I'll "Nobel Prize" Your Ass!

So Liu Xiaobo got the prize this year. Hey even i had only learned of him a bit last year, and so was surprised to see him thrust into the limelight recdently w/ the Nobel Prize. So obviously, the

the guy who writes Charter 19 is gonna piss off the Chinese govt by criticizing its very dictatorian (not a real word, i know) foundations.

So what exactly is this thing that he wrote?

Wikipedia sez:

Charter 19 calls for 19 changes to improve human rights in China, including an independent legal system, freedom of association and the elimination of one-party rule.

Well sounds like a pretty natural step in the evolution of China, but naturally it's also seen as an attack on the state. I've been surprised and impressed to see that a few students were aware of this guy and the recognition that he might not be the villain that the state media portrayed him as.

Here's a tidbit of his statement to the court last year when he was sent to prison.

But I still want to tell the regime that deprives me of my freedom, I stand by the belief I expressed 20 years ago in my hunger strike declaration – I have no enemies, and no hatred. None of the police who monitored, arrested and interrogated me, the prosecutors who prosecuted me, or the judges who sentence me, are my enemies. While I'm unable to accept your surveillance, arrest, prosecution or sentencing, I respect your professions and personalities. This includes the prosecution at present: I was aware of your respect and sincerity in your interrogation of me on 3 December.

For hatred is corrosive of a person's wisdom and conscience; the mentality of enmity can poison a nation's spirit, instigate brutal life and death struggles, destroy a society's tolerance and humanity, and block a nation's progress to freedom and democracy. I hope therefore to be able to transcend my personal vicissitudes in understanding the development of the state and changes in society, to counter the hostility of the regime with the best of intentions, and defuse hate with love.

I firmly believe that China's political progress will never stop, and I'm full of optimistic expectations of freedom coming to China in the future, because no force can block the human desire for freedom. China will eventually become a country of the rule of law in which human rights are supreme. I'm also looking forward to such progress being reflected in the trial of this case, and look forward to the full court's just verdict – one that can stand the test of history.

While recognizing that China is pissed off that YET AGAIN (Dalai Lama) that the Nobel Prize seems to be being used as a political tool to hurt the Chinese people's feelings, you have to admit that the statement above kinda sounds like the voice of the kind of person who would be worthy of a Nobel Peace Prize.

the full read is also pretty interesting if you have time, and my coworker even alluded to it being a bit of a tear-jerker.

His class all read LXB's statement as well as the police statement, and compared their msgs. They rated him as a hero 1-10. One student gave him a 9, which was basically calling himself a revolutionary. Another student told his teacher he wanted to give him a 10, but was afraid of his classmate's reaction, so in class, he publicly stated a 5. Who knows: maybe many students want to give him a 10, but are afraid of being seen as anti-communist. who knows.

Just one lucky student of mine will have the opportunity to research and report on him later this wk, in my Heroes research proj, which i'm pretty stoked on. Other heroes to be researched will include Constance McMillan, Harvey Milk, the Dalai Lama, Che Guevera, David Suzuki and other classics like Ghandi, Geronimo, Mother Teresa, Oprah, and the gang. This is what happens when Mr Wang decides who's a hero or not.

More themeless info.

well, i've been remiss.

i've been busy in bj, but not feeling particularly inspired re: writing. Partly because i was hesitant to write about such things like the tensions between Q and i which went on for quite a long time. That was kind of a downer, and had me stewing in my own head more than was comfortable.

But we did work things through, which was very good, not too easy, and required some humility, proper listening, and acceptance from my end for sure. W/out going into details (sorry), it was one of those cases where the 2 sides of the story were both true, but looked so so so different.

At any rate, things seem to be bk to normal now, and we're enjoying a pleasant, if chilly and rainy weekend.

Also, on the plus side, is i have a new friend. My musician friend Wang Yuqi, who's rather a zen figure introduced me to this American guy James and we've been getting on famously. James is a writer, and he largely writes about music and artists in Chinese. Yesterday he and Yuqi came over, we meditated, shot the breeze about animal spirits etc, then went off w/ my brother to see Q's new gallery and its latest exhibit, before heading off for din and a jazz concert.

Trying to get my life bk on track. Trying to floss daily again. Hoping to run at least 1/wk. Hoping to start up a wkly meditation. So far, the floss is going at at least 80% success, so we'll see how the rest falls into place. Wish me luck.

Other + news: instead of buying a reasonably priced slick-looking fixie bike, i decided to just soup up my road bike. Who wants to have fun? I just want to get from A to B fast and safe.

It's still a one-speed since it's never had derailleurs since i got it, but i sawed off the drops, got new brake levers and a less than rock-hard seat. It's rockin' the casbah now. I put a lot of attention into details like scratching everything up w/ sandpaper and using packing tape to make everything look like shit, 'cause now i'll be downed if someone realizes my French bike is better than the piece of crap it looks like and steals it.

Oh grey-looks-like-a-piece-of-shit-bike, how i love you!

lightning updates

Working downtown.
Moved out of the suburbs.
Q found a loft apt dntn.
$$$ but nice.
Many hassles along the way.
Virtually all dealt w/ by Q.
Me no speak Chinese.
And usually at work.
Q is annoyed.
Q moves in tomorrow.
No internet for this month.
My bro arrives Oct 1.
Students at school are pretty nice.
If not all academic.
Biking to school daily.
Getting a bit over cocky.
The air dntn really is shittier than the 'burbs.

Whirlwind changes

Ok, so i'm thrown into a new school, and quickly going full throttle.

Thankfully, i found out on Fri, that as of Mon (tomorrow) i won't be teaching gr 10 math anymore, and will now be slotted w/ Planning 10, a course that will sorta be whatever the heck i want it to be, and will likely include bits on enviro protection and sex ed.

i've bn set up "temporarily" in a rather swank, but mostly empty apt in dntn BJ, but my apparent lack of interest in finding a new pad certainly precipitated the owner to give me 1 wk's notice. i was also less than gracious when she gave me a few hrs notice that another teacher was coming to the premises, and could i please clean the place up? No, sorry i can't 'cause i'm not dntn, and won't be 'til tomorrow...

Anyhow, that turned my wkend leisure time to househunting, as aided by Q. i then learned that rent prices have shot up a LOT in the last 2 years, and the $3o0 from the school couldn't possibly score me an apt, the way it might've before.

Add to the mix, Q was also planning on relocating this month.

Plus, i hadalready told her i think it's better if we live separately. But then present situation included, plus the fact that my bro is coming to live here in Oct (yup!), that really the idea of 3 of us living in 3 single apts was ridiculous... Also, most arguments we have tend to be based on my own selfishness, which tends to be somewhat true. (and boy, if i could count the # of times in this relationship where i despairingly state to myself in all sincerity: "i don't know what to do...")

Anyhow, w/ a bit of what i interpret as being a message from the Divine, i have decided that living w/ Q, and possibly my bro all together, shall be the next step in this life in China of mine. Still w/ some degree of apprehension, but also in good faith to work out probs.

i certainly wouldn't have predicted this, but hey, that's how it rolls around here.

Wish us luck, everyone.

Bk to BJ

Got the job.

2 wks or so ago, got an email.

"i hope this is still considered to be good news..."

and got switched to dntn campus.

(score!)

Missed my plane to BJ. 2:40 is NOT 14:40, apparently.

Luckily, was switched to the next day's flights, no probs.

arrival in BJ, get my classroom and things packed, after my boss and coworker prepacked out my apt.

1 hour of phone calls to convince security to let my stuff out of the gate.

Now in a temp apt dntn, which is pretty rad.

but lacking a fridge, furniture, etc etc.

in a dingy old school in the heart of BJ.

Nice coworkers, small team of 5.

A principal who's always pissed off at power struggles between her and the Chinese admin,.

Found out today, i can stop teaching math

(score!).

Living downtown is ...

pretty awesome.

so far.

Also,

i'm feeling pretty optimistic about teaching

for the 1st time in a long time

really nice kids.

i could complain about a # of things still,

but not tonight.

Long Time No Blog

Yup, i ran off for summer.

Despite warnings, i crashed w/ the folks for 1 full month. Qianqian came with, which was aok. Although occasionally there was a fight/misunderstanding/difference of opinion, which was not unexpected, but such is life. We also had a lot of fun doing things like... going to the stampede w/ my bro, and hiking and biking and going to Edmonton.

Q also skipped off to Montreal and QC for a wk or so, which was good for me to have dntime w/ folks and friends, and also for her to be solo (and free to choose her own way).

Van was good too. Better than i remember it actually. Gay pride: bigger better (and a bit more corporate). Wreck Beach: most epic sunset where seriously TONS of people were LOSING it. Heatwave + naked people + drugs = "Oh my GOD, look at the COLOURS!!!" More bike lanes than ever, and the realized Burrard Bridge bike lane, woohoo.

Q is shocked to see more people in poverty in Van, than in BJ. "The best place on earth"? Well, not for LOTS of people it ain't.

3 day camping trip near Cortez w/ a friend and her bf. Admittedly poorly played on my part, since it was pretty hardcore for Q's first camp trip, and since i'd forgotten how terrifiied she is of heights, and then later she pulled a muscle after crashing thru a layer of snow (also partly my fault), and then had to limp down the steep and rooty mountain for 4 hours in the rain. What the hell is up w/ these Canadians and this camping business???

Other highlights...

blueberry picking

a call to 9-1-1

a secret Brasstronaut concert

mushrooms

napping on the beach

but mainly it was just rad to visit people and feel so grateful to have amazing, cool, and generous friends in my life. Seriously, i couldn't ask for more.

Taking Care of the Environment

Did you know that using computers and digital cameras can help improve the air quality? Yes, it's simple to do. Just a quick adjustment with the lightness/darkness/contrast controls, and jiminy cricket, you can remove hundreds of parts per million out of the atmosphere.

Incredible.

(those are pictures from Lanzhou, reportedly the worst air quality in China)

Denied

In the words of the employer "99% chance" i'll be back at the same school next year.

Which is ok, i guess since basically the only thing which is better about the dntn school, is location. But still it's annoying since the employer didn't have any real reason for doing so except to say "the students here love you." Which i don't think she really knows anything about anyways.

Anyhow, there are a bunch of niggling things at the school which are kind of annoying, which make me feel pleased that i had the sense to only sign on for one more year.

Better Than High School Musical

Background: when i graduated from HS, i skipped the ceremony to go mountain biking in Canmore. I missed the grad dinner 'cause i was accidentally very late, and also got held up when security hassled me and my date for being "inappropriately dresssed", and skipped the parties afterwards. (typical teenage rebellion) In my mom's words: "You passed high school. How hard is that?"

This year was my school's first graduating class. The school's 3 years old, so those gr 10'ers have completed the trial, somehow or another. All 19 of 'em have at least got conditional acceptance at Canadian universities. And the $ to do so.

Yes, i griped about the extra duties i took on, organizing a bunch of media stuffs for the ceremony and dinner party, for a bunch of students i've never taught.

But in the end i must say it was all worth it. Although at least 3 of them were nodding off during the preliminary speeches, as soon as their beloved teacher began a wonderful speech about his years w/ them, the tears started flowing.

Then during dinner and stuff, a few more tears. Then after the boys had a drink or 2, they decided to add 1 more performance to the bill to sing a song (and it sounded a hell of a lot better than when they were sober). Then 1/2 way through the girls decided to jump on stage with them. Then they called their homeroom teacher into the mix, and it shortly transformed into a group hug w/ most of the gang bawling. Then my coworker pointed out all the parents who were crying. Next thing you know, I'm hollering and clapping and misty eyed myself. Music blaring in the background. It was pretty f'ing hilarious. Gosh i really never realized how totally entertaining it can be to watch people's eyes turn into fountains. i was loving every minute of it.

Truthfully, my expectations were quite low, but it ended up EPIC. Yes, there were lame-ass speeches about Studying Hard and The Future Is Yours and other BS by people who don't know shit about these individuals (all made doubly boring by requisite translations). But then vicariously hopping onto their emo-rollercoaster ride was great, as aided by the beer (5 glasses uncomfortably served to me by my own gr 11 students, all wearing unnecessarily sexy server's uniforms). "Hey Ivana, can you go get me another beer? I think my students know I'm getting drunk."

Cuandixia

After pretty much all of China worked a 7 day work week, everyone had a Mon, Tues, Wed holiday for Dragonboat Festival. Me and Qianqian head out to visit Cuandixia.

Cuandixia is a tiny and ancient ol' Qing dynasty town a few hours outside of Beijing. A historical spot, which has quickly become a hot little tourist destination.

Quite beautiful, to see these little courtyard houses all slowly cascading down the face of the mountain. I was stoked since i was under the impression that there's nothing to do there but wander around, read books, and possibly have a toke.

i was pumped for a couple days of quiet nothingness and sweating my way up a mountain or 2.

Well the town sure is gorgeous, but upon closer inspection the gorgeousness starts to feel rather forced. For example: like Lijiang and Dali last summer, i started to recognize the freshly laid "historic" cobblestones.

Also 90% of the buildings are now converted into guesthouses and restaurants.

I was mostly disappointed in that I was hoping for a peaceful couple days out, but the music blaring out of the restaurants and karaoke places was a bit much. Shania Twain and Avril? Canadian content: covered.

Oh well, we didn't get to the peaks as i had envisioned as that stairway was blocked off, and Q isn't as inclined as myself to break rules, but after a puff, we were too lazy and rubber-legged to gain much altitude anyhow.

Although the above looks pretty negative, i must say that i was still quite content to get out of BJ, and have a night out and a wander around.

And hey, the more holiday time before school's up, the better. And how.