#33 China

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What a difference a week makes! Or how about a month? Last month at this time we were celebrating the secular new year in Delhi, India. Now we are about to celebrate the year 4760 (or there about) in China. We now have a wonderful job teaching English and a splendid little apartment!

After considering many offers we decided to go with Clever Kids on a Dramatic Adventure in English. First of all, the company really invests in its employees. Last month there was a company paid for spa weekend. This month we all went out for dinner and drinks and got a really nice New Year's gift hamper (thats British English for a gift basket). They actually pay us to come in during the week and prepare our lessons for the weekends. The downside is that after New Years, we will be teaching every Saturday and Sunday until July. I have two classes of apx 7 year olds and apx 10 year olds. They are grouped by level and not age. Laura has 1 class of apx 7 year olds in addition to her duties as drama club director.

Finding an apartment was a nightmare! First of all in order to be shown an apartment, people ask for an entire month's rent just to show you a place (if you sign). Then the landlord asks for 1 month deposit, and 3 months rent in advance! This can add up quickly. Laura luckily found someone on this new sight here (called the list of Craig, or Craig's list) and we saw the apartment for free and moved in a week later. Our apartment is on the 6th floor of a nice apt building and has a great view. We have a spacious living room, a dining room, kitchen, bathroom and bedroom. Nothing special but we are really cozy. In square feet it is more than 700 square feet. Most importantly we have internet, and hot water!

Currently we are on a 10 day break for Chinese New Year and plan to lay low, settle in, and explore Beijing a bit before the semester gets roaring! The first month is a "temporary trial period" so if we are hired for good, I am going to sign up for Chinese lessons as well as join the local gym. I am a bit out of shape :-)

Hope everyone is enjoying the US winter.. it is probably colder here!

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