TheBanyanTree: Return to China - Part 6

[Pat M]

November 25

I still haven't adjusted to the time change.  I awoke at 4 am and lay awake
until 5:30 when I decided to get up.  Last night there was no water in the
hot water tap so I was unable to shower.  Again this morning, only a trickle
came from it.  It looks as if I'll have to sponge bath and wash my hair in
the sink with water from one of my thermoses if I want to get cleaned up
first thing in the morning.

I need to get into a routine and decided that five laps around the courtyard
every day would be a good start.  Then, I plan to use my Dynaband (strong
elastic for strength exercises).  I also realize I need to study Chinese in
order to be more helpful around the orphanage.  But always my writing is
calling to me.  Life is so different here that there is plenty to tell every
day and I feel compelled to get to my computer and write in down.

Before arriving, I had arranged with Peter to have internet put into my
room.  Initially we had explored the possibility of wireless internet as
there is an internet connection in the office of the school 50 yards away.
Peter spoke with a computer technician who said it wouldn't work because of
several cement walls between the office and my room.  I'd then inquired how
much it would be to put ADSL internet in my room and based on that (CAD$225)
had him arrange it prior to my arrival. I'm going to be here for at least a
year and having easily-accessible internet is worth every penny.

There were problems setting up the internet on my computer though. Peter
spent quite awhile trying but was unsuccessful.  I said I would pay to have
the technician come back to set it up but Peter expressed little confidence
in outside help. He said he'd had the tech in several times but always ended
up resolving computer problems himself. He said that running Vista might be
the problem. I told him that I had paid a lot of money and I wanted the
internet to work. Yesterday he took my computer to the office and used the
office computer to search for help to aid in the setup and he was
successful.  When he returned with my computer and said the internet was set
up and working,  I was so happy I could have kissed him!

Today, I was able to use SKYPE to phone my family in Canada. As well, I now
have access to free online Chinese lessons.  Things are looking up.

I also had a discussion with Peter and told him that 60 children in one
class was not going to work. We decided that I would teach English to the
grades 1 – 4 from 6:00 – 6:30 and to the grade fives and sixes from 8:00 pm
– 8:30 because from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm all of the children return to their
classrooms to do their homework.

Peter is a very kind young man but so far he does not communicate well with
me.  His English is quite good but he is so busy making sure the orphanage
is running smoothly that he seems to forget I am here.  I wonder if he
doesn't feel a little threatened that I'm going to take charge here or that
I am 'watching' him and will report my observations to Ron.

I've told him several times that he is the 'leader' (that's the term the
Chinese use for the person in charge) and that he needs to tell me what I
can do to be more helpful. So far, he hasn't given me any tasks.  Having me
here is a big change for him and I think it may be a little difficult for
him to adjust to my presence.

I continue to dread mealtime.
*****
Pingguo China 2008 photos can be viewed at
http://picasaweb.google.com/Ms.Pat.Martin/Pingguo#