>I am at the coffee shop at the New Campus. Last week, Louise had taught me the word for sugar, “tang”. So, when I ordered my coffee, I applied my new knowledge.

“Mei you tang.” [may yo tahng]

She looks at me.

“Mei you tang,” I say louder. Nothing.

“Mei you sugar.”

“Ah, mei you tang.”

Tang with a rising tone. Not the neutral tone. Not the American accent either.

I hope to apply this new knowledge next time.

————-

My girlfriend and I are outside my apartment. Earlier that day, a student had given me a term of endearment to use for her: “bao bei”. I turn to her.

“Bao bai.”

She looks at me. I try again.

“Bao bai.” I grow impatient and translate, “It’s sweetheart. Bao bai.”

She starts laughing. “Bao bei”. And it clicks.

>Some photos of Christmas displays are up at the Flickr Account.

From what I gather, families here do not celebrate Christmas.

Families might not, but local businesses sure as hell do. Everything, from cafeteria serving authentic Chinese food to McDonald’s serving western shit, all have Christmas displays up. Some have their employees dressed up; beautiful girls wearing cute Santa hats.

I am trying to convince my girlfriend to wear one. So far, no luck. :(

>

Next week I am moving to classes five and six for the last two weeks.

They did not give an exact reason, but do they really have to? I am foreign. I have the key to unlock the box to mastering English.

Too bad I’ve seemed to have misplaced it. If I find it, good for us, but that looks unlikely, as I cannot recall ever possessing it in the first place.

The last week will be tests, and then travel. I am going to Beijing and Xi’an. Possibly Harbin, and if my RMB supply is good, Hong Kong. I’d love to go to Cambodia and see Angkor Wat, but we’ll see.

>The last couple posts have dealt with disobedient students. This often coincides with a poor grasp of English, so it’s not my teaching per se that infuriates them, but rather, their own frustration at not understanding English.

It’s not just the two I mentioned. Occassionally, you’ll get a brat who talks back, who interjects dumb comments. Teaching these kids is like teaching kids—it’s sometimes like teaching high school students.

What to do about these students? Opinions differ.

Teacher 1: Do not fail them if they’re not English majors.

Teacher 2: Fail the little smart-ass. Give him a zero, but if he speaks some English, give him a 1.

I did not fail the one from the last batch. I doubt I’ll fail any of them.

>

Camilla has an office. We were hanging out in it the other night, and she put a small, thin device into the water and plugged it into the wall.

A water heater. The exact name, I’m not sure, but it’s necessary because the water here is not safe to drink unless boiled.

As it bubbled and made strange noises, Camilla made an offhand remark.

Camilla: It’s very dangerous.

It is easy to get electrocuted using that?

Camilla: No. In Shanghai, it caught fire and burned down a dorm. We have to watch it.

This is just a laowai’s opinion, but decent water sanitation or hell, even a stove and a pot would make things a lot simpler. Again, just a dancing laowai’s opinion.