Leaving Campus and Discover Zhengdong--the new, rich district Zhengzhou

As promised, let’s continue our tour by leaving the comfortable school campus gates and see what of China awaits us. 

Immediately as you leave, you will see…

A pile of rubble. 

The entire Zhengdong New District is very new and under massive amounts of construction.  Many days we question whether the air is blanketed by fog or construction dust.

But there are almost skyscrapers next to these leveled plots.  I don’t know if it’s inhabited or not. The exterior of the building is done, but the entry way isn’t finished. 

There are many buildings like this where the sign is up but nobody is home?  What if I actually needed a travel service?  Should I climb over the sandbags and ask about trips to Malta?

Realistically, though, the area is very impressive.   This is the aerial from within the ring of sky scrapers.  You can see the performing arts center in the middle, next to Ruyi lake.

The district is a circle with the performing arts center and lake in the middle and surrounded by a ring of office buildings (mostly with bank names on them).

At some point, there might actually be shopping centers around here, between the inner and outer ring.  But, everything is under construction so while there may be a lot of pretty pictures of what things WILL look like, nothing is there yet

The school is located on SE corner of the outer ring of the district. 

Head a block towards the inner ring and you’ll see great tourist destinations that seem very atypical for China.

Here is the Performing Arts Center from across the lake.  And, because a friend requested that I actually prove I’m here and put myself in a photo, I stuck my smirk in the frame.

The district also has the Zhengzhou convention center and this building, which is supposedly going to rival the Dubai Tower?

One great aspect of the District are its tranquil parks by the lake…

…and the environmental approach taken towards tourism.  Here is the Wetland Park that purifies all the water coming in and out of the district by using natural means of purification, such as a plunge aeration pool, bio-ponds with vegetation that removes toxins from water, and gravel beds for further purification.  It’s part of being environmental.  Like I wrote, atypical for China (but a positive direction)

And that’s the Zhengdong New District.  It’s a mix of tourist attractions and large business.  Mass market commercial real estate is under construction, but the area looks incredibly promising (expensive, yes, but promising).

 

Thanks for joining along and until next time.  Our next tour will illustrate the China we all have seen in the movies—utter chaos that somehow functions.

Later Days,
Rick

The (obligatory) tours of Rick's Life in China--The High School Campus

Thank you for choosing Mr. Li's Travel Team for your world discoveries!  Let's now explore the (somewhat-rich) high school campus of Zhengzhou Number 47 Middle School.

This is the map of the high school.  Already you can note how it resembles a college campus or a well-funded American high school (can anyone say "Eagan," "Blake," or "Breck")

 

Next, the aerial that I took, just kidding, the model of the school displayed in the administration building

The entrance to Zhengzhou Number 47 Middle School--High School Campus (can anyone read the characters?  Zheng-Zhou-Shi-Di-Si-Shi-Qi-Zhong-xue = Zhengzhou city number 47 middle school)

 

On your right as you enter is the auditorium and one of the cod ponds adorning the campus

As you proceed along the main path, look to the right and you'll see the big tin map of the world (bottom of the picture) and the auditorium in the background.  The red banner says "Happy Teachers Day" (something like that, I'm told)

Look closely at the tin map and you'll be amused.  (To give them credit though, they did acknowledge that they needed the superlative form--too bad they didn't know that "top" is basically superlative)

Behind you, you'll see the walkway to the library, identifiable by the 12 stone footsteps in the sidewalk (I believe for the 12 grades before graduation) and the word "book" in red characters on the building (but written in traditional--not simplified--Chinese)

I should mention that anytime I write "sidewalk", that also means it's for cars.  Basically, if  car can fit through the path, it'll drive down it.  This is the sign on the side of the sidewalk naming the path a "road".  Seeing cars is as awkward as if I had seen traffic on West Bank (at the U of M)--a fully pedestrian area.

As you see in most the photos, there is lush foliage...

...but look closely.  It's really just plants still in their pots, so they can move them to the area of the campus that is on display.  The school invited city officials to the campus for Teacher's Day on Friday, so the plants were moved to surround the auditorium.

Along the east side of campus, there are tranquil areas between the buildings.

This is my personal favorite area. "Shang wu yuan"

In this area, there are these short white flowers that softly blossom to create a peaceful space.  (I should have, however, taken the photo one week ago when the entire ground was in full bloom with these flowers.)

Moving Westward, you'll encounter the four classroom buildings.  Apparently, the red characters on the four buildings combine to form a famous Chinese quote.

And on the 3rd floor of the 2nd building, the 2nd classroom from the East side is where I work every day.  Fortunately, the classrooms are, as of this year, equipped with "SmartBoards", an interactive whiteboard and computer.  Unfortunately, I don't know how to use it yet because the instructions, computer, and buttons are all in Chinese. :-(

Continuing to the west, is the 3-story dining hall.  The top part is the Korean cafe, where the numerous Korean international students dine.  (Again, I don't know why some of these things are here, I just nod my head and go along with it.)

Behind the dining hall are the spacious sports fields.  There is the track around the soccer field, which is next to the 9 full basketball courts, which are in front on the tennis courts, which are opposite the innumerable ping pong tables.  This is all alongside the sports building (with pool, basketball courts, and kung fu areas.)  The school is actually hosting the world kung fu championships starting Oct 22nd!

 

 

This is all right behind the dormitories, which also include the teachers' quarters, bringing us to the end of our tour.  Thanks for joining and until next time.

Later Days,
Rick

 

 

The (obligatory) tours of Rick's Life in China--Comfortable Apartments

Wonder what life looks like in China?  Here's the walk-through of my world.  Step by step you'll understand why it's a gentle transition into China in that I am
-in a comfortable apartment
-on a high school campus
-closed off by a guarded gate
-located in the rich, new part of town
-40 minute bus ride away from the city center (the chaos).  It's peaceful--despite what you'd expect from China. 
Let's start at the apartment and work our way to the chaos.

Walkway towards the apartment (peaceful, yet oddly not lit at night despite all the light posts along the walkway)

I'm the 1st floor apartment of a 5-story building for teachers and Korean students

The living room that greets you as you enter.  Fully equipped (TV, DVD player, couch, fridge, table, water fountain)

Living room (from opposite end as above)

Incredibly tiny kitchen (surprisingly with microwave and stove).  Fortunately there's a dining hall on campus, so I don't need to cook

Opposite the kitchen one enters the large, spacious bedroom with internet access, full-sized bed, and desk

Turn around and in the nook is the bathroom and washing machine

The most amusing part of the apartment--the bathroom.  Note the showerhead hanging on the wall that sprays across the room--that's the shower.  The mop in the corner is to clean up after showering (and I thought I hated wiping down tiled showers--at least those were in a confined space)

The sun room.  This is just off the bedroom and for storage (note the single-speed bike), hanging wet clothes, or any fun purpose you can imagine. 

That concludes the walk-around of the apartment.  On weekends I find myself always doing a double-take as I walk outside because I forget that I'm in China.  I have everything I need in the apartment, so after a long morning coffee I walk to lunch and am surrounded by Chinese students--my wake-up call that, 'This is China!"

Thank you for choosing Mr. Li's Tour Team.  We hope you'll join us for the upcoming view of a (somewhat-ritzy) Chinese High School campus!

Later Days,
Rick

Ambitious Cartographer

Never before have I encountered such cartography.
Below is a map of Zhengzhou, the city I live in.  Having recently bought a bike, I was thrilled to get on the roads to discover the city and resume exercising.  (This is Zhengzhou)

My school is located on the east side of town--quite a "posh" area (as the English would say), a very new, clean, and, well, rich, area.  The roads are smooth, wide, and sparse with traffic--perfect for cycling. 

To learn the area, I scouted out a route and decided to take the road for 1/2 hour (about 10 miles) and then turn around.  Based on the map, this is easily possible as the street adjacent to the school's campus appears to go through a city district to the East and continue on to no end.

However, if you go East on the road for 2.5 miles, you'll discover this:

The map makes this district look fantastic and attractive.  However, none of it exists yet. You can see in this photo that they didn't even finish the bridge or bring the road back to the ground; they haven't even cleared the path or ground for a road (note the line of trees in the way!)

As I write, that must be the most ambitious cartography I have ever seen.

Later Days,
Rick

I got a Bike!

As you all likely know, I have become obsessed with cycling.  Moving to China was extremely difficult because, in part, I had to leave my bike behind.  It's a beautiful Focus Variado that led me wonderfully through 1,850 miles this season, but is now in storage in Worthington.

Despite this loss, I went on the prowl and found a new bike!  It is, by no means, in the same category as the Focus, being that it only cost 3,000 Yuan (or $500).  But here it is:

For those who understand specs, the following is important:
*Fully aluminum (aluminum fork as well)
*MicroShift components (integrated with brakes)
*Front chainring is almost a standard double (52-39 (or 38, the guy at the shop didn't know))
*8 cog rear cassette
*Brakes are (oddly) reversed, so left actually is rear
*Compact frame with 46.5cm from bottom bracket to top of seat tube and 53.5 cm top tube.

Basically, it rides nicely but not as well as a high quality, difficult-to-afford racing bike.  I think it should serve well for the coming 10 months in Zhengzhou.

I got a bike!

There is no such thing as a sidewalk.

Did you know that in China, the cars that want to go a little slower than normal traffic drive on the sidewalk / bike lane?  Do you know where the bikers go then?  Yep, in between the slow cars and the pedestrians.  Guess where the pedestrians are.  Yep, everywhere!  Sean (the other English teacher here at Zhengzhou middle school No. 47) and I agree, crossing a main street is more adventure than most thrill-seekers ever know.  Literally, the goal is dodge the cars.

(I know my mother won't enjoy reading this post, but it's unforgettable that it just deserves a note.)

Later Days,
Rick

P.S.  As you note from this, I went to the hub of the city I'm in (Zhengzhou) and, let me tell you, it is exactly the chaos you envision.  Woah.  (Philipp or anyone who wants to visit, if you read this blog, get ready for it because you know I'm dragging you there as well.)

Always stay flexible...until da2 han1

I'm here in China! Yep, that's right.  For one week I've now been in the most populated country in the world.  1.3 billion Chinese, a handful of westerners, and Rick.  

I'm doing my best to embrace the "This is China" attitude, where odd events will occur, but you just need to accept it.  The most common is the random Chinese person who clearly has the camera pointed at you/your group of Westerners because they honestly are shocked to see a white person.

My travels best demonstrated the, "be flexible attitude".  I was flexible when
*my connecting flight to San Francisco was 1/2 hour late, causing me to run through the airport and security; when
*I got seated on the place next to the window behind a curtain, unable to see any of the movie on the central screen or unable to see the attendants as they passed by to request anything; when
*I arrived in Beijing late, hoping my ride would still be there; when
*None of my luggage arrived and I had to file a claim in Chinese; when
*The driver (fortunately was there) took twice as long to the hotel to pick up some other people; when
*I had to order dinner all in broken Chinese; when
*I fumbled with chopsticks as the child at the next table blatantly stared; when
*I ordered beer (to help me fall asleep and fight the impending jet lag) and it came back room temperature; when
*I finally fell asleep only to be woken by an arrogant roommate arriving at 1:30 a.m.

Up until this point, I had always send, "I'm flexible.  Things will work out."  I had little sleep, no luggage, some food, but was safe in Beijing with at least a bar of soap and something to have eaten.

Then da2han1.

Da2han1 = snoring

My roommate fell quickly asleep and snored louder than a raging bull in sporadic spurts, not allowing any senses to adapt and drown out the sound.  Nope.  That's when I couldn't stand it.  Nope.  I went down to the front desk and asked for a new room.  Struggling with the Chinese, there was nothing they could do, but I was moved the next day, drowsy and irritable. 

Fortunately, I met the other participants, ate delicious food (below, a table with a lazy susan in the middle where the dishes are set as soon as they come out and diners spin it around to take bits for their plate--I loved that idea.)

I traveled with the group on the day before the program started and we went to the Forbidden City downtown Beijing.  We didn't go in, because as we neared it some soldiers were gathering and some tanks were rolling in, and the Chinese girl in our group understood a soldier sounding over a bull horn "Get everyone out of here."  Well, you don't have to tell me that twice in China!

We saw a shopping district opposite the Forbidden City, which, of course, had some familiar sights (look closely). 

I saw things that distracted me...

And, of course, we saw traditional Chinese architecture in stunning detail.  This is the ___ temple (I can't remember... :-( 


After two days in seminar, we were to fly to our home towns.  I am now slowly settling in here in Zhengzhou.  More to come about the apartment--a surprise (in a good sense). 

Remember, fear the da2han1!

Later Days,
Rick

Next stop, China!

It's official, I'm off to teach English in China for the coming school year.  I finally secured my working visa for China this Friday and subsequently booked my flight to leave on August 22nd. 

I'll be teaching in Zhengzhou, a 2nd/3rd tier Chinese city with only 7 million people.  I've been warned that a city that small will have very few western influences so I should get ready.

Enter your e-mail in the box on the right hand side of this blog to receive updates when new posts appear. 

Zai jian!
Rick
(or by my chinese name Lĭ ruì -- 李 睿 )

Juxtapose me.

I begin my evening by testing the newly-released Pinot noir of a vineyard I regularly purchase.  Like a scientist, I cannot appreciate it until I have a control--mine tonight is a shiraz of the same vineyard.  It is perplexing that I find and taste these opposites.  Their tones compliment each other completely; as the pinot noir introduces itself to the tongue with a broad tone, it bows and disappears among the crowd.  Conversely, the shiraz forgoes any introduction to only make its bold appearance in the middle of the event.  This, (I thank my English teacher for educating me to the definition of the following word, (rock on, Mrs. C)) is my real-life juxtaposition.

The Pinot noir complimented a film excelling in the art of juxtaposing beauty and horror.  I viewed "Cranes are Flying" and note the two most memorable scenes first as the despicable pianist blares an empowered performance against the backdrop of a soulless air raid and, second, as the protagonist discovers the tragic loss of her beloved as her countrymen are gleefully welcomed home.

I extrapolate this to the motif of many recent journal entries made since my college commencement.  I find myself in an exceptional land, one that demands a broken assumption.  My American upbringing mirrors this ideology and my American education enables me to accomplish this.  Yet, I, like any, ultimately face my anonymity.  This is my real-life juxtaposition.  In a land of gold-painted streets, and natural laws defied, "I strive for progress, but when I progress this not, I must push only that which I know--my microcosm."