More schoolwork for Judy today! She eventually gets to the point where she can go to Dragonfly Spa and unwind with a “Top & Toe” (foot & head/shoulder massage). She hasn’t figured out yet how to tell the masseuse “not so hard”. She’s going to have bruises on her neck and shoulder again. Back at home later, she’s moaning and groaning, but finally puts a finish to the schoolwork.

This is how the motorbikes/scooters knock off the wind. The “skirt” and handles are heavily insulated.

I get in another swim session. It’s getting easier, so it’s time to lengthen my distance and maybe speed up a little. As I walked in, the clerk tried to tell me something about the showers and no hot water, but I could shower at home, so I went in anyway. After the swim, the showers were working. I chalked it up to my lack of language.

Back home, later in the afternoon, we realized we didn’t have any hot water. Whoops! I start worrying that I hadn’t paid up our “hot water” account. It’s been a long time since I paid anything on the account. I try reading the meters, but I’ve never really figured this out. There is a meter in each bathroom. I’m pretty sure they’re for hot water. There’s a utility closet in the outside hallway with plumbing for every apartment. Two of the meters are marked for 2503, our apartment. Lilly and I decided a while back that one was for cold water, and the other for “flush” water. Guess I’ll go to the UHN management office tomorrow and get paid up.

I rode to the park for more kite flying. It was even more crowded today than yesterday. I went to a different section of the park, looking for some open space. As I was searching, I found the “kite park regulars”. These guys are serious. They’ve got really fancy reels, and bags, and bring their own stools. They come prepared.

This guy has a serious kite flying rig. His kite was barely in view, it was so high.

Some of the “kite park regulars”

The plan for the weekend involves Judy spending most of her time grading student work and posting the grades. That involves evaluating the work using four different criteria, emailing the results to the student, and posting the grades. This is especially tough when our internet is barely running. What would normally take 10 seconds or less to load, takes 5 to 10 minutes to load or send. Very frustrating.

I did some computer work, followed by a swim session. After swimming, we ate lunch, and I “kicked back” while Judy worked. Around 3:00, I decided to try flying my kite. I’ve been waiting for a day too windy for table tennis, and today is it. I rode the bike over to Taiyanggong Park, a large park not far from our apartment. Outside the park, a vendor is selling kites and other gear. He’s got quite a crowd today. There are lots of families enjoying the park today.

I can’t remember the last time I tried to fly a kite. The crowd is big enough that I have to search out a spot where I won’t be crashing into someone else’s kite, and the trees are short enough that mine won’t get hung up. My first day’s attempt isn’t too bad. I got it into the air easy enough, but keeping it aloft proved a challenge. There were a few times when it began to dive and I noticed it was heading for a family walking along. My level of concern went way up! I never hit anyone and had a fun couple of hours of flying and people watching.

THURSDAY, 3/19/15

The Pre-K kids meet Judy at the door when she arrives at their classroom. That’s a lot of energy to rein in!

I’m out early, with a new plan for traveling to school. If I’m going by train, the worst part of the trip (knee pain) is the long walk from the apartment to the station, and the long walk during the two train changes that get me to Yonghegong Station and Line 2. There’s never a chance to sit down on either of the first two trains. Line 2 from Yonghegong is a long ride, but I always find a seat. The taxi ride from the apartment, all the way to school, usually costs between 50 & 60 yuan, and takes 30 to 40 minutes.

I’ve decided to taxi to Yonghegong and catch the train, taking out all the long walking and a half-hour of train riding. The 15 minute taxi trip to Yonghegong costs 20 yuan. Hooray!!! I’m saving a little money, a little time, and a little knee irritation. Success!!!

As I finish class, I find out the orchestra club is planning to meet after school. I’ve got a few ideas about what to play today, and then we’ll get a chance to talk about the rest of the semester. There’s not much semester left, only 4 more weeks. The guitar club guys have decided to record the tunes they worked on while they’ve been at the school. They’ve got it all figured out, and don’t need much from me right now.

FRIDAY, 3/20/15

Judy has a big day with puppet shows with the grade 2 students. She’s had to find musical excerpts to fit each of the different scenarios played out by the puppets. It’s the culmination of her “collaboration” with Grade 2. She’s also helping students participating in the elementary talent show next week refine their musical selections. There are several kindergarten students with 5-minute performances, that have to be reduced to two minutes or less. It’s time consuming, and when she gets home, she realizes she never had time to drink her tomato soup. She had students in her room all-day, including lunchtime. She is famished.

Judy & the Grade 2 teachers. The red sweaters weren’t planned. It just happened.

Grade 2 – showing off their puppets

I taught my classes, ate lunch, and visited with several of my compatriots. I think it’s going to work out for me to travel with a couple of them to Tibet at the end of April. I really wanted to get to Lhasa before we left China, but Judy wasn’t interested. I’m pumped about the prospect of actually getting to go.

I stopped at the Vietnamese Embassy on my way home and picked up our passports with the visas we need for our trip next week to Hanoi and Halong Bay. It was an easy process. I always enjoy the taxi ride through the embassy area, looking at embassies from everywhere (Sri Lanka, Mongolia, Egypt, etc.). While I was waiting for the visa office to open, I killed time watching the guard at the Mongolian Embassy march around opening and closing gates. I kept trying to get a picture, but every time I pulled out my camera, he would stomp his foot, and give the “no” sign with his hand.

Our ayi shows up at 7:45 am. It’s early, but forces me to get moving early. The last several days I’ve been enjoying watching out the window in the morning as Judy leaves. She’s struggled getting a taxi several times lately. There’s no defined place to stand for a taxi. Early morning, there are as many as 10 taxis lined up, so no problems. When they’re gone, it’s “every man for himself.” People walk out and see someone trying to flag down a cab, so they just move up the road a little bit, getting to the oncoming taxis first. Last week, she got “jumped”, several times. The “jumper” got a severe visual glare and pointing, as they pulled away in a taxi that should have been Judy’s. This week, she finally got verbal, shouting “NO” at a guy who started to jump in a taxi that had stopped for her. The drivers don’t care who gets in. They’re just looking for a fare.

Around 9:00, I went over to Metro for the weekly grocery visit, trying to get out of our ayi’s way. When I got home, it was time to swim. My swimming acquaintance told me the problem yesterday was a shower issue. They shut everything down to fix the hot water, but it’s up and running today. After swimming, I went to the wet market for some vegetables for dinner.

Around 1:00, I got on the bike and headed to the table tennis park. It’s a 20-minute ride, and there were very few players when I arrived. Lunch is a slow time. I sat around for 20 minutes. Everyone who came in had a partner. I was about to decide today would be the day I don’t play, when someone walked up, looking for a partner. We hit until 4:00 pm, when I begged off. We took one short break, when my partner had to smoke.

The guy who runs the park has been checking my member book and getting my phone # the last few days, and I found out why today. As we finished, he came by, telling us to go into a little building. Inside, they checked my info again, got my phone # again, and gave me a pin. I’m not sure what it says, but I think it means I’m a member of the club. Everyone is getting them. Not sure if we’re supposed to wear them, or what, but at least they’re not telling me to get lost.

Back at the apartment, I put together the vegetables for dinner, and start finishing up preparations for my classes this week. The early departure on Thursdays dictates everything is ready when I go to bed. It would be a drag to arrive at school without needed materials, knowing they’re sitting on a table at home.

Some cool gate doors we found at Panjuanyuan last Sunday.  Wish we had a gate to hang ’em on.

These are some pretty fancy slingshots.

We were looking for a nice teapot. This was one of about 15 different vendors selling them.

Need some beads?

I have a haircut scheduled for 1:00 pm, so I spend some time putting together my class plans for the week before heading over to swim. The pool opens at 9:30, but there’s a very regular group that show up when they open. I’ve decided to swim after 10:30 when the “regular” group begins to finish. When I walk into the building, the clerk lets me know the pool isn’t open. I’m not sure why. I’ll probably find out tomorrow. One of the “regulars” speaks enough English to converse with me, and he’ll update me.

Slightly disappointed that I’m not getting my exercise in, I make the decision to ride the bike to my haircut. I’m going to carry my table tennis stuff, just in case I feel up to it afterwards. Conveniently, there is a Homeplate BBQ between here and there. In keeping with my BBQ theme for lunch this week, I stop off on my way. It’s a nice day, so I get to sit outside and watch the locals pass by while I eat.

After my haircut, I’m trying to determine how windy it is. If it’s too windy, I’ll try to fly my kite. Even though the winds are borderline, I decided to try the table tennis park again. The wind is around 5-10 mph, but everyone else seems to not care, so I dig in. I end up playing two straight hours. I’m less tired than usual, so I must be getting in better shape? Afterwards, I head home on the bike. Judy gets home really late. She just can’t walk out if everything isn’t in place and ready to go for tomorrow morning. Judy arrives just in time to eat, get her clothes ready for the next day, and then go to bed. The little kids will wear a person out!!!! There’s no way I could do it!

Today is the official “turn off the heat day” in Beijing (March 16). The heat everywhere goes off. Beijing has been in a warming trend with lows around 32 F, and highs in the upper 50’s/low 60’s. The only heat we’ve had on in our apartment all winter is in the two bathrooms, only because we couldn’t turn it off. It gets so hot in here, with lots of windows and sun exposure. I open windows whenever I can (if the pollution isn’t too bad).

I have a new experience scheduled for the day. I’m going to the Embassy of the Republic of Vietnam to get visas for our trip in two weeks. I’m going in the afternoon when our ayi comes in. First, I go over to the wet market for fresh fruits and vegetables. I’m making soup for tonight’s dinner. After cleaning everything up, I go to the pool for my swim session. After swimming, I dress for traveling, with plans for the embassy, and the table tennis club if I feel like it.

The embassy isn’t too far from the Silk Market, so I walk over to Taiyanggong Station, and get on board. I hate the long transition at the Guomao Station from Line 10 to Line 1, but I need the exercise. In the Silk Market, I find a place that sells kite reels. I bought a kite yesterday at Panjiayuan and I need a cheap reel & string. After bickering and arguing price, I eventually get what I need. Now, it lunchtime, and Tim’s Texas BBQ is between here and the embassy. Isn’t that convenient.

After lunch, I walked two blocks over to the Embassy and found the Visa Office. There were about 10 people in various stages of getting their paperwork completed. I filled out the forms, stapled our pics onto the form and got in line. The total cost for the visas for both of us was around $150 USD. That’s the highest we’ve paid for entrance visas to anyplace we’ve visited. I can pick up our passports and visas on Friday. I’ll probably go by on my way home from school.

Outside the embassy, I hailed a taxi and gave directions to the table tennis park. It’s just too pretty not to get out and enjoy it. I’m always apprehensive as I walk in, never sure if I’ll get a chance to play. I end up playing with 4 different players over two hours. When I finally head home, I’m beat.

Back at the apartment, I start putting together the soup. It’s after 7:30 before Judy gets home. She has so many details to organize and put in place for her many different grade levels, she can’t get away. We finally enjoy dinner (I’m getting good at this soup thing), and catch up on each other’s day.

Judy’s ready for a recovery day. The weather’s so nice, we decide to go out and do a little sightseeing. I’ve seen a lots of sections of Beijing that she hasn’t. It’s a perfect day to visit the Panjiayuan Antique Market.

I guess this guy takes his bird everywhere on his bike?

Judy’s beginning to “warmup” her bargaining skills. She still starts too high. I’ll keep training her, but she’s a tough study.

We weren’t the only ones with the idea. The area is really crowded, beginning with the traffic. When we finally get into the main area, there a so many vendors. When I was here before, it was a weekday, and cooler. We have fun checking out items we might want to bring back to the US. I found a kite I can begin practicing my “flying technique”, so when I get a really good one, I’ll be able to handle it. Judy found a couple of rings she couldn’t walk away from. We found a few things we would’ve bought, if the price had been right, but it wasn’t, so we had to walk away. There were rows and rows of jewelry and beads, and almost anything anyone would want. I guess this might be considered a Beijing version of the “Canton Market” (as in Canton, TX).

We found some lamps we like, but we just don’t know where they’ll fit in our new “digs” in Ft. Worth.

Judy heads out at 7:45 for her 8:30 am Professional Development session. It’s all about assessment. When you’re looking at one “last” assessment, after 39 years of teaching, one of the last things you want to spend a half-day doing is sitting through discussions about “assessment”. Her attitude is grudgingly cooperative.

After the session, Judy and several of the elementary faculty travel to Homeplate BBQ to celebrate Shannon’s birthday. They have a cake and some good BBQ. Afterwards, its off to Lilly Nails for some nail touch-ups. After the nails, Judy and Shannon go over and visit Anna and her 5 month old baby. It’s after 8:00 when Judy finally gets home. It’s been a long day, split between boredom and fun.

I have a really active day. I start off with a trip to the wet market, then a swim. After the swim, I prepped the vegetables, and cleaned the strawberries (really good). I rode the bike over to the table tennis club. The weather is beautiful. The place was packed. All 30 tables were full, and over 40 people sitting around waiting for an open table. I sat for one-half hour before I finally got a chance to play. I’ve improved so much from when I started playing last May. I was worn out after almost two hours on a table. I rode the bike home, and put together the vegetable soup when I arrived. I’m gonna be sore tomorrow.

WEDNESDAY, 5/11/15

Now that our ayi is back to work, Wednesday’s are an early day for her (and for me). She arrives at 7:45 am. On Mondays and Fridays, she comes in between noon and 1:00 pm. I spend the first part of the morning working on class preparations for tomorrow. I head over for a swim session around 10:30, trying to get out of her way a little bit. After the swim, I came back and she’s finishing up. The rest of my day is spent finishing up my class prep.

Judy has a regular faculty meeting after school, arriving home late. We finish up the night watching an episode of “New Girl”. That should demonstrate how desperate the regular television situation is around here.

THURSDAY, 5/12/15

I have classes today, so I’m out the door, on my way to the train at 6:20am. The Beijing Subway system had adjusted their fares when we returned to Beijing after the Christmas holidays. The fares used to be 2rmb, no matter how far someone travelled. My travel cost for the train round-trip was 4rmb (about 64 cents). Now the fares reflect distance travelled. My trip to school costs 5rmb (84 cents) and going home is 4rmb (64 cents). I’m not sure why it’s different going one way than the other, unless time of day is a consideration.

After classes, I was able to eat lunch and catch up on what’s happening around school and the southwest side of Beijing. Since it’s early in the semester, I don’t have orchestra club, so I’m able to head home, arriving around 3:00 pm. Judy gets home much later. It’s just like Arlington. She stays busy with classes during the day, and spends a lot of time after school digging through resources and organizing materials for the next day.

FRIDAY, 5/13/15

My day is a repeat of Thursday, teaching classes, and traveling back and forth. Judy has a much different day. She has classes straight-thru, all day. Lunch is very short due to talent show auditions. Her Book Week assembly goes well. She spends a lot of time at school closing out the week, and doesn’t get home until nearly 8:00pm. She’s almost ready for a break. We have one coming in two weeks.

Judy’s costume for the Book Week Assembly. She’s on the far right if you can’t spot her.

I can’t remember what I thought I was going to do today, but Judy called and I had to start hustling to get ahead of a possible problem. She had received an email from BISS HR two weeks ago, detailing info about Visa renewal for returning and leaving? teachers. We ignored it, thinking it was for leaving teachers whose visas expired before the school year ended. Our visas don’t expire until July, well after our departure from Beijing.

Judy saw the Head of School today, and he reminded her about turning in her stuff for visa renewal. She quizzed him on our need to deal with it since our visas were good into July. He assured her that we did need to turn in all the necessary paperwork (marriage certificate, birth certificates, temporary residence permits, passports, foreign expert certificates) so our visas could be “de-certified”. The deadline is today???

I start digging through all our paperwork, getting the necessary stuff collected and organized. After swimming, I taxied over to BISS and gave all the stuff to Judy. She’s planning on turning it in after school. Since I’m in the neighborhood, I grabbed lunch at the local Chinese restaurant. I like several of the dishes and it’s been months since I’ve had the chance to eat there. After lunch, I walked down the street to the State Electric Grid office to pay on our electricity account. We’re paid up for several months now, maybe until we leave.

When Judy gets home, after going by the HR office, she is slightly irritated. We were right. They don’t need any of the information from us. Our visas are good and don’t need de-certifying. The HR clerk told Judy she just cancels our “Foreign Expert Certificate” when we leave, and the visa expiration takes care of itself. All that rushing and scrambling for basically nothing. It’s something that’s all too common here. People try to do the right thing, but the communication is just garbled enough be confusing. It’s not like I had important things to do, but I sure wasted time and money getting the materials to Judy in a timely manner. As we near the end of our tenure here, I’m sure there will more issues like this that crop up.