Matching Judges

My friend Nathan and I were judging an international food competition that our department's students hosted. We hadn't planned to wear matching Jiaying University shirts. In fact, we were both just filling in for fellow teachers who couldn't make it.

The food from the different countries (groups) was pretty impressive. Some of the groups' international food did taste strangely like Chinese food. The Holland group had a beef and pepper dish that tasted identical to House of Ma's back home. I can't help but laugh at that: Chinese food masquerading as Dutch food that reminds me of Chinese food I had back in Kansas. It's a veritable culinary mystery.

Cheap Advertising

The picture shows a cheap form of advertising in Guangzhou: Some poor schmoe gets the job of standing outside a clothes store and clapping to draw the attention of passers-by. The amazing deals to be had inside are apparently too amazing to be expressed through mere words. Clapping alone can encompass the true awesomeness of such deals.

I've seen similar tactics in Meizhou (below), where a guy stands on the top of a rickety step ladder and swings a shirt over his head, screaming something at the top of his lungs. Nathan reported someone beating a bucket with accompanying music. Pure marketing genius.

Full Day in Guangzhou

My trip to Guangzhou was a welcome break from small-town (pop. 1 million) life.

In the morning, I hopped on the subway into the city to visit a college-turned-temple. There aren't a lot of those in the states, so I thought it worth a look. The subway stop was easy to remember, because its name was the same as the temple: Chen Jia Ci (Chen Family Temple). But when I emerged from the subway I saw only huge buildings and a busy intersection. I thought my Chinese was pretty decent, especially for something as easy as asking directions. So, not knowing where to go, I asked a college-aged girl if she knew where the temple was. "Over there," she responded in perfect English, as she pointed over my shoulder.

Peace in the Middle East

My class schedule is being steadily worn down into a sort of suggestion for when, you know, I might want to have class--that is, if the powers that be at our university wisely and graciously allow it. We had a Labor Day break for the first week of May, so three of my classes didn't happen. Now, it looks like we won't have classes on Thursday and Friday because of a university sports meet.

I first heard whispers from students about classes being cancelled a few days ago. So I called Trey and Arnie, and Arnie said he'd heard similar whispers. Our department finally told us that the whispers were true. Three days ahead of time is actually pretty good notice. So, no classes for 6 days? I'm going to Guangzhou!

Oh, and I slapped a photo on here, too. I know you read me only for the articles. And I hadn't updated for a while, so the next few postings are backdated. Gotta space 'em out.

Mao, Phil, and Nathan

That Mao always comes off looking so cool and confident.

This is at a Thai restaurant on Shamian Island. I ate at the same place with my family when they visited. It's gooood.

Nathan and I were hangin with some friends in Guangzhou during our May vacation, which is one of three or four sizable breaks we have.

Chinese vacations are really strange. They'll give you the week of, say, May 2 through 6 off. But then you have to make up two of those days on the Saturday preceding the break and the Sunday following. Uh...huh?

Chinese English Torture

This is the kind of thing I get to put up with. For an English major, it's akin to torture. Chinese English torture.

You might have to click on the picture to get a clear look, but I don't think that's asking too much.