Random Things about China

So there are, of course, a lot of funny/random things I've noticed over the past few weeks. Here are some I've picked up on:

1. During my English Activity on Wednesday, two of the girls came back early from the break. I heard a chirping. At first, I thought it was from outside, but then I realized it was too loud to be from outside. I looked over at the two girls and noticed they had something in their hands. I went over, and they had a chick! I asked them if they took it from outside, and they said, "Yes." I was really confused. By this time, the other students were coming back to the room, and another girl had one also, but this one was orange! I asked the other teacher why they had chicks, and she told me they bought them from outside - 1 yuan a piece! Apparently, they take them home and raise them as pets. When I left for the day, sure enough there was a man outside with a basket of chicks! They were orange, pink, green, and of course, naturally yellow! Check out the pictures below:

I am soo tempted to buy a green one! The man was out there again yesterday. Donna wanted one too. Luckily for Jim, he was not out there today, because I was going to get one.


2. The teachers have no concept of "PhD" or "Ed.D." I got into a conversation with the teachers about teachers in America, and salary. The high school teachers in China get paid more because they work more (7 days a week, about 7:00 am - 10:30 pm Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 9:00 pm Saturday, and 9:00 am - noon on Sundays). They imagined that Jeff, the adviser that came with us for the first week, got paid a lot because he taught at the University. I explained not really, because right now he teaches and goes to school to get his PhD at the same time. I said, "He will be Dr. Pauls." BIG MISTAKE! After I said that they could not get the traditional idea of a "doctor" out of their head. No matter how much explaining I did, they would not understand. "So, he teaches doctors?" No. "So, he teaches at a hospital?" No. It was so confusing! At the end of the conversation, I still don't think they understood...

3. The teachers here are constantly tired! So much so, that sometimes, the classes before lunch get out 5 minutes early (even though they already get 1 and a half hours for lunch!). Whats more, is that there is an announcement about it! We were walking to lunch yesterday, and I heard the loudspeaker go off. The only word I understood was "laoshi" which means "teacher." I asked another teacher what the announcement just said, and she answered, "The teachers are tired, go take lunch." How crazy is that! They actually make announcements saying the teachers are tired!

4. This one I saw our first week in China while we were traveling. It seems that children who are potty training age often were pants with no seam in the butt! There is a hole! Eleanor and I call them "bare baby bottom pants." These little kids are so bundled up because its cold, but their butts are exposed! Oh so many questions. Do they just poop/pee everywhere? What about when you are holding them? What about your car? I found a pair, and bought them! haha

5. There is no symbol in China for being married. No ring or anything. Women don't change their name even. The only way to know if someone is married is just by knowing. Also if you have a child out of wedlock, the child has no rights - they aren't even recognized by China as a citizen. The child doesn't get free education, doesn't get health care, doesn't even get a passport!

That's all I got for now. I'm sure I'll have many more!