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26th April
When children ask, 'teacher what is your name?' I usually respond with their name or animal they've just learnt which they find very funny. In Elephant Class, some children do actually call me Teacher Caterpillar now. Anyway, one lesson last week Hobert was persistent in finding out my name. I told him I was called Hobert, then cat, monkey but he kept pushing so I finally told him. He walked away clearly satisfied with this new fact.
Sat in a small wooden chair amongst the children, waiting for the final 10 minutes to pass before I could start my lesson, Hobert, who had been playing with his small toy car on the floor until he spotted me, marched straight over and said in the sweetest words, "I love you Emma teacher Emma!" I pulled him towards me for a cuddle, "Aww Hobert I love you too!" and then he walked off to play with his car again.
27th April
My rucksack tucked away underneath the metal seat, I put my feet on the chair next to me and get out my book, Teachings of the Buddha, which Steven kindly bought me not long ago. Reading the many quotes and history, suddenly the paragraph I'm on shouts out 'Emma!' Not literally but it seemed to be about me now days…
The Buddha likened pleasure to 'licking honey from a knife' - sooner or later we will get hurt by it. It is not that there is anything wrong with pleasure but the compulsive pursuit of it leads to unhappiness. Even if we are sat comfortable and all seems well, in no time at all we have to move and find a new position.
To probe a little deeper, something inside human beings is restless and unsatisfied and craves now for "this" and now for "that". Nothing seems to be enough. As Pascal said, all the troubles in the world arise because man is unable to sit quietly in a room.
I don't know what's been up these days; I haven't been reading my Mandarin, not exercising, just moping around the house. I am so fortunate to be living in China and yet I'm not satisfied. I'm happy to be here, but there's nothing going on, no excitement and I think that's my conclusion on everything; Where has the fun gone? I've got into a routine that I have no stimulation each morning. (Looking back at my one month blog, I spoke about this; I wonder if it'll get tedius?' Nearly three months later, my question has been answered but this is about to change! I usually only do thing or go places on my two days off in the week, but I was thinking about perhaps taking up yoga, I've seen a class just by the apartment, something along these lines, do more things in the week. Maybe buy a bicycle, go on daily rides exploring new streets and areas. Different things to keep me busy. Learning new skills, seeing new sights, that's all about me and travelling. Come on Emma, wake up! Don't waste this fantastic opportunity of living in China!
I was hoping to catch the 11am train to Hangzhou but it was full, so the 12:40pm train it was.
Come 12pm, I decided to make by way to the gate only to discover they wouldn't let me in. The guard pointed at my ticket. I didn't understand, Shanghai to Hangzhou. He pointed again, not letting me in, so I rang Felix. "Felix I'm in Shanghai South Train Station, where is Shanghai Hongqiao?" "You're not at the correct train station" What! I'd bought a ticket in the South Station and they'd given me one for the other station! I ran to the taxis outside and showed the driver my ticket, explaining I had to be there by 12:40pm (at this point it was already 12:20pm) He shook his head. I rang Felix again and he explained to the lady behind the counter I wanted to change my ticket time and she pointed met towards Counter 34. Here a young man, changed my train ticket to the next one at 12:50pm, leaving from the South Station, which was a result. Only down side, it was the slow train that took over 2 and half hours.
I met Molkie (James) when I was in Uganda, with Project Trust. At the beginning of the month he emailed me saying he was coming to China for a few weeks. There is a scheme in the UK, allowing students to come to China for a short amount of time to learn Mandarin and Molkie was one of the lucky ones. He'd been in Hangzhou since April 8th, but I haven't been able to find time to visit him before now.
Dropping my stuff off at the Youth Hostel, I caught a taxi to the Yellow Dragon Sports Centre to meet Molkie. My phone rings, "Do you still have red hair?" I look around and see Molkie walking up the path towards me. A big hug was the only silence between us, we had so much to catch up on! We went to a bar for a refreshing Long Island Tea, before meeting others from his course for dinner and a night out in one of the local clubs, GaGa. Who would have thought, from dancing the night away in Uganda to 'bumping' into each other again and dancing the night way in China! It was so surreal!
From ordering food and drinks in the restaurant, to asking for directions and introducing myself, I spoke more Chinese in this one evening than I have done since arriving in China. Firstly it started with me ushering a few words here and there, but slowly my confidence grew and with other's asking me to do this or order that, well I couldn't help but to show off. I took words from here and there, made sentences and well I was understood and surely that's all the matters! When I go to Sunny's house, I don't always remember what to say, but being here the correct environment, well it just came out. Clearly some stuff has been embedded into my memory. Yippee.
28th April
Hanging is a good word to use for how I was feeling this fine Thursday morning. How I just wanted to sleep the day away! I said goodbye to Molkie, as if I was going to see him next week. And that's the thing with the friendships I made in Uganda, I feel that it doesn't matter how much time passes between us, we can easily just pick up from where we left, that's friends for life!
Butterflies flutter by and land on striking pink flowers. Trees hung down over the trail, giving shade to the elderly who walked by, whilst young children splashed their hands in the lake that was high next the path. I put my rucksack down and sat on the floor looking out over West Lake and Lei Feng Pagoda, with the sun beaming down just perfectly.
After some time, I kept walking around the side of the lake until I spotted a path to the right leading towards some gardens. Although I didn't want to get out of the bed this morning, now being here, I'm so glad I did. No traffic, no music, just me and nature.
I found a wooden hut next to a small pond and decided to take a rest. I placed my feet out over the pond, only to get so immersed with the beauty around me that I suddenly realised my left foot was actually in the pond! I laughed to myself and put my now wet shoe on the side to dry.
Mum asked me what I wanted to do on my birthday and I wasn't sure but now sat here, I think I do. I want to sit here in these gardens with my mum, after what will have been 8 months of not seeing her, sit and talk whilst dragonflies dart past onto the lily pads and birds chatter in the trees. Take a picnic perhaps and let the hours pass us by. No worries, just happiness within that moment. I think I'd like that :D
I had only spent half a day in Hangzhou but my bed in Songjiang was just calling out to me! Within an hour (I love the fast train) I was back in Shanghai and on the subway back to Songjiang.
There is so much to do in Hangzhou and so I'm going to come back next week. Spend the night in the Youth Hostel, maybe rent a bicycle and really see what lovely Hangzhou has to offer.
x x x
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