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My Chinese Experience

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Ryan10Hebei

United Kingdom

November 9, 2009

Hello dedicated readers and new additions to my writing repertoire.

I would like to apologise for the lack of a recent update, but unfortunately I have had no internet for the past 10 days or so which proved to be far from ideal.

 

10 Days ago I left for what was my first trip to Beijing, aside from a brief stop at the airport, which has remarkably clean floors. I went to the capital via a bus, which took around 3 hours. I learnt something new on the ride, as the guy sat in front of me told me that all Chinese people are classified as 1 year old after their first day alive, which I find pretty weird, so essentially all Chinese people are a year younger than what they are?!

 

Anyway, on the first night we arrived at about 7pm, and dropped our stuff off at the Peking University Hostel which was more like a hotel to be honest. We went out for a meal at a Mexican restaurant that night, which was pretty cool. I found it different to see other Western people around the city, and people weren't staring at me, which was again different from Tangshan, where I make up a tenth of the Western population (that's a guess).

 

We then went out to a Western bar called 'Lush', which had some nice live music and dirt cheap Mojito's! On the Saturday, we travelled to the Summer Palace, which is genuinely breathtaking, once you make your way up the hundreds of steps the views from the top are mind blowing and you can see across the city. The huge Buddhist temple located in the centre really makes you stop and take notice, I am not religious at all but it still had an effect on me.

 

The Palace as a whole is very beautiful and well kept and I must have been there for a few hours taking snaps and soaking it in. I should have the photos up on here once my friend Michael loads them up. In the afternoon we went to the Bird's Nest stadium, which was particularly poignant for me as I love sports and was an avid follower of the Beijing Olympics last summer.

 

I was shocked to find myself being asked for photos SIX times at the stadium, especially considering there were many Westerners present. One girl referred to me as a "superstar", which annoyed Michael so I was pleased with that! The track was covered by a race track, which was a little disappointed but I certainly enjoyed looking round the area, imagine what it looks like at night!

 

I went out for Halloween on the night, and met a Nigerian fella named Babby (I think) and he ended up getting the four of us free entry into club, which name escapes me, but it was a superb night and I actually knew the tunes! Result.

 

On Sunday, the snow came and when I say came, I mean poured down. I had no coat and it was so cold, so I felt worse for wear during the train journey home. We looked around Tianaman Square briefly, but the snow certainly gave it a different element, but I will look at that in more detail next time I go!

 

Teaching wise, I have just begun my fourth week and I am currently teaching them clothes, exercise and sports! Me doing demonstrations of Football, Boxing and Diving definitely seems to entertain the children! I am teaching Kindergarten in front of the parents tomorrow and Wednesday, which should be an experience, I just hope I perform! Haha.

 

Anyway, I'll leave it at that. I hope it proved to be a good read.

 

Bye! x

More entries: China:Two Months In. (5), Trip to Beijing. (4), Teaching: First Week (10), Introduction to China (9)

View all entries from My Chinese Experience >

08:43 AM Nov 09 2009

jess9622

jess9622
China

happy for your enjoying the time in beijing.  it is a beautiful city with so many places of interests.   i have visited there for two times but i still haven't visited all the places i'm interested in.   i look forward to travelling to beijing again.

  haha,it seems you are a little bit narcissistic. just kidding.  yes, there are various foreigners in beijing, so people there don't be surprised when seeing you.  While in some middle or small cities, it's rare to see foreigners in the street.  maybe you are a pupular guy no matter where you are.

anyway, hope you enjoy your teaching life in china.  good luckWink

 

05:12 AM Nov 09 2009

梦在远方
China

hello,Ryan,welcome to china!hehe,i'm glad to know you are teaching in china,it must be very funny,and you will deep love here.i'm a univercity and i hope to be your friend,can i?have a wonderful life!

 

04:39 AM Nov 09 2009

Amylove_u

Amylove_u
Thailand

That was so good. I do love it the way that you do Smile

I hope all the student will love you, too.

I will waiting for your next experience.

 Thanks, nice day.

03:01 AM Nov 09 2009

sukieLi

sukieLi
China

its really cold these days in  Beijing.