This weekend most of the other American teachers went to Yantian District for a full moon party at Dameisha in Yantian District. I opted not to go because Yantian is really far away, and moreover the entrance fee is a little expensive – until I get my first paycheck at the end of this month, I should be careful about how I spend my cash. Instead, I’ll spend this weekend getting a head start on planning my curriculum for the year and doing lesson plans, and maybe even try out some basketball in the school courts with the other teachers who live here. I want to try to meet as many people as I can before my novelty wears away, and everybody here is strangely crazy about basketball (I think it must have gotten big after Yao Ming). The irony of coming to China to learn how to play b-ball is not lost on me, but whatever.
Despite all the reasons to favor not going to Yantian this weekend, though, I have to be kind of cautious about inactivity. I’ve been going out and meeting people at a decent rate, so far, but I can tell that every time I return to my room I feel relieved – being friendly and outgoing is natural, but still kind of draining for me, especially when it’s in a different language. And yet when I stay in my room too much I get trapped inside of it and I feel sluggish, nonproductive and isolated, sometimes even sleeping in the middle of the day. This is probably some culture shock reaction that I have to be careful of.
I have to say, I dislike writing these filler posts because they seem kind of dull, but the usual quality posts take a lot of effort to write and they also lack a big-picture clarity that could easily inform people of what life is like and how I’m doing. I suppose I don’t have to write a 5-paragraph prose-poem when all I really have to report is that the weather here is warm and humid. But I would prefer to, haha (and in fact a post on just that is in the works now). It’ll take some time, but those will eventually come out from the pipeline.
What I worry about is whether that other writing project of mine will ever become anything but a pipe dream. I think this blog is taking over, a bit.
When the year ends, you compile these posts into a cohesive, flowing story. There is your first book!!!
One suggestion, load up photos when you don’t feel like writing.
going out and meeting people and being friendly, etc. is hard for me too, and people speak English here (usually). it’s really draining because you have to have your filters on all the time, trying to figure out if this person is actually someone you can spend time with outside of small-talky social situations. i can definitely relate to the feeling of relief when you get home… just be glad that home is a good, safe place to come to – at least you have that much of a sanctuary, you know?