Yeah, I’m not suppose to be using the computer, but this was too cute not to post.

Sports Day Opening Ceremony, 2008.

Public School Halloween Party, Shenzhen, China

We all have to suffer for beauty, no? At least it’s not footbinding. Who knew that Halloween, even Halloween in China, could be so painful?

Captured: October 29, 2008.

It’s 6:21 am and I’m drinking Irish whiskey. I’ve worked the past 16 days, straight thru. A group of visting British middle school students has been visiting, with me as their tour guide. I have shown them my domain, the grandeur of the Middle Kingdom: The sites, the temples, the 5,000 years of history.

They boarded their bus at 5:30 and I’m knackered. Sleep is in order. Have you ever been so tired you don’ know which way is up? That’s me. I wish myself sweet dreams.

The result of basketball on a sunny, sub-tropical afternoon. Raymond was a tad hot, as was the photographer.

To do this justice you need to view it larger. Click the image.

Captured: July 21, 2008.

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The constant rain, that had me wondering how to build an ark, has passed. The sky over Shenzhen is now a bright seasonal blue and full of fluffy clouds. There is that evil ball of flame some call the sun, it’s only purpose to burn me to a crisp, to contend with. Better that than rain.

My 美国人朋友 (American friends) will be celebrating the 4th of July this weekend. My Canadian brethren celebrated Canada Day on July 1st. I have nothing to celebrate. There are no July holidays in China. National Day is October 1st.

I could celebrate the end of school. The students and teachers have scattered, blown to the four corners of the earth by a powerful wind called Summer Holidays. I could celebrate the start of a summer off. I could, if that were true.

Let’s look at The Stevo’s next few days:

Friday:
Human Resources Meeting
Summer Camp Planning Meeting

Saturday:
Business Teacher Interviews
English Teacher Interviews
Marking Business Teacher applications tests

(The interviews will involve me trying to decipher Chinese resumes, being part of the management panel and asking a question or two. I will listen to rapid-fire questions in Chinese, attempt to understand, get bored, and doodle on the HR forms.)

Sunday:
Course Consultant Interviews

All I really want to do is get a massage. Maybe Sunday evening. After a few drinks.

On the plus side: I’m buying a new camera next week, if my resident permit is complete and the government returns my passport. It’s hard to leave the country without a passport.

Question: What would the border guards do if I brought 20 Grade 1 students to vouch for my identity instead of the traditional passport?

Enjoy your national days of independence. Have a barbecue, watch fireworks and play merry. I’ll be sitting in an overly hot room on an uncomfortable chair.

I’ve been waiting several weeks to take this shot. The rain has finally abated (fingers crossed). For two days there have been blue skies.

The shot is not particularly dramatic, but I like the lines. This is part of the roof of the school building that holds my office and classroom.

RAW image with Landscape color profile.
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