杭州 Day 10

Thursday, September 18, 2008: 杭州 Day 10； Teaching, Day 2
中国 Day 10
Asia Day 10

• I slept around 1am the night before and then woke up around 6:30am. It was freakin' early. I don't think I got any sleep.
• We got to the health physical place early so we could avoid the morning traffic (the lines inside the building for the tests). We had to wait outside (because we got there before it opened) and saw a playground for adults! AMAZING. The Chinese government wanted the older folks to get exercise, so they built some equipment for the old'uns in a public place!
• I joked to my group about teaching my students "dis type of Engrish," to which my buddies said I was terrible ^^U.

• I had my first thorough physical. This meant a great deal of blood-stealing, urine-cupping, gel-smearing, and a nurse lady telling me to lose weight.
• Blood test: I wasn't that scared, actually. I thought it would hurt when the needle poked into my arm, but it didn't feel so bad. I still winced for effect.
• Urine samples: I was afraid because I hadn't drank anything the entire day and I peed in the morning. I didn't have any urine left in my body!! I was just sitting and waiting...but it didn't come out. I stole Jason's water and tried again. I guess I was really paranoid that I would miss the cup or some other catastrophe would happen.
• EKT (Vision): my weight was measured and my eyesight was tested. The lady told me that her son was about her age.
• ECG (Heartbeat): I laid down on a bed thing and they put measuring 'clamps' on my arms and legs. They also put some heart rate monitors on my chest.
• Blood pressure / heart check: I used the blood pressure measurer and got a pretty low one. The lady told me to lie down as she checked my heart with a stethoscope.
• Ultrasound: they rubbed some gel on me and checked my internal organs. No, I'm not pregnant. However, one of the nurses told me to lose weight. She patted my stomach and said, "减肥."
• X-ray: it was over within a matter of seconds.

• Oh, and while I was waiting in line to finish some of the physical tests, I taught Michael a new vocabulary word. I flexed my arm muscles and said, "guns" (points to muscles). He was laughing, as always.

• In the taxi, someone talked about his/her sister and problems concerning her, in that she seemed to be controlled by her boyfriend. I said to them, "I would NEVER let him control me...I'd control him...j/k." People said, "Hahahahha....SUUUURRRE."
• Got back around 11am. Girls from my apartment invited me to lunch, but I was busy prepping for lessons.
• I took the 12:20pm bus to Xiasha campus. Jason and Michael accompanied me. I told Michael some Chinese jokes (Madonna/McDonald's and 一晚睡觉/一碗水饺) and talked about some Chinese cultural things. I could feel my mouth getting dry >_<. I taught Michael some Cantonese phrases and he thanked "the professor" and shook my hand...whilst I cluelessly asked who was the professor. OF COURSE he was just talking about me. Yay, someone (who isn't a student -_-) called me professor!
• Got to the campus and then switched buses to get to the other campus. I commuted a total of 1 hour, 15 minutes. Went to get the keys and the microphone.

• Both classes had a higher proficiency of English, when compared to the classes on the other campus. I taught them colloquial phrases, not straight-up vocab. I marveled at how young my students look! They look around the age range of 13 - 18...but they're sophomores/juniors in the university. Mostly sophomores.

• There were some guys with their little girlfriends in my second class...and the guys just wouldn't shut up! I purposely called on one of the guys who seemed to be chatting up his sweetie. I told him to explain what I just told the class to do. He looked at me and pointed to himself.
o_o <"Me?")
O_o <"ME?")
O_OO <"MEE!?")
He made one exaggerated face after another, with each one more twisted than the last. Everyone was laughing at him. Maybe he was used to it, because it didn't really deter him from chatting up his girly afterwards.

• After I finished the classes, I left in a hurry and realized I had forgotten to erase the board. I called Michael to tell him to tell the janitor sorry that I forgot to erase the board.

• I was half-asleep on the way back. Then, I went online to waste time. Talked to Patricia about grading exams. Jessica came by with a yummilicious brownie that she made from a brownie mix from Carrefour (she told me she went far away to find it o_o).

• I was tired, since I overstayed my consciousness' welcome!