Back in Chengdu

Here I an back in Chengdu, I got my first good night's sleep in over a week last night. I got a nice comfy bed. The teacher training course starts tomorrow and I will be seeing some of my old friends. Today I went with some of my housemates to Carrefour to get some cheese and t-shirts. Afterward, we went to Peter's for lunch. After a lot of cold and rain it cleared up here.

Chinese Doctor & Pharmacy - Sept. 25th, 2008

I thought it would be fun to go to the Chinese doctor for my jet lag. The best part of it was his fee was only 25 rmb or about $3 us. After taking my blood pressure, pulse and looking at my tongue he prescribed herbs for me. We then went to the Chinese pharmacy where they made the concoction up. It consisted of about 12 different herbs. The cost of these herbs was only about $6 US. The herbs are soaked for 30 min, then boiled for 30 min. The broth is thrown away the herbs are boiled a second and a third time . After 2 hrs the brew is ready to drink. It must be boiled in a special medicine pot. There is enough broth for about 6 large cups it must be drunk hot. I can not say that it helped me, but it sure was fun having all these people messing around with me. That was last Sunday, on Monday I came to Xi'an to visit my friend Rui who works in a new kindergarten here. I have my own room here in the kindergarten with a bed as hard as stone. I don't know what is worse, staying in the kindergarten or with a Chinese family. They both have advantages and disadvantages. Anyway, I will be going back to Chengdu where I will be staying the apartment of three kindergarten teachers, a bit cramped but the best option so far. The biggest problem for me is the Chinese toilet, I still can not figure how to use it with out taking off all my clothes, and there is still the fear of falling in the dam thing. Maybe I will have to take a lesson on how to use it. Anyway today is Friday my last day in Xi'an, later today I will go to there other Kindergarten here in Xi'an-to visit and to give a massage. A friend from our last visit will pick me up and I will massage his daughter, he will then take me out to lunch. Tonight I will give a massage workshop and give 3 massages. I have not made a lot money but I guess it will cover the air fair to and from Chengdu. Yesterday a friend of Rui's met us with his car and we took a road trip seeing some of the local sights. The weather here in Xi'an is wet and cold. I will try to buy a jacket later today.

Xi'an

Hi All,
It is 1 am here in China I fell asleep at 9pm yesterday but now can not sleep. I have a room in this modern Kindergarten with only 4 children in attendance. Yesterday they had a welcoming circle for me and I gave 3 massages in the evening. Xi'an is a very pretty town of around 300,000 people. My friend Rui and I went to the museum yesterday morning and we had all our meals in the Kindergarten. Today I will give a public lecture- we are expecting only a handful of people to come to it. I will be happy to get back to Chengdu where I will be living amongst people and not wandering around this very large kindergarten like a ghost in the night. The Kindergarten is very new and takes up three floors, it has a modern kitchen with a stove and a room with a bank of computers. I can use one of these or I have the use of one in a private office. The shower I have for use has an unlimited supply of hot water. I do not know what the plan is for today's sight seeing but I am sure it will be fun.

Here We Go Again

I leave JFK on September 13 at 4:30 pm and arrive Chengdu 11:30 pm China time with a 2 hr lay over in Beijing then a 1 hr taxi ride to my apartment. The total travel time about 22 or 23 hrs. It first takes 4hrs to get to JFK via limo. I also have a 3hr wait at airport before take off. This time I will be staying with shoying the 5th grade teacher. My apartment will be a lot closer to school but I will not have my own bathroom. It is also on the 6th floor so I will be kept in shape with a lot of walking. I will be coming home on October 25th.

My Chinese is getting better but still not very good. I do not know how many more times I will be going to China, but I think I will try to go again in February of 2010.
Take care and have a good fall

-Tim