HeyHey and a Big G'Day Toya,
 
As it is exam time here in China our weekend was changed to today and Friday to allow most of our teachers to help out at other Middle and High Schools. Most students in Shaowu and many parts of China had yesterday, today and tomorrow off. This is to allow complete quiet for the senior middle and senior high school students during their exam. For these students, these exams determine their future. For the middle school students it determines what high school they can go to and for the high school students it determines what university they can attend.
 
We have the same in our countries I hear you saying.
There is a huge, and I mean huge difference.
 
With 1.4 billions people in one country and many of them being middle and high school students all fighting for spots in high schools and universities you have major life changing exams. If you miss out on the university you need to attend to become 'something' then most of the time you will have to change your career choice. As far as I know it is that life determining. I know several Chinese teachers who never wanted to be teachers yet their high school exam score was not high enough for the university they needed to attend and they were sent to teachers college and now they face a life of teaching in small country towns.
 
For some it will be impossible to change this and their future will remain as it is.
We can save money, return to university or simply change to a field of employment we find ourselves happier in.
Sadly here in China, for most this is impossible.
Oh and it gets worse. On the 19th of this month my grade six students will sit their middle school entrance exam which of course will determine what middle school they can attent therefore beginning their life of higher schooling. Sadly, get a low score in the middle school entrance exam will put you at at lower end of the field after you have sat the high school entrance as I believe students from 'better' school will be accepted before you. A real bugger!
 
This is why each day I wake up so thankful for the life I lead now and have always led.
 
Anyhow, enough of that...guess where I went to day?
Germany?
No, back to the Ancient Village of Heping.
Back to the Ancient Village of Heping! AGAIN!
Yes back to the Ancient Village of Heping!
 
Since seeing the photos on my blog, Martin and Georgia have wanted to visit the village so last night during another big card night with them and beautiful Joyce we decided it was time to head to Heping Village. For me it was my third visit and this will be my third entry so the photos I have posted are not of the ancient buildings but more of the daily life as we wound our way through the tiny moss covered back alleys.
 
Thankfully for us the rain held out until our return.
 
Poor Martin and Georgia got their first 'real' taste of what catching a bus is like here in China. I'm so used to it I didn't even think to tell them. Simply put, a forty minute journey takes one and a half to two hours. Why? Most of the time it's due to poor ticket sales at the bus station. What usually happens is after leaving the bus station the driver will then snail his way up the road collecting people as he goes. If still not full he will return to the bus station and snail his way up the road again and again until the bus is full.
 
Or, if he doesn't want to drive he'll just sit on the side of the road until full.
I'd prefer the slow driving as this then allows a breeze through the windows which is well needed here in the humid south.
Or, like on our return journey we just stopped, the bus driver and his buddy got out and ran up the road to a building site.
 
They returned about fifteen minutes later to then just squat and talk on the other side of the road until another bus stopped. They then moved a bewildered half a bus load of people onto the other bus and we soon drove the last five minutes of our journey back to Shaowu. Get off the bus while you wait you say. Usually not a good idea. When you get back on you'll most probably find your seat has been given to another  'thing', be it a chicken, sack of watermelons etc. There is not too much you can do about it. Sometimes the 'thing' will be moved and sometimes it won't be, thus leaving you standing in the isle.
 
I tried to explain the patience they are going to need whilst back packing off the tourist trail to the Aussie's and I think they understand what is needed. It is a huge test in patience and flexibility believe me!
 
That's it from me, nothing more to report except the fact that the wet season is still here and is showing no signs of leaving!
A real bugger for me and my bike!
 
Beers N Noodles to you..shane
 
The soundtrack to this entry was by a band called Alice in Chains
The album was their awesome 'Dirt'.