Not much to talk about today.  It could be considered boring, compared to many of the days we’ve experienced here.  Judy’s activities at school are humming along.  Each Friday, on a rotating schedule, one of the elementary grades (grade 1, grade 2, etc.) has the responsibility of organizing an assembly.  They are supposed to be showing, through video and other means, the areas of study they’ve been working on.  It always includes a song or two, and the teachers usually ask Judy for a little help preparing their music.

She enjoys helping the teachers.  The only problem she has is the quality of the songs they select.  The teachers are looking for music specific to their assembly focus, and many times, the songs are terrible.  Bad lyrics are forced on top of a bad melody, with an even worse accompaniment (or they ask her to make up an accompaniment).  Many times, she’s convinced she could find better music that would meet the subject area demands.  She’ll get the message to them eventually, but she doesn’t currently have the heart to tell them how bad their selection is.  A few more bad songs, and I think she’s going to find “the heart” the tell them.

I just worked on our finances a little, and did some class planning.  When Lily showed up to clean around 2:00, I walked over to Metro to do some grocery shopping.  BORING! 

Judy makes another Clue “kill” today.  She thinks the game is down to her and one other player.  The name she got was the name of the person who tried to “hit” her early in the game in the nurse’s office.  Since there are two left, whoever “gets” the other player wins.  Judy has a decided advantage, knowing who has her name and the site, having avoided it once.  His site is tough.  It’s in an area of the school where Judy never goes, so it’s going to be tricky.

Judy starts a new grade level of instruction today.  She’s had the 7^th graders, but now has the 8^th graders.  The Middle School is starting a new trimester (Elementary and HS are on a regular semester schedule, MS has a trimester schedule, very confusing, especially if you cross over like Judy does).  Her initial impression of the kids is a good one.  We’ll see how they do as the semester progresses.

BHSFIC is sponsoring a program on Ancient Chinese Instruments and Music this afternoon.  One of my students volunteers at “The Temple of Heaven”, a nearby historical site.  Part of the temple site is the Divine Music Administration (the Ancient Chinese Imperial Musical Museum).  They do research on ancient Chinese instruments, and analysis on the scrolls where music was written that was played when the temple was built in the 1400’s.

Since I’m making an extra trip over to the campus today, I’m going to go early and visit “Tea Street.”  It’s near BHSFIC, so it seems like a logical time to visit.  It’s supposedly 1 ½ kilometers full of over 1000 tea shops.  I’m looking for Chinese stuff to bring home for Xmas, so it seemed like a good place to visit.  I find it on the map, find the nearest train station, and head out.  When I get off the train, I start walking and eventually arrive in the area.  Like most of Beijing, there’s no clue what’s near you, and right around the next corner, I was in the middle of it.

They weren’t kidding.  The area was one tea shop after another.  I found some things that may work, took pictures, purchased a sample or two, and headed over to school for the program.

The music program was great.  The performers had a huge professional sound set-up, television cameras everywhere, and were wearing traditional costumes.  They demonstrated each of the instruments, and then performed several ensemble numbers.  We also saw some of the scrolls they were analyzing.   Before and after the show, students (and teachers) were allowed to try out the instruments.  As usual, respect for a performer goes up, when you experience the techniques involved first-hand. 

Students getting help playing the instruments.

Pan-pipe demonstration

We’ve been talking about trying to find another market for either clothes, or items to bring with us when we travel to the US in December.  We’ve heard about the Zoo Market, near the Beijing Zoo.  Supposedly this a great place to buy in bulk, and “knock-offs” are easily accessible.  We’ll see.

We grab a taxi and head over this morning to check it out.  We arrive at the zoo, and start trying to find the markets (there are supposed to be several within a block of the zoo.  We walk inside the nearest building, and it is definitely a market area.  There are hundreds of stalls and vendors.  We wander the aisles, and unlike some of the other markets we’ve walked through, the vendors don’t yell at you and grab you.  This is much more sedate.  Each floor is it’s own area of shopping.  The basement is shoes, 1^st floor is men’s clothing, 2^nd floor is jackets, etc.  I don’t know how a vendor could make a sale.  There are so many options for each product.

None of the items appeal to us, so we go looking for another market.  Sure enough, with a little walking we find three more really big market areas, with different levels of quality.  These bigger markets seem to be wholesale markets.  Most of the merchandise is tied up into large packages.  It actually becomes overwhelming, there are so many floors with so much stuff.  This will be a good place to come when we have list of needed items, but wandering around is just a waste of time.

Worn out and hungry, we decide to go to Solana Mall for lunch.  It’s on the other side of town, and by the time we arrive, we’re ravenous.  I convince Judy to eat at Cabare, where I ate last week.  We find a comfortable table looking out on the fountain area and enjoy a relaxing meal.  As we leave the mall, we stop at Paris Baguette, an upscale bakery, and make some purchases for dinner.  We’ve avoided stopping here on our last 3 visits to the mall, but couldn’t get past it this time.  All the displays are tempting and we leave with a full sack of bread and pastry items that should last a week, but will probably not make it to tomorrow.  At home, naps and schoolwork take up the rest of the day. 

My day starts off with a quick trip back to BHSFIC.  I managed to leave some necessary computer cords at the school.  I need them this weekend, so the one-hour commute over, and another hour long commute back to the apartment is delightful (is the sarcasm obvious enough).

BISS is having a lunch today for all the “new” staff members and their families.  It’s a chance for us to celebrate 4 months in Beijing.  Everyone attends with families, and it’s a really good time.  We get a chance to eat and then tell our best TIC (this is China) story.  There are some really funny stories, including the Head of School’s wife visa issues (she can’t get a family Z visa, and has to leave the country every 3 months and reapply for a tourist visa).  How fun!  There are too many great ones for me to write about here.

Scott Lindner, the HS music teacher, and his family

Ruta, from Latvia, with one of her four children.

Javier, from Spain, teaches English, with his wife and daughters

After lunch, Judy and I walk around the area, just checking it out.  We’ve heard there are some unusual shops in the area, but we can’t find them.  We head back to the apartment, and spend the rest of the day catching up on schoolwork, financial stuff, and blog writing. 

A gingerbread house, in mid-construction.

Back at the apartment. It’s a gorgeous afternoon.

Judy managed to nail her Clue “target”.  She lured her out by standing in the Pre-K playground (the selected site), and quizzically looking at something on the ground as the target walked by.  When Alexis (the target) asked what was happening, Judy pointed at something just out of sight, Alexis stepped out to see, and BAM, Judy had her.  She has her next target in sight.  Today was flu shot day, and since Judy’s “death site” is the doctor’s office, and she didn’t get “knocked off”, she thinks she’s safe.   The faculty spent the day in meetings and trainings.  As usual, the meetings ranged from good information professionally delivered, to “get together, discuss, and report back” sessions, that took twice as long as necessary.

My day involves two classes, another “Guitar Club” at lunch, and then a trip over to BISS for my flu shot.  It’s always fun to fill out insurance forms for shots, etc., especially when the forms are in Chinese.  After the shot, I taxi back to the apartment, and a nap.  A call from Judy wakes me up.  She has the evening plans.  We have dinner at a new mall that opened nearby.  It’s named “The Aegean.”  The bottom two floors are shopping, and the top 3 floors are full of restaurants and fast food.  We find a place to eat with burgers, fries, salads, etc.  We’ll never get to all these restaurants, but we’ll probably try.

It’s like a small Abercrombie & Fitch

Any of these smoothies look good to you? Check the ingredients.

Recognize this movie poster?

The inside of the mall is gorgeous.  It’s not as crowded as I expected on a Friday night.  The outside has a really unusual lighting scheme, and Christmas decorations are beginning to appear.  As we leave, there is a large group of dancers out on the plaza, doing a line dance (50 or more).  They are having a blast.  It’s really fun to watch.

Judy has her usual busy day at BISS.  She spends a little time teaching her students, but much of the day is spent skulking her next “Clue” target.  No success today, but she has developed a plan for tomorrow.  She finishes up the day with an “Annie” rehearsal.  The rehearsal is normally on Friday afternoon, but tomorrow is a “Professional Development” day.  No students.

I head off to BHSFIC.  I’m excited because today, I’ll actually have a meeting of the “Orchestra Club”.  I arrive, sign in, and head over to the staff lunchroom for a quick lunch before “Guitar Club”.  After “Guitar Club”, I start setting up my classroom.  Some speakers elsewhere in the school have quit working, so the speakers in my room regularly “walk off”.  After I get set-up, I walk across the street for my regular BHSFIC Starbucks stop.  With my caffeine “stores” built up, I teach my two classes, and then move upstairs for “Orchestra Club”.  Several of the students stop by and let me know they have other club meetings today, or appointments, etc.  So we’re back to 7 students.  I begin to adjust my lesson plan.  I’ve got some great musicians, but it’s really tough to put it together if we don’t meet.  Today was our first meeting in 3 weeks.  The students are great, but it seems to be “baby steps” some weeks.

Judy has a big day at BISS today.  She nailed her Clue “target”, as he arrived on campus before school.  She had to touch him with the air-conditioner remote, in the Pre-K playground (just inside the entrance of the school). 

He gave Judy his current target, Lara, the first-grade teacher.  Judy made the “hit” on her, later in the day.  She had to touch her with a potato in the staff room.  Judy acquired a potato, and waited for her chance.  It occurred when she found Lara at the copy machine.  Judy walked up, tapped Lara with the potato, Lara screamed and ran, knocking off a drinking water jug in the flurry.  It made a pretty big mess. 

Judy has a problem on the next one.  Lara remembers who her target was supposed to be, but she can’t remember the site of the “hit”, and she can’t find the paper where it was written down.  Like so many brilliant teachers, her head is “in the clouds” on how to better teach her students, but an occasional important detail or two might slip by.

I start the day like I do most non-teaching days, reviewing my teaching plan for the next week or so, making sure I have all the necessary resources in place.  After some long-range planning, and in need of exercise, I walk over to the Marriott (1.75 miles on my Nike app).  I have some questions about their health club membership.  I’m also curious about “Club Marriott”.  I had seen a brochure on my last visit about free meals and BOGO (buy one, get one free), at Marriott properties throughout Asia.  We’re staying at Marriott properties in Sanya, China, in December, and again at a Marriott property in Phuket, Thailand, in February.  After getting my questions answered and finding out about the many freebies available at the six different Marriott properties in Beijing, I buy in.  I’ve always been a sucker for free, and BOGO.

I do some more walking around the area, just curious this time.  I find the American Embassy, and also walk by the Indian, Israeli, and French embassies.  There are several areas in Beijing designated for consulates and embassies, so if you find one, there is a cluster of others nearby.  Security looks really tight at all the sites.  With my curiosity satisfied, I head to the train station and home.  All totaled, by the time I get back the apartment, I’ve tallied 3.5 miles (I still haven’t begun to convert to the metric system yet). 

Judy heads to school, looking to “hit” her Clue target, but he doesn’t come through the front gate like she’s been told.  She’s going to have to get better intel if she’s going to be successful.  She’s worried about Friday’s flu shots.  Since they’re being given in the doctor’s office, she figures whoever is going after her will make their move on her that day.  She’s working on a way to avoid actually going into the office.

Judy’s decided we need some different pillowcases to match our new comforter.  I need to hike somewhere today, so I head out to Ikea.  We’ve always taken a cab.  It has seemed too far to walk, but I need the exercise.  It turns out to be about a mile, and the weather is nice.  I think I found where they’re building the new “wet market” on the way.  It’s only slightly more than a block from our apartment.  I get the necessary pillowcases, along with some glasses at Ikea, and taxi back.  Every time I get in a cab, I work on my “taxi talk”, with my destination pronunciations, and directions (left, right, straight, etc.)

Tonight is the BISS Barbarians bowling team party.  We won 300rmb worth of pizza at the Irish Volunteers Pub with our win at the tournament a few weeks back.  We meet Deb & Graham and taxi over.  It’s a fun night with some really good pizza.  I’m finding way too many pizza and burger joints. 

THE HEAT IS ON!  For those of you who are regular readers, you know we’ve been told the heat in Beijing would be turned on sometime in November by the government.  The water in the shower seemed warmer yesterday, but today we’re sure.  The radiators in the apartment are warm.  We’ve been lucky!  It hasn’t been extremely cold, and our windows have max sun time during the day, so we’ve been very comfortable.  In fact, most days I have to open a window to cool it down.

It’s an early day for me.  Parent/Teacher Conference Day is at BHSFIC today.  I have to be across Beijing by 8:00 am.  I’m expecting big rush-hour train crowds, but it really wasn’t bad at all.  I make it to the campus fairly easily. 

“Free Interviews” for 11^th graders take place from 8:30 to 10:30.  This is the time for me to sit in my room, and wait for parents to walk by who might want to speak to me.  There’s a big meeting at 10:30 for parents and students (teachers don’t need to attend).  After lunch, scheduled interviews take place.  These are interviews teachers have requested for parents to attend.  I don’t have any scheduled interviews, and no one drops in during “Free Interviews”.  I wasn’t expecting anyone.  The parents are much more concerned about the AP classes their kids are taking since these will determine US college admissions (the reason they’re attending BHSFIC).

I spend most of my time on Facetime.  I can “hard-wire” into the school’s stronger internet, so I take advantage and check in with family.  I actually run out of time before I can reach everyone (Sorry Kathyrn and Courtney).  I take time to visit with a few of the faculty members, and make sure the administration knows I was on campus, then I head to the train and home.

I managed to finally completely break our door lock last night (push-button finally broke and disappeared inside the locking unit).  We’d had earlier issues with the lock, but now there is no way to open the door without setting off the alarm.  I contacted the leasing agent last night (she’s in Nepal on vacation), and by the time I get home, it’s been changed out.  Of course, I didn’t have the passcode yet, so I get to kill some time reading the iPad outside the apartment until the landlord arrives, and shows me how to set the new passcode.  It’s great!  The door had been an irritation since we arrived.  This new one is really smooth!!!

Judy gets home, and I train her on the new lock (not as easy to you might expect).  Then we get down to the business of hearing about her strategy for “Clue”.  She’s gonna nail the guy, if she can just get to school early enough.

The “girls” are getting together today for a brunch at Solana Mall.  They’re meeting at “Cocoa and Vanilla.”  About 14 people show up.  They have a great time.

I manage to kill some time at my own brunch.  I traveled with Judy to the mall.  We plan to do a little shopping after the meal.  I end up at “Cabare”, where we ate a couple of weeks ago.  It’s too cold to sit out by the water (40s), so I find a comfortable table near a window with a warming sun.  I’m gonna “veg” out.  Food and a magazine is all I need for a few hours.  There was some kind of a photo shoot going on right outside my window, which kept me interested.  There were two male models and lots of helpers scurrying everywhere with make-up, hair spray, clothes, etc.

Now this is a Brunch!

We meet up after brunch and find the store we were looking for.  With the onset of winter, we needed a comforter for the bed.  We’re thinking a sheet and bedspread might not be enough.  The comforter needs some accessorization (of course).  Now we need a fitted sheet to match, as well as some pillows, and pillowcases.  We’re gonna be looking pretty snazzy around the house.  Judy also found some sweaters at The Gap.

The shopping at Solana Mall is really fun.  There’s great food, and shopping.  The biggest concern for me is that we’ve discovered how to use our bank cards as debit cards.  It was easy not to spend money when we had to have cash for everything, and couldn’t find a relaxing place to shop.  Finding a fun and comfortable place to shop, with easy access to our money may prove problematic.

Back home, we sort out our packages.  I trek over to Metro for some groceries.  We were beginning to get a little behind on some of the necessities.  The check-out lines are really long, so it’s a frustrating visit, but we’re stocked for the week.  Tomorrow is Parent/Teacher conferences at BHSFIC.  I have to leave early enough to be on campus by 8:00 am.  Man, it’s beginning to feel like a job.