Late at night you start to rise. & Ben-Floyd - Xiasha, China
Xiasha, China
Stole this blog title from a song I wrote long ago about the moon. But it is late at night and is quite rainy and misty. There is a certain beauty in the rain and sea mist that is impossible to describe. England knows
this feeling well. I am learning about it's subtle characteristics and finery of late. Sitting on the porch with the gentle mists falling all around is a sight to behold. This is not anything like the rain and mist that is experienced in North Texas. This is an ocean thing, and a world where dreams come all too easy. Hearing Pink Floyd's "Shine on you Crazy Diamond" seemed to hit the right spot.
Rained lightly for most of the day. My morning class went well as usual, then a 10 rmb lunch ($1.50) and a trip thru the cold soft rain in order to return to my house. I had dressed too lightly and was chilled to the bone, especially since the restaurant had the doors wide open in the 50 degree F weather. I crawled under the blankets, put on a DVD from the Discovery Channel, then laid around for the next 2.5 hours and brought my core temperature up to normal. I did dress a bit warmer for the return to the school and the 4 PM "English Corner", which is optional but I like doing it, since It is always a fun time. Went to dinner with my London buddy "Steve" and had an excellent dinner in a fancy place for less than 5 bucks. China is so many restaurants to choose from that one never really has to cook unless one wants to. I like more types of Chinese food than I used to, so the need to make every single meal is much less than it used to be. Plus, It's nice to get out of the tiny apartment and do something.
After two more hours enjoying the misty night, listening to Pink Floyd and reading an e-book onthe Autobiography of Ben Franklin, I came back to finish my writing for the night. I highly recommend any young person to read about what Ben was doing at the age of Seventeen. Unbelievable! Just download it from "Project Gutenberg" from an internet search. Ben was learning about all kinds of scholarly things, few of which I have managed to master. His descriptions about the different types of writing he learned are so far beyond my drivel attempts that I am humbled to even evoke his name. But as you read about Ben Franklin, I suggest you listen to "Pink Floyd" music; because it will allow you to swallow the bizarre life the "FRANK MAN" had goin' on back in his youth with some music from my own youth. Like peanut butter is to chocolate. Pink Floyd/Ben Franklin! never will they be separate!
Had my only full day of teaching for the week (by Western standards), and the nap between lunch and my final 1 1/2 hour class made it a breeze as usual. Had lunch with "Jimmie" the Chinese teacher: one of the few Chinese Buddhists I know, and my mate from London: Steve. Steve's wife is Chinese, as was his first wife many years back. Steve actually can pass for a Chinese person in looks to some extent. Very amicable lunch I must say, Jimmie is always go for some new information about China or Thailand (where he lived for 7 years), and Steve is great company all of the time. We had some Chinese round bread things with sloppy joe tasting and appearing for 5 rmb each. I am allowed bread and meat for lunch, since my breakfast is usually green tea and tangerines. I have been eating lots of cabbage and eggplant and have nearly cut out all processed sweets and carbs. No beer, soda, or hard liquor, just raw green tea leaves in water, unsweetened or a glass of red wine. I call this "The Chinese Diet" and hopefully will sell a million copies next year once my weight gets down to 180 pounds or so I can publish my Chinese diet book.
Another fun morning at the races from Xiasha to Xicheng. Took an hour, due to a massive wreck, but our trusty driver made up for it by going even faster than he usually does. Weaving in and around traffic and high-speed tailgating, makes for one scary as hell ride. I come very close to death each Friday but I only have another 7 weeks to up with it. Next semester I won't have to go there.
Heading to Suzhou tomorrow for an overnight school trip to some battlefield and a trip to the lake of the famous crabs. Should be only me and a bunch of Chinese English Teachers. It will be nice to hang with some colleagues whom I see but have never had the opportunity to meet. We also will get to sample the most famous crabs in China. The trip should be fun and of course I will provide you all with pictures and descriptions.