HALLELUJAH!

Free at last, we are free at last! ; )

We finished our TESOL certification courses on Friday 9/28, and the end couldn't have come soon enough. The course, originally designed as a two month course, crammed everything in to one month and back-loaded the most work in to the last week. On top of this, we were still trying to settle what jobs we take. We are not complaining entirely, as we are very happy to have finished and gotten our certifications and should know what jobs that we will start (and when) this week!

Unfortunately, so much has happened that it will not be possible to tell everything. This is greatly because we can not view our own blog (it's on one of the sites blocked here) and can't exactly remember what we last talked about! But, we'll tell what we can...

Again, the last couple of weeks of the course were quite intensive. We went to several schools, and did get a chance to shoot some photos of the urchins that were mobbing us and demanding autographs with out pens and paper! When we get a chance (we swear it will be soon now), we'll put some of these pictures on this blog. We also spent our 2nd anniversary on 9/25 without the chance to actually celebrate as a couple. Our classmates were extremely kind and generous, though and treated us to an improptue dinner nearby. It really was unfortunate that many things had to be put on hold in September for this, but it was a necessity for our future job prospects.

Marie was wise enough to get a couple of what equates to $3/hour USD deep tissue massages at the nearby salon. The blind women are apparently very good as their tactile senses are much better. Marie was experiencing sever migrane headaches, and we were nervous that it would be hard for her to finish the course as the pain lasted the entire last week of the program. But, luckily when she went to get her massage, she was told that this pain was being caused by her sleep position. After the massage, and a better pillow being used, she was much better off.

Jon went on the last day of the course for a bushwhacking of his "Fro" that was out of control. Luckily, our friend Jen from the course speaks Chinese, and was able to direct how this cut would occur. Marie and Jon each had an almost hour-long scalp and basic body massage, shampooing, Marie's hairdrying, and Jon's haircut at this nice salon for the equivalent of around $6.50. As usual, tipping is not allowed. It is so strange to see the custom of tipping be absent. While at the salon, there was a ridiculously inappropriate song from the 80's, redone by a Chinese group, by 2 Live Crew playing in the background. As is the case with all of the nonsensical English signs and t-shirts that everyone wears, people do not understand what they are hearing. In fact, ironically, for all those familiar with the "Numa-Numa" song that is danced to by a fat kid on the popular Web video, we saw a huge group of Chinese kids performing a dance for a large crowd to this song done in Chinese. Between this, and the huge impromptu dancers and Tai-Chi participants in the cultural plaza in front of this school, we are always surrealistically entertained!

At the end of the course, there was a group dinner at a gigantic floating restaurant at the end of a pier on the sea next to the city. We had all sorts of exotic (Jon is still getting a little more used to eating chicken feet, though still not his favorite) food, and drink while in the middle of the restaurant expensive art was being auctioned off, by a couple of Asian "Vanna Whites" and a "Pat Sajack" to anyone eating there who wanted it. The paintings started from around $75 USD to $3000. Marie was intrigued by a gigantic couple of cod fish at the front in a tank. their mouths, when open, exposed their ribs. They looked ancient. Jon was concerned that they would be dinner, but apparently (hopefully) they are only for show.

After the course ended, Jon and Marie celebrated with friends, and Jon of course stayed out too late while Marie wisely rested. A local said that Haizhu beer (local brew -Zhuhai reversed) was the best, but it is quite similar to Tsingtao in many ways. All Chinese beers seem to be lighter ales, rather than dark lagers.

It was sad to say goodbye to the new friends that we have made on this course. We really do hope to be able to see many of them in the future, though we will all be scattered across the China. We really hope to see Jen again; not only is she one of the greatest people we have met, but it'd be nice to visit her as she's moving back to Fiji! : P

On Saturday night, we took a cruise with a couple hundred Chinese students from GLV (our school where TEFL is housed) on the water between Macao and Zhuhai to watch an International Fireworks competition. It was the last day of a several day contest, and the US and Japan were competing that day. We have no idea who won, but the fireworks were amazing! There was cabin entertainment by a Chinese girl singing English pop songs, another girl doing amazing hula hoop tricks, and a man showing the kids how to do card tricks. Macao, with its huge casinos, lights, and impressive skyline was something to behold. Unfortunately, most of the Chinese, or at least most that don't hold high positions with the government, have a very hard time obtaining Visas to visit Macao. This is a shame, but also may not be the worst thing for them as many think that they can go to casinos and become rich. Their naivite would cost them a fortune. The government seems to recognize this, but those pouring money in to Macao's gambling infrastructure are working hard to change this.

Macao is a former Portuguese colony. It was handed back to China by Portugal in 1999, like Hong Kong was by the British in 1997. It is a Special Administrative Region (SAR) like Hong Kong, and therefore, though it belongs to China, has a border and customs that must be crossed when going between Macao and the mainland. It is a chain of 3 islands, where the Northermost one is entered from the Zhuhai-Macao border, and there are casinos and beaches on parts of the Southern sides. It is small compared to Hong Kong, but still has a unique flare because of the Portuguese influence.

We went early Sunday morning to Macao, knowing that we would possibly not have another chance to do so before leaving for our jobs very soon. So, without planning, and not much of a guide (and no translator) we were taken to the border (20 minutes away by bus) by a Chinese kid from a Vocational school nearby. He has become a friend of our friend Perry, who is Cantonese himself, and he actually had his brother take us. We told him that this was not necessary, but the Chinese here that we have met will not let us pay for meals when with them, nor refuse favors. This is actually insulting if refused too much. He actually wants us to meet his parents because he has told them of us all. We hope to be able to do this before we leave.

When we got to the border before 9 AM, we had a short form to fill out to leave the mainland, and another brief form before arriving in Macao. It was very easy, though the border can easily be crossed by between .5 to almost 1 million people daily, so it is of course crowded. Once there, we exchanged our Chinese Yuan currency for Macao Patacas. The currencies are almost equivalent in value. We wandered the immediate area looking fro breakfast, and only saw dim sum places that sold fish and dumpling breakfasts. We were not, at the time, in the mood for that, so were told that we should go to McDonald's for breakfast. Not having gone there in a very long time, we decided to get breakfast there. It was the same as what we would get in the States (McMuffin, has browns, etc) and as always, more expensive than most local places. They do sell a "Shogun Burger" that is a pork bbq sandwich, and KFC does too with different kinds of desserts like Tarot Pie, but otherwise the menu is pretty similar to the West. There was a Birthday Party going on upstairs, and kids were playing all around in the little tyke jungle gym area. They were quite loud and animated, and very cute. It was unique to see a Western style bathroom, but we soon realized that this is standard in Macao.

We took a bus to the Sands Casino, where Marie won a free keychain with her complimentary spin of the roulette wheel. That was the extent of the "gambling" that we would do during our day. We then took a bus from Sands to the Venetian, the $3 billion casino being built by the owne of the Bellagion in Vegas. The Venetian is still being built, and many stores and restaurants have not yet opened. But, even still it is enormous, with a gigantic indoor Venetian replica canal that when filled will feature gondola rides for about $20 a person around the entire casino. It has all of the designer stores, multinational restaurants, and to Marie's delight expensive jewelry and Starbucks. The size of the casino is overwhelming. Even the facade is amazing, as it greatly resembles a Venetian temple.

When we left, we took a bus back to the border, and then another to an area called Sao Maolom or the Seaside. On the way, there was some sort of huge contingent of thousands of people blocking traffic on scooters. Traffic stopped for over a half hour, so the sardine packed bus we were on cleared out. We stayed on until we got to our destination.

The place was authentic Macao, as it looked just like Lison, with a tiled square, churches, ruins, hills, many steps and a battery fort at the top of the hill with cannon. We ate at a Portuguese cafe, and quite enjoyed having real bread. This was the best part of the day, and showed what real Macao is like. There were Portuguese people, and mixed people who spoke Portuguese.

The gambling industry is trying to push Macao to become the Vegas of Asia. It has not so far cleaned up the rest of the city, and we hope that it does not completely kill off the old Portuguese parts and feel to the place. When we left, we were glad to be across the border before it closed at midnight!

Today is National Day, October 1st. People are eating moon cakes and visiting family. It is 58 years since Mao and the Communists prevailed and sent the Nationalists packing to Taiwan. We will see what is still open to visit. We will be updating again soon with job news and pix. Until then, take care!

-Jon and Marie