The glorious thing about the Clifford Estates is that it's designed to feel like a resort community (if you're confused about what Clifford Estates is check out the About Guangzhou section, I redid it to explain where I live a little better). Everything about Clifford makes you feel like you're on holiday. My favourite part of Clifford is the idea that everything can exist in perfect harmony. For example, pedestrians, cyclists and motor vehicles are all considered equal here on the estates. Everyone travels in the same traffic lane regardless of whether you have 2 wheels, 4 wheels or no wheels at all. Cars frequently pass by within a foot of me and it's just natural. There is no need for stop signs or traffic lights in Clifford either, traffic flows all on it's own. Every intersection is uncontrolled, and yet it works because people know how to give and take appropriately. This hamonious existance combined with the resort style design generates a very zen feeling. As a result it's very easy to forget about the real world and get lost in a Stepford-like mentality which seems to dominate here. But this week was a bit of a reality check for me. On Tuesday my Chinese TA's grandfather died, and since most Chinese are practically raised by their grandparents, this is akin to losing a parent for her. And then on Wednesday two of my good friends here split up. It's been an emotional week to say the least. What I've found interesting through all of this though is that everyone came to me for emotional support. I found this encouraging as it showed me that the friendships I've made with the locals in the short time I've been here are just as significant to my Chinese friends as they are to me. I've discovered it's not particularly helpful for us new teachers to go to each other when we feel homesick, because all that does is make the other person feel homesick too. But to spend time with someone who is truly at home here in China is much better, because they can help distract you and help you see your surroundings as home, the way they do.
Now I'm feeling like this was sort of a downer to read so in an attempt to revive my excitment I'll end with a fun story. This past weekend we had a Fris-not tournament. I've never played it before, but apparently it was invented in Gimli. The rules are simple, there are two stakes in the ground, each about 3 1/2 feet tall and about 20 feet apart. You balance an empty beer bottle on top of each stake. There are two teams of two, each team stands behind one of the stakes. The object is to knock the beer bottle off the other team's stake with a frisbee. The other team has to catch the frisbee and if you do knock their bottle, they have to catch that too. If the bottle hits the ground the other team gets a point. If the frisbee hits the ground, the other team gets to throw again. If you catch the frisbee though, it's your turn to throw at their bottle. The game goes to five points, and for a simple game it can take a long time to play! Some rounds lasted close to half an hour. I was partnered with Murray, our designated China-Dad for all us newbies. He retired from teaching in Winnipeg to come out here, and he's by far the vetern teacher of all the new staff that came from Winnipeg. We played pretty well, finishing the round-robin with a record of 3-2 and one game unplayed due to fading light. We weren't able to go as far as to have play-offs and stuff, but it was fun all the same.