Yeah Changping!

Sitting on the bus on my way to the airport other than thinking can't this idiot snoring next to me shut up, I was beginning to feel for the first time a real sense of what I had undertaken. In front of me lay six months of teaching in China though the immediate problem was finding my round beijing airport. After an hour and half tour I managed t0 find a dashing set of people waiting for a stunning adventure. It was here that I had the pleasure of meeting the Dutch wonder known as Rob and Tim the sexual Swede. Everyone had been waiting around all day so were looking a bit fed up. Dragging suit cases in toe we stumbled into a bus and headed for somewhere. Somewhere turned out to be a town about an hour and a bit from the city centre called Changping. We were to stay and be trained at a really expensive private school called Huijia. I can feel this time slipping from my memory and feel I really should of written more at the time.


Room 111 in Huijia

First few days were 'free' for us to get over jet lag (Non for me) and settle in. The Germans didn't arrive until Saturday as they had been strandard in Hong Kong due to typhoons. From there on it was back to school almost. Getting up each morning for lessons breaking for lunch and then having more lessons. The feeling was made worse by Laura our instructor who really made you feel you back at school. I had a fantastic time though as although I didn't really know anyone there, there were great people there aswell as there being some not so great people.
We played football and basketball with the school guades, had salsa dancing, tequila parties hosted by Mayra and Lilly from Mexico. Lesson wise the first two weeks were just being told how to teach, the third limited teaching practise and forth more being told how to teach.
Weekends were free kind of. Trips were organised the first being to the forbidden city and Tianmen square. This was the only one I went on as I was suffering from a feeling of being contained. After having absolute freedom with Pete I had been spoilt and was willing to be told where I can go and at what time. So I was really antisocial (something which I regret, though I would do it again).
In the first week I was stupid a bought a yellow fold up bike (the beginning of my bike exploits). I was really pleased with it (it had pictures of hello kitty on it and everything, shiney too). So me being really stupid locked this brand new, shiney fold up bike by the wheel only in front of a shady looking guy. Will I was in an internet cafe he with a grin I'm sure he happily ran off into the sunset with my bike. A rather disgruntled me walked back to Huijia. This would not be the last of stupid bike purchases by me in Beijing. I brought a second folding bike not long after having the first stolen. I enjoyed having it but when I found out we were flying I had to sell it for a stupid price.
When not at the school we spent a large amount of time in a pool hall and singing karaoke at a budget KTV.
I really enjoyed my weekends where I would catch a bus to line 13 of the Beijing metro system. You would then stand for an hour on an interesting train journey. Dispite doing the same trip a number of times on arrival in Beijing I consistantly made the same mistake of just getting on the first bus that came along and ending up in some random district. Though on one occassion I actually made it to Tiananmen. I had a wonder round the Museum of Chinese History/Chinese revolution (the big one off Tiananmen square) and tried to get into the Great Hall of the People but for some reason it seemed to be closed so I just brought an ice cream, dodgy t-shirt (8 yuen!) and headed down a random street instead. I ended walking around Hutongs and building sites for over two hours. Another week I spent most of the day trying to find the main tour group as I had missed them due to over sleeping but in the end gave up and just went to the temple of heaven by myself.
On the last weekend I went with Cathrin to the Lama and Confucius temples. After admiring the fine building work we rented a postcard seller's bike and he went and got he's to rent us a second. They were stunning bikes just lacking breaks. Which made cycling around the chaotic Beijing traffic that much more exciting. We cycled round hutongs and down the river for two hours stoppping for beer along the way.

Other things that I remember and wish to write though can no longer remember the order that they happened in are playing football matches against the school guards in which Roy showed his class. Also climbing up the 'hill' next to the school at sunset with Sahra from Denmark. Having conversations with Johnny was always good fun especially if mildly drunk. Playing and discussing pool skills with Claudia. On the first day I remember speaking with Przemystaw (pronounced Shemek) about European intigration from which I could not have guessed what a large character he was. He made a number of speeches on bus trips and would even sing the odd song. One thing which I found a bit odd was when you were in the school it didn't feel you were in China but as soon as you stepped outide the gates it was immdiately apparent that you were. I know that sounds rather stupid but while you were at the school you were surrounded by mostly Europeans who were all speaking English so you could feel the culture gap when you stepped outside. Other pursuits included trying to find a foot massage in Changping with Bela, Johnny and Timm and I think ending up in a brothel. I think we can mainly blame it on Timm who went up to a Chinese lad and said 'massage, not sexual, not sexual!' but I think all he heard was massage, sex sex! After showing an expression of shock he ran off. We then wondered into a place with bright flashy lights, always a mistake. I also had an incident with a taxi driver who took me to the school only for me to be stupid and find that all I could give him was a onehundred yuen note. He got pissed off but we got around it by going to a petrol station. One thing that I really enjoyed was when the cash machine ate Nathan's card and he didn't have his passport to get it back. I know that sounds terrible but what happened was the bank had just closed but we got a lady at the door who said if you get your passport back here by 6'o'clock we can give you your card. So I would cycle back and get Nathan's passport for him. It was absolutely mental and I enjoyed every moment of it. Unfortuntely when I got back all the bank staff had left but Nathan went back the next day and got his card no problem. I think a few days after this I sat watching dancing on the main square in Changping. It was there most nights and I enjoyed just sitting, watching and listening to what I think was Boney M.
Following an extended graduation ceremony which seemed to go on for longer than the course we had one last night of the pool hall and KTV before a manic morning of packing the next day. We then had one last night out together in Beijing. I think I got rather drunk though as much as I can rememeber think I only fell over twice. Those heading to the south didn't really bother sleeping as we had to leave for the airport at five in the morning. We said brief good byes and then caught our flight to Shenzen.

How many Petes does it take to change a light bulb?

Me and my partner in crime, Pete had been in contact through email in the months leading up to my trip to China. We arranged to meet each other in Beijing airport at 11.00am on Thursday 27th July. Pete was in his gap year after his A-levels. He had spent up until I believe February working at the Felix hotel in Cambridge, earning money to fund a stunning trip in which he would fly to Singapore and return by land. His route would take him through Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam,China, Mongolia, Russia and Finland (He ran out of money and had to fly from here.). I was lucky enough that Pete would be in the Beiijing area around the time that I would be flying out to begin my TEFL course on the 4th August. I decided to fly out a week before in order to meet up with Pete. I was amazed that it actually all worked. I got off the plan after a very pleasent flight and there was Pete, no problems. Credit to him (for being there, he had nothing to do with the flight, I guess).
It was strange seeing him, for although it had only been a few months it felt much longer. My last memory of him had been saying good bye outside the corn exchange following a goodbye drink. It was really good to see him again. He appeared tired and I felt I should be too having not slept for about 36 hours though I must have been too excited.

We spent the day just wondering around. Pete buying a present for his sister, me just trying to work out where I was (Beijing, I think.). The next day we decided to head for the Great wall but to avoid all the tour groups we went for a less commercial part of the wall called Huanghua (shown in the photo).

I was still getting used to China so must of been a bit of a drag for Pete. I was also suffering a bit from jet leg so was a bit up in the clouds. The view that greated us when we arrived at the wall was spectacular confirming my up in the clouds feeling. It's positioned next to a reservoir in a valley and on the day it was filled with what I think was smog if not mist (giving the photos a bit of a mystic look). We wondered up and down the wall via ladders and winding paths to the end of the world and back. A solid pose.


We stayed overnight for 50RMB (5 euros). In the evening we sat upon the roof where Pete attempted and failed to teach me some card games amit cats pouncing upon insects and our hosts eating their evening meal in the corner.

The next day we headed back to Beijing to the central station. I can't remember how but we decided to head for Dalian with the intention of continuing on to Qingdao before coming back to Beijing to go our separate ways. It was a last minute thing so hard sleepers were sold out. We decided you only live once and went for the luxury of soft sleeper. Following the intense negotiation to deposite my stupidly heavy backpack we set upon a little Bo Hai loop. On the train I was introduced by a couple of Chinese gentleman to rice wine and alcohol free lager, i didn't think much of either to be honest.

We woke up in Dalian 'the Hong Kong of the north'. We spent two nights here in the most extensive accommodation Pete had stayed in during his Journey so far. Though it was a big tower after all. We spent the days exploring the city from parks with giant footballs to beaches with freezing cold water.






On the second evening we went down 'fishy street' for some cheap sea food well Pete did I have to confess that I was too much of a wimp to make the most of it trying small amounts. However what made it memorable was the rain. This was proper rain with water and everything. Frantic cooks put emergency roofs up in an attempt to keep everything dry though many meals were lost. The roofs did keep us dry though had a habbit of filling up with water. I was convinced that one was going to collapse on our heads at any minute. I did do a good job of making sure Pete didn't stay completely dry. Despite the rain cooking contined with our chiefs taking the chance to cook for themselves.

Following our pleasent but rather wet stay in Dalin we caught the daily ferry to Yantai. From the ferry we witnessed a spectecular thunder storm with lighting coming within a few kilometres of us. Again I got rather wet. From Yantai we caught a rather cramped minibus to Qingdao. Not knowing where to stay we wondered the streets in the dark for over an hour in search of a hostel. Tempers beginning to show. All was well again the next day with a visit to the Tsingtao brewery. In the evening we sat on the pier watching the sea and the city next to it. Qingdao is well worth a visit (I think I'm getting nostalgic).





In search of a good beach we caugth a ferry across to I don't know where but Pete seemed to know where he was going. We were limited by time as we had to catch a sleeper bus back to Beijing. It took us over two hours to get to the beach giving just half an hour for Pete to have a dip and me to fill a childhood void of flying a kite. It was then a race back to the bus. After arriving back on the ferry we sought a taxi however we must of offended Qingdao's taxi driver's in a past life as they all refused to take us. In the end we found one who must of been a happy white rabbit with out a care in the world before and was willing to try and take us to the bus station via our hostel to get our bags. In the end we made it without a moment to spare. Perfect timing as always Pete.

Back in Beijing we had dumplings for breakfast before parting at the central train station. While I headed for the airport to meet my fellow future English teachers Pete remained in Beijing for a few days sorting out his Tran-Siberian railway ticket. He then headed through Mongolia, riding horses and shooting plastic bottles with his kalashnikov. Moving into Russia he hung out with another English guy and his friends in St Petersburg before running out of money and flying home from Finland with £44 to his name.

I will remember that week for the rest of my life. Sorry to get soppy but thanks a million Pete (I'm now Irish).

China, my introduction

I have been in China for over two months now and have only just thought that writing a blog might be a good idea. I left on 26/7/2006 from heathrow to Beijing via Copenhagen with Scandinavian airlines. The send off I received was highly appreciated. Thanks to Phillip and Ann for coming. At the time I had little idea of what to expect from the coming year. I couldn't say that at the airport that I was hugly excited though I was eager to begin. Upon reading the cards and poems Mum had given me while waiting in Copenhagen I couldn't stop tears coming to my eyes. The memory of reading those at that moment I feel will stay with me forever. I am writng this all two and half months after it has happened and just through thinking about it now I am finding that my perspective towards it has changed. I have been trying to keep a log so far though have failed to fill it in regularly. So what I write is mainly from what I can remember. At the moment I am finding even though alot has happened I can remember most thinks as if they had happened yesterday even if they feel rather distant.
Anyway back to the standard what I have done so far. The course with WTCC (Work Travel Company China) didn't start until 4th August. I was flying out a week early to meet up with Pete who flew out to Singapore, I think in April and since then had been working his way back to good old Coton (for those who don't know it, it's not far from Cambridge) via land before starting at the LSE in the autumn. It just so happened that he was going to be around Beijing at the same time as me so via emails we arranged to meet at Beijing airport at 11am on the 27th. I don't know why I've written that but I like to remember that kind of detail. I'll write up my exploits with Pete in a separte post (complete with photod) as I think its that good. I'm not trying to sell it or anything though if you your interested in sponsoring any of my fantastic posts feel free to contact me and we can negotitate a price.
After my week with Pete (that could be a title to a best seller. I'll leave it to your imagination what the plot is.) I met up with WTCC for my month of being trained as an English teacher. Again I'll write this brillent episode in a separate post. Upon completion and after an extended presentation ceremony we split up. Around thirty of us flew down Shenzen on the 31st August. Where then deposited are luggage (mine being far more than it should be) at a rather fancy looking hotel room. After a short work and a little over an hour queuing we found ourselves in Hong Kong (see separate post). We spent the night there in order to sort out F visas for everyone though I already had mine due to flying out early. After collecting our luggage we went our separate ways. Some staying in Shenzen, others heading for Dongguen, two off to Zhuhai and the rest including myself to Zhongshan. Even on the bus to Zhongshan I coouldn't say I was really excited of nervous which I found strange. Upon arrival Me and Tom, I suppose I should introduce Tom. We found out in Beijing that we were to be placed together at a place called the Boli English training centre. WTCC allocated rooms in Beijing according to who you were meant to be placed with so me and Tom shared a room in Beijing. He was 25, English (from around Bath) and had been working since completing his A-levels mainly as a power tools salesman (please email me if you are reading this and tell if I have got anything wrong). He came to China in search of something different to what he found himself in. A day or so before heading to Shenzen we were told that we would actually be at a school called Wuguishan. So on the 1st September we found ourselves waiting to be picked by the people from Wuguishan (I'll go into this in a separate post). The whole school is made up of a primary, middle and high schools all on the same site. After a week of orientation I found myself teaching the primary school with Tom in the middle and high schools. Our accommodation was a flat about a minute or so walk from the school. We are sharing the flat with a Chinese English teacher we know as Jamie though his Chinese name is 张志宏 zhang, zhi, hong). After a month of teaching came the national holiday which I mainly spent in Yangshao (see post). That pretty much brings us up to speed I look forward to writing more detailed posts and adding photos.