25/08: guangzhou, more
Today is a good day. I finally got my transcript FAXed to Guangdong U, from my Alma Mater, VCU. If I ever had doubts about affirmative action, this experience has been persuasive. Being a prisoner of time, it was important to get my transcript into the hands of this Dean. Polite Emails to FAX or Email it did not move the VCU folks.
Finally, I wrote if their buffoonery caused me to lose this job, I was coming back to clean house, seeking their jobs. Miraculously, the FAX appeared the next day. It's just a matter of gaining confidence from the listener. The Dean just contacted me, we'll talk Monday.
I have been to 2 performances, a Peking Opera, and a ballet last night.
Finally, I wrote if their buffoonery caused me to lose this job, I was coming back to clean house, seeking their jobs. Miraculously, the FAX appeared the next day. It's just a matter of gaining confidence from the listener. The Dean just contacted me, we'll talk Monday.
I have been to 2 performances, a Peking Opera, and a ballet last night.
Pictures from China
17/08: Guangzhou, more
I must tell you, lest I perish and with me, this part of the puzzle. The Guangzhou English TV station ran a documentary about the Temple of the Sun in Mexico, placing it's time from 200BC to 200AD. The design was very similar to what I saw in Cambodia. The Angkor Wat complex with over 600 temples peaked with Angkor Wat, about 1200AD. then gradually declined.
It tells me that the design information came from the Americas to Asia, and not what is commonly understood, from Asia to the Americas.
Nothing much profound going on, waiting for the teeth of the cosmic gears to align, to see if I get this teaching job, getting the documentation together: vitae, physical, transcript and passport.
It tells me that the design information came from the Americas to Asia, and not what is commonly understood, from Asia to the Americas.
Nothing much profound going on, waiting for the teeth of the cosmic gears to align, to see if I get this teaching job, getting the documentation together: vitae, physical, transcript and passport.
09/08: Guangzhou, more
I was rather pleased with myself yesterday getting my visa re-issued for another 30 days in Hong Kong, getting there with 2 bus transfers, and getting out on the express train. Visa requirements are that you leave the country every 30 days so they can check you out electronically at central, what we should be doing with the Latinos and Arabs.
Again, I'm the only honky in a double multitude of Asians, and the only one not knowing what he was doing. When I got back last evening, I treated myself to a fine fish supper at the best restaurant on the strip.
While standing with a group waiting to enter immigration, on the wall beside me were 20 sketches of known pick-pockets, all looking sinister. Bored, I took the shoulder of the guy in front of me and turned him towards me full face, then alternately looked at him then at the poster. At first, he froze with fear, gradually he understood I was doing American humor on him. He said he was going to Hong Kong to shop. I asked for what, he had no idea. It's in the air, spend that new money. Hong Kong is shopper's Mecca
06/08: Guangzhou
I've got cash, life is good.
S.
S.
05/08: Guangzhou, China
I am embarrassed to report that I just couldn't cut it in the ancient and remote Chinese village, regardless what the James River Writers advised. There was just insufficient language exchange to sustain me. So there.
But, while there I had a nice discussion with a really pleasant person, Vice Dean of Foreign Languages, Guangdong University. He was one of the thousands of tourists passing through. We talked about employing me to teach English. So maybe that's what the Universe had in mind sending me there.
So, presently I'm outside the gate at GU in a hotel. He is on vacation for another week, so I wait for his return so we can talk more. There are lots of students walking along the strip mall with lots of food stalls and everything but English books. Enough speak English to meet my need.
It's been a real change of pace being here. Guangzhou is a huge city on the SE coast. I caught a bus from LeKing and Wu Yuan to Shang Tao, overnight train to Guangzhou. There are palm trees here so I guess I'm the same latitude as South Carolina, no map, like living in a well.
At the train station, I saw a sort of travelers aid, a hotels representative. I told her to get me a hotel near the University. She did.
The next morning I went on discovery. The big city syndrome was a far cry from the sweet ancient village. I saw a cafeteria style food stall outside the hotel. Approaching a surly, middle aged woman, I began to point to the food I wanted. She looked at me and waved me away, twice. I don't know where it came from, but without skipping a beat, I got right up in her face and said something like, God damn you bitch, feed me now. She trembled a little and dished it up. I tell you, being and older, beefy white guy with short hair and can make his color go red while articulating can get a lot done.
But, while there I had a nice discussion with a really pleasant person, Vice Dean of Foreign Languages, Guangdong University. He was one of the thousands of tourists passing through. We talked about employing me to teach English. So maybe that's what the Universe had in mind sending me there.
So, presently I'm outside the gate at GU in a hotel. He is on vacation for another week, so I wait for his return so we can talk more. There are lots of students walking along the strip mall with lots of food stalls and everything but English books. Enough speak English to meet my need.
It's been a real change of pace being here. Guangzhou is a huge city on the SE coast. I caught a bus from LeKing and Wu Yuan to Shang Tao, overnight train to Guangzhou. There are palm trees here so I guess I'm the same latitude as South Carolina, no map, like living in a well.
At the train station, I saw a sort of travelers aid, a hotels representative. I told her to get me a hotel near the University. She did.
The next morning I went on discovery. The big city syndrome was a far cry from the sweet ancient village. I saw a cafeteria style food stall outside the hotel. Approaching a surly, middle aged woman, I began to point to the food I wanted. She looked at me and waved me away, twice. I don't know where it came from, but without skipping a beat, I got right up in her face and said something like, God damn you bitch, feed me now. She trembled a little and dished it up. I tell you, being and older, beefy white guy with short hair and can make his color go red while articulating can get a lot done.
28/07: More Li Keng, July 28
Some news was that I got locked out of my first hotel. Operating from a concept rather than staying aware in the moment, I paid a week in advance, bad move, it was a not good hotel. Was hanging out at my present hotel as it was a magnet for English speakers, stayed up too late, 10:00, went home, door was bolted, knocked and knocked, no answer, returned to present hotel, crossed my forearms in front of my face, universal sign, he went down and got them to open. I moved in 2 days, forfeited a day rent, showed them..
My new owner, he speaks no English, we have a good laugh crossing our forearms, we tell the story to others. I admire him greatly,
My new owner, he speaks no English, we have a good laugh crossing our forearms, we tell the story to others. I admire him greatly,
Apologies for the spastic emails. Computer not always available and time constraints. Will try harder---
---a close call. They gave me tea and watermelon and I recovered. He had good TV reception, wide selection of channels, I heard English. I fed my watermelon rine to a chicken under the table, we bade bye-byes and I got home.
White men tremble when women touch. It's common here for young girls to hold hands and rub shoulders and play with the other's hair Doesn't bother the men, apparently. But you geezers bring an eye patch.
I get a little English every day from the tourists passing through I'm eating 2 meals a day at my new hotel I got someone to tell him to put everything in one bowl, meat, veggies, whatever, rice is separate of course., for supper. Breakfast is
---a close call. They gave me tea and watermelon and I recovered. He had good TV reception, wide selection of channels, I heard English. I fed my watermelon rine to a chicken under the table, we bade bye-byes and I got home.
White men tremble when women touch. It's common here for young girls to hold hands and rub shoulders and play with the other's hair Doesn't bother the men, apparently. But you geezers bring an eye patch.
I get a little English every day from the tourists passing through I'm eating 2 meals a day at my new hotel I got someone to tell him to put everything in one bowl, meat, veggies, whatever, rice is separate of course., for supper. Breakfast is
27/07: Pictures from Li Keng
Here's proof I am here
26/07: Li Keng, more
Li Keng , founded in 1010 by a hermit, is a water based village maybe 1000' across at it's longest dimension. The buildings are 2-400 years old, best I can learn, as absolutely no natives speak English. I changed hotels today, moving up much better, same price, $5.33.
My last hotel had a nice balcony that overlooked where 2 rivers converge in the village center. they each have dams and sluces which are ornamented a little indicating the male dragon o the right, looking up stream, and a female dragon on the left.
Over the millennium, the rivers, less than 20' across, 2' deep have been channeled out, vertical stacked stones maybe 8' high, with frequent foot bridges across to access from either side the numerous open shops that are the first floor of 2-3 story buildings that are set back 6-10' from the river edge. The street is of big fitted slate flags allowing only as occasional tuft of grass.
My last hotel had a nice balcony that overlooked where 2 rivers converge in the village center. they each have dams and sluces which are ornamented a little indicating the male dragon o the right, looking up stream, and a female dragon on the left.
Over the millennium, the rivers, less than 20' across, 2' deep have been channeled out, vertical stacked stones maybe 8' high, with frequent foot bridges across to access from either side the numerous open shops that are the first floor of 2-3 story buildings that are set back 6-10' from the river edge. The street is of big fitted slate flags allowing only as occasional tuft of grass.
