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!