Terrible Sight

Mon, 25 May 2009 08:24 EST

Two weekends ago I was walking down the street when I noticed a crowd of people looking up at the side of a hotel not far from mine. Then I noticed two police cars and one ambulance. So since everyone else standing there was looking up, I looked up as I got nearer. All I could see was an open window. My only thought was that someone was trying to jump. So since I didn't see anything, I started walking away when someone tapped me on the shoulder and pointed up the driveway a little bit. There on the cement was a man's body, blood everywhere. They were just starting to cover his body with a cloth of some type.

I walked away but as I did, I turned around to notice the crowd was getting bigger with people just standing and staring at the lifeless body and the blood on the driveway. Some of them even had small children with them and were pointing out the body to the children. This I couldn't believe. If I had a child with me, I would have covered his/her eyes so as not to see this. I can't imagine the effect this sight must have had on a child's mind.

It's always so sad when someone takes their own life. They seem to think that this is a way to end their hardships or misery. They don't realize the effect this will have on others in their lives, their family, their friends, etc. Suicide has a terrible effect on so many people.

I just hope I never have to witness such a thing again.

I'm Changing Jobs

Fri, 15 May 2009 00:26 EST

After four years and working in two large modern hotels in Xi'an, I have decided it is time for me to move on.

I was offered a teaching position at Xi'an International Studies University. I accepted it. So, hopefully, on September 1st, I will begin teaching classes there. Since I have been in Xi'an for this long, and I know the city better than most natives, I was asked to be a member of the faculty in the "tourism and travel" college. I think that is going to be so interesting and so much fun.

I know I will enjoy the new environment. I was a teacher at home and really do enjoy teaching so my days are busy with preparing all the necessary paperwork for it now. The university has been very helpful with this. I would love to have it all done before I go home to California this summer. My contract is over at the hotel on June 25th, so I want to have all my visa paperwork finished by then. It gives me a month to do this.

I have already met many students, past and present, who have attended this university and they have all praised it. They all seem to have such a good grasp of English, which is so helpful to me. However, I am hoping I can squeeze in some time at the university to be able to improve my terrible Chinese. Perhaps I can even take a few courses myself. That would be optimum.

So I have a wonderful experience to look forward to. I love this city, it has become my second home. I have so many friends and such a wonderful Chinese family now. I'm a very lucky man.

roninxian的主页

Terrible Sight

I'm Changing Jobs