Singles Day

Happy belated Veteran’s and Armistice Day to you and happy belated singles Day from Hangzhou,

While the rest of the world reveres the triumph, defeat, and struggle through history China seems to have found it’s own meaning for 11-11. The holiday is ‘unofficial’ and celebrated by the younger generation. What the celebration entailed was at least for me, nothing special…a night at the movies with some new friends.

Since last being in touch I hope that all has been well as the New Year fast approaches. China of course, celebrates its own new year, the Spring Festival. Unfortunately, this means that this year will be a white (rice) Christmas and holiday season. However, according to the Chinese Calendar 2010 will be the year of the tiger, of which I an all others in the 12 year pattern will enjoy good fortune. So I figure that while making into through 3 months of blue holiday season will be worth 12 months of good luck.

So far so good in teaching. They’ve given me a stamp of approval and ‘foreign expert permit’ which means that I am officially worth keeping around for a year. In addition my ‘personable’ teaching methods has led to several fans, both faculty and students. And one student in particular seems to have taken a liking. Because she comes from a graphic design class full of ‘creative’ people please do not misconceive her choosing of the English name ‘Devil’ as anything more than self-expression. Needless to say I insisted she and ‘Whiskey, the letter ‘W’, and Bottle” also change their names, to which she choose the most logical alternative…Jacqueline. Sorry, Aunt Jackie! Getting back to the story Jacqueline stays after class one day and asks me if I eat meat…on the bone, to which I reply, ‘Yes’. The next class she returns with the flattering gift of…3 duck heads, nicely cooked and marinated. I have since gone back to using her original name.

Other entertaining stories include having a photo featured in the local foreigner magazine with a couple of ‘side-shots’. It turned out me and some colleagues were simply in the right place at the right time at another colleague’s sculpture exhibition. However, even more amusing from this week’s edition of ‘More’ magazine was an open, back-page advertisement for a local football club.

And I quote, “The newly formed Hangzhou Football Club (current membership: 1) is looking for new players to fill its squad. Overweight, talentless smokers preferred, but we will consider people with genuine skill and fitness. If we can scrape together 11 players, we can join a local league. Any level of ability and health accepted.” Maybe I’ll give them a call.

Of course there are new photos too, I hope you remember your snapfish account info.
http://www5.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=2166031008/a=56536267_56536267/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/