How's it going?
It's going great, thanks for asking!
What have you learned?
I have learned to always heed the advice of your friend (Meagan) who has been living and working over here in China for the past year. She was exactly right in everything she said, and I came into this experience with low expectations and the ability to be flexible and enjoy the ride. #nailedit Drew Van Allen, you would never be able to deal with the germs over here (kids constantly blowing their noses and leaving tissues all over the desks and ground, and locals spitting anywhere and everywhere, including elevators and restaurants).
What have you taught? I am teaching 8 (40min) classes per day (yes, eight, 8), I'm suppose to be teaching 7, but they just got a bunch of new students for this new semester, so I get paid overtime (YES! That's right teacher friends, Sparky is earning overtime for teaching #dreamy). I am teaching all eager and well-mannered Grade 8 and 9 students English. So far, it's been great. A new subject, and a chance to brush up on my own English after spending 3 years losing a lot of my first language abilities...
School
day (for me) is 7:45 - 3:40, with an hour and 30 min for lunch. A lot
of the students have clubs and Chinese classes on either side of those
times.
What are you eating? Well, I was treated like a Queen (actually, #winning) on my first day here. One of the principals took me out to a breakfast buffet (combination of chinese food and western food #perfect). **Funny story alert** All I wanted that morning was a HOT HOT coffee, but since I can't read Mandarin yet, I kept filling my mug with black tea....but had no idea it was tea and not coffee, until we left #notwinning.
For lunch, I went with a Chinese teacher to a town close by for a traditional HOT POT meal. If you've never had one, do it on a cold day, perfect way to warm up! For dinner, one of the Chinese principals took me and some other Chinese teachers out for supper at a restaurant near my apartment (when I say near, I basically mean a 2 step walk). I quickly learned the traditional customs of what NOT to do during a fancy dinner meal (just picture it...me being very VERY awkward....instead of just asking).
School started on Monday and I've basically just been eating those noodle things that you add hot water to. I FINALLY did some real grocery shopping in Shanghai last night, and got some western food...so tonight was an amazing pasta dish, cooked by moi. My stomach is happy once again!
Have you gone grocery shopping? Well, Chloe, I sort of just answered that one. A Chinese teacher took me to TESCO (grocery store) on Saturday, but I was too jet lagged and maybe overwhelmed to buy anything useful, food wise. I went with my friend Meagan and Bridget into Shanghai (40 min drive) last night after school (the school provides a bus once per month on a Tuesday night to go into Shanghai). They helped me and together, we successfully sent Emily packing with useful food items - hurrah!
How's the beer?There is a Shanghai Brewery and a Beer Festival in Shanghai with Craft Brews #winning! We went for dinner and drinks at a Mexican restaurant in Shanghai last night. So far, Corona tastes like the same Corona you have in Canada. I bought some German and European beers from the grocery store too.
What's your place like? My apartment is not fancy, but it has everything I need; kitchen (most accessories to cook and eat), fridge, etc, living room area with couch, desk, shelf, etc., a small storage closet, and upstairs, I have a full bedroom and a bathroom. Not too shabby. It's in one of 5 apartment buildings that are at the school. Lots of teachers live in them (like University again), but long-term teachers live in Luxu and walk/bike to work. It takes me 9 minutes to walk from my apartment to my classroom - I timed it, just so I could type it in this email.
The bed is by FAR the most uncomfortable thing I've ever slept on, including all floors I've ever found myself on. It's crazy that it walks like a bed, talks like a bed, but is not a bed. Carrie, PLEASE fly over ASAP and heal my back! It is hurting like it's never hurt before.
What's school like? School has been interesting so far. For a more detailed response, you can email and ask directly. I've been to 2 staff meetings (one for Junior High, and one for all BC teachers, Jr High and High school) in 3 days....#readintothatcomment
The principal seems to be amazing. Unlike any principal I've had lately. He is extremely supportive, easy and lovely to speak to, and already has had my back on a few issues (again, will explain in more detail if you ask).
A lot of the staff seem to be within 5 (ish) years, either side to my 29 (yes, still 29 and holding strong).
It's great being so close to the school. I come back to my place for lunch. Intramurals are once per week (teachers vs students) at lunch time. I'm helping with a recreation Ultimate Frisbee league starting next Tuesday. Looking to get involved in a few more after school things...there are a ton of clubs/activities. A group of high school students are going snowboarding up north too, so maybe that will be an option (wish I packed my winter things now....)
Kids?The kids are great - as mentioned previously. Some of the things they have written for me already are hilarious and very entertaining. I have a kid in one of my gr 8 classes called Joker. It's TOO perfect. He is too, a Joker.
Do they wear uniforms? No uniforms.
Are they brats? Cute? No brats, compared to what I've been used to for the past 5 years.
What's the weather like? The weather is funny. It's been 10ish since I arrived, but I've been rocking my winter coat, that I rock in the mountains during -35...weird. They also don't have proper heating anywhere, so maybe that's why. Definitely pumped about my decision to bring a winter coat though!
Do you have your own face mask yet? Negative, but students in my classes wear them.
Tell me something funny about China. Okay, well I went shopping on Saturday (with a Chinese teacher) to buy nice boots/shoes, as I left mine in Canada (crap!). Already, I am ginormous at 5'8.5" so we went into about 10 shoe stores (for real) and NO STORE carried any shoes in any size above 38 (euro sizes). (I wear a 40 - 41). We finally go into a store, and they carry 39 and 40 (YEEEESSS!). I try them both on. Let me set the stage for you; when we went into the store, it was JUST me, the teacher and the lady selling me the shoes. By the time I looked up from putting on the 2nd boot, 8 people came out of NOWHERE to see the tall freak from Canada with massive feet, put on the elusive size 40 boot. It was so WEIRD....like WHERE.DID.THEY.COME.FROM.? There must have been an alert sent out as soon as the size 40s were released from the back....note to self: bring shoes from Canada.
Do any other teachers look like friend material? Yes. Everyone is SO friendly over here (teachers). One teacher on Monday morning, came running towards me, arms open, shouting "You must be Emily!" It was....a high level of excitement. No one has topped that greeting, but we'll see.
Dating material?oooh Chloe Vance, you sly fox. Jumping right into it. We shall see! I'm a week in, give a girl some time.
What did you do on Sunday Funday?
That's it for now.
If
you made it this far, awesome. The best communication (For quick Sparky
remarks back) are Whatsapp, BBM and email (the Facebook messenger app
is finicky at best). Skype works, but I am 15 hours ahead of Canmore, 7
hours ahead of England and 13 hours ahead of Ontario.
Culture
shock and home sickness hasn't hit me yet, but all things in good time
perhaps. I'm also just really feeling good about being here, and that I
nailed it with my low expectations. I'm in a good place in my life to
be doing this, so that has also helped. My meal of pasta with cheese
(an EXPENSIVE commodity here), also helped me feel comfortable. 