rupert and hannah

Well, it has been a long time since our last posting. I don't quite know why that is, but we have just been busy doing stuff, though what I don't know because I haven't got a lot to write about!

Well, since our trip to Sanya we have been spending time getting to know some of our students. We went to a Xinjiang province restaurant with a couple of third year students. There are a number of Muslim minorities in that province (who don't have it all that easy, but you don't here Al Quida blowing their lid about them, hmmm, wonder why..) and they make some great food. We had some kebabs from there, plus some real spicy chicken (which the students recon were not that spicy, yeah right, tell that to the raging inferno in my mouth dudes). One of the Muslim minorities are the Uighurs. Even though they are from the far north of China, there are quite a few of them in Haikou. We see them on the streets selling traditional Uighur food (yummy kebabs, scrumptious Nan bread and delicious but very sweet nougat (sorry, slipped into my namesake's character there for a second, go away Badger, now!). They are more open and friendly than the locals and always call out "Hello" when they see us (to get us to buy their stuff).

Anyway, the same weekend we also bought some bikes, since we need to do some exercise to regain our (well, my) Adonis-like figure (that I had when I was about, ermm, well, that I should have). We took a student to help us bargain. For a while we considered buying second hand, and inevitably stolen, bikes. You do get a very good deal, but most of the bikes have been cannibalised from various parts and it all felt a little dodgy. So we decided to get some new ones. Since Chinese people are not very tall, it was hard to find a bike that was actually big enough for me, but we eventually managed to get two pretty decent bikes. They are both mountain bikes, mine has front suspension and is blue with phunky yellow tires, Hannah’s is a nice metallic blue, all for only £45. Bargain. It has allowed us to cycle around our Uni. There are some really nice rides to do. There are massive bike and motorbike-only paths by the big and small rivers near our college and there are loads of little farms dotted along both rivers. Its great coz we get to see some rural life go by; people watering their small crops of greens, water buffalo wallowing in muddy ponds, naked boys playing in the river, naked homeless people having a wash and fishermen repairing their nets. One of these times we will remember to take our camera with us so we can show you guys some pictures.

Also of note recently is that Hannah has started Chinese calligraphy lessons, but I will leave that for her to tell you about later. We have continued to expand our DVD collection, we now own all of the series of Friends (on only 8 DVDs, the quality isn't perfect, but for 60p you can't complain), all of the series of 24, all of Lord of the Rings, all of StarWars (neither of the last two Hannah was keen on) and loads more stuff. Plus we have now watched all of the first series of Lost, not bad I suppose. The only problem is our TV has died, but that should be fixed soon.

Oh yeah, I am reliving my youth and have bought a skateboard, I have always wanted to have a proper skateboard, and, you know, when in China.....well, eat rice and spit on the floor, but anyway, I decided to get one. Sad, huh?

Last week, during English corner (where all the foreign teachers have to talk to any students from college that decide to turn up and ask us if we like China/Chinese food and if the UK is as hot as it is here) we met some students from a local school, a boy and a girl, who both spoke very good English. I gave the boy my e-mail address so we can "exchange greetings and letters and you can be my first foreign friend". In his first e-mail to me he said the following:

"How are you doing? I am a boy who spoke to you yesterday. Did you still remeber me? I am a very outgoing person, i like tell jokes, especially to listen others to tell. I like make friends with others.We can exchange our idea with each other and also can know a lot of things. I am also full of confidences, I think your GF is also very easygoing, i like her very much.but the not love. so don't get wrong with me. Ok? i also like you .
Please say hello to you GF. thank you!"

I have to say, I was very relieved (GF is girlfriend btw), since he was serious competition to me and I was scared that Hannah was going to run away with him, especially co he is five foot tall! Yeah. I think that girls are all he can think about, because when I first met him he asked me if my female students were attractive, then in his second e-mail he asked how he could get and keep a girlfriend. Bless his cotton socks and raging hormones!

Oh yeah, it was nice to hear that at least one of our PGCE buds has survived the first term intact, well done Jo. Now, what about the rest of you? Are you chaps ok?

Some good news on the music and China front. First off, we have found some dodgy places that sell some western music, it may mostly be German Techno and Trance and thrash metal, but it is a start. And secondly my students now know that Oasis and Coldplay exist and that there are more bands than just Westlife and the Spicegirls (sorry Pete, Franco and Al, I don't think they are quite ready for Black Rebel Motorcycle Club etc. yet, I haven't got any of their stuff anyway, but it is a start).

Well, that's enough for me, i gotta go and graze my knees as I try to forget the fact I am 28 and going a little grey round the edges.

Hope all is well in Blighty. We'll keep you updated on what it is like to catch Bird Flu. Blunket resigns again huh? Notice how things went bad for him ever since he changed his guide dog? Obviously the new one he got is some evil conniving power hungry Labrador.

Laters

# posted by Unknown @ 7:54 pm