Ma's Things

China has a weird conception of holidays..
Monday is the mid-autumn festival, it is a bank holiday, and here at university we also get the Tuesday off. But nothing is free, not even in China! To make up for "Tuesday's no classes", we have to work this Saturday.
And yet Chinese people are convinced they are still getting two days off

Same students (plus one new group), different classes. I was hoping to be teaching the same subjects to different students so I could have more time to travel and work on my Chinese, this won't be happening. Too bad I'm the only French foreign teacher, I got assigned the most advanced classes, which I'm actually happy with, but still..
First day: stylistics to 4th year students!

J-9 before the TFS the French exam 2nd-year students have to take. Dictation, written and oral comprehension, grammar, writing. The exam lasts 3 hours and is very difficult.

Pico's Chinese alter ego..

Just bought those in Tesco yesterday.. Look familiar?

Tuesday is the Qingming Festival, a day when Chinese people honour their ancestors by visiting their graves. They sweep the tombs, burn papers and offer food, tea, etc. to the ancestors.
All the students are going home for this. The uni is completely empty. We get Monday and Tuesday off, though the Chinese haven't quite grasped the concept of a "holiday" yet. To make up for Monday, we had to work today (i.e. Saturday..) and yet.. when you ask people, they are convinced they're getting two days off..

I'm loving the motto of the place: 'a cup of rigorous attitude'

Life in China is pretty cheap unless you like certain products. After eating at the canteen for only 7 kuais today, I got a latte from this coffee place that cost me 12 kuais, pretty much what I would pay back in the other SX (and worth almost two meals here!).
Same with milk, although it is a Chinese product (hence not as expensive as imported ones like pasta etc), since most people here don't drink milk, a 1L of fresh milk costs around 12 kuais (about £1,2)

And yet another type of charger...

With the simcard I got (or should I say - that someone got for me) I get free calls within the university (and the whole city I believe). It's very much like the extension number back at uni, you have a long number (regular number) and a short number (only 6 digits) from which you can call and text for free any other short number mobile (not necessarily from the same company).

Paris - Dubaï - Shanghai

Leaving Paris at 2.30pm, for a 6h30 flight to Dubaï (11.59pm local time)
After a 3h stopover, flying to Shanghai in 7h30 and should get there at 3.05pm local time).
I'm no flyer, not that I'm not worried about the flight itself, just about not finding my way around and miss my flight :D

Everyone is here and I'm allowed all the food I want :D
I've been having those weird moments where I am just eating and eating and eating just to make sure I taste it one last time before I go

Still not packed!!

I have a whole year to fit in a 30kg luggage, I am NOT used to this!
Yes it is China and yes clothes are cheap but apparently European "Made in China" clothes are not quite the same as Chinese Made in China clothes :D unless I want to dress like a 13 yr old (in taste and size) I should be packing as much as possible of my own stuff - shoes included!
Listening to David Guetta... Awww the memories...

It's official, I'm off to China in a week time...
Finally received the invitation letter, getting my visa sorted tomorrow and then just need to buy the flight tickets.