Chinastuff

China's is a gift giving culture, so one invariably comes back to the US with an array of presents from friends, colleagues and former students: scarves, cups, scrolls, teacups, Chinese opera masks, decorative boxes. There are so many of them!

We recently moved, and I found a passel of Chinapresents in one of the boxes. It was like clearing out after Christmas. We're pressed for storage space in the new place, and there isn't time to regift, I'll be donating some of these items.

Below:
A sample of chinastuff I have to get rid of.  

Welcome for the next eight years

My Chinese visa read "Valid from April 2015 to April 2025." I thought it was a mistake, and I applied for a new one anyway.  Most of the time, Chinese visas are granted for one visit only, though it's possible to obtain a multiple entry visa, especially for business.

The visa agent told me the ten year visa was valid, though she could not say why I'd been granted one.  A stroke of luck.  While visas to China cost only $140, there are associated fees of about $100 in addition.  American visas are slightly more-- from 160 to 190 USD, but the Chinese consider them very expensive because of the exchange rate.

Below:
My ten year visa

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Going Back!

I'd expected to return to China last summer, but the offer fell through.  I presumed the problem was my retired status coupled with what was considered my advanced age.  Though I still teach part time, I am older than the People's Republic of China-- I was born in 1948.The Chinese are skeptical about the ability of older people to work. When I was invited to University Shandong at Weihai this year, administrators  inquired if there was a mistake in my birthdate. I assured them there wasn't, but since I'd worked for them before, they knew what I could do.  I'll be teaching American English.

Chinese women are required to retire at age 55.  Though Senior citizens are deeply respected in China, many are subject to a disorder called 'post-retirement depression.'

Below: The map of China and a banned political cartoon. Note the birth date.

 

Frustrations of travel

                     On a trip to the public gardens in Weihai, John and Brittany became horribly ill and had to grab taxis to our hotel.  Shelley had been ill several days with the flu but was finally better after a trip to the doctor.  Zane was ill too and had not come along.

                      Everyone’s better now which is a relief, because this evening we commence a 16 hour train ride to Beijing.  We’ll be in Beijing overnight and then take the plane home to America.

In pursuit of beauty

                 The women were have been experimenting with Chinese beauty treatments.  It was startling to come home and find them in face masks.  Shelley swears her skin is firmer.  I’m certain it makes no difference on Gabriela and Brittany—there skin is so good to begin with.

Rite of passage

             Brittany Gilbert turned twenty-one a few days ago.  We threw a surprise party for her—something they don’t have in China. There is a Chinese version of the Happy Birthday song which our Chinese counterparts sang.

Generation gap

             We were asked to perform a group song in SICT’s summer “gala,” a glorified talent show in which mildly students sing into microphones, dance around in scanty costumes, and demonstrate karate.  John Mooneyham served as English speaking emcee.

            

 It was difficult to locate an American song all of us knew, and we finally settled on a neutered version of Guthrie’s “This Land is Your Land,” without the last three verses, which are very radical.  Then I learned we were expected to lead the entire assembly in a rousing rendition of “Auld Lang Syne. Brittany, John, Gabriele and Zane, none of whom are past thirty, claimed not to have heard of this song.   They learned it however, though they thought it was corny.