Judy’s BISS Idol auditions continue. Today she heard more pianists. They were well prepared. She also saw a group of four 4th grade boys (2 Chinese, 1 Japanese, and 1 Korean) with a dance performance. They did a great job, and had obviously been preparing. It wasn’t improvised like you sometimes get with younger students. Judy asked how they had prepared. They told her they had been going to a dance academy for several months to prepare for this audition. BISS Idol may be a more serious activity than Judy had anticipated.
I’m supposed to begin my “extra” music elective class for 10th graders today. Classes are scheduled for 2:15, but I’m going to go over in time for lunch at 11:30 (it’s free). I have time to swim before I go, so I pack my school stuff and swimming stuff and head out. Since I’m dressed for school, I planned on taking a taxi. I’m not interested in a long walk in these “school” shoes. When I get to the street, I realize that traffic is really backed up on our street. I can also see that the 3rd Ring Road traffic is moving slow. Also, no empty taxis are coming by. I walk across the street, planning to catch a taxi going the other way (no traffic issue), and get a ride over to the train station. From the train station, I can cut under the highway, and then catch a small shuttle bus that travels from the train station to the intersection near the Marriott.
What a great plan! However, when I get a taxi, and tell him where to take me, he begins arguing with me and then pulls over to let me out. I think he misunderstood where I wanted to go. I tell him the street where the Marriott is. He indicates we’re going to take a different route, and off we go. It’s a circuitous route, but gets me to the street I need pretty quickly. Traffic is really bad here also, so I spend some time sitting in traffic. When I get close to the Marriott, the driver lets me out, and I finish with a short walk.
Another one of those crazy bike/trash guys. I don’t know where they take all this stuff, and how they make money on it. Someone must be paying something somewhere for recycling materials. These guys are everywhere, and I haven’t seen any vehicles that look like a garbage truck, anywhere.
After the swim, I walk out of the Marriott, and across the street, where I can catch a small shuttle. Each of the vehicles carries 8-10 passengers. I’ve never tried this before, and I don’t know how much it costs. I climb in, like I’m a regular rider. When we get to subway station, everyone gets out, and we’re met by someone collecting money. It costs me 2rmb, about 36 cents. This is so cheap! I’ll probably use it more often now that I know the cost. Prior to this, my only contact with the shuttles was dodging them on the narrow road as I walked to the Marriott. They’re electric and run silent. The only warning you get is a short honk, and then they buzz by.
Looking for something to liven up my life, I take a different train route to school. I’ve decided to travel on Line #1, the train line that goes underneath Tian’anmen Square. I’m curious how heightened the security is for all the government meetings. It turns out to be an uneventful trip. Nothing is out of the ordinary, except for the added military guards at the train stations.
At BHSFIC, I meet my new music elective class of 10th graders. There are 6 students attending today. The 10th graders just spent 4 ½ weeks in the US. These kids were in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Chicago, Monterrey, and Texas. It’s fun to talk to them about their experiences. They lived in private homes, and attended classes in private U.S. schools. The girl who was in Texas attended Trinity Valley HS in Fort Worth, and lived on a ranch. She even got to attend the rodeo in Ft. Worth. It’s fun to hear her impression about “home.”