The great climb of China

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Today I ticked something off the bucket list I officially claimed the Great Wall of China! If anyone tells you it's a long straight wall they are lying through their teeth! I have no idea how many steps I climbed but I know I was high enough to be terrified to look down. The steps in some areas where around 3 stones deep and giving that I have the smallest legs in the world I was practically climbing them like a child would a cube in a soft play area.... Very attractive.

Having used the metal handrails to drag myself to the top of each flight of steps I soon found that I had transferred the rusted metal stains on to my dripping face where I had been wiping it on the way up wipes at the ready I knew I brought these for a reason! My clothes soaked through and my lungs trying to climb out of my throat I started to make my back down the steps taking in the views once again with each step. I stood in the way of at least 10 photographs so people from all over the world get to take a little bit of me back with them as a keep sake. By the time I get to the bottom I could totally enter a wet T shirt competition but sod it I just climbed the Great Wall of China in 33 degrees if that's not reason to sweat then there never is one. After a nice ice lolly I went to collect my certificate for my achievement and of course I paid for the A3 size though I will probably regret it when it comes to trying to pack it. I think it deserves a place on the wall next to my degree certificate.

We made a brief visit to the Olympic Village and had a team photograph taken in front of the birds nest design building which was pretty cool and a tour guid had to ask their customers to move as these middle aged Chinese women attempted to jump in on the end of our team by side stepping in to the frame.

We went to two fantastic restaurants today and ate far more than what was needed but our excuse was that we had climbed the wall and burnt enough calories to eat a horse. After dinner we visited the Beijing circus where we went to watch an acrobatic show, giving that I adore the circus back home I was seriously looking forward to this and it did not disappoint we laughed we screamed and cheered for the various acts that came on to the stage they had us gasping for air as they appeared to be centimetres away from fatal accidents every few seconds.

Emotions ran high as we arrived back at the training centre as placements had been posted on the walls for everybody to eagerly see where they would be spending the next few months. Very mixed emotions some people screaming with delight others sneaking off to their rooms to cry in to a bottle of wine a very confusing and big thing to take on after such a long day. I approached the board hoping to see the province that I had requested that was in the west of central China, Schiuan everything crossed I looked for my name almost as if I was collecting exam results. Found it scanning across the line I see a place that a was not expecting an give a big disappointed sigh I had been placed on the complete opposite side of the country to where I had originally requested dam that's no good. Don't be negative yet I told myself you don't know the first thing about this place it is not even somewhere I had looked in to as I didn't think there was anything major to see in the area. I ran to my room showered and went straight back out to the local bar hoping that my phone battery would last long enough for me to check out this area.

After half an hour with Google I am officially thrilled at my placement it is a beautiful beach front city called Yantai that looks super modern and the school that I will be working in looks ace so my initial doubts went out of the window and I started to research places to visit near the province and it turns out this is where Confucius was from and there is a temple there in his name. Amongst many other national parks and beautiful places to visit I think I will enjoy myself there. And many people seem to be jealous of the amazing beach location.

So I have two more days of teacher training and hopefully a big night out to say a temporary goodbye to all my new found friends until we can arrange to meet up. I've had a ball in Beijing feel like a literally haven't stopped and has been a culture shock and a half between the food, the toilets and the complete and utter lack of English spoken here. I now can't wait to set off on another adventure!

So off to bed we go for the usual 7am start tomorrow I only wish that my mattress was a little less like sleeping on a brick wall.

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Comments

[Denise Bulmer]

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Love it. Reading it makes me feel like I am walking alongside you and seeing so much. Xxxx