dream out loud

My shipment from New York is here! It feels like Christmas came early this year. I don’t know if this sounds shallow, but I’m this happy because now I have more household items and don’t have to feel like I’m camping. Everything is actually intact. It’s funny to think about how far these boxes have traveled. They smell a bit like they’ve been in a container for quite some time. (Two months to be exact)

According to my good friend Wikipedia, a Chinese fire drill is “a pejorative expression usually referring to a prank, or perhaps an expression of high spirits, that was popular in the United States during the 1960s. It is performed when a car is stopped at a red traffic light, at which point all of the car’s occupants get out, run around the car, and return to their own seats.” Therefore, “the expression ‘Chinese Fire Drill’ is the act of a group of individuals accomplishing nothing. The term is also used as a figure of speech to mean any large, ineffective, and chaotic exercise.”

Well, after today, I really can’t be offended by this colloquial expression.

Ever since I’ve been here I’ve been put in situations, circumstances or events that give me a sense of confusion, disbelief, horror, or amusement. I call these my “I live in China” moments. On rare and special occasions, I am fortunate enough to experience all of those reactions at one time. As was the case today!

So the school had told us in advance that we would have a fire drill during which the local Chinese fire department would come, set off smoke bombs, create fake fires, create and extinguish an actual, contained fire. The pièce de résistance would be the simulated rescue of a student. We all wondered who dreamt this up and why it would be a good idea.

A little background. Last week, we had a fire drill without the bells and whistles, perhaps a dry run, if you will. I told my students about it, but a few who don’t speak much English became very worried and tears flowed. I got very distressed about it and wondered how they would take the fake fires. But we were lucky to have this practice practice prepare them for the real fake thing.

So back to today. Our 10am scheduled drill was running late (I later found out that the fire department forgot the impostor incendiary stuff and went back to get it) I had planned for the kids to have a transition just before 10 so it would cause as little disruption as possible. So 10 came and went, without the alarm going off. There I was, reading Shel Silverstein’s Runny Babbit to kill time. I finally had to give up and have them to do some independent work – and the alarm finally sounded at 10:30.

By the time we got to the first floor, I already smell smoke and the kids are covering their noses. Outside, we see this orange smoke/flame action going on. My kids are so distracted by this sight that they are amused and laughing. We find our Grade 2 post to sit down at and watch the firefighters run inside the building, put out the smoky thing. Then just a few feet from us, they start a fire inside this giant metal bowls, then put them out with a fire extinguisher. However, they didn’t use them correctly. Another thing I later found out was that closer to the field, someone dropped a fire extinguisher, causing it to explode.

Accompanying this spectacle were photographers and videographers. I am so disappointed that I didn’t capture this with my camera and hope to have an opportunity to do so. Because you probably don’t believe any of this.

These days, I don’t seem to have it together enough to have themed blog posts so just a smattering of thoughts here.

Good news from our community (a special hello to friends out there who “get” that one)

My parents got my diploma in the mail today! My dad promptly scanned it in for me. For some reason, I am thrilled about this document, which ultimately doesn’t mean very much. I am almost considering printing it out and hanging it up. After all, this is China… what’s wrong with a bootleg diploma?

Today was the 27th day of school. I’ve been pretty stressed about planning but just today felt an overall sense of relief. Even though things will be busy, I have a feeling that things will work out. This afternoon, my class went on a nature hunt outside on the campus, which was a lot of fun. I was happy to get them up and moving and doing something different.

Welcome to my pseudo-niece – really my second cousin! This is a little belated…

R & G moved into my building. It’s kind of fun to have them as neighbors. Even though their apartment is nicer than mine.

Going to Shanghai on Saturday.

Some photos are up on my Flickr site.

Planning is underway for December 2008 travel.

Not so good news…

I am pretty sure my application for the absentee ballot is not going to make it on time. Well, at least I don’t live in a swing state. Gobama!

I have not been able to watch the debates, mostly because I have been too busy. I think they are on YouTube. Hunting down episodes of The Office online is difficult too.

I forgot my parents’ anniversary last Sunday, which I always remember. It was because it always near Columbus Day and since I am not in the United States, I didn’t get my reminder. For future reference, their anniversary is the same as the Clintons’.

Facebook is too finicky in China and I have not been able to upload photos to show you.

My landlord is being a jerk and is unwilling to accommodate any of my requests. I understand that not every one can be met, but a little compromise here?

I was just saying that living in my bubble, I often forget that I live in China. In case there was ever any doubt, a few reminders. First of all, I sit here hitting the Great Firewall of China every time I reload to see The Office or even my own photos online.

Yesterday, I was on line to pay at Auchan. In front of me was a baby sitting the shopping cart with mommy and grandma ogling. Babies in China don’t wear diapers, just pants with a gaping hole in the crotch and back. Ever since we’ve been here, we all wonder about how a person can safely hold a baby that way. So, LP was waiting in the line next to me. She turns to me and says, I still don’t understand how people know when the baby is going to pee. No sooner does she that and I hear some laughter and the grandma jumps backwards. There is splash and it only takes me a split second to jump backwards myself. This little boy is peeing! I turn to LP – Um, so apparently this is how you know. I didn’t know what to make of it but a little bit hit the front of my jeans and my shoes.

Today I went to the bank to wire some money and the guy helping me out later asked, as I was leaving, if he could call me sometime. But his English name is Peter Pan.

So, yeah, I live in China.

I continue to buy yogurt, which is supposed to be safe now. But I’ve also been told that it’s so New York of me that I don’t subscribe to mass hysteria. Note my photo here of the well-stocked dairy aisle that lacks customers.

Also, I think my blog is too boring since I don’t have many pictures up. That’s because the upload usually fails. I have some photos of Suzhou life here