jessibelle

Me and Issy are busy brainstorming for Christmas and getting very excited. We have some good American friends so had a reeeeally yummy turkey thanksgiving dinner last night. We brought a load of the turkey and ham home so we had jacket potatoes, corn on the cob and turkey for dinner tonight.

Currently putting on christmas songs (current song is Robbie Williams- Angels) and talking about possible films to watch on Christmas day- (Sound of music or It's a wonderful life) It's gonna be nice to be around friends as we're all from so many different places, gonna be such a multicultural christmas! Isabelle and me are planning to make the dinner, but we're not sure of the details yet as our oven is pretty small and we don't know whether to buy a turkey/chicken or try to fit a small chicken in the oven!

Thanksgiving Turkey- looking gooooooooood

I'm also mega excited because one of my BFFs Maddie Donovan is coming from Oz to my humble abode on the 30th December- I haven't seen her in so long and don't know how long it will be before I see her again, so I'm so excited and sad at the same time. I'm saving up all my classes so I can skip them when she's here and show her
Shanghai in style! Miss her a lot and can't wait to see her x

 

Me and Maddie!!

 

Issy sends her love to you all too!

Jess xx

Hey guys,
Been soo busy and tired lately. We are teaching most days as well as class. We were planning on skipping our classes tomorrow to go to this amazing market in YuYuan gardens, but I discovered today that if I miss 3more listening classes (the bane of my loife!) then I might not be able to sit the exam! (Even though I still have 70% attendance in listening..) so need to make it into class tomorrow.

Father, mother, baby brother, Amy (student) and me!

 

xxxx

Ok, I didn't write this but found it pretty hilarious so thought I'd re-post here! J x

Excerpts from a Dog’s Diary…

8:00 am – Dog food! My favorite thing!

9:30 am – A car ride! My favorite thing!

9:40 am – A walk in the park! My favorite thing!

10:30 am – Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!

12:00 PM – Lunch! My favorite thing!

1:00 PM – Played in the yard! My favorite thing!

3:00 PM – Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!

5:00 PM – Milk bones! My favorite thing!

7:00 PM – Got to play ball! My favorite thing!

8:00 PM – Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!

11:00 PM – Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!

Excerpts from a Cat’s Diary?

Day 983 of my captivity. My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects.

They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength.

The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.

Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a ‘good little hunter’ I am. Bastards.

There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of ‘allergies.’ I must learn what this means and how to use it to my advantage..

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow — but at the top of the stairs.

I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released – and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded.

The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicating with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe. For now………

 

Feeling peoples eyes staring at you wherever you go at all times can sometimes feel a bit daunting here in Shanghai. But today, not even that can make me feel less excited about…. Well just about everything. See, I have had a “cold” for the past few weeks. The year of 2010 has been a rollercoaster in so many ways so being ill in Shanghai made me feel a bit worse than just a little down which in turn ended with a visit to a Chinese hospital; an experience quite different from that of a Swedish or English one. Let’s just say that there is no such thing as privacy, not when they take blood tests and not when you describe your symptoms to the doctor. I left with 4 boxes of antibiotics as well as “medicine” for flu, a sore throat, and general cold medicine. As I’ve started to feel better I also feel a lot more like myself again, and here are all the good things that has happened lately.

Yu Garden










Photo exhibition and Beijing Opera.

Our former teacher in the UK, Li RuRu, came to Shanghai to participate in a few events commemorating her mother Li YuRu who was the first woman to sing Beijing opera. We met her at a photo exhibition and she introduces us to some people working at the shanghai art conservatory who might introduce us to some art students here in order to do some language exchange which we all have realised is a really good way to get to speak more Chinese.

We then went to see a Beijing opera which was quite interesting. 

Here´s an article in the guaridan about Li YuRu.:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/jul/21/classicalmusicandopera.china        

 

New Job

I went to meet this man who wants to learn English today. I was quite nervous as he is a bit older (around 30) and normally I only teach children. However, it went really well. He wants to meet 3 times a week, Monday Tuesday and Thursday during daytime and 2 hours each time. He doesn’t work at the moment  and does this because he wants to travel more. We´ll meet at Starbucks in a new shopping mall about 20 minutes south with the metro from me which means it´s not very far. For me this means; easy job, flexible times (he is free every day so we can reschedule if needed), free coffee and quite a bit of extra money each month….. sweeeet.I went to meet this man who wants to learn English today. I was quite nervous as he is a bit older (around 30) and normally I only teach children. However, it went really well. He wants to meet 3 times a week, Monday Tuesday and Thursday during daytime and 2 hours each time. He doesn’t work at the moment  and does this because he wants to travel more. We´ll meet at Starbucks in a new shopping mall about 20 minutes south with the metro from me which means it´s not very far. For me this means; easy job, flexible times (he is free every day so we can reschedule if needed), free coffee and quite a bit of extra money each month….. sweeeet.


King of Sweden
On Friday I met the Swedish King, Carl XVI Gustav, and Christer Fuglesang as they visited Jiao Tong University during their trip to china for the Royal Technology Mission.

 





Put on the ice ice.

So the weekend ended with a house party at our friends B&J´s place for a party themed; BlingBling. We put on the ice, mixed mojitos all night long and around 1 the police came to throw everyone out as we were too many and too noisy. Headed to M1NT but before the long island ice tea was even finished people were hungry and wanted food so was they went to get food I went home and made some very good pesto-feta cheese- parmesean-pasta and watched modern family.

Isabelle xx

---

 

 

 

 

Just realised today that it is Bonfire night. Usually, I would be freezing my ass off on some school grounds I never went to, with gloves and hat on, ready to go 'ooooh' and 'aahhhh' and then 'Is that it!?' about fireworks. Oh how I miss it.
Jess x