Blogs from Wudaokou, Beijing, China, Asia
July 12th 2011
After returning from North Korea everything seemed to move at lightning speed. A few weeks prior, towards the end of April, our school, , informed us that our teaching quality had decreased and therefore they were reducing our pay by about 1000 U.S. Dollars. There was nothing in our contract about this so we had no choice but to accept this unfortunate situation and hope for the best. By mid-May we were informed that again our salary would be reduced by about 1000 U.S. Dollars. It was at this point we started to make preparations to leave China. By June I was reduced to a paid-by-the-hour part time status and the situation as not tenable. During June Laura continued to work for Clever Kids on a full time basis. Actually June was the only month we ... read more
March 10th 2011
Hello from China, Our spring and summer plans are progressing along quite nicely. We are happy to report that we now have a city we are moving to and a date when we need to be there. We need to be in Seattle, Washington by the 23rd of September as this is where Laura has chosen to do her PhD. I am applying to various actuarial and math programs in the area as well. All of the applications are due in early April so I am working hard to finish up the essays and get all of the paperwork in order. We have settled in quite nicely. In the end it looks like our schedules are finally pretty much decided. The final results seem to have Laura teaching 2 English classes and a Health class and ... read more
January 31st 2011
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 ... read more
January 22nd 2011
Hello hello! I should call this one "an arduous journey." When we arrived in Beijing we gave ourselves 1 week to find a job, otherwise we were going to go down south to a rural village and teach there. I am so glad we found a job in Beijing and chose to stay here! Beijing has a really nice metro system and bus too. Unfortunately I work a bit far away and am obliged at this point to take 3 different subway lines and a bus! What a journey! I should start from the beginning though. We have been couchsurfing exclusively since the end of last month. When we arrived in Bj (Beijing) we stayed with some Israeli Russians. We then shifted to the flat of a another American grad (woot woot) who has graciously allowed ... read more
September 25th 2010
Wow! It's the end of September and I have been THAT busy I have not had a chance to update my carefully crafted travel blog. I do apologise profusely. I know you have been hanging on with tenterhooks to discover the next part of the BJ saga. But never fear, dear readers. As you are just about to step into deepest, darkest Beijing... OK, second month in and although my photo-taking might be tailing off, my video taking certainly is not. And you will see that I have plenty of pics and vids to keep you amused. So what of the month of August? Well, it was still crazy hot here at that time. Heatwave hot. Like plus forty degrees hot. Indeed, I had heard that if the temperature went above 40, the whole country closes ... read more
July 24th 2010
OK, so, it's one month in and I am struggling to find time to update this blog. Just want to say that I have taken lots of pics, and, in particular, a lot of video. However, it seems that the video clips are not working out as I would have liked. Regarding my Sony Handycam, I did not bring the software disc with me, and, even though I can download what I need from the internet, apparently my netbook's Window 7 Starter is not compatible! So those vids will have to wait for the moment. The video on my camera is good but maybe I will upload the clip of the Lama Temple next month (it takes AGES to upload stuff on this site!). However, the video I like using the most, but which I have ... read more
July 22nd 2010
Hello All! Quick email to say that I have arrived! A quick 9 and a half hour trip got me into Beijing safely. And an expected rip-off attempt at the airport taxi stand had me smiling. (I paid the more normal £8 fare, as opposed to £45 that was quoted by a guy who obviously took me for a mug!). However, that cheeky grin was slowly reduced once my worst fear was realised...yes, that's right, there is NO accomodation for me on campus! Luckily I had booked an emergency hotel for the first night, having anticipated the inevitable. And you can bet your bottom dollar, that I have not yet finished hissy fitting in order to get my rightful place. As you may remember, my admission letter states that once you arrive at the uni you ... read more
Zhu Ni Sheng Ri Kuai Le: My birthday in Beijing
Published: June 24th 2010Asia » China » Beijing » Wudaokou
June 24th 2010
So... today is my birthday and I have spent it all in sweatpants and a t-shirt. Everyone in the program (Alliance for Global Education @ BLCU) has a Chinese test tomorrow, and thus is studying tonight, so we decided to go out last night. I was surprised at the turn-out, as almost 20 out of 26 or so students showed up. I was originally thinking of going for all-you-can-eat and drink sushi, as we celebrated many a birthday at such places in Shanghai, where everyone gets plenty of food and their fill of beer, sake, and plum wine for under 200yuan ($30). However, turned out the US and England games were both Wednesday night (World Cup Soccer for those of you who don't keep up) and I was afraid we wouldn't be able to get a ... read more
June 22nd 2010
This is the story of my new tattoo... Two of my friends and I were out one night, and we started talking about tattoos. I said I wanted to get one, one of my friends, Katie, said she encouraged it, she already has two of them. One of my friends, Orit, she didn't like the idea and had a lot of negative opinions towards tattooes. That led to a huge argument between them which was pretty entertaining, but in my mind Katie won, so I was pretty pumped on the whole tattoo thing. Then we went into Lush, a bar/cafe place which had open mic night. There these two middle eastern looking guys were on the stage playing and I was like "they look like they are from Israel." Orit, who lived in Israel before said ... read more
Back to China: Orientation begins at Beijing Language and Culture University
Published: June 14th 2010Asia » China » Beijing » WudaokouJune 10th 2010
So... Anh's cousin (another one) picked me up yesterday morning from my hotel and we drove to the airport together. After getting all checked in, we wandered around the airport shops killing some time, and me looking for a way to blow my last 55,000 dong (less than $3). I was thinking to buy gifts for my teachers to be, but $3 wasn't quite enough for anything of substance. It did, however, buy a bracelet and a magnet at the overpriced airport shops. Shortly after, it was time to board my flight to Beijing :) I said goodbye to Anh at the terminal coffee shop and boarded my flight. I was very sad to find the window seat I had asked for in the emergency exit row I volunteered for, was not actually a window seat. ... read more
