On Monday, the school bought a truck load of coal to use for the winter. The school heats up the radiators and water by coal, so they needed a lot to keep us foreigners warm. After first class Master told us we can train or help by unloading the coal and storing it in the back. Unloading Coal sounded fun so i decided I'd help. Once break was over and second class was starting, the people who wanted to help with the coal went to the gates of the school and found a MASSIVE truck with at least 400kg worth of coal.
The Shifus already started by the time i got there and their method was like this:
Push the coal off the truck onto the ground
Shovel coal into the back of smaller trucks
Smaller trucks went to unload the coal in the back of the academy
Students and Shifus would pile up the coal
And start over until all the coal was unloaded.
Problem with this was there were too many people with shovels trying to work while other guys including myself decided shovels were useless and began using our bare hands to put big chunks of coal on the small trucks. This project broke down to about 5 groups: 1st group was Shifus and students in the truck pushing coal onto the ground (why not push the coal onto the bed of the trucks? EVERYONE thought of that idea but no one did it). 2nd group was the ground crew. Also Shifus and Students. I was in this group. We would pick up the fallen coal pieces and put it in the small trucks while dodging coal and shovels that were cutting our ankles. 3rd group was the shovelers. They shoveled up the dirt and small stuff that came off the truck. 4th group was the sweepers who swept the dust and dirt back to the truck (they just swept dirt into group 2's shoes). 5th group were the Students and Shifus that unloaded the coal. Luckily i was by the truck so i did not have to deal with that.
And start over until all the coal was unloaded.
Problem with this was there were too many people with shovels trying to work while other guys including myself decided shovels were useless and began using our bare hands to put big chunks of coal on the small trucks. This project broke down to about 5 groups: 1st group was Shifus and students in the truck pushing coal onto the ground (why not push the coal onto the bed of the trucks? EVERYONE thought of that idea but no one did it). 2nd group was the ground crew. Also Shifus and Students. I was in this group. We would pick up the fallen coal pieces and put it in the small trucks while dodging coal and shovels that were cutting our ankles. 3rd group was the shovelers. They shoveled up the dirt and small stuff that came off the truck. 4th group was the sweepers who swept the dust and dirt back to the truck (they just swept dirt into group 2's shoes). 5th group were the Students and Shifus that unloaded the coal. Luckily i was by the truck so i did not have to deal with that.
Coal dust, truck smog, and dirt was all in the air. I tried to dodge the falling coal off the trucks and shovels that picked at our feet, but when the head master had the people who were standing around and watching sweep the coal bits and dust back toward the coal pile...i lost it a little. I stopped following and began leading a few students near me. When the trucks came back i told the shovelers and sweepers to wait, a couple guys and I went in and picked up the big pieces of coal put it in the trucks. When we got most of the big ones out of the way i told the shovelers to go in and get the small stuff. When the trucks had enough and left i told the sweepers to go in and sweep up the stuff away from the school drive way.
We worked like this for about an hour then i hopped onto the truck because people were just pushing coal by the ground people and some hit people. Coal isn't light either. One hit my bad foot and it hurt for a while. When i was in the truck i got the guys to line up the rocks on the side of the truck so it wouldn't hit peoples heads.
Then when the trucks came back we would pass coal to one another to make it to the trucks. I was not sure if the other guys who were piling stuff in the other two trucks were doing the same but i just kept working with my guys. By now the truck was almost empty...an hour and a half later. Work continued and after another hour we finished by 12:30. I was covered in coal ashes and my hands were black. But it was a good experience. After washing up i saw jenny the school translator and told her that it was fun unloading all of that coal. She laughed and said good, "Another truck but bigger comes again tomorrow with more!" 
On Tuesday, about the same time as yesterday, another coal truck came. It was the same size as yesterday's truck but i bet Jenny tried to trick me. We started again during second class so when i started walking towards the truck Master Guo told me to come help him unload. He was there yesterday with a few other students. I guess few people wanted to help out this time. In the back was clement, Phil, a couple other guys and me.
On Tuesday, about the same time as yesterday, another coal truck came. It was the same size as yesterday's truck but i bet Jenny tried to trick me. We started again during second class so when i started walking towards the truck Master Guo told me to come help him unload. He was there yesterday with a few other students. I guess few people wanted to help out this time. In the back was clement, Phil, a couple other guys and me.
Our job was when the trucks dumped the coal on the floor we had to throw the rocks up to make a big pile. After a few loads more guys came to help but then it got to hectic. To many guys were throwing rocks but it would fall back down and hit someone. Guys would try to shovel while we threw rocks and get dust in our eyes. While others just stood around.
Again i took over. There were 8 of us so i said 4 of us would throw the rocks and the other 4 would shovel. Then when the next truck came, we switched jobs. Everyone agreed and we began working a lot safer and faster. I enjoyed throwing the coal. Back in high school i did Shot Put on track and field. I would throw heavy chunks of coal like i would a heavy shot put. I had perfect aim. Who knew a sport in high school would help me in China.
We finished up at 12 this time and again everyone was dirty. The bathrooms had black water everywhere. I felt bad for the cleaning lady. At least we helped keep her warm in the winter. Afternoon class was dreadful, everyone took naps during lunch break so everyone was exhausted. i think Master Guo was tired too because he made stance training pretty short.
Good times.
-Scott
We finished up at 12 this time and again everyone was dirty. The bathrooms had black water everywhere. I felt bad for the cleaning lady. At least we helped keep her warm in the winter. Afternoon class was dreadful, everyone took naps during lunch break so everyone was exhausted. i think Master Guo was tired too because he made stance training pretty short.
Good times.
-Scott
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