This is a photo of the whole class including our teachers (laoshi).
Starting on the top from the left: Neil; John; Daniel; Meshal
On the bottom from the left: Chiu Laoshi; Shelby; Me; Megan (TA); Li Laoshi
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
My 2007 Summer Chinese Immersion Class
This is a photo of the whole class including our teachers (laoshi).
Starting on the top from the left: Neil; John; Daniel; Meshal
On the bottom from the left: Chiu Laoshi; Shelby; Me; Megan (TA); Li Laoshi
Saturday, July 14, 2007
The Heroine's Quest...
The Departure: Broomfield, Colorado to Nanjing, China
I was called to this adventure by a random email that landed in my mail box not long after returning from studying abroad in Spain. There was never a "refusal" of the call to adventure; I jumped in head first without a second thought. Throughout my final year of college I made the preparations for leaving. This included the planting of the seed. I had to plant the seed of my newly found quest into the minds of those around me and then help it grow. By this I mean I watered it with thoughts that it would only be a year; I pruned it with ideas and hopes that this adventure would give me great advantages in the future, especially if I were to gain a bit of Chinese language in the process; and finally I fertilized it with a little BS when I didn't know the exact answers I was asked at first. Questions like, "is this a reputable company." "where will you be living," "why are you going for a whole year." However, now I can answer many of those questions with more certainty. The point is, it was important for my loved ones to like my new adventure so that they would in return give me the support I would need through this quest.
Now that I was on the road to my adventure, it was time for my trials to begin. Every good hero/heroine must accomplish 3 tests before they can succeed...
First: Obtaining a Visa
This was a red-tape nightmare. My hosts in China wanted me to originally obtain a work visa, so they sent the required paperwork through certified mail to me. I then sent the paperwork and, with a little resignation, my passport to an agency that acts as a go between. The agency is needed because without it I would have had to go to the Chinese consulate in Chicago in person! When the agency obtained my documents they said that one of the forms was a photo copy and wouldn't be approved. I assured them I had made no copies of the documents, so they sent it to the consulate. Sure enough, it was rejected because the consulate said the forms were photo copies. So, after several phone calls and emails between my host, the agency, and my self we finally decided that I would apply for a temporary business visa that is good for 60 days. Once in China, my host will help me to obtain the correct visa.
Finally with the arrival of my visa and my passport safely back in my hands, I began the second test: Travel Shots
I was informed that I would be required to have three different types of shots. They were Typhoid, Hepatitis ?? (A,B,or C, I can't remember), and Japanese Encephalitis. We began three weeks ago with the Hep and the Japanese in my left arm and the Typhoid in my right. 3 shots all at once! Let me tell you, the next day my right arm hurt like I'd been in boxing match and had lost; that Typhoid was not fun. Then, last week I had to go back because the Japanese shot is a series shot, a series of THREE. When I went in they had it ready to go, but when they looked up my records they noticed I needed yet a forth shot to catch me up on some immunizations. That forth shot, by the way, went into the muscle, and it hurt a lot!! Ouch! Plus I had the Japanese one put in the same arm :( So, in two weeks I go back for the last shot for the Japanese series. By the way, all this time I'm thinking, I'm going to China, why in the world am I getting a Japanese Encephalitis vaccination!
Onto the third test: The Removal of my Wisdom Tooth (yes, I said Tooth, not teeth)
I went to the dentist to have a regular cleaning and low and be hold they decided that my one and only wisdom tooth must be removed before leaving. So, we went to the oral surgeon, who also agreed that it should come out. Since my departure is approaching quickly I was scheduled to have it out 2 days later. Today is the 2nd day of my recovery, and its better. Let me tell you, the drugs they hand out are amazing. Between the meds and the anesthesia wearing off I've slept for almost 36 hours straight! I still resemble a squirrel on the right side of my face because it is still kind of puffy and swollen, but everyone says it looks cute.
Thats all the trials for now. There are only suppose to be 3 tests for the hero, so I'm hoping everything will go smoothly from here on out. The next on the to do list is to go shopping! Where am I going to find shoes to teach in that are cute and that are comfortable to walk and stand in, but don't look too old ladyish?? Any suggestions?
I was called to this adventure by a random email that landed in my mail box not long after returning from studying abroad in Spain. There was never a "refusal" of the call to adventure; I jumped in head first without a second thought. Throughout my final year of college I made the preparations for leaving. This included the planting of the seed. I had to plant the seed of my newly found quest into the minds of those around me and then help it grow. By this I mean I watered it with thoughts that it would only be a year; I pruned it with ideas and hopes that this adventure would give me great advantages in the future, especially if I were to gain a bit of Chinese language in the process; and finally I fertilized it with a little BS when I didn't know the exact answers I was asked at first. Questions like, "is this a reputable company." "where will you be living," "why are you going for a whole year." However, now I can answer many of those questions with more certainty. The point is, it was important for my loved ones to like my new adventure so that they would in return give me the support I would need through this quest.
Now that I was on the road to my adventure, it was time for my trials to begin. Every good hero/heroine must accomplish 3 tests before they can succeed...
First: Obtaining a Visa
This was a red-tape nightmare. My hosts in China wanted me to originally obtain a work visa, so they sent the required paperwork through certified mail to me. I then sent the paperwork and, with a little resignation, my passport to an agency that acts as a go between. The agency is needed because without it I would have had to go to the Chinese consulate in Chicago in person! When the agency obtained my documents they said that one of the forms was a photo copy and wouldn't be approved. I assured them I had made no copies of the documents, so they sent it to the consulate. Sure enough, it was rejected because the consulate said the forms were photo copies. So, after several phone calls and emails between my host, the agency, and my self we finally decided that I would apply for a temporary business visa that is good for 60 days. Once in China, my host will help me to obtain the correct visa.
Finally with the arrival of my visa and my passport safely back in my hands, I began the second test: Travel Shots
I was informed that I would be required to have three different types of shots. They were Typhoid, Hepatitis ?? (A,B,or C, I can't remember), and Japanese Encephalitis. We began three weeks ago with the Hep and the Japanese in my left arm and the Typhoid in my right. 3 shots all at once! Let me tell you, the next day my right arm hurt like I'd been in boxing match and had lost; that Typhoid was not fun. Then, last week I had to go back because the Japanese shot is a series shot, a series of THREE. When I went in they had it ready to go, but when they looked up my records they noticed I needed yet a forth shot to catch me up on some immunizations. That forth shot, by the way, went into the muscle, and it hurt a lot!! Ouch! Plus I had the Japanese one put in the same arm :( So, in two weeks I go back for the last shot for the Japanese series. By the way, all this time I'm thinking, I'm going to China, why in the world am I getting a Japanese Encephalitis vaccination!
Onto the third test: The Removal of my Wisdom Tooth (yes, I said Tooth, not teeth)
I went to the dentist to have a regular cleaning and low and be hold they decided that my one and only wisdom tooth must be removed before leaving. So, we went to the oral surgeon, who also agreed that it should come out. Since my departure is approaching quickly I was scheduled to have it out 2 days later. Today is the 2nd day of my recovery, and its better. Let me tell you, the drugs they hand out are amazing. Between the meds and the anesthesia wearing off I've slept for almost 36 hours straight! I still resemble a squirrel on the right side of my face because it is still kind of puffy and swollen, but everyone says it looks cute.
Thats all the trials for now. There are only suppose to be 3 tests for the hero, so I'm hoping everything will go smoothly from here on out. The next on the to do list is to go shopping! Where am I going to find shoes to teach in that are cute and that are comfortable to walk and stand in, but don't look too old ladyish?? Any suggestions?
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