Have I ever really written about the Chinese students? I can't help but wonder and admire every day when I talk to them and look at their lives. The children here learn very early that studying is their work and it is to be taken very seriously. Even the young children stay at school until the evening, only to come home to a mountain on homework and passages to be memorized for reciting. And of course, the ambitious parents probably want their child to take up an extra hobby to fill in the few otherwise idle minutes. The competition begins in kindergarten and grows fiercer and fiercer as the children move up through the different stages of school.

By the time they reach university, they are fully trained in study techniques and accustomed to waking up before sunrise to begin their day of studying. Many students at our university go to the little campus park to recite texts or practise their English before breakfast. The breaks between classes and lectures are easily filled with self-study, there are heaps of books to be read and memorized. And the work goes on until the night, the students sometimes complain that the electricity (and thus the lights) are swtiched off in their dormitories at 10:30 pm, which means they have to stop studying or use a torch. At any given time, the vacant classrooms at the university are all filled with students, sitting their with their books.

And no talk of holidays, the books go anywhere you go, and there are always extra courses to take. I have noticed that the standard answer to my question "What are you planning to do over the holidays?" is 'study', quite often attending an extra course in mathematics, English, this, that or the other. The university organises some of these classes, but there are also a number of private schools offering vacation courses.

The results of this all? A country full of exhausted students. Maybe smart students too, or at least ones with heads crammed full of information. But at the same time, my students tell me that they haven't *really* learned much during their time at university, at least not anything very useful that they would be needing later on. The learning is too often based on memorizing, which I notice also in my own classes. The students can recite bizarre texts from their middle school textbooks, but they might have no idea what it all means. Or they can remember long lists of words by heart, but can't use them in a conversation.

And why are they doing this, you might want to ask. The pressure comes from different directions. There is an immense competition for jobs and an even bigger pressure to be the best, to be successful, to make money, to contribute to the country and especially to make the family proud (and rich). The parents set unattainable goals for their children and push them to keep going at all costs. Some students tell how they dream of a life in arts or music, but are now studying physics or biology as chosen for them by their parents. Another girl said how she would like to open a small shop, but has to now go do a Master's degree instead, as realising her dream would cause her family to lose face. Of course, most of them are the only children of their families, therefore having to carry the heavy weight of the whole family's success and reputation on their shoulders.

The university also encourages students to study and to compete, I was told that our university offers a prize for the best two students in each major exam. The first one gets 500 yuan and the second 250 yuan, which is a lot of money for a student. Not a bad incentive.

I know I'm writing about this in a negative tone, but I feel helpless sometimes talking to students who are simply exhausted and talk to me about how they are feeling. Pressure, stress, exhaustion... And just yesterday I told one of them to just keep pushing on for another couple of years, that graduation was not that far away, she replied: "And then what? I have to compete to get a good job, and then work work work as hard as I can to please my parents, to become rich and to build a successful life for all of us."

On the other hand, I think many students in Europe have a lot to learn from their Chinese counterparts. Comparing to them, I think I went through university not doing anything much, and certainly without such determination and persistence. Being here now makes most European students appear as simply slobs... Maybe there is a middle way somewhere in between the two...and maybe someone will find it, too. I certainly hope that some of these students will be different with their own children. And I hope that in the middle of all the pressure, my friends here will keep on pushing for it and smiling, I truly do admire their courage and strenght, I think I should be the first person to learn from them.

Ok, I have finally really come back from my little trip to a different planet over the past weeks and am back right here in the cyber universe and blogging again.

Lately, I have been discovering the secrets (well, a few very basic ones anyway) of Chinese chess. This game is very similar to the 'Western' chess. The aim of the game of the same, to trap the opponent's king into a situation where it cannot move anymore, only the pieces and the board are a little different. I like the game as it makes you think, but I must admit that I'm pretty bad at it when playing against Chinese people. You must be able to think a few moves ahead and anticipate your opponent's moves, as well. But, I'm learning.

My time here in Baoding is quickly coming close to its end. I only have about three weeks of classes left, and my parents are coming over for a 10-day visit in two weeks, so I'm trying to get most things sorted out by then. As usual, I have managed to accumulate an amazing amount of stuff in my flat, most of which I will have to give away ot throw out, as I'm heading out with just a backpack and the essentials I can fit into it. So, byebye guitar and dreams of rockstardom, byebye dvd player and hours of south park and star trek, byebye nice shoes and pretty clothes... Life after Baoding will be very different but I am already looking forward to it and finding out what's waiting for me along the road.

For now, though, I am trying to make the best use of the short time I have left here. I am trying to study Chinese every day, at home by myself as well as by talking to students on campus. Apart from Wang Ke Qi (or Cathy) who has been meeting with me once a week, I have asked a couple of other people to help me out. A student of mine introduced me to his girlfriend, Liu Yu Jia, who is a bubbly girl with a natural talent for teaching. I think I can learn a lot from her, even if it's just over a couple of weeks.

Keep your eyes open for the next installment very soon...

Wow, it's been a while since a last blogged. Will be better from now on! Last week I didn't have any other classes apart from the 4 hours of teaching the MSc students, so it has really felt like still being on holiday. But I suppose now it's time to shape up and get to work again, 6 weeks to go before the end of the term and my Baoding life.

Yesterday I started my new class. This time I am teaching teachers, from different colleges. I must say I like working with adults, we've only had one class so far but I have a feeling that it's a good group and I think I'll enjoy teaching them. And, once again, it's an opportunity for me to learn more from these people who are all specialised in different things.

But I've done some more travelling, too, since the last entry. The past weekend I visited an old town called PingYao in the Shanxi province, south-west from here. Though rather touristy (for a reason...it's really worth seeing), it was a fascinating place, with old Chinese architecture and the feel of an ancient little town. The old town is surrounded by a wall, with four gates on different sides of it. And inside it's narrow streets and alleys, lined with traditional-style stone buildings. Once again, lots of pictures, which I will post today along with the ones from Dalian (I will, I will!!).

[edit: pictures are up! Check out these Chinese devils having some fun, and a Finnish one giving it her best shot, too.]

There are so many places to see in this country, so many people to meet, so many stories to hear and so many spits to dodge... So even though I will be done with my assignment in Baoding, I don't think I am through with China that quickly. In fact, I have accepted a teaching position in Jinan in Shondong Province for a few weeks this summer, but more about that later when it is all confirmed. But the sotry of my Chinese life will go on...

Back!
After a few days on the road, it's nice to be back in smelly old Baoding again. Dalian was really a different place from here, blue skies, fresh air and clean streets. They are really making an effort for the city to be spotless and it seems to be working. At the same time, a lot of things there looked very fake, they are building a city of imitation American townhouses and European castles, it's like they are trying to create something 'Western' and 'developed' while at the same time ignoring all things Chinese. Though I suppose this is very 'Chinese' in a new sort of way.

But apart from the city, the trip was worth it just because we could spend time on the beach, after being stuck inland for so long it felt great to see the ocean and feel the sea breeze. Mmm.

We stayed in a funny hotel, booked for us through the travel agency, a fair way away from the city centre. I don't know exactly what the real deal was, but it was somehow connected to the military, I suppose, and there was a little base or something just next door. And all the people in the hotel wore military uniforms. Another funny thing is that we never got a key to our room. Instead, every floor had an 'attendant' who was there all the time, ready to open the door for us when we got back to the hotel, ot give us more hot drinking water when we needed it. This whole thing was certainly one of those 'only-in-China' experiences, with the hot water being cut off most of the day and all.

In fact, we made a mistake with the departure day, and realised when we got to Beijing that we were there a day early (we had asked for four nights in Dalian, but instead they booked us for four *days*). But, we ended up spending a really good day in Beijing, checking out the action on Tiananmen Square on Labour Day (which wasn't really anything that special, just a lot of people out and about) and visiting the huge area of the Temple of Heaven the next day.

Probably lots of other things to tell, but I'll continue later, as I'm knackered now and my own stone-hard bed is calling... Will also post a whole bunch of photos later and link them here.

And we were fed.