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| There are so many things here that I like and dislike, just like anywhere else I've lived but I think I've adapted well so far.
- One thing I don't like of course is that China is dirty, but my clothes always smell like smoke no matter where I go and I don't like it. People smoke everywhere and the smell is a little overwhelming.
- I haven't been able to upload too many pictures cuz the internet here is slow and my camera looks like it's gonna break at any moment, so I will probably be spending my first paycheck on a new digital camera.
- I don't like that I have to hang dry all my clothes and the washer is so small I have to wash my clothes like three times a week...I'm so spoiled. haha
- I will not be able to teach middle school because I look Asian. Seriously...that's the reason I was given. Pretty much if you aren't white you can't teach at the younger schools probably cuz it will confuse the children.
- I tried Muslim food and it is really good! There's a lot of lamb dishes...or maybe we just ordered all lamb dishes and didn't realize...
- I joined the gym and I really like it! I also get a personal trainer which is pretty cool. The other day I went with my coworker who is white and his Chinese is really good so he was translating what the trainer said to me...that musta been really funny looking to the other Chinese people there...a white guy translating Chinese to a Chinese girl...haha
- On Thursday it was International Women's Day and it is actaully celebrated here. All the women employees got gifts and we were taken out to a nice big lunch. It was pretty sweet!
- Partying here is fun...I've been to a few places and there's never any cover, the drinks are cheap, they serve kettlecorn (which is a strange snack for clubs/bars but it seems to be popular here).
- I've sat in on some classes, taught one and my official training starts next week (I've been here for like 2 weeks and pretty much am getting paid to do nothing). I really like the Korean students...they're so cute and energetic when they are trying to speak English.
- The standard of living is so ridiculously cheap. I knew China was cheap but I've been here for 2 weeks and have spent like 100 USD only.
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| This morning I woke up to what sounded like a war going on outside my window. From as early as 7am til about 11:30pm people set off fireworks and firecrackers nonstop. It was starting to drive me a little crazy because all day long I just heard the firecrackers going off and setting off car alarms...I could barely hear anything else! Another surprise I woke up to was snow! It snowed for a good part of the day and because of all the traffic and people the snow quickly turned into slush...which was not pretty. Today is the 15th and last day of Spring Festival, also called the Festival of Lights, so people set off the firecrackers in front of their home to ward off the evil and pretty lanterns are used to decorate homes. Also, there is this special food called yuan xiao that is eaten. It's this kind of glutonus rice ball that has a sweet filling. I thought it was going to be this special Chinese food that I never had before, but I eat it all the time at home...hehe. At night, me and my roommates went out to buy some fireworks and those little sparkler things. It was so windy and cold it was hard to light the fuse on the fireworks. People were setting them off in the middle of the streets, but we chose a safer place, and did it in front of our apartment. It was so much fun! We lit the fuse and ran away really quick. These were not the small kind either...they were the big kind that shoot up into the sky and looks really pretty. They're sold by the truckload on the corner of the street. Unfortunately my camera died so I wasn't able to take any pictures.
As for teaching English, I haven't started doing anything really so there's not much to say there. I will be teaching night classes which consist mainly of adults and then I think I might also have to teach middle school kids, which I heard aren't so bad depending on the school. Although the communication within the company isn't so great and they tend to do things at the last minute, the people seem decent and they take care of me really well...so I'm not complaining yet!
On other things, I was sad when I found out that Wikipedia is blocked here in China because I use it quite a bit. But today I found away to get around it...so yay for that! I'm not really sure what other sites are blocked but the internet connection in China is not that good so it gets disconnected and it is slow sometimes. Out of the 800 channels we have, there is one English channel and the rest are Chinese. And that channel really sucks cuz it mostly shows Chinese business news. I have resorted to the music channel and watching The O.C., which is dubbed in Chinese with Chinese subtitles...I guess it's a good way to practice listening and reading Chinese!
Anyways, I have no pictures up yet, but I will upload some soon! | | |
| Two 50lb suitcases, two carry-ons and 13 hours later, I arrive at the airport in Beijing. Aside from the uncomfortable flight due to the stuffiness of the aircraft, the bad food and bad movies, and the couple beside me who kept climbing over me to leave their seats at least 20 times on the duration of the flight, everything has gone smoothly. I guess you can kinda say that I came to China on a whim. I knew absolutely nothing when I landed, except that there was going to be a guy picking me up from the airport, holding a sign with my name on it. After walking around in circles I finally found that guy holding a crappy crumpled piece of paper with my name written in pen, barely legible on it. So we put all the luggage into the driver's car and when he starts it, there is this rumbling sound...a kind of sound that makes you think the engine is going to explode. Not very comforting at all...so after we drove a couple of miles we stopped at a gas station and fixed it. We got back on the highway and were on our way. He was such a slow driver...maybe cuz he was looking for the signs but it was ridiculous. At one point we missed the exit so he stopped the car and backed up...on the highway! He was like, this is dangerous...uh, yea, you think? I know the driving and traffic in China is bad but it never ceases to amaze me. The roads are completely chaotic cuz no one follows the rules and people are walking or biking all over the place...It's a wonder that there are no accidents.
The sky in China is really hazy at this time...the cause? The dust from the Gobi desert is blown into China and that is what causes the haziness and lack of sun...not pollution like many people may think. And did you know that wasabi is made from the same stuff they use to make novocain? I thought that was interesting...I learned these bits of information on my flight...hehe.
I arrive in Tianjin and my apartment is so awesome. I was expecting a small dingy apartment, but the one I get to live in is so nice. It's big and furnished with satellite tv, internet and pretty much everything that I need. I have a Vietnamese roommate and another roommate that is from Pennsylvania and also a teacher. It's close to where I work and it's on a main road so I hear so much honking from the cars below. And since Chinese New Year is coming to an end there are still some people setting off the occasional fireworks here and there...at first I thought it was a car backfiring. I'm not quite settled in yet but I will be in a little while. I haven't really gotten a chance to explore yet but I'll have plenty of time to do that. I will be starting my teacher training tomorrow.
Anyways, that was my quick update. | | |
| I just wanted to say THANKS to everyone who came out to see me before my year-long departure. It was really good to see everyone and those that I wasn't able to meet up with...you better have a damn good reason...hehe jk. I've been super busy packing to move home, and then I will have more packing to do for China when I get home. I have to say that I have very mixed feelings still. Maybe it hasn't hit me yet and I know this is something I want to do but can't help but feel a little sad about the things I'll be leaving behind. I'm excited, but nervous. I discovered this quote that I think is quite fitting and true: "It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power." One thing I learned from econ that has stuck with me, is opportunity cost. It's not possible to have it all unfortunately. I've moved around a lot in my life and I can't say that I've gotten use to it, but it has gotten easier to accept. And it's also easier if I have the choice to control it.
Anyways, enjoy some PICTURES, have a Happy Chinese New Year, and I'll see you in China  | | |
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