CHINA NEWS

Hi Everyone,

The main news these days has been the terrible earthquake in the Province of Sichuan in the southwest of China. I’m in the northeast and a long way from the epicentre so didn’t experience any problems. I’m sure you have read in the papers and seen the details on TV. I can watch TV of course but can’t understand so I’ve been reading about the detail on Yahoo news each day.

My trip for the May holiday went well. The mother of the boy I teach invited Jenny, the friend I met on the plane last May, and I to stay at the father’s parent’s house. We went for 4 nights so we had 3 complete days there, which was nice. Some other relations went as well making 10 in all plus 2 dogs. It was quite cosy in a 2 bedroom flat! We went by train, 3.5 hours going and the slow 5 hours 20 minutes train coming back! The father’s works in the area and a work colleague has a 7-seat people carrier, which he kindly loaned for our use. Yes, all 10 plus 2 dogs travelled together. Things are quite different in China! As they live near the start of the Great Wall, we visited some places close by and also went to an Alton Towers type game park connecting to the beach. Jeff enjoyed this and I went on a few of the rides. I enjoyed a toboggan ride down a steep sandy slope to the beach! I didn’t get my swim, as the sea was rather cold as only early May. We’ve been invited back in July when it will be warm enough to swim.

The two new assistants at the school have settled in well. It is still quite hard as their English is not so good which puts more pressure on me. However, they are very keen and willing to learn. The other assistant I had at the beginning of the year is coming on very well even though she is only 19 having had her birthday in April.

Our efforts to start a new class have been thwarted by a children’s disease, which seems to affect only young children. I don’t know too much about it other than it causes blisters on the hands, feet and mouth. It has killed some children in the south where it started through contaminated food. In the south, they eat anything, and I really DO mean anything. Some cases have been found in Shenyang. As it is contagious, the kindergartens are checking the children at the gate and will not allow the parents in. Some Kindergartens have told the parents not to send their children to other places.

Jenny’s daughter is coming to China for a holiday at the end of May. She has been studying in London since she was 16 and is living in Hornsey. I met her when I was back last in February. She will probably stay for about 6 weeks so we will go out to various places together. One trip is likely to be to Beijing. I have also been invited to one of her nieces wedding on 22 June and have given an English name to another niece’s baby. It’s all happening!

That’s all for now. Take care and best wishes to you all.

Alan Hill
18 May 2008