no more teacher riiichhaaaaa

So today I said goodbye to 400 students and to the school that has been my second home for the past 5 months, to say it was emotional would be an understatement!

It's been happy, it's been sad, it's been hard work and I've been stressed and it's been hilarious and I've been more relaxed than I have been in years... and I wouldn't change a single day. By far the best experience of my life so far, but now the exciting bit really comes...  so tomorrow me and Iris are using our extra week off to visit Xi'an and see the Terracotta Army before one last visit to Houjie to grab the rest of my stuff and head off on my real travels!

But where ever I am in the world, I will never forget faces like these!

Some photos from this weekend...

On Sunday me, Iris and Linda went to the next town over, Humen, to visit one of Iris' chinese assistants hometown. It's quite a famous place in Chinese history, so we were taken to visit some museums to learn all about the Opium war.... aka that time in history when the British weren't quite so nice.....bit awkward for me...

They also have one of the biggest wholesale markets in China with more cheap clothes/bags/shoes than I have ever seen in my life! I managed to pick up a real Longchamp bag for about a tenner, 'made in china' straight from the source.... happy days.

 Sherry, A Giant, Iris, Linda

Typical...

So in typical China fashion our school has misunderstood that we are not in fact telepathic... meaning our leaving date has been brought forward without us knowing anything about it! Which means this is our last week of teaching and will be filled with non-stop exams.... and no chance for goodbye lessons of games and photos :( We also now have a week of nothing as they decided to tell us about this AFTER we booked our onwards travels.....

Thanks for that one China!

Zhangjiajie

So last week was the Dragon Boat Festival in China, so after working 7 days we were off on a 14 hour train journey to Zhangjiajie which is in the next province over from us. We had waited a bit too long to book our train tickets (they book up so fast on a national holiday) so unfortunately all that was left on our departing journey was the dreaded 'hard seats'. Unlike the name suggests, they were actually quite comfortable, apart from the fact it was impossible to fall asleep as they left the lights on and people wandered up and down the carriage all night trying to sell toothbrushes, blankets, laptops, etc etc. But we survived and I guess it was an experience, but hopefully one not to be repeated any time soon.

We travelled overnight on Sunday so arrived bright and early on Monday, so after checking into our hostel despite feeling completely knackered we decided to get straight out there and explore the mountains that were right by our hostel. Maybe a bit delerious from lack of sleep, maybe just excited not to be working after 7 days straight, for some reason of us decided it would be a great idea to climb up the mountain on absolutely no sleep. So off we trecked to the first check point of stairs, where we were met with this sight...

I'm not sure if the photo does it justice, but these stairs were never ending and ridiculously steep and slippery, WITH NO SAFETY RAIL TO HOLD ON TO. Nevertheless we trecked upwards, immediately regretting this decision as we met more and more dangerous stairs as we got nearer the top. What can I say, health and safety hasn't quite made its way to China yet.

                                                  

Luckily, the near death experience was all worth it when we finally reached the top of the mountain (a few minor heart attacks later) to see this view... without a doubt the best thing I have seen in my life so far!

Again the photo probably doesn't do it justice. On the way back down (just as dangerous and soul destroying) there was some cool stuff to see to keep us going, including a monkey park and a scary horror movie-esque abandoned dark temple.

After this adventure I think it's fair to say we needed a decent meal... so we went exploring the town to find a western restaurant (well a girl can dream) or at least a nice Chinese place to feed our hungry mouths. Unfortunately, what the guide books won't tell you is that no one comes to Hunan province for it's food and Zhangjiajie is no exception, despite being pretty touristy. Hours of searching later we ended up paying far too much for terrible barbeque and awful dumplings.... I didn't even know it was possible to get barbeque and dumplings wrong, but yup Zhangjiajie managed it. I got the feeling right then that I might be hungry for a lot of this trip. Sad times.

After a well deserved early night, we got up early to go to the National Park to see what we had all realistically come to see.... the 'avatar' mountains! They did not disappoint at all.... we spent a good 10 hours wandering round the park and I don't think I would ever have got tired of the view. Anyone who knows me well will know I am not exactly big on nature and hiking, in fact I think that is the understatement of the century. But even for a nature-phobe like me, it was amazing!

And then, at the top of these tranquil, beautiful mountains, we were met with a view that was even more beautiful that anything I have ever seen before in my life. I think this view was so beautiful to me that I wept a few tears of happiness.... Be prepared for the beauty....

Yes that's right..... McDONALDS AT THE TOP OF A MOUNTAIN! after a long two days and no decent food, it was like a mirage at first but sure enough it was real and it was amazing.

After nearly getting locked in the park for the night (no-one tells the foreigners when the last bus is running, maybe a fun joke that all the Chinese staff are in on), we had a relaxed evening with a few beers in the hostel before another early night in preparation for our last day (I know I sound like an old boring woman, but to be honest it was more due to the fact Zhangjiajie hasn't discovered bars/night clubs yet).

So, on our final day, Me, Jen and Elin decided to spend our last drips of money on visiting Tianmen mountain - home of the world's longest cable car and also the infamous skywalk. We took the cable car up 4,700ft high to take in the amazing views, which I managed to enjoy despite feeling like I was about to fall out of the sky.

We followed the treck around the mountain (literally on a balcony snaking round the outside of the moutain... not for the faint hearted) until we got to the skywalk... a balcony round the mountain with a clear glass bottom, so that when you look down you see a 4,700 ft straight drop beneath your feet.

Probably the scariest but best thing I have ever done!

Anyway after a lovely day looking at a lot of beautiful mountains and exploring the temple at the top, it was sadly time to leave Zhangjiajie and head back for a day of teaching the next day in Houjie, to begin the final countdown of 3 teaching weeks left before we all head our separate ways. So scary how soon we are leaving, I feel like I've only just got here! I've finally booked my flight to Shanghai on July 8th, after all my 'being at one with nature' of the last holiday I'm excited to get back in the hustle and bustle of a big city. And also excited to be reunited with some very missed faces I haven't seen since my trip to Chengdu!

A few more photos from Zhangjiajie...

The Houjie crew

 Maybe I will become a keen hiker when I get home? Hmm maybe not, don't think it suits me..

 Beautiful boat ride that we took around the lake after our near death experience to calm ourselves

Before the glass 'walk of faith'

 Chinese people are very big on 'luck', so at one point of the mountain every single branch was covered in thousands of these red scarves with prayers people had written on them, because it was a particularly lucky place (no idea why). Of course I paid 2 quai to write my own ... they must see me coming. But when you're that high up with China's health and safety record, you need all the luck you can get....

Apparently not a lot of Westerners visit Tianmen mountain, so while we were up there a lot of Chinese people were asking to take photos with us! And when they have babies this cute, how can we say no....

teaching in china can be many things... but boring is definitely not one of them

So this weekend we have to teach to make up for the 3 days holiday we will be taking next week. We were told last week that Saturday and Sunday would be Monday and Tuesday's lessons... fine by me as this would mean I only have to teach two lessons as they have agreed to let us leave early to get our train on Sunday. Yesterday evening however I find out (by accident) that we actually are teaching Tuesday and Wednesday.... meaning I have two full days of teaching that I was not at all prepared for... And no one had thought to tell us earlier that this had changed! Apparently our school has missed the memo that we are not telepathic. So today has been a day filled with lesson improvisations and many worksheets.

The school also neglected to tell us with due warning that we were meant to be performing at this mornings Grade 3 English Stage. Which meant a very shaky performance of 'Baby' by Justin Bieber in front of 300 ecstatic students (they really love Justin here).

Other than our school being useless at telling us things, this week has been pretty average. One of my Grade 1 assistants practically begged me to stay a second semester as apparently I 'teach them well', which made me happy. Well, happy until the students formed a ring around me in the playground and started chanting 'yellow head' at me.... I am really going to miss all those little weirdos....

Also had an interesting conversation with Sherry (or maybe Shelly, we aren't too sure), one of Iris' assistants today. We were telling her all about our onward travels and she said: 'maybe for you foreigners, travelling is important, but for us, work is always more important'. When I asked her if she wanted to travel, she said 'of course, but I don't have the time, I have to work hard'. This kind of response is pretty typical from Chinese people on the subject of travelling, they can't just take time off work or take a 'gap year' like Westerners generally do to see the world... in fact most Chinese people haven't even been to the next province over from them. It makes you think how lucky we are to get to be given such amazing opportunities... so if anyone at home has the opportunity to travel, just do it!

A day in the life of a TEFL teacher

With just one month to go, we've definitely got settled into a bit of a routine in the general Monday - Friday school week.... so, for anyone who cares even slightly, here is an insight to what it is like being a foreign teacher in China...

7am. – Alarm goes off. I turn over, daily I wonder where I am for a good 5 minutes. It hits me that I am in fact in China and I have somehow become an English teacher. I hit snooze and roll over in an attempt to go back to whatever dream land I was previously in.

7.20 – I have to eventually drag myself out of bed and face the reality that I am actually a teacher in China. I struggle to find an outfit that is both suitable to wear in a work environment, and also keeps me cool when the weather is actually hot enough to go to school in a bikini. Anything that shows up sweat marks is also a no-go. Humidity is a killer here and it is more than likely someone will take photos of me at any point during the day.

7.45 – Walk to school with Iris and Phil, all of us complaining the whole way to cheer each other up. Normally cause a few road accidents on the way when locals nearly crash on their way to work, they're so shocked to see foreigners walking the streets. Breakfast is either a solid disapointment or we have missed it altogether, so we head to our offices to check the daily news report (Facebook) before class.

10.00 – After two hours of dancing around and making an idiot of myself for my student's amusement (with the occasional English word chucked in), they make their way outside for their morning exercises. I haven't been asked to join them yet so until they force me to, I hide in my office and listen to Backstreet Boys/Shakira/Chinese trance music or whatever music choice they have selected for the exercises today.

12pm – Lunch time. After a full morning teaching classes of 40 kids, I'm starving. Oh good, the canteen is serving up fish heads, bean sprouts and boiled rice. AGAIN. We leave the canteen as quickly as we entered and instead head to our favourite local dumpling shop (aka 'dumpling lady') for some 30p dumplings. This is followed by compulsory nap time when every head in the school is firmly put down on their desk and the whole school has a rest. Silence. Bliss.

13.40 – The students wake up (noisily), which wakes me up/forces me to leave my daydream. It's English video time... normally this involves something ridiculously inappropriate for their age (I don't pick the movies). They don't understand it, but I appreciate 10 minutes of whatever that class has the pleasure of watching today.

13.50 – Afternoon lessons. Cue more dancing around making a fool of myself.

14.30– The students do their weird afternoon eye exercises. I either watch them, confused about the entire point of this, or hide in my office until I'm called upon again to mould some young minds (/babysit).

15.35- School is over!! Home time... oh no wait, first I have to teach Grade 1 VIP.... aka the 'smartest' or as I believe the cutest kids from each class. I'm meant to help them with their oral English, but they normally complain and sulk until we end up playing London bridge for 30 minutes. I wish London Bridge would just bloody fall down so I never have to hear that song again.

16.30 Finally allowed to clock out and leave. However it normally takes us about 10 minutes just to make it out the gates as every child wants to come up and say 'goodbye'. Then we have to stand and wave to every single school bus that drives out the gates as the kids press themselves up against the windows to wave goodbye. Our cheeks hurt from smiling but secretly we feel a bit like celebrities and love it.

17.00 - Mandarin class. This basically means an hour of feeling like the biggest idiot in the world because TONES ARE SO DIFFICULT. Don't feel like such a celebrity any more... Mandarin is stupid and just want to go home.

18.00 – Meet the others at the local food market for some cheap rice/noodles/dumplings/meat/veg/beer/all of the above if it has been a particularly rough day. Moan about our students/assistants/mandarin/life/all of the above if has been a particularly rough day. Feel a bit better about life and generally being in China. After a while of sitting in the warmth of the evening, enjoying the lovely weather and being outside... the heavens will generally open with extreme thunder and lightning and we will be forced to head back to our prison-like apartments for our our health and safety.

Put on a film of whatever someone has downloaded that day. Spend 90 minutes in the world of the film where people eat normal food, speak unbroken English to everyone around them, wear normal clothes, do normal Western things. This is more often than not inturrupted by a suprise visit from our crazy landlady who likes to let herself into our apartments, wonder round looking at our stuff and talk to us in Chinese.

Head to bed at whatever time I can be bothered to drag myself there, lie on my rock hard mattress and stick the air con on full blast.... drift off to sleep wondering how I ended up here and thinking how hilarious the whole situation is regardless of how love/hate my relationship with China is at times... 

AND REPEAT! Who said being a teacher was easy...

Children's Day

So last week was children's day, which is a day in China especially for the children (as the name cleverly suggests). There was a morning of shows including one by each grade's English 'VIP' students. I teach the grade 1 VIPs, so they performed the song I'd taught them 'I'm a little teapot' in front of the whole school. They were so cute in their little teapot hats that I prepared the day before, I was beaming with pride!!

This week we're teaching 7 days again because next week is the Dragon Boat Festival and we have three days off school. We've decided to visit the next province over, Hunan, and go to a city called Zhangjiajie. If you've seen the film Avatar, this might look a tad familiar......

That's Zhangjiajie , the place the film was inspired by. B-e-a-utiful! Anyone who knows me at all will be able to tell you I'm not exactly a keen hiker, but I'm excited to see a different side of China that isn't filled with skyscrapers and is slightly more beautiful. First just to get these awful 7 days over with.... and survive another night on the sleeper train...