Not convenient. At all.

ok, much to update from this summer, but I've been procrastinating because there's SO much to write about. Procrastinating for a few months now... so it's better just to jump in, fill you in on what's going on these days, and gradually I'll go back and fill in about this summer. So without further adieu:

I'm teaching more than last term, 14 hours a week at SDU with 5 additional hours at Shandong Normal University, the teacher's university in town. My introduction to the semester at both schools have been very good lessons in Chinese communication.

SDU
June, July, August: Asked repeatedly when courses will begin in September, told this was TBD.
Sept 1: Told by a fellow teacher that courses will begin Sept 10th.
Sept 8: Received class schedule. No mention of start date.
Sept 9: Told by a fellow teacher that classes have been moved to Sept 17th. Trusted said teacher, as noone told me otherwise, and there's no way they could have told me what classes I would be teaching 2 days in advance, right? Wrong.
Sept 10: Receive an email, asking why I was not in class, as today was the actual start date. Have missed the first day of class.
Sept 23: 10 pm, receive phone call. I'll be teaching an additional class, beginning tomorrow at 8am in Building 7. Asked where Building 7 was, but the woman who called me didn't know.
Sept 24: 10 minutes late for class, as Building 7 is nowhere near Building 6 or 8. Naturally.
Oct 8: All afternoon classes which began at 2 will now begin at 1:30. Noone told me this, so I showed up half an hour late for class. Same class I missed the first day.
Oct 9: 10 pm, receive phone call. All afternoon classes which began at 2 will now begin at 1:30. Quite helpful, 2 days ago.

The past week has gone smoothly. Who knows how long that will last.

Shandong Normal University
June: A fellow teaching would be going out of town for part of July, asked if I would sub for her at Shandong Normal for 3 weeks. I said ok.
July: Received phone call that they no longer need a sub, but as she'll be returning to the states in September, they need me to teach her class. 1 hr, 1x/wk. I say ok.
Sept 15: Received a phone call. Since I'll be on campus anyway, perhaps I could tutor one student. 1 hr, 1x/wk. I say ok.
Sept 16: Met the student I would be tutoring. Oops, except 2, not 1! Oops, except high school students, not university students! My boss asked if I could also teach another student, a semi-important person working for Volvo who needs to improve his English. I say ok, as that one could be interesting.
Sept 23: New student is there, who is not a semi-important person working for Volvo, but a recent graduate who would LIKE to be a semi-important person working for Volvo. Teach my actual class for the 1st time, which is super boring, in which I have to cover so much material, I'm basically just reading the textbook to the students, as otherwise there's no way I can get through it all.
Sept 30 - Oct 7: No class, Chinese Labor Days
Oct 14: 2nd class, both tutee groups canceled. Met with my boss, who asks me to teach ANOTHER student.

Listen. When I say he "asked" me, and I subsequently said ok, you have to understand, that there's basically no "No" in Chinese. If you want to say no, you say "I'm very busy" or "That is not very convenient." You never just say "No." So this is what happens:
"We have a student who wants to study with you."
"I don't have time."
"Oh but his English is very good. He's almost fluent."
"So... maybe he doesn't need the tutoring if he's almost fluent..."
"No, he needs the extra practice. He's a very good student."
"Well, I don't really have time."
"Maybe just once you could meet with him."
"I don't have time."
"Maybe for just 2 hours. He's very good. It could just be like having a conversation."
"2 hours? No, I don't have time."
"But you are here on Sundays. Maybe you could teach after the class."
"That's too late." (5:30)
"Oh so we can meet Sunday morning. I will tell him to come then."
"That's not very convenient. Then I'll be teaching all day Sunday."
"Oh, so maybe if we move your class to begin an hour earlier, then you can meet with him from 4:30 - 6:30. Then it's not too late for you."
"*sigh* We can try it next week, but only once, and only 1 hour."
"Well, maybe just once you can try 2 hours."
"Maybe just once I can try 1 hour."
"Maybe just once you can try 2."

DO YOU SEE WHAT HAS HAPPENED HERE? Eventually I typically give in just because I'm sick of arguing about it. And then I kick myself every week when I remember that what started as a 3 week sub job in the middle of summer has turned into working my ALL Sunday EVERY Sunday until January. Dammit.