If you're a woman, use the toilet on the left.
If you're a toilet, use the one on the right.
If you're a toilet, use the one on the right.
 JD had great fun driving an electric go-kart round the park yesterday. Or should that be a "no kart"??
 As some readers may know, about three weeks ago I was challenged on Facebook to do 22 press-ups every day for 22 days to raise awareness of mental health issues suffered by veterans. I decided to give it a go, with video of each effort posted onto Facebook. I only manged 10-20 in the first few days, but soon got up to the full 22 and yesterday was my final session. It was fun for a while, but I don't think I'll be carrying it on any longer!
 I was throwing out some old lesson plan books the other day when I stumbled across this class list from 2008. There in the middle is mention of "Ava". Little did I know I'd be marrying her some three years later! It certainly wasn't love at first sight. I barely remember her, if I'm being honest. I recall she used to get lots of phonecalls in the lesson and have to leave the classroom to deal with them. I know now, of course, that to miss certain calls can cost her business a lot of money but at the time I thought it was all a little bit rude and distracting. (Looking at the list again, there were certainly some oddly named students in that class. Guess I'm lucky I didn't marry "Astor Eagle"!)
 I had my first full day in the two new schools where I now work each Wednesday. Four morning lessons in a Primary School, followed by lunch in their Teachers' Canteen, rather memorably translated as the "Life-experiencing Room"! Then a short e-bike trip to a Middle School for three more lessons. (One of the Chinese teachers there said that I teach more lessons in one day than he does in the whole week). Today's lessons built up to a restaurant role-play, complete with props, which the students really enjoyed. Somewhat less interesting for me by the seventh lesson, mind you!   Well, well well. Everton up to second in the league - the best start to a season in Everton's long history. if we keep this up, it could prove to be a very exciting few months ahead!
 This week is mid-Autumn Festival in China and Ava, JD, Ma, Druncle and I celebrated it at our friend's farm with a home-cooked banquet of Dai minority food. Perhaps a little too spicy and sour for my liking, but it looked great and we all ate plenty.
 I spent yesterday in two schools, giving demonstration lessons with a view to teaching a one day a week (in addition to my day at University). In the morning it was WaiYu Primary School who were offering 2-3 lessons to classes of fifty or more 10-11 year olds. Between my two demo classes, I watched the students do morning exercises [see above] and eye exercises [see below]. The lessons seemed to go well and they later called me asking if I would commit to a regular four lessons a week.  In the afternoon it was the turn of Da Cheng Middle School and, after lunch in the school canteen, another three lessons there with students aged 13-14 years. It turns out this school is actually a converted hospital and I was later told my lessons were in the old mortuary rooms <insert your own joke here>!  These lessons also seemed to go well and I was signed up for a regular 3 lessons a week. So it's going to be a busy and tiring Wednesday, with 7 non-textbook lessons to kids of various ages in two distinct locations. plus dropping JD off at Kindergarten beforehand and picking him up afterwards. Along with my Monday's University teaching, it certainly provides a varied week of teaching, with students of all ages and ability levels.
 1. Dinosaur stomps into Pig Village. 2. Pig family are attacked. 3. Police and firemen counter-attack. 4. Dinosaur successfully repelled, saving the pig's bacon. ....Yes, JD and I have been to the forest again!
 When Air China included this paragraph in their in-flight magazine guide to London, I bet they never thought it would make the international news. Yes, racism is alive and well out here! They finally made a formal apology yesterday, blaming it on poor editorial practices!
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 About the authorPaul Hider lives and works in Kunming (SW China) and updates his blog about his life there every other day. Past blog entries
September 2016
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