1, 2, 3, 4…

There are some things I want to mention.
1) barbecue – it was hot Saturday. Together with Oliver and his frogs (these are his schoolmates) we went to Jiuxi. The main reason was Nora’s farewell. She got a job in Beijing and wanted to thank … to thank me because I talked to her and she thinks it was very helpful. Well, I’m very happy for her. Job in Beijing in a foreign company is really something!! Good luck, Nora.
2) English corner – I had quite long break between my English corners. I was in Hong Kong, then other teachers had classes… thus the break of about 10 days! I was a little bit nervous. 10 days – maybe not so many, but I had some troubles to focus on the topic. Luckily the students were so kind and they didn’t mind when I happened to lose the thread.
3) swimming pool – yeah, yeah, this is my new tradition. I try to swim every week. And I guess I’m getting better every time. It’s so pleasant to jump into the water. Recently I tried to lie on the swimming pool’s floor – it’s damn difficult!
4) dentist – finally I decided to do something (to cure) with my tooth. I couldn’t wait longer, after all it’s irresponsible not to do anything. The service in the hospital was so professional! And the doctors speak English! I spent about 2 hours on a dental chair; my god, so long. It’s not completely OK with my tooth, I’ll have to go to hospital once again. Amazing, I’d never think that visit in dental clinic can be nice. It’s because Ms. Joe, beautiful doctor, very kind girl… I could drown in her eyes.
5) Jay Chou – I discovered a nice song. Jay Chou (周杰伦) is a Taiwanese singer, very popular in China. I have only one song of him, it’s "Qi Li Xiang" – can anybody tell me what it means? Nice, nice, I guess I will download some more Jay Zhou Jie Lun’s songs.

life is wonderful

Hitlist #286
August 28th, 2006

  1. 3 (13) Jason Mraz, Life Is Wonderful
  2. 4 (4) Muse, Starlight
  3. 2 (5) Nelly Furtado feat. Timbaland, Promiscuous
  4. 1 (6) Eskimo Joe, New York
  5. 11 (3) David Gray, Alibi
  6. 6 (14) Archive, Fold
  7. 14 (2) James Morrison, You Give Me Something
  8. 19 (2) Razorlight, In The Morning
  9. 5 (13) Muse, Super Massive Black Hole
  10. – (1) Thom Yorke, Harrowdown Hill
  11. 8 (11) Sigur Ros, Saeglopur
  12. 9 (12) Orson, No Tomorrow
  13. 13 (3) Christina Aguilera, Ain’t No Other Man
  14. 16 (2) System Of A Down, Lonely Day
  15. 10 (13) Keane, Is It Any Wonder?
  16. 15 (16) Madonna, Get Together
  17. – (1) The Kooks, Naive
  18. 17 (4) Evanescence, Call Me When You’re Sober
  19. 7 (12) Nelly Furtado, Maneater
  20. 12 (13) Depeche Mode, John The Revelator

feedback

Summer vacation is almost over. In my school there are less students than it used to be for the recent 3 months. Now it even happens that I’m free in the mornings! Well, I can sleep longer or I should think about some activities to kill this time. Of course I want to learn Chinese; my textbook has been waiting for me for many months!! I should clean it from all the dust it has been covered with.
In the school where I have Business English classes (one of my part-time jobs) I got a feedback from my students. Generally they are satisfied.. but there was something I had to think over. They would like to have more opportunities to speak! Wow, I always thought that in my classes I give plenty of chances to express their opinions. I guess I have to modify my teaching style. The problem is that the classroom is too small and doesn’t encourage to speak freely. The benches are in rows – like in normal school while I prefer when they are in the semi-circle. Then there is no distance between students – they can see each other; not only the teacher. But some things I can’t change, the environment is just the way it is and I can’t help it.
Anyway, I try my best. As always.

the blower’s daughter

"The Blower’s Daughter" is a song by Damien Rice, I guess he’s Irish. It’s such a beautiful song… very romantic, if you know what I mean.

Worth listening.


The Blower’s Daughter


And so it is
Just like you said it would be
Life goes easy on me
Most of the time
And so it is
The shorter story
No love, no glory
No hero in her sky



I can’t take my eyes off of you
I can’t take my eyes off you
I can’t take my eyes off of you
I can’t take my eyes off you
I can’t take my eyes off you
I can’t take my eyes…



And so it is
Just like you said it should be
We’ll both forget the breeze
Most of the time
And so it is
The colder water
The blower’s daughter
The pupil in denial



I can’t take my eyes off of you
I can’t take my eyes off you
I can’t take my eyes off of you
I can’t take my eyes off you
I can’t take my eyes off you
I can’t take my eyes…



Did I say that I loathe you?
Did I say that I want to
Leave it all behind?



I can’t take my mind off of you

I can’t take my mind off you
I can’t take my mind off of you
I can’t take my mind off you
I can’t take my mind off you
I can’t take my mind…
My mind…my mind…
‘Til I find somebody new

[Damien Rice, O, 2003]

Shenzhen and Hong Kong

I was in the southern China. Only 2 cities (Shenzhen and Hong Kong) but so many emotions! What a trip… I’d like to share at least some of the experiences.
There were some adventures and moments of doubts. I had the plane in the early Friday morning. I supposed to take the airport bus at 5:30 … Yeah, right – I woke up at 5:40!!!! I couldn’t believe my eyes! How come? Just that day my alarm clock broke!!  I thought: Great. No breakfast.
I dressed up as quickly as possible and went to take a taxi. I acked my luggage n the back-seat, I told taxi-driver where I want to go (feiji chang)… but he started to say something nervously and pointed to another car. Obviously he didn’t want to go so far away. It’s far away – I paid 97 yuans!!! … but I was on time.
I was on time on the plane hoping that everything is just fine starting that time. No way… the plane couldn’t start because it was broken! My god, I’m so happy they discovered it when we were still on the ground!! They announced that we have to change the plane. We waited almost 3 hours for the next one. Air China…
I finally arrived Shenzhen, my friend was waiting for me all that time in the airport. Poor Kai, very good friend. It was hotter than in Hangzhou; or only I felt hotter because of the flying problems. The city can impress people. Wow – I was so amazed by it. Beautiful and so modern. And so big! Personally I can’t imagine how people can spend over 2 hours by bus to get to downtown. Shenzhenese can, that’s obvious.
Do you know Window of the World? It’s famous place in Shenzhen with copies of popular buildings and objects from the world. Eiffel Tower, Forum Romanum, David, traditional European houses… Look great! But… I started to feel something I was afraid the most: a toothache , terrible toothache which for that time was just a small pain. It was much worse the next day.
On Saturday I went to Hong Kong. I have a friend there (he’s local); it’s so good I could meet him because otherwise I wouldn’t be able to go anywhere. So complicated rules and procedures (for example with buying the appropriate train ticket) if you see them for the first time. With Ricky it was very fast and convenient (big thanks!). Hong Kong is a wonderful place. I became a big fan of this city!! And for sure I’ll come back there in future! The streets there are so narrow; anyway despite this the cars and pedestrians can move quite smoothly. Of course it’s noisy but… everybody speaks English! Oh, it was like music for my ears when I entered to any shop and heard: Execuse me, sir, how can I help you? After almost 5 months of hearing Ni hao! it was memorable experience.
I could bargain quite easily. At first I thought that all prices are fixed but Ricky told me that almost always it’s not true. So indeed, this is a paradise for shoppers. If you have time, of course. And if you don’t have a toothache, of course.
In the afternoon I wanted to go back to Hangzhou. I felt really badly. Even the cruise through Victoria Bay didn’t satisfy me. I came back to Shenzhen in the evening. Have I told you about 2 hours in the bus? The longest hours of my trip. I could think only about my pain which was greater every minute. I could feel every hole on the road when the bus went through it. I told Kai that I couldn’t stand it any longer and I wanted to see the doctor – IMMEDIATELY. We found the hospital… my god, without dentist! It was too late for the dentist! The emergency doctors (they smiled to me strangely, or just laughed) gave me some pain-killers. Oh, it helped. The long day was over.
Next day I slept very long. It had been raining since the early morning. Only in the afternoon we could go somewhere. We went to see Den Xiaoping’s monument. He was very important in Shenzhen’s history. People say Shenzhen wouldn’t be so prosperous without their former prime minister. We also went to the beach – yeah, yeah, so many people in the water! That day I felt much better then before. Very pleasant and comfortable. Ohhh…
I had a plane back to Hangzhou on Monday. No problems this time, no Air China – I took Southern China Airlines. I met a funny girl on the plane – her mother is from Singapore, her father is from Taiwan, she studies in China because she likes this country. I guess I’m not the only one.
I tried to take a taxi in Hangzhou. I tried… It was a rush hour so very difficult to take anything but I found one. I packed my luggage on the back-seat (again), I told the taxi driver my address – he must have understood me, I speak quite clearly! Well, he only said no!! I could see fear in his eyes! Am I so scary or am I just a foreign guy? I felt discrimintated at that time and I thought: No way, I will take a bus, you will not get my money… I was so mad and tired. When I’m tired I happen to be not very nice.
It’s good to be back home. Yes, you’ve read correctly. I’m in Hangzhou, I’m at home.

email to the future

One of my students (Candy) told me about special website. If you want, you can send an email to yourself in the future! Just take a chance, write to yourself and read this in 5, 10, 20 or more years! I’ve just written an email to myself – I’ll get it on 17th of August 2016.
Important thing is not to lose your mailbox; you should use the same mailbox in the future.
Here’s the address of this website:
http://www.futureme.org/
Great idea!
I wonder where I will be in 10 years, what I will do and with who by my side… Future is ours if we only want to believe in it. For now the year 2016 seems to be so remote!

tension

I’m getting nervous before my trip to Shenzhen and Hongkong. Well, I like taking the planes, it’s quite relaxing but recently there’s not so calmly in the airports. I know that the tension is mostly in Europe (UK) and USA but who knows what can happen.
I’m also nervous because I’m afraid I will not have enough time to prepare. Today I’m very busy, I’ll be back home at about 9 p.m., I’m also meeting Calvin tonight. And tomorrow I have to get up before 5 a.m., then take the airport bus at 5:30 a.m. My God, I should’ve bought the ticket for later plane!! That’s crazy.
Summer vacation will end soon. This means I won’t be as busy at work as now. It’s good but on the other side… it’s good to have more money than less, right?

Look at the earth from outer space

Everyone must find a place
And open up your eyes
Give me strength, reserve control

Give me heart and give me soul

Just open up your eyes

But give me love over, love over, love over this

physically

Physically I’m not in the best shape. Perhaps it’s because of air-conditioners everywhere; sometimes it is just too strong and I feel cold. And then I go out where is very hot – and it seems that it’s not the best idea. Except feeling cold I have a toothache… I have to see the dentist soon. Anyway, I can’t do it this week because I’m leaving Hangzhou for a couple of days. On Friday I’m going to Shenzhen and Hongkong. Shenzhen is Kai’s homecity; remember Kai? I visited him in Jiangxi province and we went to Jinggang Shan. Now I will meet him in Shenzhen, I will also see Hongkong which is very near. It’s the best place in China for shopping! I only hope that my toothache will not disturb me in enjoying the trip. Luckily it’s not very strong and only from time to time…

Ping and Harry

It’s extremely hot recently. I have no idea what to wear!! Everything gets wet as soon as I wear it. Hangzhou has been the hottest city this week. We were expecting the typhoon "Saomai" on Thursday but it didn’t reach Hangzhou. Maybe it’s better because it was the strongest typhoon in 50 years but on the other side cooler weather would be very appreciated.
Only today in the afternoon there was a thunderstorm but it didn’t help much. Now it’s evening and the temperature doesn’t want to fall below 30 degrees.
I had a dinner with Ping and Harry. Ping’s English name is Colin and Harry is a girl. They are my students. So far we’ve talked only by messenger; today we met for the first time. It might sound strange because they are my students so how can’t I know who they are. But my classes are for all students from school and it’s difficult to remember all the faces. Now I’ll remember Colin’s and Harry’s ones.
I guess I drank too much beer. Or maybe it’s too hot for beer. Anyway, I like it. Just like in Poland – drinking beer with my friends. I miss them.

Today is Lefthanded’s Day. Woohoo, the best wishes to all lefthanded! We are the biggest minority in the whole world!

like a child

Last week I met my good friend Wind (it’s a great name for her, she’s so fresh and vital). I had very nice dinner with her and her two friends. These are ladies who learn English in their spare time. They don’t want to just stay at home and take care of children. No, they want to do something for themselves. And this is the reason why their spirits are so young. This is an attitude worth putting into life. For everyone.
Just do something. Don’t let the time pass by unnoticably. There’s only one life – although some people believe in reincarnation, i.e. second life after life in other person’s body. Don’t waste it, it’s too precious.
Today I had English corner. Oh, I like it so much. Sometimes I even get nice emails after class. Students write that they enjoyed the corner, they encourage me to take more efforts, they thank me for confidence I’m giving them… Incredible. I remember exactly how unconfident I was in the beginning of my adventure in China. Paralyzed by the fear that students wouldn’t want to listen to me or (what’s worse) they’d tell me it was a bullshit. And now they gain self-confidence because of me!! It is a success, isn’t it?
Please keep in mind that I’ve been a teacher for 4 months. I want to share what’s the best in me. Giving is so much better than receiving.
After English corner I went to the swimming pool. Let it be a new tradition! I want to swim more! It’s so exciting and pleasant. Today I was swimming with Victor, one of my students, one of my friends from Web. You know – it works – if you’re smiling to the world, sooner or later the world will start to smile also to you! Perhaps I’m still too naive and unexperienced but if so, I don’t want to change it. Being adult who is bitter and always reasonable doesn’t interest me at all.
Let yourself to be a child once again, full of joy and curiousity about the world.

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