I have gotten so used to moving and being in limbo this past year that I feel as though I am a robot when it comes to shifting my expectations: Peace Corps conundrums leaving me without plan (and without home), job searching in a relentlously baren job market, moving to Portland, moving back to Ann Arbor, moving to China, and, within the span of four days, moving from Beijing to a hotel in northern Shenzhen (via train) to my new apartment in eastern Shenzhen. Why should I expect anything other than more shifts in expectations?
The real kicker question: If I expect that I will have to shift my expectations, am I really shifting my expectations ever? Then, what am I actually expecting?
After I successfully "defend my honor" in a futbol match with other teachers from my school (Shenzhen Haitao Primary School), C calls me to let me know that the Shenzhen Bureau of Education has scheduled our apartment to be remodeled starting the next evening; we have less than 24 hours to move-out, and we will do so on the day before school begins. C'est la vie. The following conversation occurs between my contact teacher (Charlie) and me.
Sunday
BeiDa Express
Now that I have been in China for four full weeks, the first two weeks (which, as they were happening, passed as a blur) are becoming all the more granulated as they seep into the sands of my time. There is much to be discussed, but I feel so overwhelmed with the details and anecdotes that I also feel any attempt at including all that should be included will be an inadequate attempt. So, I'll be more dilligent with my layers of thoughts and experiences.
Here was a typical schedule of my two weeks in Beijing.
(5:00--Jog around a park near Haidan Sports Complex; try to do some basic calisthenics using pull-up bars and parallel bars; brush-off stares from old women on non-electrical, outdoor ellipticals while I brush-off sweat accumulating at a pace on par with my sweatiest sauna experience--the dense air pollution in Beijing only exacerbates the fatiguing summer humidity and heat; try not to laugh as ping-pongers grunt and sing during morning training sessions without ping pong balls on the park's ping pong tables; consider the spiritual and physical benefits of those walking and performing tai chi clapping exercises; stretch, shower, bemoan the inescapable scent of backed-up sewage)
7:00--Wake C; get dressed for a day of classes and teaching; and leave the hotel for a jian bing (a street vendor produced breakfast crepe that costs US$0.50 and features egg, chili sauce, scallions, and garlic); grab a cup of coffee at a bakery--I only realize a week after ordering coffee without cream that I had been ordering coffee without breast milk; review Mandarin flash cards or finalize the details of the day's lesson plan.
Here was a typical schedule of my two weeks in Beijing.
(5:00--Jog around a park near Haidan Sports Complex; try to do some basic calisthenics using pull-up bars and parallel bars; brush-off stares from old women on non-electrical, outdoor ellipticals while I brush-off sweat accumulating at a pace on par with my sweatiest sauna experience--the dense air pollution in Beijing only exacerbates the fatiguing summer humidity and heat; try not to laugh as ping-pongers grunt and sing during morning training sessions without ping pong balls on the park's ping pong tables; consider the spiritual and physical benefits of those walking and performing tai chi clapping exercises; stretch, shower, bemoan the inescapable scent of backed-up sewage)
7:00--Wake C; get dressed for a day of classes and teaching; and leave the hotel for a jian bing (a street vendor produced breakfast crepe that costs US$0.50 and features egg, chili sauce, scallions, and garlic); grab a cup of coffee at a bakery--I only realize a week after ordering coffee without cream that I had been ordering coffee without breast milk; review Mandarin flash cards or finalize the details of the day's lesson plan.
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