China's Absurdities AKA The Differences that exist in China (more PC) #1

One thing I really dislike, or perhaps abhor would be more appropriate, is the bureaucracy in this school. I know this is not the US and I do not expect things to unfold in the same manner, but can I just that some of the things they do are absurd. This is not me being ethnocentric or falling victim to cultural superiority. The administration favors going around their elbows to get to the tush!

Here is an example:

Administration: "We ordered the wrong books for your class and we don't have enough money to buy more, so just make copies."

Me: "Oh...ok...I think that will be ok"

Copyman: "how many? double sided?" "don't forget to sign" [we have to sign a clipboard with how many copies we make]

Me: "Oh, sure, sorry about that."

*A few days pass and I still make about 40-50 copies a day*

Copyman: "more copies?!"


Me: [thinks to self] "Why is the copyman upset about making copies? Maybe this isn't the copyman's job. hmmmm...."


Administration: "We need to limit how many copies we make. Too much money."


Does anyone see the absurdities in this? Too much money?! Then buy the McFriggin' books! Parents pay about 80,000RMB per head. I think they can buy a few books off of that. I considered figuring out how much money they spend versus how much they could save if they did things "differently." Another thing that is absurd. We have one ink jet for all the teachers to use for printing. It is the same type of printer we used to use at the hotel. Can anyone guess why this is absurd? Well, they have to call someone to replace the ink. Why in the holy underworld would they need to call someone to replace a simple toner?! This is a point of contention for me.

It is absurd to me, but maybe it is just a simple difference.

再见！！！