Post #117 12 February 2017

Gentlefolk,

We finally left China on Saturday 9 July 2016.  The last few weeks were a bit crazy with so many farewells. Vera did an incredible job organising the move, particularly the packing. She was exhausted by the end and glad to finally get on the plane out.

Here are photos of some of the people with whom we met in the last week.

Wu Qian and her son Alex.  She was my "Liaison Teacher" this last semester, and a great help.

Dinner with Liu Hong Fei(Carson) and Song Cai Yun. We met Carson in 2011 through Barbara Crammer. He was Vice Dean of English  at the Linyi Campus of Li Gong University.  Excellent spoken English. We met his daughter Liu Si Hui (Julie) who is doing a Masters in Special Education at University of Texas. Carson and Song Laoshi married recently (which we found interesting as Carson was a devout Christian while Song was a lecturer of Marxism; both now retired).

Vera having lunch with "Xiao Li".  She was from the US came to UPC learnt Chinese and is completing a degree in Petroleum Engineering. Amazing girl.

My favorite dish for lunch was Ma La Tang, prepared by Tao Cheng Yang. Great cook!

Dinner with Liu Li Na and her husband Dr Sun Gang Yun.  He was hoping to spend a year with this lady at UNSW, Duntroon.  But it didn't work out and in the end he went to a university in Scotland.

The manager of the Post Office on campus.  Vera got to know him, and he was very helpful in packing and dispatching our eight boxes to Canberra.  Fortunately Zhang Wei Shan helped by taking out boxes to the PO in his car.  It was a near-run thing, but luckily the Manager gave us special treatment (all parcels must be packed under his supervision).

On our last night in Huangdao, we were invited to dinner by Prof Liu Bao, his wife Wang Jun Hong, and friend Dr Shi Tian Ming (John).  We had many wonderful dinners with Prof Liu and his wife and their daughter Liu Si Qi. They were generous and kind to us, good friends.

Vera with Wang Jun Hong. 

Some of the dishes for dinner with Prof Liu at teh Blue Horizon Hotel. Always delicious. We'll miss Chinese food.

Finally the day of departure arrived; our last morning in Huangdao, Saturday 9 July 2017.  It started foggy, but then cleared up (see photo below).

The lovely view from our apartment, looking across Tang Dao Wan Bay. Started foggy, but then cleared for a last look at the gorgeous view. 

Group from the International Office came to say goodbye, from left: Jiang Da Sen (& his wife); Vera; Wu Ke Hua; Li Zhi Wei (Lena); Wang Ling (Olivia); me.

With Wu Ke Hua, Deputy Director of the International Office.  A most impressive lady. She was always very helpful to me.

We became friendly with a student, Li Zhi Wei (Lena). She was the girlfriend of Yu Ya Qi (Romulus) who was in one of my classes.  A few weeks later Lena went to London to do a Masters degree (majoring in art management).

Vera and Wang Ling (Olivia). She met us when we first arrived to work at UPC, way back in August 2009.  We became good friends. Olivia insisted on accompanying us to the airport to see us off.; she was there at the start of our China adventure, and  wanted to be there at the end too.

Another photo with Olivia.  She is a lovely person. We often had lunch or dinner with Olivia and her husband, Kong Ling Peng (David) either at a restaurant or at their apartment.  They have a cute daughter, Kong Yi Lin (Ella).

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Our teaching careers in China came to a close when we flew to Europe on 9 July 2016. We went on the direct Qingdao - Frankfurt flight by Lufthansa; left at 1pm and arrived in Frankfurt at 7pm the same day.

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Our stay in China has been a very worthwhile experience, but all good things come to an end eventually.  We’d already exceeded Shandong’s “5 Year Rule” (although the International Office offered to try to get an extension); but more importantly, I’ll turn 70 in August and we reckon that’s a good time to head back home.

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Well that's it for now folks.

Next I'm hoping to do posts on our time in Europe.

Keep well and keep smiling.

Alex & Vera Olah

Canberra, Australia

Sunday 12 February 2017