Canadian Thanksgiving Day 5:34 AM

 No rest for the wicked.

A silver dollar that is made of nickel.

Don't say: 'That person gets on my nerves.' Think: ‘That person sanctifies me.'

Erickson

 It’s cold.

I posted this on WeChat & got funny responses.

I was called Laowai!

 It was not uncommon for me in China to be called Laowai 老外 or overhear locals referring to me as 老外。 I could tell stories about this but I won’t.

I can remember walking down the street in Wuxi, seeing a vehicle pass by and heard the passengers saying 老外。

Other times, I would walk pass a group of local kids and they would jump up and down, and scream 老外!

I’d walk into a mom and pa shop in China and hear the proprietors exclaim 老外!

Today, I walked into one of Brandon’s many Asian grocery stores, and a Chinese customer saw me and said 老外 to that store’s proprietor.  I said: wait a minute! This isn’t China!

Pineapple Beer

 Happily, I can buy this in Canada.  It was my non-alcoholic beverage of choice in China.

Thursday 5:28 AM: October Day

 It’s October Day.  October 1 is Chinese National Day (国庆节, Guóqìng Jié.  In China, October 1–7 is traditionally the “Golden Week” (黄金周) holiday period, with large numbers of people travelling and visiting family.

I’ll be busy today. Five online classes this morning.  Subbing this aft.  Three online classes tonight.

Someone needs to be fed this morning.

She screamed like a Banshee this morning. Smooch, that is.

The October quest has started.

中秋节

 Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋节 / Zhōngqiū Jié).

I happened to catch wind of this being so on WeChat.

50 years ago today

 Mao Zedong, aka Chairman Mao died.

Where was I on September 8, 1976?  Did I recall where I was when I heard the news?  Vaguely. I believe I was in Shilo.

In my time in China, I wondered what Chairman Mao would have thought of the new China.  Would he have despised it capitalism? Would he have admired its increase in status?

Many Chinese can remember where they were when they heard the news.

Back in Brandon with some Milestones to Proclaim!

 6,666 likes on WeChat Channels.

Seen at the Sobey’s Check Out

 

Flooding in Wuxi, China

 My number one, my goto social media app is still WeChat.   That is because I have four North American apps that I use (X, Discord, Facebook & What’s App) that divide my attention. 

Thanks to WeChat, I look with fear at the flooding that’s happening in Wuxi, my old stomping grounds.  From my understanding, the floods haven’t particularly affected the Hui Shan district where our apartment is.

But this is not an uncommon thing in Wuxi:

Workspace

 I’m in my Dad’s old basement study and furnace room. I’m waiting for students to book me.  Come on!!!

Said one of my students:  - Andis es muy agradable y simpático. Ha sido una clase muy entretenida English

Someone I follow on WeChat channels;

Her signature lyrics: Money Money come to me! Dollar Euro RMB!

Saturday 6:21 AM

 

Happy August Day!

Happy People’s Liberation Army Day!

2376

 I’m sitting in the basement, waiting for a Twenix class.  I’ve had one already this morning. I learned about the famous football academy in Barcelona and the Catalan custom of human towers:

Why can’t they do this in Brandon?

The Red Lion Bar in Wuxi is experiencing drama.  The Australian founders say they were pushed out; the Chinese partners say the Ozzies left with all the money.

Big news from Wuxi for Wuxi Expats

 My son had his first job there.

I spent many an evening there.

I suppose it had to come to an end some time.  Stewart, I believe, had no intention of spending his last days in China.

Found this book in a Brandon Thrift Shop

 Only cost me two CAD.

Chinese Head Tax Monument at the Brandon Cemetery

 It’s located on the other side of the cemetery from where my Dad rests.

The plaques give some details:

Turning around, Dad is in this direction:

Friday 4:01 PM

 I wanted Egypt to beat Australia.

I want Morocco to beat Canada.  I talked to someone with Moroccan connections this morning.

Ray Pero and Chairman Xi:

  

He is not poor that not hath much, but he that craves much.

Less Democracy

Tuesday 7:25 AM

 A lot happening.

There was all the rain yesterday.

There were those World Cup games.

The people I was teaching to and I was teaching English with had a rupture, overnight my time.  I learned about it this morning from one side.  Now, I have to hear the other side of the story.  I’m stuck in the middle again….

Friday 6:05 AM

 Oh boy! It’s Friday.

Xi Jing Ping.

I just saw a squirrel running on telephone wire between the phones.

PFK?

 Poulet Frite Kentucky.