Hong Kong and Macau

Last weekend I Nichole, Ryan and I embarked on an adventure to Hong Kong and Macau. Nichole is a huge UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) fan. There was a fight scheduled on Saturday night with her favourite fighter, from her home state of Ohio, fighting the final match. The journey was not an easy one; we flew into Shenzhen, which is near the Hong Kong border. After what seemed like endless hours of flights, subways, trains, and customs lines, we arrived in Hong Kong to beautiful sunny, warm weather, and immediately proceeded to the bar. What a treat, Strongbow cider on tap – my favourite!

Upon arriving in Hong Kong, my first thought was how civilized everything seemed. It must be the British influence. It was the little things I noticed that are different from China, like the fact that people stand on the right side of escalators so others can pass, and when loading onto the subway they wait until everyone has exited. Oh and how could I forget, the bathrooms are clean and stocked with toilet paper and soap! Like I said, it’s all the little things that you really notice.

Another thing I noticed, although it seems obvious now, is that Hong Kong is Cantonese, and a lot of the Chinese influence in Vancouver, as far as language, food, and culture, is also Cantonese. Walking around Hong Kong reminded me of walking around Chinatown in Vancouver; even the smells were familiar!

Our friend Zach also happened to be in Hong Kong for a business trip, so we met up with him for dinner and drinks on Friday night. Hong Kong has a great nightlife, but it’s definitely not cheap. We enjoyed some delicious Western food and drink throughout the weekend, and paid prices higher than what we would probably pay at home. Zach was supposed to fly back to Nanjing on Saturday, but it didn’t take too much convincing to get him to change his flight and instead come with us to Macau for the night.

After a massive feast at Outback Steakhouse, including ribs, crab legs, steak, chicken wings, and baked potatoes, we caught the Turbojet ferry to Macau. For those of you who are unfamiliar, Macau is a former colony of Portugal, and is now one of two special administrative areas of China (along with Hong Kong). It’s quite strange going through customs into Macau, and having all the signs in Portuguese, English, and Cantonese. Macau is like the Las Vegas of China. It is an island famous for tourism, and specifically gambling. In fact, Macau earns more gambling revenue each year than Las Vegas.

The UFC fight was at the Venetian Casino, the biggest casino in Macau. Luckily we were able to scalp some tickets for a pretty good price. The fight was quite exciting, especially sitting next to Nichole, who gets really into it! Just imagine a 5 foot 3 blonde girl screaming “GET HIM…KILL HIM!!!” much to the amusement of all the Chinese people around us. The last fight was a big upset, with Rich Franklin getting knocked out in the first minute. My favourite round was the flyweight division, with short men that weigh around 120 pounds. They are so quick and it’s really fun to watch.  

After the fight, the four of us decided to try our luck in the casino. Nichole and I both won playing roulette, winning about $230, and $300, respectively. Zach is a crazy blackjack player, and walked out with around $700, after being up almost $1800. And Ryan…well, we won’t talk about Ryan. He wasn’t so lucky. However, he and Nichole did get their picture taken with Chuck Liddell, a former UFC Champion, so the night wasn’t a total loss!

With the oxygen they pump into the casino, combined with the bright lights and the endless free drinks, we didn’t end up leaving until about 4am to head back to our hostel in Hong Kong. That was not a fun journey home the next day, but all in all worth it for a crazy weekend in Hong Kong and Macau. If only it weren’t so expensive, Hong Kong is definitely somewhere I could see myself living for a while. 

Let's Go Jiangsu Sainty!!!

One of the coolest experiences I’ve had so far in China is attending the Jiangsu Sainty’s soccer games. Nanjing hosts the home field of the Jiangsu province soccer team, in the national league. Two weekends ago, I attended one of the games with about 15 other foreign teachers. This game was huge; Jiangsu, who was placed second in the league, was playing Guangzhou, the first place team, with only three games to go to fight for the top position.

The game was on Saturday at 7:30pm, so we head across town around 4pm, to hang out around outside the stadium, throw a football around, and have a picnic (aka drink beers) before the game. It was apparent from the busy subway that there were going to be a lot of people at the game, but we definitely had no idea what we were getting into.

There are two main entrances into the stadium, and we were sitting on a field just outside of the east gate. We watched as people lined up in orderly lines, waiting to be let into the stadium. They would open the gates in stages, and let groups of people in at a time, then close them. About 45 minutes before kickoff, we decided we should probably head into the stadium. By this time, the front gates were closed, and there were no more nice orderly lines. There was just a huge mass of people gathered around the gate, waiting. Well, nothing to do but join the crowd! As we waited there, and it became closer and closer to game time, the crowd behind and around us grew bigger and bigger, and more and more restless. They began to chant “Open, open, open!” (in Chinese), and at one point people started throwing empty plastic bottles towards the front.

By lifting Nichole onto Brian’s shoulders, we quickly learned what the problem was; for a crowd of about 5000 people (not an exaggeration), there were three doors to enter through, and maybe four security guards. At this point I actually began to get scared, because it was past the start of the game and people were starting to push. I felt at any moment there could be either a riot or a stampede. The crowd starting surging towards the front – there was literally nowhere to go except carefully step forward, move with the crowd, and whatever you do don’t fall! By the time we got to the front, people were just pushing through the doors. The security guards could do nothing, and nobody was even checking tickets.  As soon as we got into some open space, I felt like I could breathe again. Wow, talk about an adrenaline rush!

We quickly realized that there was no way we would make it to our usual spot in the lower level. In fact, we ended up going to the fourth level balcony, way up in the nosebleeds, just to get seats. I’ve never seen so many people in a stadium before. The final count was 70,000 people! One section of the lower level was for the opposing team. This was obvious not only because they were all wearing red, but also because there was a twenty seat wide buffer between them and the rest of the crowd, separated by about 100 military men. There were also military men that marched around the field towards the end of the game, discouraging any potential rioters from even thinking about storming the field. Although the outcome of the game wasn’t the best, (it was a tie), it was a lot of fun to be a part of such a huge event.

The next weekend, this past Saturday, there was another Sainty’s game, at 3:30pm. Although not as big of a rivalry game, it was still crucial that we win in order to secure the championship title. Of course, the same group all decided to attend again. This time, however, we planned on going out downtown afterwards to celebrate Halloween. Of our large group of friends, half of us were wearing our Halloween costumes, and half of us were decked out in full Sainty’s gear, including jerseys, scarves, headbands, blue wigs, and tattoos. As we sat outside the stadium waiting to go in, you can imagine the kind of attention we attracted; 15 laowai's (foreigners) fully dressed up at a sporting event is not something the average Chinese person sees everyday.

This time when we entered the stadium, it was much different. There were still a lot of people at the game (55,000), but entering was much less chaotic. As we walked in, we noticed our usual spot behind the goal in the lower level was free. We entered in the side gate, and had to walk halfway around the field, on a path between the lower level and the upper balcony. What happened next was totally unexpected, and very overwhelming! The whole crowd erupted and started cheering for us. As we walked, everyone was cheering and giving us high fives from above and below. The Chinese fans seemed so surprised and excited to see so many foreigners proudly supporting their team. This crazy scene lasted for the five minutes it took us to find our seats, and some time afterwards. I’ve never seen so many cameras before!

The awesome part about Chinese soccer games is that they get really into their cheering. In one section, every single person wears blue, and there is a crew at the front that is solely dedicated to leading massive cheers. There are also people all along the front row in charge of waving huge flags. What a fun experience to be a part of, even though it was a no scoring tie game. After these two games, I definitely have a new appreciation and respect for Chinese sports fans, and large crowds!


Here is the link for my Facebook album in China:  Back To China Again Album

My Trip to the Philippines

Let me first start by saying that I have been meaning to do this for a while now. Every time I think about writing a post, I feel overwhelmed by the amount of stories I want to share. So much has happened since my last blog that it is too much for one post. So I’ll just have to write retroactively, and hopefully I can cover everything I want to share. Just a note – as you obviously noticed, I’ve had trouble posting photos on this blog. My guess is because of the Great Firewall of China. I have to use a VPN to even be able to post this blog, and I’m pretty sure that’s why the photos don’t work (it works when I view them here in China). But I’ll give a link to my Facebook album so you can see my pictures there.

Let me start with the Philippines. In China everyone has their national holiday in the same week. Needless to say, with so many people traveling in one country at the same time, things can get a bit crowded and hectic. Some friends and I decided to avoid the craziness and leave the country for our mid-semester break.

Nichole, Maria, Kayla, Zach (our solo male on the trip!) and I set out on our adventure. We spent one crazy night in Manila, where we somehow ended up staying in the red light district (…don’t ask), before heading out to the beautiful island getaway of Boracay.

Within minutes of stepping off the plane in the Philippines, it became apparent what wonderful people live there. I’ve never traveled to a place where the people are so genuinely friendly, happy, and eager to help. They seem to truly appreciate tourists there, and everyone will welcome you with a big smile and a “m’aam hello!” Oh, and did I mention that nearly everyone speaks English? I must admit this was a big relief coming from China, where nearly every interaction with another human being presents a new communication challenge.

Boracay reminded me a lot of Thailand – beautiful white sand beaches with clear blue water, world-class snorkeling, cheap cocktails and delicious cuisine. One thing the Philippines definitely has over other countries is its live music scene. It seems like every person we met, from our tour guide, to the security guard at our hotel, to our personal trike (think tuk-tuk) chauffeur, could either play guitar or sing. Zach and I definitely seized on this musical opportunity, and sang several songs karaoke style with a live band at our favourite hangout, Charls Bar. There was even a Filipino Neil Young lookalike singing Heart of Gold!

The best day by far in Boracay was the day we rented our own personal catamaran boat to take us around the island for the day. The weather was postcard perfect…in fact, even with multiple applications of sunscreen, almost all of us managed to get sunburnt! The trip around the island was beautiful. We took a stop to snorkel, which was some of the best snorkeling I’ve seen since Thailand. Then we made a stop on a near private beach, where our guide, Dean, and the boat crew cooked up an amazing grilled seafood lunch, with tiger prawns and a whole red snapper that we quickly dug into on our little picnic spot on the sand.  The last stop was on a beautiful white sand beach where we enjoyed some beach volleyball and a few (okay several) rum and cokes. What a day!

I would definitely recommend the Philippines for anyone who wants to experience the beautiful beaches and scenery, and the warm and friendly people. Although I can’t say for sure, my guess is that the Philippines is similar to what Thailand used to be like before it became a huge tourist destination, and a mecca for young backpackers. It was definitely hard to say goodbye to Boracay and make our way back to the reality of life in China….actually, who am I kidding? Life in China is not reality; it’s basically a vacation in itself!

Here is a link to my Philippines Facebook album : The Philippines Album

Back in China Again!

Well here I am, back at it again. I think the fact that I haven’t written a blog post yet is a testament to the great time I’m having. I can barely find time between working and fun times.  I have finished two weeks of classes already, and can’t believe how fast the time is going.

Teaching is much easier this time around. I can feel myself being more confident in my teaching, and I think that is rubbing off on the students. I have the exact same two classes as last time (now second and third year students), which has turned out to be valuable for both the students and for myself. They are accustomed my teaching style, and they know exactly what I expect from them. For example, they know that each class, I’m going to call on almost everyone, and really try to get everyone to contribute. Compared to the beginning of last semester, they are so much more used to talking. It’s such a great feeling to see some progress that is (at least I hope) a direct result of your teaching!

It’s also much easier for me, because I now know exactly the speed and pace that works for teaching them. I’m trying to incorporate a lot more in-class activities and assignments, both individual and in a group. This really helps to break up the class time, so I don’t have to stand and lecture for the whole time! I think the whole class, myself included, gets sick of the sound of me droning on after awhile. Also, it means everyone has to participate…even the sneaky students who sit at the back of class and play on their cell phones or simply sleep on their desk.

One of the courses I’m teaching, Food and Beverage Management, is the same as last time, so I’m able to use all the same materials. The two new courses, Holiday Tourism, and Front Office Management, are much more interesting and practical than Human Resources (the course I taught last time), so I’m finding the students are paying more attention.

The other thing that is much easier this time is the fact that I experienced virtually no culture shock. Of course, the second time around is much easier, but I must say the biggest thing has just been returning to my same great circle of friends. We have lots of fun together, and there is no time to even consider feeling lonely! On Sunday afternoons there’s volleyball at the International High School. My friends and I make a team, and then there’s the high school girls and boys teams, plus some teachers and parents that come out to play as well. It’s the highest level of volleyball that I’ve played since college, so it feels great! On other days we play basketball, or just kick a soccer ball and throw the Frisbee around. It feels great to be so active, and we have to take advantage while the weather is still beautiful.

Of course there’s still time to go out for drinks and lots of different interesting dinners. My favourite restaurant has to be the Beijing Duck restaurant. We normally go with a crowd of at least 8 people, and I just sit back and let the seasoned veterans do the ordering. They bring out 3-4 ducks, roasted to crispy perfection, along with mini crepes, delicious hoisin-like sauce, and sliced cucumbers to make little wraps. Then, there’s the most amazing spicy cabbage dish, sweet and sour pork (the real kind, not like Manchu Wok at home!), and delicious green beans. At the end of the meal, when you’re already beyond stuffed, they bring out all the bones from the duck, which have been deep-fried. Oh man, delicious! All this great food, combined with wine, baijiu (60% Chinese liquor) shots, and wonderful company make for a great evening…and then there are the epic dance parties at the Blue Marlin bar afterwards!

Next weekend I have plans to travel to Shanghai with some friends. The weekend after that is the National Holiday in China so everyone has a week off from work. A few of us decided that we really want a fun in the sun holiday, so we’re headed to Boracay, in the Philippines, for an amazing vacation. What can I say…life is rough here in China!

Mike and I at the PNE just before I left for China. Saying goodbye is hard, but I feel like it's much easier this time around, because I know we can do it, and three months really isn't that long.

 My students and I. Yes, these are second year students. No, they are not junior high school students.

 Hard at work after giving them an assignment.

 You may have noticed, in this class, the boys all sit on one side and the girls on the other. There is absolutely no mixing. Again, these are not junior high students!

 The sea of students walking back from class towards the cafeteria at lunch time.

 Ryan pushing his scooter after it broke down.

 The first year students have to complete a mandatory two weeks of military training. The last few days, I've been woken up at 6am to a bugle call, and then military chants and marching.

 Playing some basketball at Nichole's school, the college right next to ours.

 Eating dinner at the same time as all the freshmans.

 The best is the tiny girls in their oversized military fatigues. Somehow they still look cute.

 Brian and Ryan posing with some freshmen students.

 Watching a little football, streamed from Oklahoma.

Taylor's birthday was celebrated with a bottle of Maker's Mark, followed by Quiz Night at the local bar.