about where there classes are and what books to get.  I hope I find out what I am going to be doing, where and what time.  I am looking forward to teaching, or trying to teach, Conversational English.  One thing in my favor is that Chinese students what to learn more about America.  I have maps of the USA and hope to use my experience on the ICC science field trips for some of my classes.  I hope I never have to drive a car over here.  I don't know if I could ever merge in to traffic.  He who hesitates is lost.  Everything seems to work out OK but my lord is it a different way of driving than I have ever seen.
I did learn how to do the laundry so I should have clean clothes to wear.  I just hope to get settled in, get organized, and start some type of daily routine.

At the Korea Airport

Took the bus to Chicago and then flew 14 hours to Korea.  We are waiting to fly to Beijing, go through customs, and then on to Xian.  We will be at Xian at 2:30 and will find out what the school has in store for us.  I slept fairly well on the plane and feel fine.  I only have a little caffeine withdraw headache but nothing a cup of coffee would not fix.  It is daylight and that will help.  I had forgotten just how much the airports and airplanes can dry out your skin and lips.  Off to find a cup of coffee.

Waiting to Leave

The waiting to leave is the hardest thing to do.  I am ready to leave and JoAnne is ready for me to leave and we have to wait until 5:30 PM before I can get on the Peoria Charter Coach.  Had a nice meal at Carl's Bakery in East Peoria.  Nothing says farewell like a meal at a place with a large chicken outside.  I have everything packed and ready.  I could weigh the bags again but four times is enough.  I am not looking forward to a long ride in the plane but that is what you have to do to get to China.
I will miss seeing JoAnne's art piece, "fireworks over the river," in the mornings when I get up and pack my lunch in the kitchen.   I like the way to light from the kitchen reflects off the mirrors and sparkles on the wood floor.   It is interesting what you worry about at this time.  JoAnne asked, "What do I do if something breaks?"  I usually take care of things like that.  For me the question is what do I do if I have computer problems.  JoAnne usually takes care of that.  I will have to ask some of the students to help me learn how to fix the computer problems that I might encounter on the trip.  We have enough students that know what they are doing that I should be OK.  Next time I post something I should be in Xian.

Leaving tomorrow

I have the bags packed and weighed.  I am ready to go.  Tomorrow I get on the Peoria Charter Coach and head to the airport.  Thursday morning at 1 AM we leave for Xian.  We have 18 hours of flying time and about 6 hours for the lay overs and then 2:30 PM, Friday we will arrive at Xian.  That is when the adventure will start.  We will find out what the people of XAIU have planned for us to do.  I hope we get time for a good nights sleep.  I am sure they have something planned.  I know we will need to go shopping and we will need to get our cell phones.
I will actually carry a cell phone, because students will need to be able to get a hold of me if they need to.  Carrying a cell phone is something I have never done before.  At work I have carried a radio in my back pocket for over 30 years but I don't carry a cell phone.
At the North campus my co-workers had a farewell lunch for me.  Nothing says have a good trip like a 5$ hot and ready pizza.  Thank you all very much.
Tomorrow JoAnne and I will go out to eat and then I will go meet the bus.  JoAnne will go to ICC North for the Culinary Arts Supper and taste the foods of Latin America.  The culinary arts meals are one thing I will miss while I am in China.  I do hope to bring back some cookbooks for the culinary program.  I also hope to learn how to make some real Chinese food.

What will I miss the most while I am in China

Of course I will miss my wife but I wonder what things I will long to have while I am away.  Maris had laughed about people that had missed pop tarts when he was in Luxembourg, but I do wonder what I will want to do when I get back, where will I want to go, or what will I want to eat.
Another thing I have thought about is how will it feel to meet people that I have been in contact with through email but have never seen or heard speak.  I do wonder what type of imagine my mind has of the people I have yet to meet.
Time is ticking down.  Only a few more days to worry about what I did not pack, if the bags are over weight, or if we have Visas.   Actually the Visa is a real worry.  Everyone says we will have them Tuesday and they will bring them to the airport.

Information about Xian, China

http://www.bonlive.com/9/109/5203-china-driven-xian.shtml

This video will give you some information about Xian and the area around Xian.  One of the students that will be going to Xian had posted it on the study abroad facebook page.

Hiking Hua Shan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cIQHPdwMXk

While I am in Xian I do plan to hike to the top of Hua Shan.  I have seen pictures and video of the climb and I certainly do not want to return to the USA and not see the top of some of the 5 peaks.  I had some good advice about this place, "Hold on real tight."

Thoughts about leaving

Thursday at work I was cleaning up the work bench, finishing up paperwork, and in general getting things ready for when I leave.  I was also listening to the music of Aaron Copland.  I think Copland has written music that, to me feels like America.  All of a sudden it hit me,"I am going to China."  I realized that I would be away from my wife, my life as I know it, and my county.  I got a little misty eyed.  By traveling to China,the rest of  my life will never be the same.  I have chosen to have this be a positive experience.  Why shouldn't it be.  New experiences, new friends, new things to do, new foods, new smells and the fear of walking in to a classroom and doing something you have never done before with no real preparation.  I guess this is kind of  what graduate school is like.
I have some ideas about how I want to conduct my class and will share those with you later.  I am also willing to listen to any ideas that anyone might have as to how best to teach Conversational English to Chinese students.
Thought for today, "Life is like a cigarette, smoke it to the butt."

My life in Xian, packing the suitcases

February 24, 1 AM, I will be flying out of Chicago to start the journey of a lifetime.  I have wanted to visit China for as long as I can remember and soon that dream will come true.  At Xian I will be teaching Conversational English to Chinese students and helping to supervise 23 college students from the College of Lake County.   I will also be in class to help me improve my Mandarin, and learn more about the Chinese culture.  I want to observe how welding is taught in China, and hope to spend some time in their metal sculpture lab. I have much to do before I leave.  I did want to write something and start the blog process.