From humble beginnings-my first four days as an English teacher

crowded foyer
waiting for lift
rain on the way?

Sunday night report from in front of the English channel on the TV ,sipping on a G&T, watching it absolutely pelt down outside. It's 7.30pm, two hours after I finished my first real class (VIP Class) which is a private class , in this case a sister (10) and brother (11). Since finishing the class, I've learnt to input to the online reporting system, jumped on the bike and beat the very ominous weather home by about 0.5 metres riding up the ramp as it started to rain, the waited almost 20 minutes in the foyer with half of Shenzhen waiting for a lift. I don't think I can walk up 25 flights of stairs, let alone carrying the bike.

Bike Friday has a Chinese cousin. A Dahon 18" wheeler, folding in a camouflage green and labelled China Domestic Model. Not the most comfortable of riding position, no gears (no hills), no lights, no bell and was on special with a 120Y reduction to 448Y (divide by 6.7). Friday, I can assure you this is not competition, just convenience cutting my work travel time by more than half. Riding on footpaths and any side of the road seems to be legal and the traffic in the Nanshan district is not too hard to negotiate, the seat is not exactly the most comfortable but the journeys are only short and I might even have a buyer for it when I leave.

Anyway, the real reason I am here is to see if I like teaching English and get some valuable experience. The last three days were all about observing experienced teachers with the variety of age groups and levels and then today I had my VIP class - my first official #1 students in China. The two students and the rookie teacher all seemed to survive with enthusiasm intact.

The summer program starts in the second week of July so I am fitting into regular term classes before then. Not sure why we got here so early with restricted Visa conditiones, but its the way it is. The team supporting the teachers are great, local consultants and teachers aides make sure that I order lunch (either using pictures in menus or translate the Chinese for me)and arranging $delivery. So far this week I have spent 2 x 4Y for dumplings so food is quite yummy and affordable.

Next I need to collect menus from around my apartment and get someone to translate and mark some meals for me, not sure why I would cook for myself on my late night finishes when the local food is great-I just do not know what to order! Right now I am about to prepare a stirfry veges and noodles as I am NOT going out in that weather, I already ahve too many shoes not drying! Till next time.

My first day as an English teacher in China

Thursday was a wet day, very overcast not prompting an early start, espeially when I didn't need to report to work until 14:00. Chased up the internet man who said he'd take care of it in the afternoon (and he did). Went out for a walk to find some butter or marg, forgotten on my earlier shopping. Also ended up buying a pair of canvas shoes as they had more grip than the teva thongs I had on (slippery footpaths and ornate entry halls are dangerous in the wet-extended just about every muscle at times to save from falling flat on my back). My sandshoes were (and are) still drying from the day before.

Finally, it was time to set off to work to see what the world of teaching was about ( not without browsing the shops on the way and grabbing a bowl of noodles from a facinating and delicious restaurant.

School was very welcoming, the Director of Studies (DOS) is called Luke and took me through orientations, showed me the summer program for all of the age groups (based on the Olympics) and explained how to read the teaching shedule. I later sat in on a class of Life Skills for 3-5 year olds. (SS) The rooms are bright, with hi density foam on the floor and no-one wears shoes in the SS classes. I can see why ! They do not sit still, jumping, tumbling, and certainly all at a decibel level requiring testing for a 45 minute timeslot! The only expectation here is possibly don't strangle one of teh students and hope the local teacher aid (TA) can exert some words of wisdom to get something across - above it all, it looks fun which it is meant to be. Not for introverts this job...

I left the school at 8pm with an invitation to return on Friday at 5pm for observations of evening sessions. Things gear up slowly next week then bang full on, especially Sat and Sun with one day off during the week. I already have some VIP (1-1) sessions booked for next Sunday so i guess I'm on my way. Only time will tell!

The days in between then and now

I am finally here, within walking distance to my English First School.
I have settled into a 25th floor apartment in Nanshan District of Shenzhen.
Luckily the contract was not too complicated for Phoebe to translate for me and it currently gives me scope if I can get a visa extension to finish the term beyond 60 days.

Yesterday (Tuesday)was a lot of waiting around while the other two new teachers were settled and with a very complex contract for lease of their apartments (rooms in a hotel). It was a case of raiding several bank accounts to drum up the ready RMB for one months rent plus a month’s rent deposit (about 1,000 AUD). Eventually we headed off to find a taxi or as it turned out fight for a taxi to get to Nanshan

Negotiations over my apartment were much less complicated and the representative speaks a little English (certainly more than my Chinese!). Money handed over the real estate was mine for two months.

Phoebe then showed me where my school was and then we had meal representing some of the local specials. Trusting me to get home on my own, Phoebe headed off for her College – even so, she rang to make sure I was not lost-it was a nice gesture but at the time I could see my street so I could say I was fine. I had stopped by the supermarket and stocked up on breakfast goods as well as washing powder as the unit has a washing machine. At 85% humidity this week, clothes do not make more than one wear. Finished the day with a beer (essential supplies), TV and eventually discovered the hard style china bed.

During the night it became obvious it was raining and quite windy, gushing down the exterior corridor and whipping under the front door. Umm , tropical downgraded typhoon “Fengsten” had arrived. Woke up to a very wet day, my last day off before starting work on Thursday. Pushed enough buttons on the washing machine to make it work, did a stocktake of household items ( hardly any included) and donned the gortex and set off for the shops. Returned home much later laden with goodies looking like a drowned rat masquerading as a pack horse. Decided to jump in a cab, then rang the guy from real estate agent and asked him to tell the driver where to take me. Got home safely, assembled my hanging rack for work clothes, don’t laugh but also a 21yuan ironing board and a 35yuan iron as my clothes are quite crumpled, not very professional to be un-ironed. (@ 56yuan that’s not even $10AUD total to be self sufficient in the ironing department). A wok and a cleaver are the cornerstone of the new kitchen utensils in keeping with my location. After all, I do have Chinese bank account, a job, an apartment and a cell phone number (mobile for Aussies) so I might as well have a Chinese kitchen.

A second trip out later filled the fridge with veges and other essentials. What an adventure in the supermarket, veges I couldn’t describe or certainly don’t know how to cook them, eggs by the kilo, live frogs, yabbies, live fish, not so live fish, meats and bits not normally seen – playing safe I chose prawns (cooked and shelled) to throw in my stirfry. Juggling two large shoppingbags, a 10 pack of toilet paper (they didn’t sell in less) and a brush for the floor oh and my umbrella was a challenge and it did not include staying dry, sloshing through the footpath for about 5 mins or 1 km, I must have looked a sight.

My last trip out was to the 24 hour store at the foot of the building to get 4xAAA batteries for the ipod speakers. Discovered my local sells Tonic water ! The next bit of good news will be the successful internet connection in the room then all will be done.

It’s still raining…tomorrow is a school day, might have to buy some wellies to go with my wet suit (78yuan for pants and a jacket to supplement the gortex in this weather). I don’t mind getting wet but in work clothes … not so good.

in transit to arrival at SZ

ICONS South Australia at Adelaide Airport is the best of SA all in one shop.
SA wines by the glass (well, it was lunchtime) and choice of local platters and not at airport prices either! Yummy farewell to the favourite SA wines, cheese, dips, chocolates-well worth a visit when next at the airport (maybe not 6am journeys).

Flight to KL was uneventful, watched "Goal" and "Spiderwick Chronicles" in between being amused by a collective of golfers enroute to 12 days away and not a female caddy in sight.
Stayed overnight near airport catching shuttle making it an easy start to the next day. Not the posh PanPacific but it was suitable and at Malaysian Airlines ticket price.

Sourced a bottle of Bombay Gin and cruised through security unlike travels last year.

Flight to Guangzhou was 2/3rds empty so it was very quiet.
Quick transit through Immigration and Customs to be collected by English First rep who drove me to Railway station to catch train to Shenzhen. 2 hours in traffic reminded me about multilevel roads, flyovers, patient drivers, bamboo scafolding, maximum size billboards and Olympic advertising.

Train ride was smooth, 50 mins @ 180kph. Met at SZ station, quick ride to Hotel.
24th floor overlooking a part of the city. Compact room with flat screen TV (2 -85 channels in English), comfy China hard bed (soft pillows), small living areaand kitchennette. This is home for 4 days before alternative arrangements to fit in with my teaching location (another district from here 45mins by taxi a long and unnecessary commute). Hope next has fridge and internet connection.

Sunday and Monday are orientation days then I have no idea what after that.

Havent seen a westerner yet and I wandered around for 2 hours in 33 degrees, bright sunshine and true to form found by accident the large supermarket area to stock up on nibbles and water.

Found the Tonic water yesterday, big relief.

There is a yappy dog living on this floor somewhere , still no suprises when you travel outside normal regions.

Getting ready

Visa has arrived so I can now plan to fly on Thursday.

Testing of the electronics to upload to this site. Time to load a photo...

Von and Declan @ Cafe 23 in Largs Bay, a regular Saturday morning after walking Lucy the Kelpie on the beach.

Von waiting for a train at Marino station with the sunsetting over the sea. Next train will be in China from Guangzhou to Shenzhen.

So, I can upload photos...good news... just hope I can use wifi access in Shenzhen to make carting the not so compact laptop with me worthwhile. Sans Friday - with laptop this time-Obviously not a holiday! Stay tuned.

Introduction

Hiya,

From my title you may be able to work out that my next trip is without [sans] my bike [freedomfriday]. Gasp, shock how come...? Well, I have accepted an intern position teaching English in China for the summer and I will be working 6 days a week so friday would only get bored or lonely.

I do not yet know for sure where I will be posted and consequently, I have no idea about the school proximity to my housing, storage or the route of travel so a bike may or may not be a bonus. I'll have to get one there if it looks like a good idea-I know Dahons are not that expensive in China not to mention a made in china bike.

This trip is no holiday, I am having trouble imagining packing without trekking boots or bike shorts. I'll be swapping walking poles and gaiters for tools of the trade for a teacher in their first posting. Comforts like Ipod and speakers, laptop, a memory stick of TESOL* and a tricks of the trade book. Not much casual gear and a wardrobe full of "business clothes" all made in China will be heading off with me - but I have resisted the temptation of a regular style suitcase- not ready for suitcase travel yet, try the roller duffle.

Mum thinks this will be the generation of Chinese kids to learn that the is really spelt teh - I am more worried that they may learn some Aussie 'slang', particularly oh fudge! I am worried they are going to ask too many questions about grammar (not my strength) so i might learn lots too.

Dan the recruitment officer for English First in Shanghai is impressed with my persistence ( getting a visa is challenging in current times probably due to the influx expected for the Olympics). Yep, I'll be in China for the big Olympics**, I leave on 17th August to come home to meet the 60 day visa requirements imposed cutting my internship short by a week. Mind you , I do not have the visa (or my passport) in my possession yet so excitement may be premature, not to panic, I do not fly out until 19th June and today is the Friday 13th June.

Why all this palaver for just 60 days? I need to start somewhere to see if I like teaching english and it likes me. Two months is a good mark to survive at the frantic pace I am going to undertake, leaving little time to think about what I have done until I have done it...anything to get a good addition to the CV Resume in preparation for a longer contract somewhere in the world ( so I can take Freedom friday with me then).

I'll document my preparation for this trip just in case you want to follow my crazy path and I'll upload thoughts and insights and pretty photos to prove I went to China and didn't just sneek off to a hippy commune or something (technology willing).

I will try and correct most errors as I go as a good model english teacher but i will probably leave my trademark typo in places to keep you amused or bemused or try really hard to avoid using teh in a sentence!

* TESOL Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

** Olympics - hopefully by then it will be about the participation and achievements of all countries in a sporting arena but all i will hear about is China China China, I'm over Aussie oi oi oi!

That's it for teh introduction or the whole text will be introductory and we will never move on!