(no subject)
The mother of one of my students from the 'winter camp' is keeping in touch with me. Today I recieved an email from her wishing me happy new year -- one of those e-cards - there is a picture which draws itself while the Chinese classical instrument - the erhu - plays. It is like a violin. Wow, the music in this e-card is great - to me not cheesy at all.
This is the first time I have actually heard classical music since I came to China a month and a half ago.
And I am happy - hearing the music opened up so many new doors (great possibilities) in my imagination.
I asked my student's mother if she could recommend me some music -though who knows, perhaps she does not like music, or haha, imagine - what if she "likes" western music? As in, she may be 'functionally cultured' (not a clear explanation, I know). We shall see.
--
but yea, I have been so busy here that I have had little time to explore, little time to learn the language. MY god! I have learnt almost nothing, and I have even forgotten some things.
Ah, well, my classes are finished. I am on holidays! Today was my first actual day off for weeks (I did no work). YAY.
--
Last night I went to the 'downtown' area with two colleages, to an Irish pub.
I spent alot of money, somehow. And the taxi driver ripped me off on the way home but I was too drunk to be bothered.
This Irish bar was full of westerners of the worst sort - well, the empty, shallow and fractured sort. I guess they are not really the worst - because they are fractured from their own fragility and not because they are bad people, as such.
These are the people I met when I traveled last time, the ones that gave me such a bad impression of teaching overseas.
Territorial pissings though; we are new people, and God knows, some were just critical - in their lopsided way- of our taste in music etc., others wanted us to leave. I acted as mediator. Soothing the wounds all night; it's my habit to stick fingers in the jaws of dogs. Dumb of me to do. They were just dickheads, petty and unreasonable.
I definitely don't want to keep company with people like that.
Dumb rock music too.
That is another reason I am so pleased to hear the Chinese classical music today.
And it does soothe me :)
Tomorrow I am going to Korea.
This is the first time I have actually heard classical music since I came to China a month and a half ago.
And I am happy - hearing the music opened up so many new doors (great possibilities) in my imagination.
I asked my student's mother if she could recommend me some music -though who knows, perhaps she does not like music, or haha, imagine - what if she "likes" western music? As in, she may be 'functionally cultured' (not a clear explanation, I know). We shall see.
--
but yea, I have been so busy here that I have had little time to explore, little time to learn the language. MY god! I have learnt almost nothing, and I have even forgotten some things.
Ah, well, my classes are finished. I am on holidays! Today was my first actual day off for weeks (I did no work). YAY.
--
Last night I went to the 'downtown' area with two colleages, to an Irish pub.
I spent alot of money, somehow. And the taxi driver ripped me off on the way home but I was too drunk to be bothered.
This Irish bar was full of westerners of the worst sort - well, the empty, shallow and fractured sort. I guess they are not really the worst - because they are fractured from their own fragility and not because they are bad people, as such.
These are the people I met when I traveled last time, the ones that gave me such a bad impression of teaching overseas.
Territorial pissings though; we are new people, and God knows, some were just critical - in their lopsided way- of our taste in music etc., others wanted us to leave. I acted as mediator. Soothing the wounds all night; it's my habit to stick fingers in the jaws of dogs. Dumb of me to do. They were just dickheads, petty and unreasonable.
I definitely don't want to keep company with people like that.
Dumb rock music too.
That is another reason I am so pleased to hear the Chinese classical music today.
And it does soothe me :)
Tomorrow I am going to Korea.