Talent Show

So Funny

With Trepidation
There's a party this evening for the second year students in my program. I'll go at 7, but it's with some trepidation. Often "locals" expect the foreigners to perform and view us as mascots, which I just can't stand. I would never volunteer to sing, dance, etc. I'll watch, I'll schmooze. Just don't ask me to perform. It's funny that though China is very much a "food culture" they never have any food or drink at these "parties." Parties here are more like talent shows and they frequently consist of acts that weren't rehearsed or prepared very much. They also have games like musical chairs. All this would hold no appeal for American college students, but

Officials' Profiles
I was surprised when my students said they didn't know the name or face of the mayors of their respective hometowns. Yesterday I saw that they're all listed on the web. All Chinese high-ranking officials are.When I looked at a few of their profiles, like this on the mayor of Qingdao, I was further surprised to see that they list each person's ethnic heritage. I would have thought that wasn't important. Clearly, I was wrong.

Job Hunting
Here I go again. This time I'd really like to find a job to hang on to. I would stay here, but it isn't a permanent job. They want to keep costs down thus the series of "Visiting Professors." I've applied for jobs in Macau, Japan, Korea, China and today Saudi Arabia. (What was I thinking? Big bucks, I suppose.) I'm getting rather antsy, though I know the jobs I just sent resumes out for will take time to be reviewed. It's demoralizing to see how stagnant the salaries are. Many are just what I saw ten years ago. In fact, I have to force myself not to apply to the JET Programme again because it is an Assistant teaching j