And so we were, arrived at the end of our journey in the middle. At least the Chinese call themselves so, the middle country, Midlands people. That's honest. Each has egozentrisitsche but their world view. Just as the New Zealanders the world map with the Pacific Ocean in the middle of the South Pole to draw or above (refer to Australia and in extreme cases, in addition to its North and South Island as their "West Island").
China welcomed with open arms and not the heart to the lips. It was closed on the one hand but also very friendly to us. From Hong Kong to China, we went easy with the subway. Then we showed her our visa (because we did not need yet for Hong Kong) and were there. Somehow we all had a bit of respect for China. Jeremy was on his travels found 20 years ago, it is a very difficult country to visit. Wait days for train tickets, no communication, an Excluded and exposure. I was suddenly faced with the challenge on my Chinese living subject try. Because in Hong Kong they speak Cantonese and write the old traditional characters, which I have not learned. Yet Hong Kong was a good start, because everything is bilingual. And the "simple" traditional characters have not changed apparently, because I've realized that. But I have - despite good intentions - not of course in New Zealand started to repeat my knowledge, let to deepen and because I faced a steep learning or Verzweifelkurve. And this uncertainty has certainly helped that we were cut on our first bus ride over the ear and three times the normal price paid. Just across the border was the bus station. And the way a man conducts us into it for sure in a small business in advance and sold us the overpriced tickets. In China it is not uncommon that one may only enter with tickets and the station will be on sale somewhere completely different. But as we were then put into a taxi and brought across the city bus to a very different course we were all clear. I was pissed at me, I saw through this was not much earlier had. But the loss of € 30 was nevertheless not as high for a lesson in sustainable care. Because the bus was quick and clean and the bus conductress (something is standard practice) on the phone with my contact person should pick us to ensure that we are thrown out at the correct intersection. Our first stop in China was an organic farm in Yangcun, which we did not know more than how we get there. And it worked great. 10 minutes after our arrival at a crossroads in a miserable Vorstadtwueste holds a car and sit in there a funny Miss Wu and a taciturn Mr. Wu. Miss Wu is an English teacher, helping Mr. Wu, whenever, the international guests. Because Mr. Wu can not speak English. He is the manager of the farm in the We will now work for a week. And the two Wu's are used or not in league. But he calls her "big sister" because of the similarity of names. The terms "sister" and "brother" is used here in general a bit looser. Otherwise, they would also die out in a Einkindsystem yes.
The farm was sold straight to a man from Taiwan. So everything is a bit in limbo. Basically, it consists of fields but whose fruits are destined for sale, and where the time mainly watermelon matures, a lot of vegetables largely for local consumption, fish pond, a few geese, goats, cows and dogs. There are house dogs that prowl incredibly calm around us and the dogs for meat production, which are locked in a cage and barking frightening when one is in the vicinity. The manure of the animals used in the fields, but the flesh is intended only for local consumption. And local means that people who work here and all are somehow allied or known. It seems to be a very open company. Miss Wu, for example, has become such a "friend of the farm" developed. She comes out almost every day, grows her own vegetables, helping with a little bit and bring their friends and family around her to spend a "day in the country." Others come and go, sat down in front of the TV (set up under the roof but in the open air, which here runs nearly always) chat with the boss, smoking, drinking tea. And if something is slaughtered, everyone takes a plastic bag full of meat. Or fish they get out of the pond with nets or what degree of ripening vegetables.
No one who lives on a farm and works - a little 5 people - speak English and so my language skills required. Yes, I've tested it. And it worked every now and then. But with hands and feet, I am progressed. This is mainly due to the different pronunciation of many words in the different regions. And my Austrian ears, I think. Jeremy, who has indeed used only the hand and was Fußsprache, typically as successful as I have to agree. We got a nice room with two beds, the bathroom was such a room with two Wasserkuebeln and made the evening was hot water in the kitchen at the low earthen wood stove with two large and one could provide Wokausnehmungen from there with a ladle. It was a very simple, peaceful life. Everyday, I'm only on the fields, animals and gone home. Our main job was to weed is a weed. Every day a new flower bed. At the vile, the cuttings of bougainvillea. Prickly stuff. Caspar and Quentin have helped a little bit, but we always turn helped to longer breaks. Quentin is like to have migrated towards tomato sauce. Quite clear why. But he has again received no diarrhea. The child is a Essphänomen. The food was cooked and eaten together. Rice three times a day: breakfast, lunch, dinner - with Gemuesebeilagen, meat, fish, beetles ... The side dishes were made with the chopsticks, from the pots and, after a stopover in the individual rice bowls then consumed. We ate in our later stops just until we have found that have been used elsewhere also serving utensils (chopsticks). We have here the rural nature of the common interests met. Quentin has tried everything, even the bugs and made himself popular with "more fish" Call the company at table. Caspar ate three times a week daily white rice without anything. On the third day, he found that it is a bit boring, but he has kept it. A different kind of Essphänomen
is the handling of the animals seemed pretty rough. Since a calf was dragged around so roughly that it had to be slaughtered with a neck injury after two days. A baby goat, which was allowed to drink their mom does not like (it was their first child) should just die. I've taken her, as she has raised quite dehydrated with diarrhea hardly the mouth and with homeopathy and breast milk by pipette hammer out. After two days of care she was able to drink himself to the mother. Somehow I had the feeling that the man who is the Takes care of animals - although generally very nice, just had no tolerance for breastfeeding problems. I've been through it myself and can understand Mama goat good. I have handed over the further care of baby goat, then the manager and he rewarded my pipette. But probably baby goat now, long since been consumed locally. I do not want to know.
Yancun After we took the bus to Gongzhou, a huge city, been able to gain any guide or traveler much. We have bought a train ticket and only have the day to exit in a very funny district spent, be photographed at every street corner where young couples in wedding attire. The night train to Guilin was then relaxed than expected. However, the wait was on the train rather interesting. With purchased ticket may be in the station and on the scoreboard as the waiting room, where one is assigned. Knackevoll is, there is nothing to do and see, fighting my wild boys and developed a circle around us Chinese viewers. The embarrassment will end only when the doors finally open and we can out on the Bahsteig. But then we have to go up and down stairs, underpasses along to the actual platform. All run, carry suitcases and children. A handicapped person would have no chance. We are, however, the train, we find two beds in a six compartment as in local trains only, without doors to the aisle, so to speak in a bunk. With the bags and backpacks on the floor for Liegeflaechenvergrösserung has always worked out and we arrived in Guilin recovered relatively early in the morning. Guilin is a tourist city in the karst mountains. We have eaten there a very good stuffed Germknödel, strange drink soy milk, visited a monastery, a limestone hill climb and were often almost run over by scooters. Who are here in fact almost all the electric and so quiet. Later we went by bus to Yangshou, a small town where we were expected for a week to teach English. Also about WWOOF found, although not at all agricultural, but the Chinese WWOOF has I think only 3 or 4 farms at all.
We were met again and were nice to begin with our work. It was a private English colleague, where the evening very informal conversation units (free beer) will be paid by "real" foreigners passing through. But these foreigners get board and lodging and have the whole day free to look around the area. And that is absolutely terrific. We were much too short to live there at all. Karst mountains and Karsthoehlen, mud baths, boat trips. We have only one day borrowed wheels (wired child seats of bamboo on the Packelträger) but this was very fine. Unforgettable our balloon ride. A small woven basket in which we grade four and the driver's side by side could stand (of all things just because others are taking Quentin and Caspar altitude areas), a lot of heat about the head and no safety. It
nobody (and nothing) is dropped, Caspar has married after half an hour but looking over the edge - and noted that he felt himself as funny as safe and it was a magical evening.
The colleague's life was very pleasant. Caspar also became an assistant teacher to let Chinese chess and teach improved from the students in their pronunciation. He was often gone all night. Quentin's conversations were a little non-verbal - though I am certain that he was fully aware of Chinese words adopted. (Why he called himself suddenly and to this day "wawa" which in Chinese means "Baby"?) The evening chat was very informative for us, nowhere else have we done as open discussions with the Chinese. Great recommendation.
weekend there is always an organized trip, and went to our week of Longsheng in the unreal world of the 1000 year old rice terraces. A fierce two-day hike on small stone paths, management with muscle power and horses as ever, an independent culture, a fascinating landscape and a wonderful night under the full moon. A wonderful adventure, very tiring.
Yangshou was much too short, but we had to travel southbound. And we did a night bus. He had one above the other three rows of bunk beds stacked chairs (left, center, right) and these were then also (it was almost with higher head to the feet of the rear end) and a total far too short for the likes of us. If we had bought two and then lay still on the floor next to it, but it was a horror night. Twice was stopped for hours for repair and I was suffering from diarrhea, my well-being has not helped. So we came to Zhuhai, just north of Macao. We had met a nice family (he Australian, they Chinese, daughter Papaya in Caspar's age), the bus station where we picked up and housed two days. What I then still the most memorable is the futile attempt in a restaurant to order something without meat (I've actually tried three ways to explain - even the embarrassing with the animal noises). My Chinese really need to be deepened. Then it went
by ferry from Macau back to Hong Kong. On arrival we were filmed by cameras and heat the sleeping Quentin measured the temperature to ensure that we mithereinschleppen not swine flu. Hong Kong is a very close look. It had to be filled with health note exactly where and who. On our flight to England the next day was all care less and not an issue.
The night we spent at the airport. For all an experience. Caspar and I made ourselves comfortable on a chair series I have eyes and ears protection, but of course we still slept little. But Quentin - a night bird like his father - has persevered to three I think in the morning until he finally tilts away in Wagerl. Not so bad because he has so long on the day flight to London then I slept a lot and is always pleasant for us. Yes, and so we arrived back in Europe. Heathrow cold dirty, expensive buses - but Jeremy was home.
is the handling of the animals seemed pretty rough. Since a calf was dragged around so roughly that it had to be slaughtered with a neck injury after two days. A baby goat, which was allowed to drink their mom does not like (it was their first child) should just die. I've taken her, as she has raised quite dehydrated with diarrhea hardly the mouth and with homeopathy and breast milk by pipette hammer out. After two days of care she was able to drink himself to the mother. Somehow I had the feeling that the man who is the Takes care of animals - although generally very nice, just had no tolerance for breastfeeding problems. I've been through it myself and can understand Mama goat good. I have handed over the further care of baby goat, then the manager and he rewarded my pipette. But probably baby goat now, long since been consumed locally. I do not want to know.
Yancun After we took the bus to Gongzhou, a huge city, been able to gain any guide or traveler much. We have bought a train ticket and only have the day to exit in a very funny district spent, be photographed at every street corner where young couples in wedding attire. The night train to Guilin was then relaxed than expected. However, the wait was on the train rather interesting. With purchased ticket may be in the station and on the scoreboard as the waiting room, where one is assigned. Knackevoll is, there is nothing to do and see, fighting my wild boys and developed a circle around us Chinese viewers. The embarrassment will end only when the doors finally open and we can out on the Bahsteig. But then we have to go up and down stairs, underpasses along to the actual platform. All run, carry suitcases and children. A handicapped person would have no chance. We are, however, the train, we find two beds in a six compartment as in local trains only, without doors to the aisle, so to speak in a bunk. With the bags and backpacks on the floor for Liegeflaechenvergrösserung has always worked out and we arrived in Guilin recovered relatively early in the morning. Guilin is a tourist city in the karst mountains. We have eaten there a very good stuffed Germknödel, strange drink soy milk, visited a monastery, a limestone hill climb and were often almost run over by scooters. Who are here in fact almost all the electric and so quiet. Later we went by bus to Yangshou, a small town where we were expected for a week to teach English. Also about WWOOF found, although not at all agricultural, but the Chinese WWOOF has I think only 3 or 4 farms at all.
We were met again and were nice to begin with our work. It was a private English colleague, where the evening very informal conversation units (free beer) will be paid by "real" foreigners passing through. But these foreigners get board and lodging and have the whole day free to look around the area. And that is absolutely terrific. We were much too short to live there at all. Karst mountains and Karsthoehlen, mud baths, boat trips. We have only one day borrowed wheels (wired child seats of bamboo on the Packelträger) but this was very fine. Unforgettable our balloon ride. A small woven basket in which we grade four and the driver's side by side could stand (of all things just because others are taking Quentin and Caspar altitude areas), a lot of heat about the head and no safety. It
nobody (and nothing) is dropped, Caspar has married after half an hour but looking over the edge - and noted that he felt himself as funny as safe and it was a magical evening.
The colleague's life was very pleasant. Caspar also became an assistant teacher to let Chinese chess and teach improved from the students in their pronunciation. He was often gone all night. Quentin's conversations were a little non-verbal - though I am certain that he was fully aware of Chinese words adopted. (Why he called himself suddenly and to this day "wawa" which in Chinese means "Baby"?) The evening chat was very informative for us, nowhere else have we done as open discussions with the Chinese. Great recommendation.
weekend there is always an organized trip, and went to our week of Longsheng in the unreal world of the 1000 year old rice terraces. A fierce two-day hike on small stone paths, management with muscle power and horses as ever, an independent culture, a fascinating landscape and a wonderful night under the full moon. A wonderful adventure, very tiring.
Yangshou was much too short, but we had to travel southbound. And we did a night bus. He had one above the other three rows of bunk beds stacked chairs (left, center, right) and these were then also (it was almost with higher head to the feet of the rear end) and a total far too short for the likes of us. If we had bought two and then lay still on the floor next to it, but it was a horror night. Twice was stopped for hours for repair and I was suffering from diarrhea, my well-being has not helped. So we came to Zhuhai, just north of Macao. We had met a nice family (he Australian, they Chinese, daughter Papaya in Caspar's age), the bus station where we picked up and housed two days. What I then still the most memorable is the futile attempt in a restaurant to order something without meat (I've actually tried three ways to explain - even the embarrassing with the animal noises). My Chinese really need to be deepened. Then it went
by ferry from Macau back to Hong Kong. On arrival we were filmed by cameras and heat the sleeping Quentin measured the temperature to ensure that we mithereinschleppen not swine flu. Hong Kong is a very close look. It had to be filled with health note exactly where and who. On our flight to England the next day was all care less and not an issue.
The night we spent at the airport. For all an experience. Caspar and I made ourselves comfortable on a chair series I have eyes and ears protection, but of course we still slept little. But Quentin - a night bird like his father - has persevered to three I think in the morning until he finally tilts away in Wagerl. Not so bad because he has so long on the day flight to London then I slept a lot and is always pleasant for us. Yes, and so we arrived back in Europe. Heathrow cold dirty, expensive buses - but Jeremy was home.