There were no over-riding themes in June. Just more busyness, activities and a realisation that my time in China was coming to an end.

I had a kimbab making lesson. Kimbab is the Korean equivalent of sushi but with meat and rice substituted for seafood. Excellent for the person with a seafood allergy. Read about a recipe here.

The Firm asks me to read the ethics manual again as a condition of my third revised contract. I’m still grateful that they allowed me to defer my start for 2 years. But the time is coming where I must wear a suit + bad shirt instead of jeans + bad shirt.

A party was organised for the British expats in Tianjin. There would be the usual fare of tea, cake, singing the national anthem and discussing the weather. However, I got caught up in the China vs. Qatar World Cup qualifier game. I had to walk the last half mile. I made the most of the situation by buying a red souvenir T-shirt which read: "China Wins!" China lost the game 1-0.

I needed to buy a water bottle desperately and one for 18 RMB. I bargained down to 16RMB but the seller refused to go any lower. So I walked away. I spend the next week in persistent need of a water bottle. I return to the same shop and buy it for the original price of 18 RMB. My students tell me that I got a terrible deal. The other teachers tell me that the Korean characters written on the bottle are nonsense. I still use the water bottle.

I scratch the site of a van while riding my bike. I end up handing over 100RMB to placate the driver. I can’t afford to buy any more water bottles for the rest of the year.

The flat continues to have electrical problems as the fuse can only support 2 out of the following devices out at any one time:

1. Washing machine
2. Air-conditioning
3. Water heater for the shower
4. Microwave

The fuse wire blows and I fix it using a pair of chopsticks. My health insurance is invalidated.

I make another trip to "Computer Street" to buy 5 hard drives. Computer Street is a geeks dream. There are hundreds of shops selling any kind of gadget and computer equipment. The shops range from clean glass displays to dark slime pits. I wonder how these places make any profit – it turns out that they are more solvent than the average Western bank.

There is a wedding in the park. Beautiful and touching.

May 1st is a national holiday in China. The school gives a week’s holiday but it was a shortened because of the Olympics. That still gave me time to take a short holiday to Korea.

What can I say about Korea that hasn’t been written before by better writers with better English? This is a good excuse not to write anything profound about my trip.

The Peace Institute also has Korean classes – so I have worked with Koreas every day I have been in China. They have a very distinct and proud culture. Do not lump them with China or Japan! In my experience, Koreans have make heartfelt and dedicated friendships with a strong group mentality. They are dedicated and disciplined in their work. I’ve gained a taste for Korean food. My favourite is sweet barbecued meat. Kimchi, which is pickled, spicy lettuce has a powerful flavour. I’ve yet to find a cheap Korean restaurant in London.

I posted the photo above to show the history and modernity of Seoul. There is a march in traditional dress in front of the entrance to a royal garden. In the background there is a Dunkin Doughnuts shop. America has greatly influenced Korean development but the independent streak remains. I was in Seoul during the demonstrations against the import of potentially BSE-infected meat from the US.

Tianjin International Fellowship (TIF)

TIF is a fellowship for foreigners living in Tianjin and it was my church away from home. There were a great mix of attendees from many nations. I particularly looked up to the many successful Christian businessmen. I helped with setting up the sound of Sunday morning. Fortunately for me the cables can only be plugged in one direction. The best memory was when I leaped off the stage to turn off a sudden burst of horrible feedback.

The Earthquake

12th May 2008. 69,227 dead. 4 million homeless. I still find hope in God. In the miraculous stories of those pulled from the rubble. In the millions in donations and the endless work of volunteers. (Link – ways to give).

In April, I learnt that I was not superman. Anyone could have told me this but I had to go through a crushing experience before I realised this. During April, I committed myself to:

1. Teaching English – part of my job description. About 25 hours a week.
2. Mandarin lessons – 4 + 4 + 4 hours of lessons, travelling and homework.
3. Coffee house – planning and rehearsals.
4. Gym – some hours in a sweaty dark gym. The gym I go to in London is bright, well ventilated and has a rowing machine. I still prefer the Tianjin gym
5. Mock interview practice – I scared the living daylights out of her. Oxbridge interviews were easier. She passed the real thing in the end.
6. Website – Creating the school’s new website was in full swing. Even though the technical aspects of the website design were outsourced, management still took a lot of time.

The pressure took its toll. Sometime in April I got very upset and extremely annoyed. I felt over-worked and under-valued. I wanted more help. I sulked.

This showed a lot about me. I enjoy helping people wherever I can. I value hard work. I feel that every minute of everyday should be productive. I need the acknowledgement of others for my sense of self-worth.

I learnt that this was incredibly unhealthy and I had to change my routine. I realised my limitations. There is a need for rest. April turned out to be my last Coffee House. I also booked a short holiday to Korea in May.

Looking back after a hectic 4 months in London makes April seem like a gentle time. However, I get to take a break from work on the weekends. My work life in Tianjin was more constant and there was the on-going pressure of cultural adjustment.

The Coffee Spot

I had my first meeting with Daygan. He was another fellow Tianjin Expat. But he was involved in local radio rather than teaching English. He started an ambitious project to open a Cafe in the heart of Tianjin. It’s called the Coffee Spot. Judging from the website, it looks like it’s successfully running.