The group of around twenty two teachers, the schools first cohort, is a decidedly diverse group with a few people having previous international teaching experience. There are representatives from Israel, the Soviet Union (his words), Ireland, Scotland, Venezuela, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, and various places within the United States. At least four other colleagues brought along their families which included children and their were two other teaching couples.
Maatie had initially come down with us, and as soon as she found out that she didn't have to stay, she was out of there. We called her when we broke for lunch and enjoyed another buffet style meal in the hotel restaurant. Lunch was green beans, pot stickers, watermelon, cantaloupe, some sliced meat I thought was beef that I need to put out of my mind because it din't taste like anything I've had before or would want to eat again, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and jasmine tea.
After lunch we left Maatie to her own devices and rejoined the group to review the week's schedule and expectations, then proceeded to sign contracts, fill out paperwork for banking, submit our travel and visa reimbursement receipts, and get our settling in allowance.
Once we concluded our business in the meeting room, we went back up to our apartment to get ready to go shopping. During the meeting we learned, among other things that, because Beijing air is so dry, using the provided drying racks after washing clothes is quite efficient. We took a trip via the train to the TIANTANDONGMEN station (translated Temple of Heaven), four stops from RONGJINGDONGJIE station (the nearest station to the hotel) where we were told by Omar, one of our colleagues, that there was a mall where the prices were more reasonable and there were an abundance of American shops like The Gap, McDonald's, etc.
Dea and I were issued transportation cards but needed to purchase a third for Maatkara. It was a good ten minute walk to the train station, which we navigated based on the general directions we were given and a bit of common sense. First we went to the kiosk to figure out how to get a card for Maatie. It was awkward. We debated about which stop we had to get off at for about five minutes until we found the button that translated the screen to English. Finally in agreement, Dea purchased a ticket for Maatkara from the station agent, and wanted to verify we were heading in the right direction. All the while, the line behind us started getting longer...
When we finally make it to the platform, I can't help but notice the similarities between the trains in Beijing and the trains in San Francisco. Lots of similarities. One thing I noted in particular that was different, was that there were no doors between the cars, just one long open space.
In the mall Dea got some new kicks, some fingernail polish remover, and we went grocery shopping. I ran out of gas as the girls explored the aisles. When we got back to the hotel, we broke down and got some fast food - chicken sandwiches. I tried to tip one of the patrons at the second restaurant but she chased us down and gave it back. Took a shower, ate, almost fell asleep on Black Mass with Johnny Depp, but woke up for (drum roll, please) Game of Thrones! I watched Game of Thrones in Beijing!
Chara called me at three in the morning. Gotta get used to having a life in two time zones.
i think you ate pooch
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