Hi from Yue Xiu College, now a University. I have now been at this college since Feb 2005.

Its been an exciting time with some changes and the built up to becoming a Uni. Student numbers have increased from 5000 to over 10,000. Even thought there is many students and staff it has a warm family feeling about it.

I love living on campus and enjoy talking with the students in and around the campus and not just in the classrooms. They are much more relaxed when away from the rest of the class. Teaching gives me a buzz and especially when a student gains confidence to give a presentation or uses something which you have taught them.

Shaoxing has lots to offer in scenery and now that we have wheels (E-bike) we have more opportunity to get out and about to experience the culture. Shaoxing people are a friendly lot and I feel very safe here.

Shaoxing is small enough so that its easy to get around but big enough to have everything that you want or need. Of course, Hangzhou or Shanghai are only a short bus or train ride away.

Vicki (Graduate from ACC Feb 2002)

The Eight Thousand Steps of Tian Mu

I’d been in Fuyan one week when I met the father of a boy who was in Grade one Yong Xing, Middle school.

He was a friendly person and he knew some English so we were able to have a conversation with the help of pen and paper so we exchanged phone numbers and said our goodbyes

He rang me at home about a week later and said he was going to take me to climb Tian Mu Mountain.
I held some reservations in my mind as I didn’t think I would be able to climb a Mountain, maybe a hill!

The journey started at Yong Xing Middle school’s front gate on a Friday afternoon, the weather was mild a little chilly, but otherwise bearable.

It was the Fathers turn to take two other boys back to Lin An so we all got into his car and headed off

The journey to Lin An is about 60 kilometres and would take us about 45 minutes. On the way we passed and saw all types of transport from three wheeled electric trikes and cars, three wheeled trucks and the ambiguous “Blue Tractor”

These machines are the workhorse of China, they are noisy, don’t seem to have lights, are constantly on the roads with loads that defy gravity, but are accepted as part of the Chinese culture

Horns constantly blare, “The Voice of the Car”, the poetic way that people describe the honking and beeping of the vehicle both large and small. It seems if “The Voice of the Car” is as necessary as the air we breathe, as it lets people know we are approaching intersection, corners, blind spots etc

I noticed a man with two water buffalo walking beside the road as if on a Sunday outing, and then around the bend about 200 hundred Duck were scurrying across the road as if they were encaged in a magical net that held them tightly together

By the time we had arrived in Lin An one of the boys had rung his parents to see if it was okay to come with us to the mountain, this turned out for the best as it gave the fathers’ son some company

By this time the Sun was getting lower in the sky and we were in for a surprise at our destination which would take us to the bottom of the mountain. My friend seemed unsure which way to go as he had to stop and ask some locals directions on three occasions.

By this time we arrived it was dark and really cold, the restaurant, guest house we stopped at seemed closed as did the whole village

Next minute someone came outside and greeted us and told us to come in and they would prepare us a meal and give us accommodation for the night.

One thing in China the people are very friendly and go out of their way to help each other and they love to eat and talk. Being a foreigner in this part of the World makes the experience even more special for them.

The next morning their kindness showed again with the cooking of a hearty breakfast and the provision of supplies for our forthcoming ascent to the top of the mountain.

The owner of the restaurant gave us a lift to the entrance of the first of about 8,000 steps that we would have to take over the next 3 ? to 4 hours..WOW!!

The first part of the journey started with a gradual slope over steps that are made of stones which can accommodate at
least two people abreast. It was quite cold and the boys were starting to worry about what it was they were getting themselves into, even the father was pondering his fate, I had some doubts, but I was determined to see it through.

Going through tall trees and semi rainforest vegetation, there are signs telling people not to light fires or smoke cigarettes, there are penalties for doing this, you can see why, as it is very steep with lot of vegetation making it very inaccessible.

Along the way there are signs telling you about the history of the area both in English and Chinese. It had long been a path to the top of the mountain, made by Buddhist Monks over 1,000 years ago or more.

About an hour into the journey the young boys were exhausted and it seemed as if we would have to go back down, after a rest, nourishment and more importantly encouragement we all started off again. Admittedly the steps were step and never ending, but once at the top of a set of them there was somewhere to rest and take in the view. Also along the way there are ponds with crystal clear water in them and old stone bridges built in the Tang Dynasty. This seemed to give us all the driving force to make our destination.

One can only wonder about the time when the Monks used to come up here without modern help and probably not much in the way of provisions and help if they had got injured, but respect their place, respect their commitment and will to achieve a higher dream.

Around every corner there are nooks, crannies and caves, some of which monks long ago lived and meditated in, these places are well documented and enshrined for visitors to contemplate the reason for being.

In the distant we could hear voices, the voices seemed very close but they were never in reach as they seemed to drift off to right angels or suddenly the voices jutted quickly in a circular motion

I seemed to float at one stage along the path as if lifted above those steps, it did not worry me any more, I thought I was dreaming it was the most magical thing that had happened to me in a long time.

Those Eight Thousand steps no longer existed, I knew I had achieved more than most, I was humbled, and yet I needed more, but to get right to the top the ultimate goal would be another journey, something that would need more planning, something that me and the boys’ Father knew we had to do, go to “The Place of the Pig”!!!

Alexander James

Memories of Shaoxing Through Portraiture
(Translated from a Chinese newspaper article – October 2007)

A blue eyed, blonde haired woman drew portraits for several local children beside the parterre of Shaoxing City Plaza yesterday afternoon. Yolande Lake from Brisbane, Australia, is one of the foreign teachers from Australia City College who is currently teaching English at Shaoxing Yuexiu Foreign Languages College for two months. Yolande said she has a beautiful Chinese name "Yalan" and told the journalist that she enjoys the life in Shaoxing, enjoys the beautiful ancient city view, and enjoys the pure and warm-hearted people. The portraits convey and act as an everlasting memory of her life in Shaoxing. Yolande will return to her family in Australia next week.

Greetings from Wuhan. All's well here. We're pretty well settled in now and into the teaching routine. The teaching is going really well. The students are great- very enthusiastic, friendly and happy. We've been having lots of wonderful new experiences and meeting heaps of interesting people. Wuhan is a really big place and it took a little while to get our bearings, but we are gradually getting to know our way around town and get a hang of the local buses, our main form of transport in the city. The local street scene is vibrant and interesting with lots of little shops, market stalls, restaurants and street food stalls.

Yesterday we went on a day trip with three of our students to the hometown of one of the girls. It is a small fishing and farming village beside a lake about 2 hours from Wuhan. We had a great day and met half the village as we wandered around the market and township, visited a nearby island and had a huge banquet for dinner with the family and friends. Her parents are cooks in the local government, so some of the officials were present as well, and the food was awesome, in quantity and quality. We were made feel very welcome and left feeling very full- of local fish, beer and and Chinese rural hospitality.

Have attached some photos of the uni and the Lantern Festival, which concludes the Spring Festival celebrations. It was really big here at the uni with dragon dancing and lots of fireworks.

Bye for now.

Bill and Jan

Return Back to China with lots of fun! - 15 Feb 2007

Hello my dear. I got a message from you but it was for a fellow named Brian.

I assume he is a new teacher coming here soon. I want to thank you again for paying me for the work I did at the primary school. I think most of the people that came had an interesting time. I can not speak highly enough of Ray Moxon. He is a wonderful, caring man, and was a great choice" by you" making him group leader for the young teachers. He will make a great contribution as a teacher and as a member of the A C C group.

Some of the young teachers suffered from culture shock and missed the comfort of their own homes. Some didn't understand that respect is very important here, as a result I found they were quite flippant and casual. But over all I think the cultural exchange was a success.

I stayed with a home stay family while I was teaching at the primary school.

They were lovely people. But now I have moved into my flat at Yong Xing Middle school. It is so nice to have my own space again. I am so happy to be back here in Fuyang.

I have bought an electric bike. I ride every where now. Every one stares at me. Its funny. The company from which I bought it made a T V ad last week and they phoned me to ask if I will be in their ad. Of course I said yes.

That is the second ad I have been in here. Some people see me in the street and say hello arent you on T V? I feel like a star some times. Its so much fun.

I am on holidays now for about 3 weeks. I am looking forward to spring festival. I am also looking forward to teaching the young students at Yong Xing Middle school. I hope you realise how serious I am about being a teacher. I work very hard at creating informative yet entertaining lessons for my classes.

Any way Karen I will go now. If you need any thing from me, I am always happy to do what I can for you. You have always been very kind to me, and I thank you again for having faith in me. I will write again soon. Take care and say hi to all for me.

Michael Jeffs

Hi Karen,

I just thought I would let you know that the situation re getting a (working/resident) 'Z' visa here in China is tightening up and it is getting difficult for people with TESOL but no BA degree. Because we continue to get extensions to our current visa we have not faced this difficulty (yet!).

It seems that there are exceptions but a great deal of negotiations need to take place. Apparently the directive comes from high up in the government Education Dept. It stems from the quality of some TESOL trained teachers who have done a poor job and have not provided quality tuition.

I know that in the past some 'teachers' have taken to showing some english movies on DVD on a reasonably regular basis. Of course students love watching movies but it does not give much opportunity at speaking English in practical conversations. A trend at this school has seen all TV's removed from general classrooms and playing of movies must be authorised.

Also it seems there is a general move away from "Oral English" teacher designed lessons of the teachers own choosing. In fact at this college there are no more of these classes. Teachers are given a focus perhaps on "English Newspaper Articles" with a view of exploring another countries cultural differences or on someone that has had influence (good or bad) on life or events that stopped a nation. For example the college team of foreign teachers here recently looked at Australia and did three articles, John Howard, Lindy Chamberlain and Steve Irwin.

Interesting eh! I was not part of that team because I am teaching "Monitor Work Safety", "Manage Meetings" and "Write Complex Documents" as part of the WA TAFE course being run here.

Anyway I just thought I would let you know of the latest developments.

Warren Williams

Last Saturday we caught up with Karen and Wade at the Bullfighter’s in Hangzhou. This has been one of our favourite haunts in the city as it’s close to Westlake and not far from the bus station. We have been firm converts of the steak but this weekend we were treated to fish on Wade’s recommendations and we all enjoyed our meal except Karen who chose the German pork. Tasteless she declared, so very un- Chinese and warned us all to stay away from it but we were only half listening as we made our way to the dessert tables. Okay away from the food, Jaya.

I couldn’t believe how great Karen looked, at least 20 years younger and after the compliments we all agreed that China could take the credit for us looking more beautiful and younger. We chatted about the move to the new premises at Springfield and the new agreements and initiatives that have arisen on this visit. So I’m looking forward to reaping the harvest of all the good seeds that Wade and Karen have planted here and back home. Lunch was a lazy 3 hours and after well wishing for the festive season we said our goodbyes.

But the visit was far from over for us. Michael had a meeting with a producer from the Dongpu theatre and we got tickets to the show that night. A definite must see and on your visit to Hangzhou, it’s just non stop action and worth every yuan. Before the theatre we took a taxi, traveling along the Westlake to the Lingyin Buddhist Temple and although Marie and I complained about the stairs it was decidedly worth the visit. Lots of pictures and some purchases later we reluctantly left, and went back to our rather nice room at the newly built section of the Mingtown Youth Hostel on Nanshan Road. Marie couldn’t continue without a cappuccino so we stopped at the café next door and had one which came with a delicious fruit and chocolate platter.

The next day we met a very nice young man who was just “hanging out” from uni, and after he had helped us find the wharf for the boats to Wuxi, decided to spend the day with us as he knew his way around, sort of, and he wanted the opportunity to practise his English. We went to Wulimen (booking office for the Xiaoshan Airport) to make some flight enquiries about HK and then we hit the Westlake tourist strip with a vengeance.

Going from the Zheijiang Museum to the Westlake museum (both free), the gardens, parks, shopping naturally!, to the Broken Bridge, to the statues, on the sightseeing bus (10 Yuan only), walking along the water and just having a grand old time. I was a bit miffed initially as I really was set on going to Wuxi, but the weekend was a definitive winner and I’m so glad we got a chance to see Wade and Karen in China.

This weekend invited to a Christmas party in Hangzhou on Saturday, day out with teacher from school who’s having a birthday on Sunday and then invited to the other’s school’s Christmas concert on Sunday evening and off to celebrate Christmas in Shanghai on Monday. Bring it on. Oh next week I’m hoping to do some traveling before returning to the Coast on the 4th . It’s been an incredible ride and looking forward to catching up with you all when I’m back in sunny Queensland.

Jaya