The Bad News: We have school for 10 straight days before the 12th! We just finished day 4, 6 to go!
I don't understand why they do it - it almost seems like a competition to see which school can keep their kids in the longest. I asked the students what's the longest period of days they've gone to school straight without a break and they said 14 days. They just accept it and don't question it at all. The parents don't mind because they really don't take an active role in raising their kids (the grandparents do most of it) and so it's fewer days they have to deal with them. Of course the teachers, both Chinese and ex-pats, don't like it but are powerless to do anything about it...
The new look: It's the snake fang mask:
We actually had a light snow last week - maybe .5 to 1 inch. It cleared the air for a while, but we have had a few days of moderate to heavy pollution. People did drive less, and were more cautious - a nice change of pace!
So my tentative plans for the New Year are to hang around Xián until the 19th (that's the actually New Year) and then fly out to Vietnam (the flights are really cheap on the new year day itself). From Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) I fly to an island called Pho Quoc. They are supposed to have some good snorkeling and scuba diving there so I hope to get some of that in. Other than that, my intention is not to travel around much but just relax, read and swim in some warm weather. I return back to Xián on March 2. School resumes on March 7 (I know, a Saturday!) but I will actually not have to be there as I am going to an AP conference in Suzhou that weekend (it's outside of Shanghai).
We ate at a really nice Indian restaurant on Saturday. I didn't take any pictures but I'm sure we'll go back there. It's in an incredible mall that has very elaborate decor. Sky commented that the meat didn't have any bones in it (Chinese meat is full of bones), and we informed him that that is the way that most people prefer it! He agreed that it was nice not to have to deal with picking out the bones...
We have been embroiled in school the last couple weeks with controversy over teaching hours, loads, evaluations and grading. It could get interesting. I'm refraining from making any predictions on what will happen as I've discovered the Chinese to be very unpredictable. We foreign teachers are feeling powerless and treated as though we are just window dressing. There is certainly an amount of truth
to that. The center in Xián is very unique for the company I'm working for - it is the only one where the Chinese and foreign teachers attempt to share classes. To say that's a challenge is an understatement!I just paid my 2nd rent installment (you pay for 6 months in advance). It's quite a chunk but then at least you don't have to worry about it for a while...
This is the year of the Sheep. That happens to be what I am! If it's the year of your animal, you're supposed to wear red pants on the New Year (Feb. 19). Dang it! I'll be on a plane to Vietnam!
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