Speaking of finding apartments, we found out this last month that we need to move out of our school-provided apartment. First, let me give you some background information: The school rents an entire building right down the street for staff dorms. Apartment buildings in China usually have a stairwell with an external door, and two apartments on each stair landing. So, for example, a 6 story building has 12 units in each stairwell. Buildings also have 2-3 stairwells in them, and each stairwell is called a unit. Our staff apartment has 3 units in it (A-C) with 6 floors. At the end of this last year, the school gave the option of moving off-campus to most teachers in the dorms, because they had a lot of new teachers coming in (us), and they were converting B-unit to dorms.
Now, the old dorms were actually on the campus, in one of the classroom buildings. But, they converted all of those to offices, and moved the students. After the school year started, they realized that they had much higher dorm enrollment then they were expecting, and told us that they were giving us the option of moving out. Normally, they don't give this offer to teacher who have been here for less than 2 years.
Now, they give us a housing allowance of about 24600RMB a year (about $320USD/month), which is more than enough to get a rather nice apartment off campus. In fact, the off-campus apartments are bigger and nicer than our current apartment, and slightly cheaper. So, we found an apartment on the 6th floor with a really nice layout, and are working with the school interpreter to negotiate all the details. Here in China, you can negotiate anything, and ask for anything in an apartment. For example, we asked for a water stand (for 5gal water bottles), 2 A/C units (small room-style), a computer desk, a flat-screen TV (common request now-a-days), and we would have asked for a much larger fridge, but their was already one in there.
Our apartment is fully furnished (very common), with nicer furnishings (not so common), a large bathroom (not common), with a showerhead which is NOT right above the toilet (VERY not common), a new washing machine, and lots of windows for natural light (also, not very common).
Seriously, what are the Chinese thinking? The bathrooms are really small, but I think they are designed for a squat toilet, which used to be common. But, when you install a showerhead, water heater, Western-style toilet, sink, washing machine, etc, then the bathroom becomes too small. But, size aside, why would the showerhead be installed over the toilet?
Now, heating in China is accomplished by hot water from a boiler pumped through pipes into each apartment, either through the floor (nice), or radiators (not so nice). Thankfully, our new apartment has floor heating, and is only 2400RMB for the whole winter, instead of 3000RMB like our current apartment.
So, we get a stipend for the rent, but we are responsible for heating fees, management fees (such as cleaning of the stairs, elevator power, external maintenance), gas, water, power, internet+phone, and cable (which we probably will not get). Overall, its a good situation. We will update you all as the negotiations take place.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Regularly Scheduled Life - In China!
Well now.
Its been an interesting couple of weeks.
First off, school has started. Mikaela is in full swing with the first graders, with about 14 40 minute classes a week, with the remainder filled with ESL small groups. The first graders in China are actually Kindergarteners, because they usually don't start school earlier than that. So, they are working on phonics, introductory conversation, simple words, vocabulary regarding our senses and body, etc. Mikaela has never really wanted to teach Kindergarten, and probably would not have taken the job if she knew. But, she is awesome with these kids, much more than she realizes.
The day lasts from 7:45am to 4:30pm, every day, including after school activities. Mikaela is starting a craft club, which will allow the kids to make crafts for an hour and 30 minutes every day. I (Zach) am going to be involved in either the mock UN club (woohoo!) or the Lower Secondary (grades 6-9) yearbook.
On the weekends, twice a month on Saturday a school bus takes the teachers to Jusco (a mall) or to Walmart/Metro. Metro is basically a German Costco, and has lots of Western type foods such as: cheese (Australian and German), bread, sausage (lots of Bratwurst!), chocolate (surprisingly hard to find here), expensive pasteurized shelf-stable German Milk (Chinese milk is NOT good), amazing beef from Mongolia (huge primal cuts), and many more things. The beef in the stores in not good, which is why Metro is so nice. We bought a beautiful 5lb sirloin roast for 120RMB, about 17 dollars. They also sell beef tenderloin primals (uncut filet mignon) for about 300RMB, about $40. We bought a large toaster over at Metro because Chinese apartments do not have ovens, and we have been baking in there.
Our small washing machine is really nice, because it washes clothes well, and quickly, and makes a cool jingle when it is done! We have gotten used to hanging up clothes, and once we worked out how much soap and fabric softener to put in each load, the clothes started drying quickly, and without a musty smell. Mostly, they don't wrinkle too much, and since we only wash with cold water (as it is the only option available), we never have to worry too much about sorting, or bleeding of colors. It is interesting, that when we were looking at apartments we put a large area to hang dry our clothes on the top of the list! More on our apartment search in our next blog post.
Its been an interesting couple of weeks.
First off, school has started. Mikaela is in full swing with the first graders, with about 14 40 minute classes a week, with the remainder filled with ESL small groups. The first graders in China are actually Kindergarteners, because they usually don't start school earlier than that. So, they are working on phonics, introductory conversation, simple words, vocabulary regarding our senses and body, etc. Mikaela has never really wanted to teach Kindergarten, and probably would not have taken the job if she knew. But, she is awesome with these kids, much more than she realizes.
The day lasts from 7:45am to 4:30pm, every day, including after school activities. Mikaela is starting a craft club, which will allow the kids to make crafts for an hour and 30 minutes every day. I (Zach) am going to be involved in either the mock UN club (woohoo!) or the Lower Secondary (grades 6-9) yearbook.
On the weekends, twice a month on Saturday a school bus takes the teachers to Jusco (a mall) or to Walmart/Metro. Metro is basically a German Costco, and has lots of Western type foods such as: cheese (Australian and German), bread, sausage (lots of Bratwurst!), chocolate (surprisingly hard to find here), expensive pasteurized shelf-stable German Milk (Chinese milk is NOT good), amazing beef from Mongolia (huge primal cuts), and many more things. The beef in the stores in not good, which is why Metro is so nice. We bought a beautiful 5lb sirloin roast for 120RMB, about 17 dollars. They also sell beef tenderloin primals (uncut filet mignon) for about 300RMB, about $40. We bought a large toaster over at Metro because Chinese apartments do not have ovens, and we have been baking in there.
Our small washing machine is really nice, because it washes clothes well, and quickly, and makes a cool jingle when it is done! We have gotten used to hanging up clothes, and once we worked out how much soap and fabric softener to put in each load, the clothes started drying quickly, and without a musty smell. Mostly, they don't wrinkle too much, and since we only wash with cold water (as it is the only option available), we never have to worry too much about sorting, or bleeding of colors. It is interesting, that when we were looking at apartments we put a large area to hang dry our clothes on the top of the list! More on our apartment search in our next blog post.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Rain, Rain!
It honestly seems like it has not stopped raining for two straight days!
And...(hang on a second...let me check the forecast...) they still predict rainstorms throughout the week 'til Sunday! During the first day of the rain, as I walked out my door, without my umbrella, my first thought was of a Chinese saying that my co-teacher taught me the other day: "It it rains in the morning, you will have sunshine in the afternoon!" So, walking down the stairs, I took that to heart and braved the light sprinkles falling from the sky. Unfortunately, I must have taken the saying too literally, because by 4:30 that afternoon (going home time), I was walking back to our apartment--becoming drenched--while my smug umbrella was sitting in its cabinet warm, snug, and dry. Believe me, today I did not forget that umbrella!
The array of student umbrellas with their canvases spread wide, drying on top of the lockers, looked especially artistic today. Flowers, blue plaid, and spring colors shone brightly out against the normally gray metallic scene of the hallway, and for a while hid someone's forgotten grass seed sock bear (I wonder if we will end up doing those in the spring?) We are enjoying the rain, and so far the students are holding up pretty well. Quite a few ran outside to play football (soccer) during the lunch break, that is, until I decided that we all were becoming too wet (forgot the umbrella in the classroom this time!)
Well, it is back to work for me...I know that you all are anxious to hear about the school, and I promise that is coming.
And...(hang on a second...let me check the forecast...) they still predict rainstorms throughout the week 'til Sunday! During the first day of the rain, as I walked out my door, without my umbrella, my first thought was of a Chinese saying that my co-teacher taught me the other day: "It it rains in the morning, you will have sunshine in the afternoon!" So, walking down the stairs, I took that to heart and braved the light sprinkles falling from the sky. Unfortunately, I must have taken the saying too literally, because by 4:30 that afternoon (going home time), I was walking back to our apartment--becoming drenched--while my smug umbrella was sitting in its cabinet warm, snug, and dry. Believe me, today I did not forget that umbrella!
The array of student umbrellas with their canvases spread wide, drying on top of the lockers, looked especially artistic today. Flowers, blue plaid, and spring colors shone brightly out against the normally gray metallic scene of the hallway, and for a while hid someone's forgotten grass seed sock bear (I wonder if we will end up doing those in the spring?) We are enjoying the rain, and so far the students are holding up pretty well. Quite a few ran outside to play football (soccer) during the lunch break, that is, until I decided that we all were becoming too wet (forgot the umbrella in the classroom this time!)
Well, it is back to work for me...I know that you all are anxious to hear about the school, and I promise that is coming.
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