Shooting for the Moon

In the beginning of this school year, I had the idea that this would be my last year at SIS. I had spent the summer updating my resume, revising my personal and professional statements and creating an online portfolio. When I got back to China, I collected letters of reference and signed up with an online international teaching organization.Yup! I was ready to get the heck out of Dodge.

Then, some things happened.

First, I began working with a new principal. Ask any teacher and they will tell you how much an administrator can affect the atmosphere and feel of a school. I was cautiously optimistic about our new principal. What I have found is a principal who is fair, patient, empowering and genuine. He has continued to foster the already wonderful community that was in place at SIS. I truly enjoy working with him. Professionally, this is a reason to stay in Shekou.

Then, I realized that the international teaching organization with which I signed up was not exactly a high quality group. I was only getting notifications for job openings from second and third tier schools. I was contacted by a school from Chengdu, and when I went to their website to investigate, I saw pictures of teachers who looked like they were being held against their will. Yikes. Clearly, this would not be a source of high quality teaching opportunities. A setback, indicating a future in Shekou.

But, alas! While researching some top tier Asian schools, I found an opening at an amazing school. Literally, this was my dream job. United World College Southeast Asia in Singapore posted an opening for a middle school humanities teacher. I jumped! I wrote one heck of a cover letter. I spiffed up my CV and sent it off.

I feel like I need to give some background on UWCSEA so you have some idea of what a long shot this was for me. UWC has schools all over the world. Their students are globally minded, justice oriented, and have a habit of becoming internationally recognized movers and shakers. They are adventure seekers who are stewards of their world. Literally THOUSANDS seek employment there every year. Last year, they had 41 positions open and over 21,000 applicants... You do the math.

So, I shot for the moon. And waited...

Meanwhile... I met someone.

For those of you who said I would meet someone in China, and I scoffed at you, I humbly submit my apology.

Facebook friends may remember a post about a certain handsome German man who I met in the elevator. The elevator led to an exchange of business cards (I live in China), cards led to coffee, which led to wine, which led to dinner, which led to... a pretty happy Andrea. He is a wonderful man: Thoughtful, chivalrous, honest, funny and best of all, he likes and appreciates me. I am quite smitten. Personally... A reason to stay in Shekou? Sadly, no.

The week before our first coffee, he signed a contract with a new company in Germany. He leaves on Dec. 22.

I will leave on the 18th for Aruba for my sister's wedding. And while I am very excited to celebrate this happy occasion, I am not, as per usual, counting down the days until I get to come home. The 18th will be a hard day for me.

Against all odds, I did get an interview with UWC. It went well. I very much enjoyed my conversation with them. At the end of the interview, he mentioned that I was on the "short list." To be short listed at UWC is a huge deal. Other candidates were needing interview, so I waited.  Again.

I recently found out that I did not get the job.  I was in the final three, out of over a thousand applicants. They chose to hire a "known entity." They strongly encouraged me to apply again.  Really, I feel good about this. Still... Another reason to stay in Shekou.

This is a very long story to say I will, in all likelihood, stay in Shekou for one more year.

I am not sad about this decision. I really love my students. Everyday, I am amazed by their kindness, responsibility, and sweet senses of humour. SIS is amazing. If you could see what we are accomplishing with technology, literacy, advisory, and service learning it would blow your mind.  SIS has completely redefined my definition of "school." We are so much more than a school. And I love being a part of it.

This was my autumn of shooting for the moon, personally and professionally. I dared to try for what I perceived was impossible. The outcome certainly was not what I had intended, but man did it feel good to take some risks.

Decision Time

It seems as though the school year has just begun. 

I am still trying to remember students names.  I am learning their strengths and areas of improvement.  I’m continue to figure out, day by day, how to implement the new style of teaching reading and writing that I learned in New York this summer. 

Yet...

I have a decision to make. 

Do I stay?  Or do I go?

And I have to make this decision very soon. 

The international school hiring season begins very early in the school year.  Much earlier than the hiring season in the US.  Many jobs have already been posted for next school year and the shuffle of jobs is beginning.  In order to grease the wheels of recruitment, many school offer early signing bonuses.  My school is one of them.  A large amount for those who choose to sign on another year, a smaller amount for those who have decided that they are ready to seek employment elsewhere, and... well, nothing for those of us who are not ready to make a decision.  I have until Monday to make a decision and earn some money one way or another.

Or.  I can wait.

However, I must make a decision by Friday, November 29th.

I came back to Shekou to a new principal, new coworkers and a new way of teaching.  I figured that I would get to know these new situations and it would be very clear to me if I wanted to stay or go.

It isn’t clear.

This school is amazing.  My students are unbelievable.  My coworkers are fantastic.  I enjoy working for my new principle.  We have technology like you wouldn’t believe.  I have been given opportunities to learn and grow as an educator. Professionally this place is a dream come true. 

Personally.  This place is really difficult. 

I have great friends.  I have been blessed to do some great traveling.  Life here is not difficult.  I still have an ayi to do my cleaning and house work. Everything I need is within walking distance, biking distance or a quick trip to HK. 

But, It is abundantly clear that trying to date here is a lost cause...and I’m not getting any younger.

I know for certain that I have no desire to come back to the US any time soon.  My parents have affirmed that they will come visit me wherever I live and, thank goodness, they are still in good health, so they are able to make trips around the world.  There is nothing drawing me back to the US.  Not yet at least. 

I’m thinking a lot.  I’m flipping coins.  I’m listening closely to others advice. If you have any, I’m happy to listen. 

But in the end, it’s my decision. 

Just Who Do You Think You Are?

Whoa there, Shenzhen.  It seems as though you are having a bit of an identity crisis.  I mean, who do you think you are?

Okay, so sometimes you think you are Shanghai.  True, you two are both Chinese.  Yes, it is fact that you both are located on a body of water and have created walking paths to show off that particular feature.  But lets be honest.  A historic stroll along the stately Bund is not the same as hoofing it along Shenzhen Bay.  I mean, Shanghai has over a thousand years of history and you are, what, 30 some years old?  Please.

Maybe you think you are Las Vegas, because of course you have some *fantastic* clubs.  Like say, Club Viva, with tables by reservation, bottle service (oooh, Chivas) and the requisite English language dance music pulsing from the speakers.  But look around, Shenzhen.  No one’s dancing.  There is a head bobbing here and there, but really, everyone is way more focused on playing dice (Liar).  Don’t get me wrong.  I love playing Liar.  Super fun.  But here’s an idea: Tone down the music, add a Juke Box, subtract the bottle service and put some good beers on tap.  Winner.

And as for being a Mecca of culture, New York you are not.  When The Backstreet Boys and Paul Oakenfeld are considered “big shows” you need to a bit of reevaluating.  Let’s talk about that Paul Oakenfeld show; 1993 called and they want him back.  THEY miss him.  I know it seemed like a big deal to you, but charging 7,000 RMB ($1,000) for a table is just plain crazy, even for you. 

C’mon Shenzhen. 

Let’s call a spade a spade.  You are the annoying little brother clinging to the suave, debonaire Hong Kong like its shadow.  You stand on your tippy toes to peak over the literal fence to see what the cool kids are doing.  And just as a little brother pencils in a thin mustache, you miss the mark just as grandly. 

Be who you are, Shenzhen.  It’s okay to be the new kid.  It’s okay to be the nose to the grindstone, working class, flip flop wearing, ACT taking kid.

It’s time to put up the stilettos.

One Hour... Or Three Days

One thing I am consistently surprised by living in China is the amount of time things take. 

When I order a coffee from the local coffee shop, sometimes it is made and delivered before I even get an opportunity to take the money down to our front desk to pay for it.  Fifteen minutes tops.  I know I’ve waited longer in lines at a Starbuck’s just to order a coffee. 

A few weeks ago, our STUCO sold roses for a fundraiser.  We ordered about 200 roses on a Thursday afternoon.  The next morning, 200 nicely packaged, wrapped and de-thorned roses were delivered to our school.  And they were insanely cheap.

I’m always amazed by my trips to our local clinic.  I can usually get an appointment within an hour or two.  I am seen promptly by the nurses and doctors.  All blood tests or diagnostics are done in house and I get results back while I wait.  Any prescriptions are filled right on the spot. 

Need a tailored suit?  Choose your fabric, get measured and you should have a finished suit in just a few days. 

Your A/C needs fixing?  If you have the right landlord, it’s done in an afternoon. 

You’re having a party and you’ve run out of wine/beer.  It’s just a phone call and about 20 minutes away. 

Nice, right?

On the other hand...

The Bank.  The black hole of time suckage.  Knock on wood, I have not had to endure The Bank, but I have heard the stories of runarounds, arguing and bureaucracy at it’s finest.

My friend Rachel just lost her bank card.  In the UK, where she is from, this would require a simple phone call to the bank wherein the person at the other end of the phone confirms your identity, your bank card is cancelled, and a new card is ordered.  Easy.  Worst case scenario you actually have to go to the bank to talk with someone, but usually the same process is followed.

Not here.

Something this simple could involve multiple trips to multiple bank branches, multiple copies of multiple passports, and multiple attempts to clearly communicate what the issues are. 

Hours, upon hours. Days, upon days. Just to stop a card and get a new one.

See the thing is, if it involves man power, job done.  If there is one thing China has going for it, it’s man power.  Lots of it.  If you throw enough people at it, a job gets done.  My coffee gets delivered because there is always at least one person at the coffee shop who’s sole job is to deliver coffees.  The rose assembly and de-thorning was probably finished in a short time by a small army of flower workers.  My doctor’s office is teaming with nurses with such jobs as “walk patient to room, take vitals, walk patient back to waiting area.”

But if the job involves problem solving or paperwork of any kind, you’re in for it.  Take a deep breath and endure.  It’s going to be a while.  Man power cannot solve problems.

The bureaucracy here is so elegantly and perfectly knotted that no single person can untwist it.  The canceling of a card and the reordering of a new one probably only takes three or four people, but those three or four take their jobs very seriously.  If everything is not perfectly in order, job stalled.  End of.

I truly fear the day that I have to enter The Bank, sidle up to the VIP line ask for help.  It will be a truly ugly day. 

There is one key hitch in my hypothesis.  The dumpling shop. 

I went to a dumpling shop the other day.  It is a tiny hole in the wall run by two ladies and a man.  They offer a vast array of dumplings and delicious side dishes.  I ordered vegetarian dumplings and cucumbers marinated in chili sauce.  Thirty minutes later, my dumplings were delivered to the table.  In a town where a plate of noodles or rice is in front of you before you even finish attempting to order in Chinese, “Wo yao yi ge...nevermind” thirty minutes is an eternity.

They were amazing.  Delicious, fresh, delicate little dumplings.  It helped me finally understand why “dumpling” is said as a term of endearment.

Quality?  Maybe that takes some time.

The Year of the Snake

I've never been much of a fan of New Year's Eve.  Save a rendition of "Midnight Train to Georgia" sung by three of my favorite friends, my New Year's have been less than spectacular.  It always seems to be a let down.  Lots of drinking, resolution making and counting down... to what?  The next day? 

Chinese New Year is something I think I can get into.  Besides the constant firecrackers, it's a really nice holiday.  It's about being with family and giving blessings and good wishes to others, for a new year of prosperity and happiness.  There is so much tradition and decoration. I like it. 

On Friday, we celebrated our Chinese staff at school by the traditional giving of hong bao, or red envelops.  I was so happy to be able to participate this year.  Our Chinese staff are amazing. 

On Saturday, SIS hosted China Day as a celebration of the year of the Snake.  It was a beautiful day (I got sunburned!) and a lovely celebration of our host country.  Below are a few snapshots from the day... before my camera died.

Sugar snakes and dragons for the kids to snack on.

Two of my students enjoying candied strawberries.

This game was an opportunity to hit grade 9 kids in the face with sponges. 

Another game where you throw wet sponges at kids! I love how the student 

on the left is so zen!

Some of my students running the lantern riddle game. So cool.

This is my TA's baby, Callen.  So cute!

One of the lion heads for the lion dance.

I love the lion dance! 

Yeah, that is two guys leaping through the air at the same time.  And they landed on those tiny platforms. Amazing. One of these guys actually hurt himself at the end of the show.  He had to be helped off the field. 

I've got into the CNY spirit.  One of my student helped me to pick out this door scroll, she thought it would be good for me.   I think translated it's something like, "Let's sweep out the old year and welcome the new year."  Sounds good to me!

Happy Year of the Snake!

Observations

Some observations… nothing big.

This week I found a block of Velveeta “cheese” in Hong Kong.  I can’t tell you the last time I saw a block of Velveeta outside of the US.  So, of course, I bought it.  And this week it has taken me down a kamikaze path of poor eating choices. 

When I walk out of the apartment building in the morning, the most interesting thing greets me.  Every “corner” has a little puddle on/by it.  Starting at the door, then the corner column, the first stair, the corner plant, and the corner of the park bench.  I think this may be why I don’t bring Harry; all of the corners are taken. 

I’ve realized that the “hiking” I am doing is really just glorified walking.  The trails are either paved with concrete or paver stones. When the trailhead of your hike is one of the most visited sites in Hong Kong (the Peak) and it ends in a bus station, this is not a hike. 

Boc Choi was a poor purchase.  I never ride my scooter.  He has sat outside of my apartment for at least two months now.  A cat has begun to use the seat as a scratching post.  I have left if unlocked, on purpose, because it would be easier for me if it just gets stolen than have to push it back to the shop and try to sell it. 

The celebrations for Chinese New Year have begun. I actually love (parts) of it.  People are friendly and in a good mood.  Yesterday, a Chinese woman held the door for me.   I wanted to hug her.  I think she must be a Chinese Midwesterner, such good manners!  On the other hand, I held the elevator for the milkman (Yes!  They have fresh milk/yogurt delivery in the mornings! Glass bottles and everything!) and he yelled at me not hold the door. I guess not everyone is feeling the year of the snake. 

Disappointment.  That was my word of the week. I can’t go into specifics, but I just feel like life, work, students and me let myself down this week.  I think I need to work on managing my expectations. Not just my expectations of others, but expectations of myself.  It reminds me a little bit of that SNL skit about the dating service “Lowered Expectations.”  I remember it. It was funny.  YouTube it.  

What saved my sanity this week?  Kid President and Bad Lip Reading.  You’re Welcome. 

Disconnected

I’m not writing as much. 

More specifically, I’m not blogging as much as I did last year. 

It’s not like I have less going on in my life.  In fact, I feel quite the opposite.  A lot is going here in my lovely corner of China.  I am not seeing fewer weird things.  The same amount of weirdness is happening, but maybe I am just noticing it less.

So what’s the difference? How is this year different than last year?

I’ve disconnected a bit.

Last year, I was the first one into work in the mornings so I could Skype with whoever showed up on my contacts list.  I was desperate to chat.  I wanted to hear the news from home and see familiar friends and family.  I wanted to be a part of everything, even though I wasn’t there.  Mostly, I didn’t want to be forgotten. 

It was kind of embarrassing if I stop to think about it.  “Remember me?! Look at me!  I’m still here, guys!”

But I get it, I think. It was a process, and I had to go through it.

I think things changed this summer and more so, when I came home for Christmas.  Life has gone on.  And. That. Is. Okay.   Friends got married and had babies and took on new jobs. And. That. Is. Okay.  Even though I wasn’t right there in the middle of the events didn’t mean I was less of a friend. My friends still love me, even though I wasn’t there.  Thank God for that. 

This assurance has allowed me to pull back a little.  Skype has become less of a lifeline and more of the casual method of communication it was meant to be.  I don’t sweat it when I haven’t talked to someone in a few weeks.  My morning routine has begun to include meeting up with actual people for a coffee before work, not drinking my coffee and eating my bagel over a Skype conversation.  I don’t spend every weekend morning at school because, “The Internet is faster and I need to use Skype.”  I spend Sunday nights eating curry with my friend, not waiting for the Central Time Zone to wake up. 

Basically, I live a bit more.

And while living, my homesickness fades away. 

It’s funny how that happens.  Spending less time worrying about home causes me to spend less time worrying about home. 

Crazy, huh?

A Bit of a Rough Landing

How lucky am I!?

I spent Christmas with my family.  I danced my butt off celebrating my friend Donnyves’ wedding.  I, through pure luck, was scheduled for a hair appointment immediately following my dear friend Katie and spent a few wonderful hours talking with her.  I had wonderful conversations with friends I missed so much.  I attended Christmas Eve services at Jacob’s Well with Juli and Matthew and sang my lungs out to ‘O Holy Night’. I saw my first K-state basketball game(!) and passed the day chatting with my good friend Lisa. I hugged my dog, my sister and my parents.  I even went out for an evening of trivia with my team. 

It was fantastic... but a short visit none the less.

January 4th arrived too quickly.  Again, pure luck, serendipity, or good fortune put me on a flight with my friend Sara who was on her way back to Beijing.  We managed to have someone trade seats with me so we could sit together and get caught up.  It was so great to hear of her life in Beijing.  It is still China, but what a different world!

Then the debacle begins. 
Landing gear down, solid ground in sight, the plane slowing to land then... nope.  We ascend back into the air. 

Apparently there was “traffic” on the runway that our pilot wanted to avoid.  When he announced it, he said it just like he chose to take a left turn to use an alternate route to the airport. Good choice, sir.  Thanks for avoiding the “traffic.”   

Sara and I found a cheese burger at 10:00 am; our last meal in the states.  I walked with her to her boarding area and said goodbye with a promise to chat soon and maybe travel somewhere together for Chinese New Year. 

And then the debacle resumes. 
I head to my departure gate, which we are sharing with another flight that is leaving at approximately the same time for Frankfurt.  The Frankfurt flight begins boarding, “Ladies and gentlemen, we are now boarding seating group 1,” the speakers announce.  Notice that they didn’t specify the flight.  So, ALL passengers of both flights, begin pushing towards the boarding gates.  This continues for 30 minutes before the gate attendants realize what is happening.  So, to clarify, OUR gate attendants get on and say, “We are not boarding, yet.  That is the other flight.”  Notice again, how they did not specify the flight.  So the poor folks going to Frankfurt get a bit confused.  This went on for another 10 minutes before both attendants realized that they needed to actually specify what announcements were for which flight.  Jeeze. 

Our flight boarded an hour late.  There was a “leak.”  I looked out to where our plane was parked and yes, there was a small lake of liquid under the belly of the plane.  Yikes.  But don’t worry folks, it’s been fixed.  Ok.  So, I’ll just block that from my mind during my 13 hour flight.  Great.

I pass my boarding pass to the gate attendant, she tears off the large portion and returns the small stub to me.  At about three hours into the flight, I realize that my baggage claim tickets were stuck to the back of the large stub.  The baggage claim tickets that I need in order to get my luggage on the ferry to Shekou.  Damn it. 

Debacle continues around dinner time.  The head purser came to me to tell me that they didn’t have any more vegetarian meals and that I would have to eat the regular meals.  Okay, so I am not a vegetarian.  But I prefer the vegetarian meals.  Plus you get served first.  It wasn’t a big deal, but seriously, customer service, United.  Look it up. It just made me cranky. 

As we are served drinks and dinner, the lady next to me proceeds to get pretty much hammered.  While I was sleeping, she literally jumped over me to go to the bathroom instead of waking me up.  During a time of pretty decent turbulence, she continually pressed the call button so they could bring her new headphones. They actually had to come over the speakers to explain that the flight attendants were strapped in for safety and could not attend to the calls.  She still hit the button one more time, for good measure. 

About five hours into the flight, my (personal set of) earphones broke off in the plug.  I loved these earphones, because they stick in my ears and block out all other sounds-  the baby crying behind me, the loud conversation behind me, and the guy laughing loudly while watching Two and a Half Men. Yep.  All of those things I could hear.  For the next eight hours. 

Thirteen hours is a long time, y’all.  Little things get on your nerves.  So, yeah.  At this point I was beyond cranky.  Thank goodness for a bit of Xanax. 

Upon arrival in HK, I raced to the ferry ticket counter to try to solve the problem of the missing baggage tags.  “No problem,” he said.  All I needed to do is go to the United ticket counter and have them reprint the tags!  Yes!  Where was the United ticket counter?  At the other end of a really long hall.  Like really long.  I couldn’t see the end of it from where I was standing.  I had exactly 10 minutes to get the tags reprinted and get back to the ferry ticket counter to purchase my tickets.  I raced to the other end of the hall (5 minutes) and found that there was a line 10 deep at the ticket counter. Crap. 

I trudged back down the hall towards immigration and found my way to the vans to Mainland China.  About an hour later, I opened the door to my apartment. 

My crappy outlook vanished when I looked around my beautifully cleaned apartment to find little notes from Zhou to explain all of the extra cleaning and washing she did while I was gone. 

I am a pretty lucky girl.