Today is a special day. On June 17th, 2005 - three years ago today - a young college student began writing a blog. She named it La Vache Espagnole because she felt it spoke of her love of languages and her background.
Today, after a long journey that included study abroad experiences; returning home; senior years; returning home and teaching in China, she has found herself in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia preparing herself for yet another return home.
I have been writing in this blog for three years now and I have never been prouder. The blog has changed a lot since that first post in which I wrote of my impatience to get to Spain and I can't wait to see what life has in store for LVE!
As I mentioned I am in KL. Today is the first day of my month of travel before my flight home to Houston. Stay tuned for adventures in Malaysia, Shanghai and Japan - and whatever else strikes my fancy.
My poor ninth graders. They are only a few days away from the all-important exam that will decide which high school they will get into.
This is extremely important because the high school they get into has a direct bearing on the university they get into, which decides what they will study, which decides how much money they will make in life and in a place like Shenzhen, money means happiness.
So pretty much, this exam dictactes the future happiness of the students I have come to love and respect. It's a pretty intense thought. Poor 14 year-olds.
Below is an article from the China Post that illustrates the importance of the exams in China.
THE CHINA POST, JUNE 5, 2007 - ON AN ARTICLE FROM THE PEOPLE'S DAILY
This year has even seen the manufacture of "cheating shoes," the People's Daily said.
Police had found some 42 pairs, selling for about 2000 Yuan each, in a flat in Shenyang, the provincial capital, the paper said, adding that they -- along with "cheating wallets" and hats -- had proven popular.
Exam supervisors had also been charged with ensuring that no devices, whether concealed in wrist watches or underwear, would escape the dragnet, the paper said.
Some media reported nutritionists prescribing exam-friendly diets and parents scrambling to find attention deficit disorder drugs to give their children an edge.
Other media sources reported that air traffic controllers in Anhui province ordered a plane bound for Huangshan city to divert elsewhere on Thursday afternoon, due to parents' concerns for their children's concentration during an English language comprehension test.
Roads near exam venues have been closed to ensure students arrive on time and nearby hotels have been booked out by parents, many of whom will sweat outside in temperatures tipped to exceed 36 degrees.
I know, I know. I've all but disappeared from the blogosphere. Things have been hectic this past week as I have made preparations for the end of my year in China. My last day of teaching is June 13th and it is coming all too quickly.
On June 16th I depart for a month of travel. And on the 16th of July I will be back in the United States, almost a year after my departure. It will be strange.
But for the moment I am soaking up every great thing I can of my life here. Even if it means doing something a little bit crazy. Example: I have just been invited by a friend to go to the races tonight. In Hong Kong.
Now, I realize, it's a school night. But I can't pass this up. There is nothing like the races in Hong Kong and I'm pretty sure this will be my last chance before I leave. So, I'm living it up!
This puts a damper on my grandiose plans of making my way over to the Sichuan earthquake area and offering my help. I have a month between my last day of teaching and my flight home and it felt like the perfect thing to do with my time.
I'm certainly not trained or qualified and now it turns out that I'd probably just be a nuisance.
I'll be keeping my eyes and ears open for any opportunity or need that comes along. Anyone have any ideas of how to help?
I'm beginning to realize that while I am posting inconsequential posts about my love affair with street food, people are wondering how the earthquake near Chengdu has effected me.
From the perspective of daily life, not much. Things are going on in Shenzhen as per usual and there is little evidence of the disaster that has destroyed so much to the North-West of us.
My colleagues are convinced that they felt the tremors just as people did all the way in Beijing. It's possible, but I can't say that I did. I had no knowledge of what had happened until I received an email from my friend asking, ARE YOU ALRIGHT??? So, to those who are curious, yes, I am. I'm fine.
This tragedy has brought about one thing that I had not seen before in Shenzhen. Suddenly, all the charities that I have spent this year searching for in vain have been coming out of the woodwork, collecting donations and such.
I don't know where they hide themselves. A month ago I was talking with Kathy over lunch about bake sales and fund-raisers that all American children grow up with. She was lamenting the fact that she had no way of helping the people who are less fortunate than she is.
Now there seem to be many opportunities. And I think that is one positive thing to come out of a terrible disaster.
For further reading:
- China Law Blog: China's Earthquake: How You Can Help
- Danwei: Earthquake Relief: Donate via SMS?
UPDATE: Dan Harris over at China Law Blog just pointed me to an even more comprehensive source of charities: China Earthquake Donation Guide:24+ Ways to give (Cn Reviews). Thanks, Dan.
A 2nd UPDATE: I was just walking from class when I passed a stand collecting second-hand clothes for the earthquake victims. Yet another example of an opportunity to help that has popped up out of nowhere.
