The start of things always sets me back: It use to be the start of a school year or term. So much to do, so little time. Now it’s a “real” job (there are some who believe that teaching overseas is not a real job. News Flash: It is.). A desk covered in cameras, flashes, and odds and ends, emails, blog posts, memos, instructions, and a hard drive full of JPEGs.
My posts here have been erratic. I’m not only trying to transition to a new career but this place too. I have no new humorous classroom tales, no stories of drunken foreign teachers, no deep insights. But, I can tell you about the AV/USB jack on the new Canon 7D.
Some random tidbits instead of anything meaty:
1) I now have hot water in my second apartment. Drawback: I have to stand with one foot on either side of the “squatter” to shower. A small price to pay for a hot shower. I had a blog post written about my DIY shower project, to avoid the “shower in the bucket.” I waited too long to post.
2) I also have a fridge. Now I have the ability to keep beer cold instead of drinking it right after buying it.(Come on, like that will happen.) I may use the empty fridge box to build a fort of some kind.
3) I’ve gone back to the gym after a one month absence. Pain is now my constant companion.
4) In an average week I am fed six pounds of rice over three days at the factory cafeteria. (That estimate is conservative.)
5) My translator/assistant is a fresh-faced 22-year-old. She stands too close to me and makes me uncomfortable.
6) One of my co-workers has an infectious laugh. Imagine Eddie Murphy’s laugh, combined with Helium and crystal meth.
7) My Chinese has expanded beyond vulgar things to say to wayward taxi drivers.
8 ) When I use to work until 8:30 pm I dreamed about a job with normal hours. Now, I’m incredibly bored and go to bed early.
9) I don’t like sleeping alone. My stuffed pig was lost in my last move.
10) I’ve watched both seasons of True Blood and am upset I have to wait for more.
11) My battle discussions with Mrs. Stevo about getting a dog are not progressing well.
12) To kill the time I’ve considered having a Qipao (see photo at right) tailored and taking a series of self-portraits in drag.
13) I thank the universe for Facebook and Twitter although I really hate both of them.
14) The Chinese dentist I went to was 1000-times better than any dentist I ever saw in Canada. I can’t say the same for the doctors.
Love the photo! Is that the 3D effect you’ve been playing with?
4) Got a stomach ache just reading it.
5) *snicker* Introduce Mrs Stevo to her.
11) Promise the dog will go with you, so she doesn’t have to care for it. That could solve your sleeping alone problem too.
.-= Shawn´s last blog ..I Will Praise Him In This Storm =-.
2) you should build a fort and then create a He-man Woman Hater’s Club inside it … and let me join.
5) I’m guessing Mrs. Stevo would make short work of that problem.
12) That’s … frightening.
13) How I hate Facebook so. I hate it with a passion! And yet people back home continue to try to contact me through it, even though I never respond because I can’t get on!
.-= Graham´s last blog ..Why I am Never Going Back to Kashgar =-.
Shawn: Guilty – the technique is called HDR.
Graham: Frightening? I’d make a handsome woman. Maybe, to the partially sighted.
Love the wall…
Number 5 is a recurring theme if I remember my Asian Rambling history, no? 😉
Make sure to send a heads up before number 12 happens… please… 😉
R(etc… )
.-= Ron in L.A.´s last blog ..Dancing Up A Storm =-.
Oh Ron. Why don’t you like my self-portraits?
Be careful what you wish for re: dog it’s a lot of work in the beginning and for someone who hasn’t bought in 100%…well…lets just say it adds interesting ‘colour’ to any relationship :o) although it is a good practice run for future little Stevos…good luck!
So true. No little Stevo’s, please.
Great list!
#4 – why aren’t the locals obese?
#5 – what is it about chinese and no concept of personal space?
#10 – just recently watched both series of True Blood – great show
#14 – had my check up and cleaning last week – all clear and the guy was great
.-= Quickroute´s last blog ..A Scarey HAIRY Tale =-.
Coo.
No personal space? ’cause there’s 1.4 billion people living in one country. A lot like 6 pm Friday afternoon at the Central Station – times infinity.
This was certainly a meaty post!
The picture is wonderful. I’ve missed looking at your pics on my big 19 inch monitor at home instead of this tiny 7 inch notebook screen. I can’t wait to get home so I can look again.
.-= Corina´s last blog ..Heading Home =-.
Have a safe trip home, Corina.
I know so many people hooked on True Blood. Haven’t seen it yet.
Nice HDR shot by the way
.-= Lola´s last blog ..Latest Articles and Musings =-.
Thanks, Lola. True Blood is quite good.