Saturday 5 September 2009
New Zealand
NEW ZEALAND
Nice to be out of China being able to communicate with people is a bonus but still have a problem trying to understand the bus timetables.
Spent my first week with my ex- landlady Sonia in Auckland with her partner Andrew.
We went on a day trip to Waitakere Ranges where the views are wonderful over the bush, just a little chilly, we stopped for lunch with views over Auckland in the distance.
The following day we went up the Sky Tower Auckland the views are magnificent but very scary I had to sit on the floor in the lift there was no way I could look out of the glass paneled elevator with a glass panel on the floor.
Tauranga
I caught the Naked Bus to Tauranga where I was meeting my friend Don who I met in China. We were both hoping to get some work Kiwi Fruit pruning for a couple of weeks but it's very differcult getting on the pruning gangs plus it's quite late in the season, so at the moment I'm just taking it easy sightseeing and doing lots of running and cycling got to get fit it will be summer when I get to Perth.
Nice to be out of China being able to communicate with people is a bonus but still have a problem trying to understand the bus timetables.
Spent my first week with my ex- landlady Sonia in Auckland with her partner Andrew.
We went on a day trip to Waitakere Ranges where the views are wonderful over the bush, just a little chilly, we stopped for lunch with views over Auckland in the distance.
The following day we went up the Sky Tower Auckland the views are magnificent but very scary I had to sit on the floor in the lift there was no way I could look out of the glass paneled elevator with a glass panel on the floor.
Tauranga
I caught the Naked Bus to Tauranga where I was meeting my friend Don who I met in China. We were both hoping to get some work Kiwi Fruit pruning for a couple of weeks but it's very differcult getting on the pruning gangs plus it's quite late in the season, so at the moment I'm just taking it easy sightseeing and doing lots of running and cycling got to get fit it will be summer when I get to Perth.
Friday 4 September 2009
Tuesday 18 August 2009
conclusion
I'm still considering whether I will go back to China!!
The conclusion I have come to is that the schools are pretty differcult to work for you take pot luck who ever needs staff you go for it you have no idea what you have in store and everyday is an adventure.
The work is quite easy 0900 -1130 then 3 hour brake for lunch and most of china has to nap for some reason. They really can't understand why foreigner don't like a sleep in the afternoon then back to work till 5 for a quick dinner maybe a swim in the lovely river after that if the weather is good.
Any excuse to withhold money, if you are sick or don't turn up to an volunteer English Corner they will keep as much as they can your best bet is to have everything written down even to the smallest details. They will make the rules up as they go along there is know doubt of that. They will tell you that you are great and your students love you until it comes to pay day then they will withhold some more money because there is a complaint.
The students are terrific and grateful that you are in their country helping them learn English but the students will complain and moan behind your back to everyone.
Most foreign teachers find it hard the first 4 months but once you are used to the Chinese way it can be very relaxing and fun with beautiful sights, smells and learning about their quirky culture.
This is the first time I have been able to do the blog myself as China blocked Blog the first week I was there so thanks to Andre I was able to keep you updated. Facebook was also blocked for the last 4 weeks and Hotmail to on the anniversary of Tiananmen Square.
The Chinese are not interested in their history so choose to ignore the terrible consequences of Chairman Mao and Communist rule in the early 20th century. This is a very touchy subject which is best steered away from for your own safety.
It was a pretty great experience and I met some fantastic people that I would never have met I am so glad I did it but not sure if I would go back again. I wish I new more about the Chinese culture before I went then I would have found it a bit easier.
The conclusion I have come to is that the schools are pretty differcult to work for you take pot luck who ever needs staff you go for it you have no idea what you have in store and everyday is an adventure.
The work is quite easy 0900 -1130 then 3 hour brake for lunch and most of china has to nap for some reason. They really can't understand why foreigner don't like a sleep in the afternoon then back to work till 5 for a quick dinner maybe a swim in the lovely river after that if the weather is good.
Any excuse to withhold money, if you are sick or don't turn up to an volunteer English Corner they will keep as much as they can your best bet is to have everything written down even to the smallest details. They will make the rules up as they go along there is know doubt of that. They will tell you that you are great and your students love you until it comes to pay day then they will withhold some more money because there is a complaint.
The students are terrific and grateful that you are in their country helping them learn English but the students will complain and moan behind your back to everyone.
Most foreign teachers find it hard the first 4 months but once you are used to the Chinese way it can be very relaxing and fun with beautiful sights, smells and learning about their quirky culture.
This is the first time I have been able to do the blog myself as China blocked Blog the first week I was there so thanks to Andre I was able to keep you updated. Facebook was also blocked for the last 4 weeks and Hotmail to on the anniversary of Tiananmen Square.
The Chinese are not interested in their history so choose to ignore the terrible consequences of Chairman Mao and Communist rule in the early 20th century. This is a very touchy subject which is best steered away from for your own safety.
It was a pretty great experience and I met some fantastic people that I would never have met I am so glad I did it but not sure if I would go back again. I wish I new more about the Chinese culture before I went then I would have found it a bit easier.
Friday 17 July 2009
Summer School Ghangzhou Mega City
Ghangzhou China
I left Yangshou on the 8th July and headed to Ghangzhou to stay with my friend Nichol and help her for a week at a Summer School. It’s great being in a city for a change it’s so much different than Yangshuo cinemas, metro and expensive western food. Ghangzhou is renown for markets where you can buy anything from food to electronic goods, great for export.
I spent 1 week helping at Summer School in an area outside Ghangzhou a very large school. The students are off school on summer holidays at moment so they hold summer camp to teach English, there was 30 students in our group who sleep at school and get entertained from 0800 to 2100. Mainly we would play games and songs trying to teach english which is quite differcult as the ages range from 6- 15 but still good fun.
One day we had a day trip and went round the park and museums. The museums were small but the items they had were amazing from the Qing, Jing dynasty. Pottery and jewellery only found in the 70’s and loads of pottery from and artifacts from BC.
3 more days to go speak when I get to New Zealand
Trip to Guilin
Guilin China
After weeks of bordom we decided to organise a trip to Guilin to visit some museums and parks. We aquired an annoying taxi driver who only wanted to take us where he wanted to go which was the Jade museum。Trying to explain that that was not our destination was extremely hard even with two chinese people in our party. Firstly we were taken to a park around one of the big hills which had a Buddist temple and some caves. Pretty amazing place they have statues carved out of the saligmits and as you walk down into the cave you were going through the various stages of Hell where they kill disenbowel people in very hrrible ways. I have never seen such explicit forms. Buddist monks have made the pilgrimage here for thousands of years. Then on the way out you visit the head monk for a blessing who then wanted 100 Yean off everyone. Typical.
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