New job, new town, new life!!! soo exciting

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After leaving Yangshuo at 8 we had an hour drive to Guilin followed by a flight to Xian then a further flight to Lanzhou before finally been picked up by Mr Lee at the airport for the 1hour drive to Baiyin! It was a long tiring day but the drive from Lanzhou to Baiyin was amazing but in a completely different way, like nothing I have seen ever before. Gansu is mostly desert and although from november to march it barely rises above 0'c it rarely rains. Everything is dry but there are some desert shrubs and the mountains are stunning. But as soon as you arrive into Baiyin its completely flat, the city is very modern and beautiful in that sense as you drive in.

We were literally taken straight out for dinner, I very quickly dropped my bags off at my apartment were given the keys and a phone and we were out. The apartment block is definately nothing special but they have made everything (except the kitchen which isn't too bad) very nice, even leather sofas! Its not too big and it has two bedrooms and one shared bathroom/laundary but its fine. The dinner was Garrat's welcome dinner, he is from the US and will be teaching at the Experimental School this year. It was HotPot and this time I knew to chose not spicy unless I wanted to be awake all night. It was nice to meet some of the staff from the school but we were very tired and as soon as dinner was over we went directly back to the apartment. After dropping me off Ben was shown to his apartment.

I had been so excited to get in and settled but when I was finally left to everything I had no idea what to do anymore I was competely lost! It had been so long since I was completely on my own that even though I knew a million things to do I had no idea what to do! Someone was coming round the following day to help me clean as there was a bit to do and after such a long day I didn't want to start on it and I didn't want to unpack until I had at least cleaned my bedroom. It was a very strange feeling but after a shower I went to bed and fell asleep instantly for a change.

I was been picked up by Diner at 10 to visit the school and get my schedule so first thing I started cleaning my bedroom. It took 2hours but everything felt so much better once I had done it and got it organised how I wanted it. When Diner picked me up we took a taxi directly to the school which is about a 15minute walk away. Its a big school but it looks easy to get around once I've worked it out. I met some of the staff and was told that I would be teaching Junior 1 12times a week and Senior 1 6times a week. In total 18 45minute lessons, thats not even 14hours a week and the teachers were all telling me it was too much! They didn't know how I would cope maximum they have per week is 15! But I think its fine, I don't have any paperwork to do and only have to go into school to do the lessons, I never start before 1020, have two and a half hours off for lunch and have four lessons a day except friday when I have the afternoon off! That sounds pretty good to me. First day tomorrow!

May one of the English teachers walked me home then took me out for lunch to the dumping restaurant. All the English teachers actually seem to be able to speak English which surprises me, but I'm impressed. I absolutely love dumplings and May ordered three different kinds. We ate them with soy sauce and chilli and of course chop sticks. I'm pretty good with chop sticks but there are many different kinds and by far the easiest to use and the most popular in cheaper places are wooden ones but these weren't woodern. I dropped one of my dumplings right into the chili which was the worse place to drop it as it splashed everywhere! All over me! So embarrasing and that was the first meal with one of the teachers!

After lunch I headed back to my apartment and someone came over to help me clean it, the kitchen was a real mess and the fridge was mouldy. While she was here Diner came around and took me shopping for some new shoes and a couple of other things I needed. For the evening I had planned to meet up with Ben and Bob for dinner at the BBQ place but then Jane called and wanted to take us all out for dinner so we cancelled it for another night. In China there has to be too much food on the table otherwise there isn't enough and there was. Even when we were all full and had stopped eating she ordered another dish because one of the dishes was finished and then Bob took it home. Whatever its China! It had been another long tiring day and I would start teaching tomorrow but I was falling in love with China and my new home.

I got up early in order to get a few things done and plan my lesson before school. It was going to be my first lessons with Junior 1 and their actual lessons had only started yesterday so it was exciting and terrifying at the same time but finally I settled on a lesson plan I was happy with and headed off to school. I knew the way but there are a couple of exits from the park and I couldn't remember which it was in the end I had to call Bob up to ask him the way : ) I'm going to be very thankful Bob is here. At the school gates the security guard wouldn't let me in and after calling to teachers I couldn't get in touch with them I had to call Owen in Yangshuo to speak to him so I could enter the school! Finally after getting in I found one of the offices and then Diner came to find me and help me find my way to the classroom. The students were doing eye exercises so I waited in the office until lessons begun.

When I first went into the classroom all the students started clapping at me and there were already two teachers in there, they started getting some of the students up to the front of the class so I wasn't sure if I was teaching or observing. They soon left the classroom though and it was my turn to teach. It was great I loved it! The students were much better at English than I antisipated and when the first class was over all the students wanted my autograph! So embarrasing and none of the teachers would rescue me! Finally I made it to the second class, not sure if on time or not but it was great. Their level of English surprised me and I think I will definately enjoy it here. I can't wait for next week : )

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Comments

[poplar]

so jealous about your experience!
It was my dream to have a similar life. but apparently I lack of courage which you have!!!