Adjust, adjust, adjust...

Life in China so far is an interesting, fun, challenging, and a new experience, but no matter how much I prepared and researched, it was not what I expected. 

The firsts two weeks being here have been fun but also very challenging for me. I just have a lot of thoughts going through my head about being in China and away from my family and friends. I never thought I have this much homesickness. When I am out with people and experiencing China, I love it. I have met a lot of great people and experienced some unique things. It’s enormously refreshing and exhilarating to feel like you can be anyone you want to be and come into situations without the baggage of your past, but I also realize just how much of “me” wasn't based totally on my geographic location, but more the connections I have made back home more than anything else. During a lot of my down time I sit and wonder about life back home. I miss not being able to just hear friends and families voices everyday. I have only been here for couple weeks, and I am already nervous about losing friendships. I know my closest friends will always be my friends, but being so far away has giving me such a forgotten and alone feeling that I hate. The worry that I had of the first few days of making new friends, adjusting, and mastering Chinese has now been replaced with the repeated question of “What am I missing?” As I am settling into life here, time is passing and it has also brought up another question of "How long have I been gone?" I am realizing life back home is going on without me. In the next year, people will change, move, and become completely different people, and so will I. It is a scary feeling for me right now that has made me very emotional, especially the last couple days...

That being said, I am determined to grow here in China. I know these strong feelings are only temporary. To grow as person one must be stretched from the comfort zone they are familiar with. I want to evolve, to change, to put myself in an uncomfortable new situation that would force me to into a new phase of life.

I will be traveling to Beijing next weekend so I will shy away from the emo blogs next week! I look forward to writing about my experiences there!

This is a picture of the local market by my house called "The Friendship Market." The food is unique, tasty, strange and cheap. My favorite thing to get is the pizza bread and dumplings!

Kindergarten Cop

So I have survived my first week here at Stone Kindergarten. It has been a challenging, but good week at the school. For those who do not know, I am teaching 5-6 year old children English at a very rich kindergarten here in Tangshan, The school is very clean and would be just as nice if not better than any kindergarten back in the US.

I currently teach 6 different half hour classes each week and 3 one hour special classes four of the five days . I see each of the half hour classes 3 times a week and I teach them with this goofy interactive software called Kid Brown English. It basically is a half hour lesson of dancing around and getting the kids to participate. For the most part it is fairly simple, and the kids are like little parrots who will mimic everything you do or say. We also bribe them with stickers for participating and that always works. The special classes are 1 hour each and there is a loose lesson plan they give me that I must follow, but use our own teaching aids and games to get the kids involved. I do like the special class, but 3 in a day is a lot of work. I have two at the end of the day and 5:30p class is always just ready to go home, so it is very challenging to keep 5-6 year olds motivated for an hour. Also, thinking of new games every week I know is going to be a challenge, but we will see how it goes.

My first couple days of teaching was very challenging because I am completely new to this and my boss Amanda in a way expected me to be the best right away. Monday she followed me to each class critiquing every little thing, which was very nerve racking. By lunchtime, I had to have a beer. Luckily, my roommate Craig and my friend Eric kept me motivated and explained this happens to everyone starting out. My boss is nice, but unfortunately her English vocabulary is very limited and the Chinese are very blunt, so instead of "you did A, B, and C well, but you need to improve here." it was more "you forgot A, B, C, and do better." This was very frustrating. Hwoever, the end of the day Amanda and the principle took me and Craig out to a great dinner. It was very relieving and helped me get through the stress.

As the week went on, I started to be more comfortable with the kids. My lesson plans went well and my boss Amanda even gave me some great compliments! Working with kids every day is a lot of fun, but tiring. However, they always bring a smile to me. The kids are always happy to see me, which is a good feeling when going to a job. I also get to be myself and goofy while getting paid for it.

Here are some pictures of the park where my school is and some pictures of my office and lobby. It took them on a Saturday so the school looks empty, but it gives you an idea of the place.  I will be off to Beijing next Saturday with some friends, and I am very excited to experience the city. Until next time. Enjoy!

Hi everyone!

I am settling in great here in Tangshan, China. A lot of things are new and different, but I have some great friends I have met to share in my adventures. My first weekend off Craig and I went to Nanhu (South Lake), but before that we got lost trying to find it! However, getting lost sometimes allows you to have the best adventures. We found this abandoned park built during the cold war next to a nuclear power plant called the "Workers" park. It was beautiful and unnerving at the same time. This huge lake and mountain, next to a nuclear reactor right in the middle of the city. Anyways, the mountain did make for a cool view of the city. We finally got on track and made it to the right park. Nanhu is very pretty and a great weekend spot.  Nanhu was built only a couple years ago as a ecological project to beautify the city. From what we gathered from the pictures and writing, it used to be an old coal mine and trash dump. However, now it is this spectacular park! We enjoyed some PBR (the only american bar I can find in China of course is the hipster beer) and ice cream. We started taking pictures of the main courtyard and people started taking pictures of us! We were like mini celebrities at the park, which was a fun feeling since I love attention.The lake is frozen for ice skating in the winter and I definitely plan to go!

Here are some pictures of Nanhu, and the "Workers" park. I will post about my school and neighborhood later this week and pictures of course!

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g659916-d2220999-r117920469-Nanhu_Garden-Tangshan_Hebei.html

Whoa!! Shell Shocked!

So as much research and reading and preparing I did before coming to China, I thought I wouldn't be victim to the initial culture shock. . . WRONG. The first night in Tangshan I could hardly sleep. It could have been from the bean bag pillow they gave me, the toilet and shower not being separated in the bathroom, or the constant noise outside my window.... In any case, I had my WTF moment quite soon... and all I wanted to do was fly back to America. After a couple days though, I have really started to settle in. . .

 My roommate Craig is from England. He is very cool and outgoing, He is also an ex bartender and loves to drink! I have also had a chance to hang with my friend Eric. He has been in Tangshan for a several months now and is used to the culture and has shown me around. It is great to have people you know here because there are very few foreigners in Tangshan.

The best part about China so far has been the purchasing power. I hate to cook and eat out every day. Back home this can be expensive, but here it is quite convenient. For example, I can get a tasty, full breakfast, lunch and dinner from the local street market for about 10-20 RMB total for all three meals ($3.00 -5.00 US). The people here are also very friendly. Being a foreigner, I do get the stares from people, but for the most part everyone wants to chat with you and practice their English. Also, when you speak a little Mandarin to them they thing it is the greatest thing.

The worst part about China so far is the dirtiness and the driving! All the things you hear about the Chinese pollution problem is true. On overcast days the clouds just keep the smog in the city. People also just throw their trash just about wherever they like. Recycling is nonexistent and people smoke and spit anywhere and everywhere. Driving is crazy! The whole Asians can't drive jokes are true here in China. The rules of the road are more like guidelines. I fear for my life every time I cross the street and you really have to be aware when walking because everybody just cuts you off. Also, the constant honking can get annoying.

I do have to say I LOVE the school I am at. I did not know what to expect, but the kindergarten I work at is very big and clean. I guess the school I work at is quite rich, and this is why there are 4 foreign teachers working here. All the kids are friendly and just want to play games. I literally got paid today to read a story book and play musical chairs. I will blog more about the school later.

I do not have any pictures to post today, but my next blog over the weekend will just be pics of my neighborhood and city.. Anyway, I am starting to really enjoy it here and I cannot wait to see what my first full week has in store!