Introductions

Howdy folks,

My name is Joe.

I am a 54-year-old complete newbie, greenhorn, wanker who is off to Jining, Shandong, to "facilitate" the speaking of English in a McSchool that nobody has ever heard of in a city that isn't listed in Lonely Planet which allegedly has the charm of Akron, Ohio.

My only goals are to eat dumplings and teach schoolchildren the song "Rickety Tickety Tin".

Howdy folks,

My name is Joe.

I am a 54-year-old complete newbie, greenhorn, wanker who is off to Jining, Shandong, to "facilitate" the speaking of English in a McSchool that nobody has ever heard of in a city that isn't listed in Lonely Planet which allegedly has the charm of Akron, Ohio.

My only goals are to eat dumplings and teach schoolchildren the song "Rickety Tickety Tin".

What! No drinking of the rocket fuel? No bagels for you!!!


But welcome anyways and good luck. Good job on keeping your standards low, you'll fit right in here

Welcome Joe. When do you take the big leap?

Hello, Joe.  Welcome to the Funny Farm Saloon

Tinkerty-tonk, Joe, greetings, salutations and a most hearty welcome to the Saloon. It is not, as scurrilous rumours on the Net have stated, a cyber-Bedlam where those deemed too insane even for the Internet is placed, doped to the gills by a ready supply of baijiu and sit-coms...no, not at all...Now, if you will kindly go with the Nurse Ratchett-clone a spiffy coat with really long sleeves will be made to your measurements...

Howdy Seam.   Get ready for a surreal year.

I guess this would be a bad time to tell Seamallowance that Shandong outlawed dumplings 2 weeks ago. 


Just kidding.  They really only outlawed singing "Rickety Tickety Tin". 

I fly out Friday morning. SFO->YVR->BJS->JNG

I am very excited, worried, relieved and scared.

I am very excited, worried, relieved and scared.

Sounds about right to me.

Hang onto the excited.   

Let the rest go and enjoy the ride.   

Check out the 'How long are you in for' thread to see how many of us came for a short while and ended up staying.

Wow you are one crazy bunch of weirdos! I love it 
I am 54,happily married for 25 years and about to embark on the rest of my life as soon as I get my early retirement ratified. Have spent the last 30 years drilling Present Perfect Simple into the heads of nasty little kids darling little high school kids in Jerusalem. Went to China in 2008 and BAM decided we were going to return for a longer spell. Settled on Kunming for obvious reasons (money not the issue, cannot stand extreme heat/cold) and hoping to get there by Septmenber 2011.
Hubby is very very keen thank Dog.

Hello, Piglet.  Love your avatar and nom de plume...I've been a Pooh & Co fan from way back in the day before Disney.

Welcome to our craziness Saloon.

welcome new younglings... a few saloon rules:

That stool in the corner is off limits.. reserved for dancing chickens..
Never ever look under the tables.. stil lurks downunder
no, we can not replace your drink if you don't like it

other than that, first round on you 

Welcome aboard!   Piglet's agruably the funniest one of the bunch- at least til the Disney machine wrecked the character for the sake of selling toys.

Kunming, huh?  Never too late to become a hippie. 

I think you will find Con that I am already an aging hippy being the proud possessor of a number of very outmoded clothes, not to mention an obsession with Dylan and a firm belief that nothing good has happened in music since 1979 (when the majority of you were not even a twinkle in your father's eye)