Today is my last day in China as I’m flying out to NZ via Bangkok early tomorrow morning. In some ways I’m glad to be leaving, mainly because it won’t be cold in NZ. Wet most probably, but not cold! Although I should say that, relatively speaking, it hasn’t been that cold since we came back from Thailand – the daytime temperatures have been above 0ºC. Positively balmy☺
It’ll be hard to go in some ways, mostly because Mel won’t be coming home with me as she has another month or so to go before coming home. Not so long I suppose, but it always sucks to be apart.
The best bit is that I’ve got a job to go back to. I accepted a Geography/Social Studies position at Fraser High in Hamilton. Fraser has about 2000 students, which was kind of intimidating when I did my teacher prac there early last year. Most of the kids are pretty good though and I thought the management team did a good job running such a big school. I think it’ll be tough but I’m looking forward to. Especially getting paid!
Beijing is a fascinating place. While there is an amazing sense of history here, it is developing so quickly. The area that Mel’s office is in consists mainly of buildings under construction – I would guess that there is a minimum 25-30 buildings in various stages of completion. And that is just one area of the city. Of course, preparation for the Olympics is driving a lot (maybe most?) of the development. The people seem to be very excited about the Olympics, although there are some who are unhappy that some of the historic elements of the city are being demolished.
Mind you, this is nothing new. A lot of the old city wall and gates were dismantled in the 50s and 60s. This was done to make way for new roads, and to make use of the stone in other building projects. A bit sad I suppose, but this is something that has happened in a lot of places all over the world.
People who’ve been here for a few years say they find it difficult to comprehend the pace of changes – especially on the roads. A friend who was here in 1998 told me that traffic essentially consisted of taxis, buses and trucks. And a gazillion bicycles! Basically no one owned private cars. Now something like 2000 new cars appear on the road everyday in China. This makes for a lot of chaos on the roads, because people really don’t have much of an idea about how traffic should run. Still, there is some sort of organization - at a very, very basic level.
Anyhoo, here are some lists:
Coolest places/things in China (in no particular order).
1. The Great Wall – even though it was a renovated section, it was still very impressive. To build this where they did and when they did is just amazing!
2. Real live cadavers at the Natural History Museum – very, very cool in a morbid way.
3. Chairman Mao’s Mausoleum – short and sweet, but free and interesting just to watch all the people lining up.
4. Tiananmen Square – so big!!
5. Lots of cheap stuff – e.g. half a kilo of fresh, handmade noodles for ¥4 (equal to NZ$ 0.74. Yep. 74 cents!), or tailor made shirts (copies of my favourites!) for NZ$20 in 36 hours.
Crappest places/things in China (again, in no particular order).
1. The state of toilets – even in new buildings the toilets reeked. And it’s not like they don’t get cleaned. I know that public toilets generally aren’t the most salubrious of places. Even at home. But similar places in Thailand didn’t smell as bad. Can’t imagine what it’s like in summer!
2. People spitting – everybody spits in China. Men, women and children. Everywhere. All the time. Slipping on frozen loogies is not cool!!
3. Pushy people – mostly Chinese, but also Russians too (there are a lot of Russians around the area we live in). Standing in line at to buy subway tickets while other people just stick their hands through the window and yell at the staff is really frustrating!
4. The local pedicab guys still yelling at me in Chinese, English, Russian and Korean. After I’ve said no. 2 or 3 times a day. You’d think they’d get the message after 3 months!
5. The cold! I know Beijing isn’t as cold as some places (the Russians seem pretty comfortable) and we do have central heating. But having to get kitted up to go anywhere is frustrating. Especially because you have to get unkitted when you get back inside.
Ooh. Just thought of another cool place – the Forbidden City. This place is huge!! 1 000 000 square metres!! I didn’t see a lot of it as I had stuff to do in the afternoon, but it was very cool. Even though some of the most important places were covered with scaffolding as they’re being renovated for the Olympics. Standing on the balcony where Chairman Mao made his speeches was quite cool, although it was kind of scary visualising Tiananmen Square full of people for the military parades for their national holidays and stuff.
And one more crap thing – beggars! I understand that some of these people do it really tough, but it’s hard to be convinced when the guy with crutches, slings them over his shoulder when he thinks you’re not looking and jogs off to chat to his mate. They also look pretty healthy in general and move very, very quickly when they see people coming. Actually, it occurred to me today that I have never seen any people with genuine mobility problems begging.
One thing though, is that they’re not picky about who they hassle – Chinese or foreign. And hassle you they do. I had one guy drop his crutch to run after me and wedge himself in the door of the taxi I was getting into. I had to fully shove him out of the way. Strong bugger he was too. I’ll give money to buskers and the like. But people who sit around doing nothing and then get abusive and hostile when you don’t give then anything can go and get @$^%#& as far as I’m concerned.
Sorry!! I’ve been crapping on a bit haven’t I? I want to put some more pictures up when I can. I’ve seen some excellent examples of Chinglish. Very funny!
CHEERS
TONE
No comments:
Post a Comment