So here goes:

Questions asked by foreigners about China.

1.Don’t all Chinese people look the same?- maybe at first but not after you know a lot of them.

2.Don’t they eat rats/dogs/cats/snakes -No.Maybe in some far-flung remote villages or in the 1950s when people were starving.But not in our experience.

3.Don’t you miss home? -sometimes,but not nearly as much as we were expecting.We sometimes hanker for bluer skies,hummus,falafel.But we have found all of these foods here and since we speak to our family a lot on Skype we are fine staying here a bit longer.

4.Can you speak/read Chinese? No. We are trying but it is really really hard. We can now order food,we know how to say where we are from and what we do,and ask the price of things,ask for larger,smaller,less expensive etc. We can’t really have much of a conversation.

5..When are you going home? We don’t know… the plan is we have no plan.

6.Is Chinese difficult? Yes,Very. As a linguist I was shocked at how difficult it is,and before we came I thought in a couple of months I would be able to chat,as I have done in almost every country we have visited. However I have come to realize this is not to be.

7.Do you know how to use chopsticks? Yes

8.Do you like Chinese food? Mostly,although i don’t like Chinese breakfast (porridge,fried dough sticks,milk tea) and I will NOT eat chicken feet or stinky tofu. However there are many dishes that I really love. And of course Chinese food is like saying “European Food” as there are different foods in every region,and China as we know is VERY BIG.

9.Don’t the police follow you around/control your movements? NO.WE can go anywhere we like.

10.Aren’t you frightened? No.The Chinese are extremely helpful and friendly and frequently go with you to show you where to go.China is a very safe country,hey nobody here walks into a cinema and just shoots people.

Poison Bar,near Xiamen University

Questions Chinese people ask us:

1.Why did you come to China?

We love travel and we came here in 2008 and realized that 3 weeks wasn’t enough and we wanted to see and learn more. Chinese people were so friendly to us then that we wanted to return.

2.Do you like China?

Yes of course,China is fascinating and every day we learn or see something new. The country is so vast and varied and we can visit many interesting places here.

Plus the school is very kind to us,gives us a salary,an apartment and our flight money so living here is a very good deal compared to most other countries.

3.What do you think about Chinese people? See above.

4.Can you use chopsticks? Yes.

5.Do you miss your family/hometown.Sometimes.See above.

6.How do you manage with the language?

We have learnt some important coping mechanisms eg. Dictionary on mobile phone,sending text messages with address in Chinese to show to people on the street,a printed page with our home address on it to show taxi drivers, etc. You have to master google maps,find out names of bus stops in Chinese and then you can manage pretty well.

(God bless the Internet)

7.What is your country like?  This is a hard one to answer.Sometimes we just show pictures,sometimes we say it is very small.The people are different,the food is different.But frankly some things cannot be given a short answer.

8,Do you know X (insert name of Chinese basketball star/singer/movie star)? No ,sorry.

9.How can I improve my Oral English? Go and talk to some foreigners,there are lots in XIamen,join couchsurfing and meet people there,find a friend and do language exchange,go to English corner at University,watch more movies without subtitles.

That’s it for now.You are invited to add your own questions.

Weather here is really hot and sultry now with the occasional downpour and thunderstorm. i love it ,D is suffering. We have started a Yoga Class twice a week (in Chinese!) run by a lady who has a ballet school for kids downstairs in the building next to ours.She has studied in Paris and so I talk to her in French which is a little bizarre.

Pictures from the Shavuot thing:

Chinese dude with kippa

On another note we are now testing our students for the end of the semester.Then we will hand in our paperwork and hop off to South Korea for 3 weeks,and then back to Israel via Hong Kong.Roll on end of the semester.We were invited to a Shavuot Dinner at the house of an israeli businessman who lives in XIamen Island.Suffice it to say that the dinner was very weird,with a very strange assortment of people,but we did enjoy meeting Tanya and Adi,a young couple who are coming to stay with us next weekend to experience the Jimei Dragon Boat race at the Jimei Dragon Pool.They are also on couchsurfing and seem very lovely.The rest of the people there were not “our kind of people”.The food however was awesome.

That’s it for now.

So we are now busily testing students orally in each class and chasing up students who are missing (I have one in hospital with a broken leg) and starting to fill in grades.

This means that effectively by 14th June we are done here and can travel! Yippee!

At the moment our plan is to go to South Korea for 3 weeks then fly back to Hong Kong and on to Israel on July 16th.What to do with all of our stuff? Well since we are assuming all will be well and we can come back here next semester,we can leave stuff in our apartment. Do we need to take stuff home for the summer? Not really…but maybe we should take some stuff just in case “something happens” and we don’t make it back? All very difficult as we do NOT want to schlepp all our stuff halfway across Asia. We were contemplating going to Korea by way of Taiwan but then we can always visit Taiwan next year as we are staying in Xiamen.

We have also joined an organization called “Servas” (www.servas.org) at our friends’ Renee and Barry’s recommendation.This organization is a hosting and friendship travel group,kind of like an adult’s version of couchsurfing, (www.couchsurfing.org) with groups all over the world.We have already contacted some people in Seoul whom we hope to stay with there.The idea is not just to get a free place to crash,but to foster world trust,understanding and cross cultural meetings.It sounds pretty cool anyway.

Stay posted for our developing travel plans!

At KTV with Hamburger,Jennifer,Jen and Brie

The next day he felt a bit better so we went off to Gulangyu island,and it being a Saturday the island was crowded to bursting point,very different to our experience the previous times we have been there.I think they still had a good time,but I found it a bit disappointing.Then Renee and Barry returned to Shanghai on the Sunday morning fast train,Barry feelng much better.And on Monday night I was felled by this terrible bug.I am sure you can appreciate that when you get sick the last thing you want is to be in some foreign land without home comforts and doctors who understand you.In addition,D had a weird burning sensation on his leg making it hard for him to walk.So this morning,Friday,instead of having a day off we took a taxi to the Taiwanese hotel in Haicang that we have visited before.3 hours later we headed home each with a collection of pharmaceuticals to take for our various ailments.Tomorrow should be a Saturday but due to the May 1st weekend we have to work Saturday and Sunday to make up for having off Monday and Tuesday.! Crazy,right/ Well this is China.At least we are over half way through the semester.And if my calculations are right by June 13 we will be done with teaching and paperwork and we can head off into the sunset to …hmmm,South Korea? Japan? Taiwan? Xinjiang? Yunnan? WE just don’t know yet.We have a month before our flight home July so we shall be going somewhere.Assuming my innards are okay of course!

Fuxing Park

Next day we met up again and this time went to walk in Tianzifang Art Market where we met Yossi Sedbon, the former Chief of Tel Aviv Police,whom we recognized from the TV. This market was too crowded and so we decided to head off to another area, the famous Shanghai neighbourhood called the French Concession.It is great,with some lovely architecture and an almost European feel to it.We found the beautiful Fuxing Park which had the most wonderful trees,a lake and people doing Tai Chi and couples doing ballroom dancing.The whole place was serene and gorgeous.We headed back to the Bund in the evening and went to the Peace Hotel as we had done the previous visit with Renee and Barry and again enjoyed the Jazz there.

European Style house in French Concession

Tai Chi in the Park

Now we are back in XIamen looking forward to Renee and Barry’s visit here next weekend.Tomorrow our department is taking us on a trip to the Botanical Gardens followed by a Buffet Lunch on the island.The sun is shining but everyone at XMUT is just gossipping about who is going and who is staying next semester and nobody seems to know what is true.Some have definitely signed and some have just started looking for work elsewhere.The atmosphere is pretty weird.We are leaning towards staying even though only I have been offered a job. We feel that we are not done with Xiamen yet.We feel comfortable here in the apartment and the city is great.WE have made friends here.Time will tell…..

It’s all very mysterious but apparently in Chinese culture it’s bad for to say no to people in person and better to just say nothing and let them draw their own conclusions. Needless to say we feel a massive cultural gulf in this situation and we don’t really undestand what we are supposed to do.We may go elsewhere or just go home.

Today it’s pouring with rain (although warm) and seems to match my mood.We are supposed to go away next weekend for a long weekend as it is Qing Ming (Tomg Sweeping Festival) but since D has not yet got his passport back from the police we can’t buy triain tickets yet.We are planning on heading down to Guangzhou and Huizhou,a city which our neighbour Shannon has much praise for,as he taught there last year. It may be our new home but the way things are looking right now everything is unclear.

Socially we have met some more nice people-a Chinese teacher called Michael who wants to hang out with us,Laura another member of our department who lives on the island with her husband and came to see one of my classes and David Liu also a deaprtment teacher who has tried to find out for us what is going down,but not with much success.

Last week I went for an interview at a place called “Xiamen City University” which was more of a Polytechnic or Vocational College.It was pretty nice but they have only one job there and they have small rooms for teachers and give only a little subsidy for an apartment off campus and flats in Xiamen are REALLY expensive to rent.

We have sniffed around Jimei University and Huaqiao University here in Jimei but nobody seems to know if they are hiring yet so it’s the same all over.

That’s about it for now.Looking forward to our friends Renee and Barry coming down next month to visit from Shanghai. Hope it stops raining by then.

XMUT sports day (when it wasn’t raining)

We plan to go to visit Taiwan at some point and Wuyi Mountain a scenic place in the north of Fujian Province.Jennifer said she would love to go with us. Not much else is new,same routine with every day being an adventure here as before. We feel pretty comfortable here and would be happy to stay but we could also move elsewhere.Either way things are good.

On arrival at Macau ferry terminal we wanted to take a free shuttle but were too tired and the bags were too heavy so we just cheated and got a cab to our hotel the Metropole, in the Old Town, not on the Cotai strip where all the casinos are.The hotel was lovely except for one thing-it was being renovated and it was rather bizarre to look out of the bedroom window and see a workman with a yellow hard hat standing on bamboo scaffolding! The noise was not so bad but we couldn’t open the window or really relax in the room.So that was a bit of a bummer. Nevertheless we went out into Macau Old town to sample the strange mix of Portuguese and Chinese cultures. Next thing we notice-cars drive on the left? Why is that ? We have been to Portugal and it was not the case there. Macau old town was delightful- clean and lively with the streets still decorated from the Chinese New Year.

We saw the ruins of St Paul’s which was beautiful and just strolled around town and had a great Portuguese style meal.Then we took a bus to the Cotai area where all the huge casinos are and looked around the kitschy Venetian like the one in Las Vegas. It is a mockup of Venice complete with fake gondolas and fake painted sky, lots of casinos of course and also very luxury shops.

THe next day we had intended to do a bit more sightseeing before moving on to Shenzhen but as it turned out the shuttle to the port was at 11.30 so we decided to go with that and take the 12.15 sailing to Shenzhen. It was a quick trip but the sea was a bit bumpier than on our arrival.ON reaching Shenzhen we took the subway straight to our hotel,the Sunon Villa which was great,slap bang on the pedestrian mall of Shenzhen where you can buy anything and everything. We walked around a bit,bought a few things and went back to rest in the room. Then went out to eat and had a great day.Next morning we got up and took the subway to OCT (Overseas Chinese Town) to visit Splendid China,which is a sort of Mini China-all the famous sites of the country in miniature.

Fake Mosque for Xinjiang Province

Minority group show-Va people

IT was also kitschy but endearing especially the people-watching and waving and taking photos with mums,dad,grandparents etc. We especially enjoyed the mockups of the ethnic Chinese villages,with their folklore shows. We saw three of these demonstrations of minority group customs and the highlight was the Mongol battlefield show complete with costumed riders with lances and other weapons reenacting various battles and horses jumping over flames and other obstacles.I found it thrilling and almost felt I was 6 years old again watching it.

Splendid China Kitsch

Next day we flew back to Xiamen and got here early in the morning ready for our new semester which will begin on Monday.

It was great to be met at the airport by our younger son,to hear what he has been up to,and to spend time with my Dad,and my brothers and see all the family together for my brother’s birthday.But now we feel that we are in the way.The boys have their own lives to lead,and really don’t need us around.My dad is doing fine and is okay with us going back.

Today is Chinese New Year, and although we planned not to be there during that festival I am a little disappointed now I see it all on the TV that we will be missing the festivities.So maybe we will stay put next year and see them for ourselves,wherever we are.

We did have some fun here.We went to see a couple of movies and we are gong to a concert this week. But we kept checking the prices in the restaurants and shops and comparing to Chinese prices. We spent some time with friends of ours from Xiamen who came to visit, Steve and Viny, who are of the Bahai faith and came to Israel to go on a pilgimage to their temple in Haifa. We showed them around Jerusalem a bit,went with them to Yad Vashem,to Ein Karem,Abu Gosh and the Tayelet to see the views of the Old City.

We also had a coffee with Aliza and Shimon who will be joining us at XMUT next semester.So that was fun too.So roll on next Monday when we get on the plane and go back to Xiamen via Hong Kong,Macau and Shenzhen.

Steve and Viny visit Abu Gosh

dancing at the Havana Bar

.At the countdown the new year we all got up and danced,to various things including Gangnam style (of course) and even YMCA! It was a riot.About an hour later,Jennifer and the other Jimei people left to get a taxi home,and a bit later around 2pm we and Ivy and her friend stood outside to get a taxi home,which took some doing. Eventually we grabbed one (there were dozens of people there trying to catch a cab) and got back to our guest house near Zhongshan park.

But unfortunately,even though it was not too cold outside,the inside of the room was freezing,and the heater seemed to blow out cold not hot air. We tried to sleep all night and didn’t succeed,Mr. Piglet claimed he had no blanket all night,and at 8am we got up rather frazzled and took the BRT back home,regretting the 300 RMB we had spent on the room,when we could have got back to our bed and slept warmly and comfortably. I swear I will listen to Mr Piglet in future (New Year’s Rsolution number 1).Pictures to follow when uploaded.

Of course the first one everyone is thinking about is toilets.Yes I know you all envision horrid holes in the ground and so forth. Now for me this has been a real eye-opener. I mean yes they are all squats,and no you don’t get toilet paper and towels.But actually I have found the squats to be frequently a lot cleaner than public toilets back home and frankly now I am used to it and go everywhere with tissues and wipes in my bag it really is not an issue. Plus,public toilets are in abundance in China unlike the West,and they are mostly cleaned on a regular basis. Compare that to France (5* hotel with crappy facilities out back) or our beloved Tahana Merkazit in Tel Aviv.

People fall asleep all over the place -just about anywhere

Spitting and other weird public “waste disposal”-okay I admit this one still grosses me out.I mean it’s not even so much the spitting but more the accompanying hoicking noise which I really hate. also little kids peeing in public I find a bit harder to take.

Pavements- (or for my US readers “sidewalks”) tend to be disastrous in China. I don’t know why they insist on having the guidelines for the blind down the middle of the pavement when I have yet to see a single blind person walking down the sidewalk using it to navigate.It is just bizarre.

Shoddy building and plumbing- buildings have no insulation and therefore get too hot and too cold,and frequently have an unfinished feel to them.The plumbing doesn’t work and of course the tap water is undrinkable,and here in Xiamen has a weird colour. Of course all these things have solutions,but this seems to be something that is hard to fix in China. I am not sure why.

Fireworks- well this doesn’t really bother me but some people find it hard to take,things going bang at all hours of the day and night especially Saturday morning 7am.

Language- well of course being a foreigner here and not being able to read anything or make yourself understood is a serious drawback.It can sometimes be frustrating, difficult and really annoying to feel like an illiterate idiot.But I can hardly blame China for that one,right?

Overcrowding and pushing- well again here there are SO many people it is really not the fault of the Chinese that there are so many of them and they are trying to fix this problem.

But the upshot of it is that when you go to get on the bus or train there tend to be a lot of other people there doing the same thing,not to mention at festivals and holidays when travelling is really not recommended.

Weird foods- well of course for me one of the attractions of travelling is trying weird foods. But in China some of them just don’t appeal to me- in fact breakfast here sucks in my humble opinion. Eating chicken feet,stinky tofu or durian fruit just don’t do it for me.

I am sure there are many other things that would bother others here,for me those are the main things.Hope this has enlightened and made you realize that i am not turning into a brainwashed Commie or anything. Stay tuned for the New Years’ Eve bash.

Weird sign on Gulangyu ferry boat -not entirely sure what they mean!