Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!!

How have you all adjusted to your new lives? I've enjoyed hearing some of your stories (see below). Some of you are really starting to enjoy your new lives, but some of you are really finding it hard and even boring. Of course, it is hard being away from your family and friends and working long days with only one day off to relax. I can't imagine just how hard you are all working. I really wish you all the best. Try not to give up, and keep positive about life and your future. There is so much that we can learn from our experiences working abroad. These lessons can make us better people. So ask yourself: What kind of person do I want to become?

By the way - it is not wrong to discover that you are maybe suited to something else and change jobs, move back home, or whatever. Whatever you do - do your best and become a person that you and others can respect, and find satisfaction in your work. Remember that people are more important than projects, and helping others can be more satisfying than helping yourself.

Well, it snowed recently in Beijing. It was very exciting for me, since it does not snow in my hometown and city. I really want it to snow on Christmas day, but I don't think it will. Oh well! Here is a picture of me in the streets of Beijing...

Next is a picture of me with my new students. They are from the oil company COSL. In this picture we are celebrating my birthday. They bought me a big nice cake. I felt so lucky! We ate lots of snacks and food, and we even watched a movie on a big screen. They put cream on my face! Yummy! I really enjoy teaching this new class, and we also have lots of fun together, just like we had! But I still miss the days when I taught you!

Next is a photo of Michelle and I in front of a big poster for a Dance/Musical Show called '42nd Street' from New York. It was held at the Beijing Exhibition Theatre. We really enjoyed it!

For Christmas we will have dinner and lunch with friends of ours, and also go to church ...and of course - open presents! But we will miss our family and friends from Australia.

I hope you all enjoy Christmas and the New Year... and let's look forward to Spring Festival!

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Robert, Class B.
20/12/07

Dear P-J,
How is everything going with you these days?
Someone gave me next year’s calendar just now, so I know time flies! We have been separated for nearly 3 months, and I miss you and the happy time we spent together so much!
It must be very cold in Beijing now, but it is summer here. Christmas is coming soon, and it is the first time my enjoying Christmas abroad. Now I have a question: How can Father Christmas come by a sleigh to Singapore since there is no snow in Singapore? HOHO
Wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Robert (as known as duck)
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Jason (Class B)
20/12/07


Thank you - you made a very lovely picture, it is very special. I give my best wishes to you. I think you are lucky - you will see white snow in Beijing, maybe you have! While in Singapore we have white sand on the beach.
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Ronda (Class C)
20/12/07


Hello,P-J & Michelle.

I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I hope that everything will go well in 2008. It's my first time to wear a T-shirt during Christmas time, so I think this is really strange and interesting. Best wishes! Ronda.

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Vivian (Class B)
20/12/07


Hi P-J, How are you? Thank you for your wishes! Hope you have a good CHRISTMAS! Recently, I moved to a new project, and there is no internet, so I can't contact you. I am fine. And my work is also fine, only a little busy. The weather here is very good. It’s not too hot or too cold.
I am already accustomed to life here. Lance and I get along very well, and because he takes care of me, everything is well. Time goes so fast! Hope you have a good time and enjoy your job. Give my best wishes to you. By the way, my spoken English has had great improvement; I can communicate with others very well - thank you P-J.

BEST WISHES!MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

YOURS, VIVIAN

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Benny (Class B)
20/12/07

Hey P-J
Merry Christmas!I am Benjamin (Benny) from class B - do you remember me? How are you?I was so happy when I received your email. But it was so late when I saw the letter and it was such a pity that I could not open the blog which you gave us. I left CECEC three months ago. I could not stand the hot weather in UAE and there were other reasons, but in a word, I left there and now I am in Shenzhen in a new company. I miss the days when we were in Beijing - we were so happy.If you go to Hong Kong, maybe you can visit me, I will be happy to see you again.Now everything is new for me. I must try my best to fit into the new company ,with new workmates and a new life. So wish me luck. Thank you!Ps: now I am in my office. I will send my photos the next time!Best wishes to you.

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Eric (Class B)
Hello P-J
I just bought a notebook last Sunday, and the system is Vista in English, It did not support Chinese at first, and all the software I brought from China couldn’t work on the system. It took me two days to work it out, and now I can finally free my hands to send you a message.

I have been in Singapore for almost two months, and I think it is a beautiful city. There are a lot of plants here, and trees, flowers and a lot of other strange plants. It is hard to say if this is a city in a park, or a park in a city. It is not too hot here, but if you stand in the sun, you will feel like you’ve been burnt. Thank god it is rainy season now, as every a few days, a small rain will bring a cool change to the weather, and the clouds will block the sunshine.

Now I am the Site Engineer in a site called DUCHESS AVE. I have to work outside. It is ok for me, because I can move around a lot, so I can keep a fit figure. You know, Scott’s very fat now because he gets little chance to move around so he’s getting a health complexion.

People here speak very strange English. Until now it still hard for me to follow them. I think it will take me some time to get familiar with Singlish.

Yours sincerely,
Eric
4/12/07
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Anna (Class C)

Today I'd like to show you some pictures - not of me, but of the project that our company here has undertaken: 'Palm Island'. They were taken during different periods of the construction. As you know - it is built in the sea, so there are photos of when they filled up the sea to become land. It is amazing! Also there are some photos about the famous hotel here - the seven star hotel. So if you want to have your vacation ,think about Dubai, aha...

Anna’s Photos:

http://picasaweb.google.com/leilusunshine/rhWmwB?authkey=loyp3pAkOhg

http://picasaweb.google.com/leilusunshine/ofExKE?authkey=rUZQFuPnzLg

http://picasaweb.google.com/leilusunshine/2?authkey=G5kZenklgFs

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Ok everyone, God bless!
Let's keep in touch!
From P-J

More updates from Class B and C!

11 Nov 2007,

Hi,P-J
I am Jason of Class C.

I have been in Singapore for one month. I miss you very much. Now I am fit for life in Singapore.
However, I cannot use the computer everyday. And there's no MSN on the computer.
So we have not been able to keep in touch with each other for such a long time.
Now I am a Site Engineer for our company. I am very proud of this.
Yours Sincerely
Jason
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Nov 2007,
Ronda, Class C

Hi,P-J,This is Ronda from Singapore^_^
I have been in this nice country for nearly one month, and I miss all the friends in Class B+C very much. During this short period, I have worked on 3 different sites!!!!! This makes me a little unhappy.Every time I just get used to being with my new co-workers, the company sends me to a new place. In spite of this, everything is ok. The food, the climate, the people and so on.
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2/11/07
Andy, Class C

Now I am in Dubai.
Now, Beijing must be a little cold, but here, when the sun has risen, it will be still very hot.
I work on the site, and it's very hard. I think I’m cheated here. Maybe at the beginning of my professional career it's not bad to do work like this. But sometimes I can't endure. I tried my best to communicate with my manager recently to change to another position, so maybe there will be a good chance of that happening. You can give me some suggestions. That would be appreciated.

Yours sincerely,
Andy 2/11/07
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David, Class C

Hi,P-J. This is David.
I have been in Singapore for more than twenty days. Everything is OK. I have read others’ letters in the blog, and they are all fine. The situation here is similar.
I just started to work in a new area later this week. Before that, maybe most of the things I did were the same - just reading a lot of shopdrawings and when I got tired , I would go out and have a look around the site, That was what I did in past three weeks.
Now, architectural work has started, I'm in charge of architecture, so my life is full and I’m starting to be busy. Our site manager told me there will be more than 100 sub-contractors coming. It's terrible, but I have some things to do and I could learn a lot.
I don't have a computer , and there isn’t one in my office. There is just a lot of shopdrawings. I can use my roommate's. He is working now. They have no weekend and I can just be free on Sundays. Now I should say, THANK GOD ITS SUNDAY!
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2/11/07
Anna, Class C

Dear P-J:
I just saw your blog. It almost makes me cry. It reminds me the great happiness we experienced when we were together in Beijing.
And also your photos in Xi'an, my hometown, the place I am dreaming of.

Some days later, I will try to send you my photos of Dubai – it has very beautiful beaches, and very exciting sand surfing! I just want to say that I miss you very much and cherish our English training class for ever!

Best Wishes!
Anna Lei ：）
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4/11/07
Vivian, Class B

When I go to the mall, I see a lot of beautiful children. I like them so much.

Vivian

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3/11/07

Robert, Class B

Dear P-J,
I am so glad to receive your invitation to the new blog, and I deeply appreciate your kindness for opening the new blog for us.
I have been here (Singapore) for more than 20 days. I work in the Tender Dept. Nicholas (as known as the lazy boy---by James) works in the same department with me. The work time is a little long, 9:00am to 7:00pm (1 hour for lunch). The job is new to me, but I try my best to do it well. These days, my boss has given me a lot of Tender Drawings. I read the drawings and try to count everything and give a cost listing of the buildings. Maybe for one or two years, I have to do this all the time. I never thought about it before. But I know to try everything in life is not a bad thing, right?
I have adapted myself to the weather and food now, so don't worry about me. Most of the things are as same as in the south of China. It is not cold here; actually I wear a shirt to my office. (I did not mean just one shirt, ok? HOHO) But I know it is really cold in north China now, so take care of yourself, do not catch a cold.
The Singapore people speaks strange English, it is hard to understand. But most of the time I can speak Chinese with the people here and actually their Chinese is strange too. It is so funny. Maybe for 2-years I will speak a strange English too, but do not worry - it is not your fault. You did a really good job teaching us English, and I can remember you once when I say the word ---usually.
Best wishes!
Robert

Hi Class B and C!

This is a new blog that I've started just for us!
It'll include photos and news from you and from me. I've been really happy to hear how many of you are going. Most of you are working very hard and very long days, but I know that you are all doing a great job. You can do it!!!

I have started working again - teaching English to employees of an oil company. I will also be teaching English to children. So I'm going to have a lot of fun.

I was starting to teach English at a University, but the salary was not very good so I stopped. So my life is once again full and I'm still loving China!

Here are some of the latest comments from you all:

Hi P-J
I am Hunter. I have been in singapore for 1 week,it is a beautiful country and everything is great. Now I do not have work passport but travel passport,so I do not have a phone yet, and I do not have computer in my office. Work is a little hard and the weather here is too hot, but I can get used to it. I miss you and James' English, I can understand what people saying here:)




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Dear sir
Write now wish you better and enjoy yourself very much in your previous holiday.
We arrived at Singapore on 9 th Oct. 5:45am. Then, we went to our PR department to have a medical test. At 12:00 we had a short meeting with our PR manager ,after that, we were picked up by drivers from different projects. Dick and me on the same project ,which was 4 blocks of 23 story apartments , also the second largest project of our company in Singapore under-construction.
Our accommodation is not too bad , with air-conditioner and automatic washing machine. The weather is a little hot, but the rainy season will come soon, may be last from November to December.
Through our PM. My work to be something relate to meeting report ,design, and so on . Yesterday morning ,I had a meeting together with my PM and a local consultant. Oh my god ,this guy spoke singlish . One do tree??? One two three.!!!
For we still wait for the work permit ion in Singapore. Maybe one week latter, we can get it, and then , I can buy cellular phone card to have a new phone number, at that time , I will send you E-mail or text message to you .
FROM ARON


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Dear P.J.
We have been in Singapore for several days .Everything is not bad .Now everyone is working in different project sites except Robert, Nicholas and I .We three are working in the office, not very far from the sea: Both of them are in the Tender Dept. and I’m in CCB.
Singapore is as beautiful as I’ve thought before .There trees and flowers everywhere, which make the climate comfortable. Unfortunately, Nicholas doesn’t think so.
The most difficult thing for us is the language because Singlish is too strange. Last week I attended a meeting. They have argued for nearly 2 hours and I didn’t catch anything! Oh my god! My confidence totally disappeared!
And the funniest thing we think is, when people are talking, they like to use a “compound”, which is made up of English words and Chinese words. For example, when they want to say “do you feel hungry”, they will say,” ni shi bu shi feel hungry la”. That’s crazy, isn’t it?
Maybe you have known that everyday we have to work until 7:00pm.so we all feel tired. And we really miss the time we shared with you and James in Beijing very much. The football match, the basketball match, the volleyball match, the ice creams……have become our best memories.
Are you still teaching in Beijing? Riding your bicycle to work? Are your parents having good time in China? It will be colder and colder in Beijing, please take care of yourself and “Michanghai”.
Best wishes.Yours,
Nicole

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Hi PJ,how are ya?How is your holiday?
It is nearly one to be in singapore,and I finally find a computer to send this email.
It is a really beautiful country.You can see trees and grasses everywhere and the air is much cleaner than in Beijing.However, it is too hot here and peole say English in a very strange way so I have to learn a new kind of English.SINGLISH!!
Yesterday we have a big party for the new engineers.The food is great and I have eaten a lot of nice crabs which are much bigger than I had tried before.
We live in a big box without window.It is totally dark when close the door,so watch is really nessecery.But it is very comfortable.
I will buy a camera after getting my first salary and then I can send you some pictures of my life here.
Wish you happy,
Yours, Joey 14.10.2007, class B

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P-J:
How are you ?
Singapore is a good place, you see, it is a garden city with different cultures, it's very beautiful. Sometimes we can't catch what they say ,especially Singlish! It is terrible for us to understand what they said!
All of us are seperated to different sitea . I am with Aron. A little lucky. haha!
I missed those days in Beijing! We were in the same class. So happy!
We can see English words everywhere but we can't understand what they say. What a pity! But what we said in English is very easy for them to understand!hehe
Do you miss us?hahaha
Usually!!!!!
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Dick
---------------------Hi P-J
How are you? I am in Singapore, and I have been working since I arrived in Singapore.

Singapore is a very beautiful city, it is very clean in the street, and the people are very polite.I like it very much. Now I am living on site with Kevin. Every day we need to work from 8:00AM till 7:00PM. Moreover, I need to be familiar with the Singapore English and study a lot of documents. Right now I have no time to take photoes, maybe some time later I will send you some beautiful photoes about Singapore.

Ivan
12 October 2007
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P-J,
I have downloaded the photos from your album, thank you for keeping them together. I have been in singapore for three days, but I just feel a little excited. The island is really very small, and hot. The weather in Beijing now is very cool or even cold. I just love that kind of weather. I will miss the family soon, but the actual fact is that I need at least one and a half year to live here before I go back.

One thing that makes me happy is that I can speak English without difficulity, though not good. I can say it as long as I want to say, which really makes me feel excited, maybe the enviroment is good, everyone can speak English, no matter bad or good, no matter much or little. I think this is due to that two monthes' trainning. So thank you very much.
I hope you and your wife can enjoy the life in Beijing. China is developing fast. I will expect to go back, I love China, I miss my hometown more than ever before.
Yours sincerely
Clark
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hello P-J:
In the past mid-autumn day ,we also have the party ,maybe not rout as beijing ,but we still very happy because we had met so many friends who had been separated after we arrived Dubai, and the most important thing was ,the company gave all of us 1000 RMB for the festival. haha~~~~gorgeous!!! The days now in Dubai no hot as before, a little like the spring in China , so it is comfortable to live at the moment, but the time here is a little boring ,because we don't have car, so we can go no where people living here alwaya drive the car average at 100km/h in city, amazing isn't it !!! That a unbelieveable speed in China , maybe in Australia also. Leo (Joey) Class C

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Dear PJ ,How are you? I reach Dubai for nearly one week. These days I am very busy.Dubai is not very hot at this time, so I think we are so lucky. I was assigned to a new project - my new job is project planning, It is very hard to me, but I think I will try my best to do it better.Lance and I are not in the same place to work, and are not live in the same place, I was with Emma together. There has so many beautiful villas and now ,my work place is near the sea and Arab Tower, I can see beautiful sea and villas. I think I will love it here
Vivian
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Right now I have moved to the office in the middle of the desert.It seems not as hard as I had imaged though outside of the office there ie nothing but sand.I enjoy the food here because the chefs are Chinese and I think I'm getting fat for the deliscious food.
Emma.
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FROM ME:


Since I said goodbye to you all in late September, Michelle my wife was able to get some time off, and we had a holiday with my parents. After about a week in Beijing, and seeing the Great Wall, we went with my parents to Xian - famous for the Terracotta Warriors.
We also climbed up Mt Huashan, one of the 5 sacred mountains in China, and also the most dangerous...but stunning, if you're not afraid of heights and long cable cars.
In Xian we also rode bikes around the city wall. It took us about 1.5 hrs to complete a full circuit of the city wall. We were very tired when we finished.

We also visited a park at night, and watch a water-screen movie. It was excellent.


We really enjoyed ourselves there.
Last weekend I went to Hong Kong to renew my Visa. It was my first time to Hong Kong. I also meet my parents there. It was a short trip but a good one! HK is very interesting - quite different from China.

So - until next time,
Work hard - play harder!

P-J