Sheila Walsh
The Great Walsh of China
Sheila Walsh
Hi,
This blog is what it says in the title: The Great Walsh of China - an Irish grannie in China and beyond.
That's me - I'm a "mature traveller" which means I'm on the sunny side of 65 and I've been getting around a lot in recent years. My five kids have grown up and are scattered throughout the Western world. I now have five delightful grandchildren. For some years I've been taking overseas assignments so I can see the world and meet the people in a way I could never afford as a tourist. I first came to China in March 2011 to do an office job in Beijing. I had a great life but had to retire in January 2013 when I turned 65.
I have always sent regular "epistles" to friends and family worldwide when I've been travelling, but this time my kids persuaded me to blog. I've had great fun blogging and enjoyed hearing from other bloggers who appreciate my own, personal perspective on life here. I've been noticing those things that are "different" about China and the Chinese people - what makes them unique. I've definitely quashed a number of my pre-conceived notions.
I usually try to see the funny side of new situations and the reactions of myself and others. I hope you get a chuckle. If a reader has a question s/he can email me and I'll try to answer you asap. One of my first excursions was to a Chinese wedding in a rural village. I was really excited because my young host had said I'd be the first Westerner to go to their village.
My First Big Trip was going on the Trans-Siberian Railway through Mongolia and Lake Baikal, to St. Petersburg and Moscow, then flying to the farthest point west in China, Xinjiang Province, and going up the Karakorum Highway to the Pakistan border. That was part of the old Silk Trail. When I retired I returned to Ireland, visited France and took off again for 6 weeks in Pakistan. I must find time to blog about that trip. I went back to teach in a high school in Zhengzhou for the 2013- 2014 school term. Then I took off backpacking again around China as well as to Burma and North Korea.
There's lots more ahead of me. I won't be blogging often because I do have a very busy life, after all. But I'll tell you about that too.
I'm hoping to go back to China in the Spring of 2015 for the wedding of my young Chinese friends. My dream is to go to New Zealand, so my fingers are crossed! I'm always trying to improve my Mandarin and I'm somewhat pleased with my progress. I was delighted that my colleagues in Zhenzhou taught me Chinese cooking, while chatting in Mandarin. I'll also be uploading my photos, which I take all the time, often about ordinary daily life in China.
If you stick with me you'll discover that I write the way I talk - in volumes. Tell me if there is anything that you think would be interesting to an older person about China. I don't know much about 5* hotels here or anywhere because I always travel the economy route and I have Youth Hostel Association membership. Bye for now and happy trails to you!