Teachers Pig Out on Pregnancies
In the Shanghai Daily Top News of Saturday-Sunday 13-14 January 2007, we find the headline “Teachers pig out on pregnancies”. The mind reels with the possibly meanings and ramifications of this header! Teachers are eating pregnancies? Teachers are reacting oddly to other’s pregnancies? Teachers are getting pregnant wildly? Teachers are having too many pregnancies?
Most people are aware that the Chinese have 12 astrological signs that are denoted by animals – rooster, rat, dog, dragon, etc. In addition to the 12 animals, there are 5 elements – metal, water, wood, fire and earth. The traditional calendar then cycles through 60 combinations of animal and element. To be more precise about the next lunar year, it will be the Year of the Female Fire Pig (
Chinese Astrology Online), more commonly referred to as The Year of the Golden Pig. Babies born under this combination of signs are believed to be destined for good fortune and a long life. With most couples limited to having only one child*, much is done to ensure the child is given the best possible start. And so, China is facing the potential for a baby boom during the next lunar year. Considering that a boomlet will have future ramifications on competition for school seats and jobs for graduates, one can only wonder how all of these children will manage their good fortunes.
In Shanghai, 30 to 40% of the teachers in primary and middle schools are young or middle-aged. Some schools have more than half of the teachers under the age of 35. The immediate consequence of the upcoming new year and the demographic of the teachers is that applications for maternity leaves are up in advance of this auspicious period. Schools are looking at doubling up teacher’s workload, recruiting retired teachers, hiring postgraduate students and shuffling the pregnant teachers into lower grades.
All quite interesting, but it still leaves you wondering...who wrote that headline?!
Please let me know what thoughts came to you when you read the article title.
Labels: Shanghai
Saipan - Christmas 2006
Using Northwest, we had a long layover in Narita; departing Shanghai at 9:30 in the morning and arriving in Saipan 1:00 AM the next day. Flying a US airline into Tokyo, the security screen came down to “do you have any water?” at which point, trashcans were available for tossing away drinks. From Narita into Saipan, now flying into a US territory, there was a bit more work down with each bag somewhat scrutinized. I drew the lucky straw and had every part of my suitcase opened, down to an inspection of my toiletries.
We stayed at the Marianas Resort, the northernmost hotel on the island. All of the rooms face the ocean – we had 4th floor roofs looking around scrub toward the reef. The resort has a small beach area, best used for nearby snorkeling. The rooms at the Marianas are enormous by Asian standards, modestly decorated, overpriced (but then everything on the island is), and equipped with hard, king-sized Asian-style beds (or reasonably comfortable twin beds).
A separate group manages the small beach area at the Marianas, so we were presented with the price list for the lounge chairs, umbrellas, kayaks, etc. Mary knew someone who knew the owner (and oh, we were american, not Japanese), so were told we could use the chairs without paying as they weren’t that busy. Thus began our learning about the 3 tier pricing policy on the island – there is a price for locals, a possible price point for Americans, and the published price for the Japanese. It was always worth saying that you lived (temporarily) in the islands, or that at least, you were American.
In a continuation of the “nickel and dime – ing”, the spa at the Marianas which includes the gym facilities, a separate (and nicer) pool and hot tub costs an additional $20 per person per day. Yikes – not what I expect when I’m already paying $160 per night.
Mary and Peter joined the Hash House Harriers for their Friday evening run and returned with the details of everything we should see and do on the island – from the Sunday brunch at the Hyatt, to the dive shop to use.
Various monuments to the war dead, monuments to peace, memorial stones and war relics are found around the island.
Banzai Cliffs is one of the areas where Japanese families chose suicide over surrender at the capture of the island by the Americans. Legends have it that families lined up in order of age, with the youngest being pushed off by the next oldest, and on through the family. After the war, relatives returned to the islands to gather bones at the bases of the inland cliffs and erect memorial stones.
With free transportation into town via the DFS store buses, I don’t think there was a day that we didn’t wander through the DFS store. The highlights were the “Saipanda”, trying to win prizes at the daily lottery (we won 2 spa entrances, coupons for the Hard Rock Cafe, and various discounts throughout the DFS stores), and talking with Miss Mariana!
Scooters are a great choice for seeing the island. It takes little effort to find spectacular, deserted beaches.
Joining all the rest, but me, Douglas decided to try out scuba-diving with an exploratory dive that took him down and through a sunken war ship. He’s now set on getting his diving certification. Meanwhile, Tim enjoyed his 4 dives – the first since getting certified in 2001.
Bottom line on Saipan – a very pretty island, lots of good snorkeling and diving, much to interest the WWII buff, and an easy vacation if you lived in Japan.
Labels: Marianas Resort, Saipan, Saipan accommodation
Vacationing in Saipan - General Information
The points of entry into Saipan include Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Beijing and Guam. The major carriers flying into Saipan are JAL, Continental (Micronesia), and Northwest.
The majority of the tourists are Japanese. While the principal language of the island is English, the vast majority of tourist information is in Japanese (not even bilingual).
Hotels are targeted at the Japanese market, with most hotels including at least one Japanese restaurant. The hotels are arrayed down the west coast of the island from the Mariana Resort in the north, to the Pacific Island Club in the south. The Hyatt, Fiesta and some smaller hotels are in the main town of Garapan.
Transportation is available roundtrip between the hotels and the Duty-Free Store in Garapan every hour. Free cabs are also available between the hotels and DFS. Cabs are otherwise readily available, but also relatively expensive (>$20 for a 15-minute drive). Cars and scooters are available for rent.
Snorkeling in the surrounding reefs and diving around the shipwrecks are major attractions. Parts of the island are rugged with the highest point at Mt. Tapotchau at 1,554 feet.
Recommended hotels – Hyatt at the top-end (though the architecture is uninspired) and Marianas at the mid-range for a very quiet location. Aqua Resort Club looked very nice and had more restaurant options than Marianas. Recommended restaurant – the island was disappointingly short of the type of beach restaurants we love in Thailand. That said, the view and food at Coffee Care are good, and the Sunday Brunch at the Hyatt was a good deal.
Labels: Aqua Beach Resort, Coffee Care, Marianas Resort, Saipan, Saipan accommodation
Saipan - General Information and History
The Christmas holidays saw us in Saipan. This entry will give general information and history on the island.
The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) is a chain of 14 volcanic islands in the western Pacific Ocean. CNMI is south of Japan and east of the Philippines, and 120 miles north of Guam. These islands are considered part of Micronesia.
Most of the population of CNMI is located on three of the Northern Mariana islands (Saipan, Rota and Tinian), with the largest population on Saipan. Total population is estimated at 80,400. Saipan is 12.5 miles long and 5.5 miles wide; roughly the size of San Francisco.
The UN granted administrative authority of The Northern Marianas to the U.S. as a UN trust territory in 1947. The citizenship voted in the 70’s not to seek independence, rather to build stronger ties to the U.S. Agreement was achieved in 1975 to establish a commonwealth in political union with the U.S. Self-government was formed with a new government and constitution in 1978 (when the residents became U.S. citizens). The UN trusteeship ended in 1986.
The islands were inhabited in prehistoric times, with the peoples being known as the Chamorro race. Magellan claimed the islands for Spain in 1521. The islands gained their name, “Las Marianas” in 1668 in honor of Mariana of Austria, the widow of Philip the 4th of Spain.
Spain sold the islands to Germany in 1899, who held the islands until the Japanese forced them out at the start of WWI. The islands were administered as a Japanese Mandated Territory under the League of Nations. By the time of Japan’s withdrawal in 1935 from the League of Nations, the islands had been essentially annexed by the Japanese.
As WWII lead to battles over control of the Pacific, American forces invaded the islands on June 15, 1944. The majority of the Japanese army on the islands were killed during the intense battles to take control of the islands.
By July, they had gained control of the islands and construction of bases and airfields started. The nuclear bomb dropped on Hiroshima by the Enola Gay lifted off from Tinian.
Despite assurances by loudspeaker to the Japanese civilians that surrender would not be shameful or dangerous, hundreds of families jumped or fell to their deaths from the high cliffs of northern Saipan.
A small group of Japanese held out on the island, finally surrendering on June 30, 1951 after letters from Japan were dropped on the island.
Remnants of the battles from WWII including sunken tanks and ships, gun emplacements and gravestones are among the visitor sights on these islands.
Sources:
“Northern Mariana Islands: Definition and Much More from Answers.com”,
http://www.answers.com/topic/northern-mariana-islandsWilliam H. Stewart. “The CNMI Guide”, various pages on
http://www.cnmi-guide.comLabels: CNMI, Northern Mariana Islands, Saipan
