Hello All!
Yes, I know it has been a while since I have posted. I have kept most of you updated on my life here in the Hunan Province via other forms of communication, but I have decided to make it my Chinese New Years resolutions to update my blog more frequently! I can use Chinese New Years as my excuse for starting in February since CNY isn't until Feb 19th this year.
Anyway picking up where I left off in the beginning of December. First off, I would like to say that I am throughly enjoying this years winter. It has been about a steady 45-50 degrees. The only problems is the lack of central heating so it often tends to be warmer outside my apartment then inside of it.
Teaching so far as been a very interesting experience. I am fortunate to have my students twice a week since they are at a slightly lower english level. They certainly never make life dull for me. They are constantly teaching me new things, while I am teaching them English and about Western Culture. I really got to know my students during the exams. As part of my teaching we do not have monthly tests or homework assignments, it is simply about teaching the students english and encouraging them to speak and become more confident. However, we do need to give them exams at the end of the semester. For my exams I required each of my students to speak for 1 minute about a topic we discussed in class. This sounds like an easy task, but to those of you who have learned a new language speaking in front of someone is scary no matter how good you can read or write, speaking is a whole new ball game. During the 3.5 weeks(yea, it takes that long to test 600 students) I got to know students in a whole new light. Someone of them where constantly asking me questions and practicing with me, and while others who are silent during class blew me away with how much english they knew! (Yes, those kids will be talking much more in class this next semester.
As for the teachers at my school, they still blow me away with their kindness, willingness to help me out from right notes in chinese to helping me practice my chinese. (Which is still really bad, but I am getting better...slowly but surely) I have also shared a lot of my American culture with them as well. We celebrated Christmas together, I have been making apple crisp in my crock pot which they love! I have also been introducing them to some new phrases and lots and lots of country music!
So as you know I was away from my family at Christmas for the first time. Needless to say it is was a difficult week, but thank goodness for technology and I was able to talk with them alot!! I also got a couple of Christmas presents in the mail! Shout out to my awesome Aunt Laurie, Uncle Bob and my cousins Cassie and Jenna, Kelly, Kelsie and Jon! Love getting American coffee in the mail!! I spent Christmas with the other foreign teachers in Zhuzhou and had a lovely feast of Christmas Delights!
As for time off and traveling I have been able to do some weekend trips. Over New Years (western), I went to Guangzhou in the Guangdong Province south of Hunan for 4 days! It was an awesome trip, on which I ate so much western food, I also got to eat some delicious Indian food as well! The trip was awesome except for the over night train ride back that returned at 6:30 in the morning and had me running to school to reach 6 classes that day on a Sunday no less. Needless to say I was exhausted, but I had my students energy to help me rally!
The Chinese school year ends its first semester at the end of January and the students then I have about a month off for Spring festival! The months change every year depending on when the New Years lands. It is determined by the lunar calendar.
Since we have a month off, I am taking advantage of this opportunity to do a lot of traveling! So far I spent 4 days in Beijing which is a beautiful city! The Great Wall was definitely not a disappointment! Now after I sign off I am headed on a plane bound for Vietnam! I will spend 11 days there in Hanoi, Hoi An and Ho Chi Mihn City! After that I will spend 10 days in Thailand!!
I will update during my trip if not right after!!
Peace out!!
Anna
Friday, February 6, 2015
Sunday, December 7, 2014
China so far
Hello All!!
I know it has been awhile since I have last updated this blog, I have come a long way since I have last updated as well!! I can't believe I have already been here for about 11 weeks! So far it has been an amazing experience and I have learned so much about the Chinese culture, language, people and even a lot about myself. I will go into more detail later but first I wanted to post a few pictures from my adventures so far. Here are the pictures you requested Mom and Dad! My internet connection here makes it difficult to load a lot of pictures but I will continue to post more. Here are a few from my trip to the Zhuzhou country side, Zhangjiajie(mountain pictures), pics with the other teachers, the city of Zhuzhou, the wonderful people I have met so far, Thanksgiving and my Christmas tree!!
I know it has been awhile since I have last updated this blog, I have come a long way since I have last updated as well!! I can't believe I have already been here for about 11 weeks! So far it has been an amazing experience and I have learned so much about the Chinese culture, language, people and even a lot about myself. I will go into more detail later but first I wanted to post a few pictures from my adventures so far. Here are the pictures you requested Mom and Dad! My internet connection here makes it difficult to load a lot of pictures but I will continue to post more. Here are a few from my trip to the Zhuzhou country side, Zhangjiajie(mountain pictures), pics with the other teachers, the city of Zhuzhou, the wonderful people I have met so far, Thanksgiving and my Christmas tree!!
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Teaching time!
Hi Friends!
Since I last posted things have picked up around here. The students and teachers have come back from holiday and I am getting adjusted to my new routine.
I have met some of the other English teachers. Most are from the UK and Ireland. There are two other teachers from the US though who are with the same school as I am.
Today, Wednesday the 8th is my first day of teaching. I am teaching classes of Senior 1 students. From what I understand there are three levels of the senior class 1, 2 and 3.
As I stated before, I am in the city of Zhuzhou, which is in the south central part of China. The school I am at is called Nanfang. The school has three different branches all of which have a high school, middle school and primary school. The school offers boarding for students who do not live close by. As many of you probably are unaware, I was until I arrived, that the Chinese school day is different from that of a typical school day in the United States. First off, the students are woken up by whistles and music starting to play, which is to the tune of Yankee Doodle (I found that kind of surprisingly odd) at 6:20 in the morning. After the students then have morning exercise, breakfast and reading time all before their first class. The students then throughout the day have class and different chores they are to complete. Classes can run depending on the class until 9:30 in the evening. At my particular school the bed time for students is at 10:15.
My apartment is located South School, while I teach at the East School. I have been provided a bike and have been told that is about a 30 minute bike ride. I have yet to take this route because I am still getting familiar with the directions but most days that is how I will commute to and from school.
I will talk about some of the interesting cultural differences or customs I have encountered so far here in China in my next post.
I am about to head off and teach my first class! Wish me luck!
Since I last posted things have picked up around here. The students and teachers have come back from holiday and I am getting adjusted to my new routine.
I have met some of the other English teachers. Most are from the UK and Ireland. There are two other teachers from the US though who are with the same school as I am.
Today, Wednesday the 8th is my first day of teaching. I am teaching classes of Senior 1 students. From what I understand there are three levels of the senior class 1, 2 and 3.
As I stated before, I am in the city of Zhuzhou, which is in the south central part of China. The school I am at is called Nanfang. The school has three different branches all of which have a high school, middle school and primary school. The school offers boarding for students who do not live close by. As many of you probably are unaware, I was until I arrived, that the Chinese school day is different from that of a typical school day in the United States. First off, the students are woken up by whistles and music starting to play, which is to the tune of Yankee Doodle (I found that kind of surprisingly odd) at 6:20 in the morning. After the students then have morning exercise, breakfast and reading time all before their first class. The students then throughout the day have class and different chores they are to complete. Classes can run depending on the class until 9:30 in the evening. At my particular school the bed time for students is at 10:15.
My apartment is located South School, while I teach at the East School. I have been provided a bike and have been told that is about a 30 minute bike ride. I have yet to take this route because I am still getting familiar with the directions but most days that is how I will commute to and from school.
I will talk about some of the interesting cultural differences or customs I have encountered so far here in China in my next post.
I am about to head off and teach my first class! Wish me luck!
Friday, October 3, 2014
My first week
Hello All!
As many of you already know, I have made it to Zhuzhou, China! It was a very long couple of days but I arrived and have been getting settled in this last week. I arrived on the eve of the second largest Chinese holiday! This meant that everyone was on holiday, so I have had a couple of quiet days to get settled in. My apartment is located at the Nanfang School where I will be teaching.
So far everyone has been extremely welcoming and accommodating, taking me around the city, feeding me delicious chinese food. Which, I am sure many of you can guess is nothing like Chinese food in the United States. It is 1000% times better!
I will meet with the school in the next couple of days and get settled into my routine, meeting the other foreign teachers at the school and beginning to start teaching in the next couple of weeks.
As for what life is like here in China, I have only gotten a small taste of it so far. First of all, those of you who complain about crazy drivers, people not obeying traffic laws they should come to China. I experience some interesting driving while living in Panama, but I have to say China takes the cake.
That is all I have for now! I will update more soon!
As many of you already know, I have made it to Zhuzhou, China! It was a very long couple of days but I arrived and have been getting settled in this last week. I arrived on the eve of the second largest Chinese holiday! This meant that everyone was on holiday, so I have had a couple of quiet days to get settled in. My apartment is located at the Nanfang School where I will be teaching.
So far everyone has been extremely welcoming and accommodating, taking me around the city, feeding me delicious chinese food. Which, I am sure many of you can guess is nothing like Chinese food in the United States. It is 1000% times better!
I will meet with the school in the next couple of days and get settled into my routine, meeting the other foreign teachers at the school and beginning to start teaching in the next couple of weeks.
As for what life is like here in China, I have only gotten a small taste of it so far. First of all, those of you who complain about crazy drivers, people not obeying traffic laws they should come to China. I experience some interesting driving while living in Panama, but I have to say China takes the cake.
That is all I have for now! I will update more soon!
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Preparing to leave
Hello All!
This is my first post on my Teaching in China blog! I am currently in the preparation process. You know the fun stuff; packing, working on my TESOL certification, learning some Chinese and saying goodbye to friends and family. Stay tuned for more to come!
This is my first post on my Teaching in China blog! I am currently in the preparation process. You know the fun stuff; packing, working on my TESOL certification, learning some Chinese and saying goodbye to friends and family. Stay tuned for more to come!
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