Educational

Tai'an is a smaller city with a a population 787K. It is the gateway town to the mountain of Tai'shan looming above. Tai'an is much wealthier and more with it than Qufu in the South.

The most appealing part of town lies in the vicinity of the Dai Temple, Hongmen Lu, and the east-west running Dongyue Dajie and Shengping Jie. This area also contains a range of hotels, internet cafes and restaurants. The train and long distance bus stations are in the less attractive west part of town.

There are many buildings - old housing and new housing. Old factories and new factories.

It is always very busy with cars, trucks, bicycles, scooters, bung bungs and pedestrians all mixed together. There must be road rules, but I don't know if anyone knows them or uses them. When crossing the road you must always have your wits about you as it is not uncommon to find a car driving on the wrong side of the road.

When I cross the road I walk out into oncoming traffic stopping in the middle for a break in the other direction before proceeding across the full road. It's wise not to make any sudden movements. It is quite daunting. Some days I just seem to take forever to cross a road, other days I'm like a local.

Owning a motor vehicle is only for the wealthy. Most people get about by bikes, scooters, bus or the trusty legs we were given to walk with. I prefer to walk that way I can stop and see what I like.

Hi All

I survived my first day of teaching in China!

What was it like?

The Classrooms
Well the classrooms are concrete floors with no coverings. The desks are basic timber desks. It was freezing. I really can not explain how cold it is in the classroom. My feet are like ice even though I had socks and boots on. Today I am wearing 3 layers. Yesterday I wore 4.

The Students
I have 11 students in my class. Apparently I do not know how lucky I am. These students have all been selected on scholarships to go to Singapore. I have 5 girls and 6 boys. They range from 16 -21 years of age. There English is great. I have these students from 8 - 12. Each lesson is 45 minutes. After the first period there is a 10 minute break, the second 25 minutes, the third 10 minutes and the last period goes for 1 hr. I will ask the students if I can take their picture and will email. Then you can also get an idea of the classroom.

When they arrived at the classroom today none of them had their workbooks. So I had to think on my feet. Here I am my first class and need to work out how to improvise. I learned to write on the blackboard. The boys would wipe it off for me after each period.

All in all, they are great people. And we have lots of laughs.

Until next time........