Just a word to the wise.
When signing a contract for anything overseas, make sure that it will give you medical insurance that covers English-speaking doctors. And both in-patient and out-patient services. Also insist on a complete list (in writing) on exactly who/where your insurance covers.
Do not take no for an answer and do not give in to "we will get that to you when you need it" speeches.
Trust me.
23 October 2011
12 October 2011
I Speak English...So We are Friends Right??
So another month has rolled on past and things are really starting to pick up here. Didn't do a whole lot for this year's National holiday, but did spend a bit of time in Hong Kong and Shenzhen which was fun. Also got a chnce to go back to my favourite spa. Let me tell you...that is one thing I LOVE about this country! The spas are amazing and priced reasonably (for the most part. Obviously somethings are more expensive than others but overall it is just a wonderful experience and a great way to just "get away").
Also got another very interesting experience: White Water Rafting....China-style!! Most of us Canadians think of white water rafting as a pretty dangerous yet fun activity where you (and a couple other people) paddle your way (or try to anyway) through a series of rapids down a river on a larger inflatable, yet sturdy raft, complete with safety equipment and probably at least a bit of training before hand. This however was a VERY different experience!! The rafts are more like slightly larger dingies and you do not get any paddles. If you are lucky, you may get a small plastic bucket that you can use to bail out your dingy or (more likely) fight back in the giant water fight that happens at varies points throughout the ride. Really that is a better word for this...it is a ride. You get a helmet (that might fit) and a lifejacket (that probably doesn't fit or tie up). Once you get to the top of the line, you and your partner fight your way into one of the dingies that are getting pushed around, and then hold on! The best way to describe the trail is more of a series of water slides through rocks with small "lazy river"-type pools in between (which is where the water fights break out...and if you are a foreigner WATCH OUT!!! I don't know how many times I got the greeting "welcome to China" followed by a bucket-full of water to the face! lol). And it lasts for about 30-45 minutes! Quite an experience! lol
There is something that I have been noticing a lot as of late that I would like to comment on; that being the "Hi, I speak English. I can be your friend?" experience. This is something that I have been running into and I honestly do not know how to handle it. My experience of how you make friends tells me that you run into someone, get to know them as you run into them more than once and talk, and then maybe decide to get together for coffee or the like. If someone I dont know comes up to me and immediately asks for mu phone number, I take that more as a "I'm picking you up" move than a "let's be friends" move. I just dont get it. *sigh*
Also got another very interesting experience: White Water Rafting....China-style!! Most of us Canadians think of white water rafting as a pretty dangerous yet fun activity where you (and a couple other people) paddle your way (or try to anyway) through a series of rapids down a river on a larger inflatable, yet sturdy raft, complete with safety equipment and probably at least a bit of training before hand. This however was a VERY different experience!! The rafts are more like slightly larger dingies and you do not get any paddles. If you are lucky, you may get a small plastic bucket that you can use to bail out your dingy or (more likely) fight back in the giant water fight that happens at varies points throughout the ride. Really that is a better word for this...it is a ride. You get a helmet (that might fit) and a lifejacket (that probably doesn't fit or tie up). Once you get to the top of the line, you and your partner fight your way into one of the dingies that are getting pushed around, and then hold on! The best way to describe the trail is more of a series of water slides through rocks with small "lazy river"-type pools in between (which is where the water fights break out...and if you are a foreigner WATCH OUT!!! I don't know how many times I got the greeting "welcome to China" followed by a bucket-full of water to the face! lol). And it lasts for about 30-45 minutes! Quite an experience! lol
There is something that I have been noticing a lot as of late that I would like to comment on; that being the "Hi, I speak English. I can be your friend?" experience. This is something that I have been running into and I honestly do not know how to handle it. My experience of how you make friends tells me that you run into someone, get to know them as you run into them more than once and talk, and then maybe decide to get together for coffee or the like. If someone I dont know comes up to me and immediately asks for mu phone number, I take that more as a "I'm picking you up" move than a "let's be friends" move. I just dont get it. *sigh*
17 September 2011
And Here We Go Again...
My wonderful plan of updating my life here in China over blog seemed to work SOO well last year....sorry guys!! Why is it that we have these great ideas that never seem to work out in reality?! *sigh* Well, we are back for another year here at Huamei, and I am going to try yet again (and try harder) to keep an updated account of what is going on here on the other side of the world. Please be patient with me!
So we're back! Last year was full craziness and fun, ups and downs, stress and beauty; so why not come back and do it all over again?! Most international schools look for at least two years of experience, and since both Richard and I enjoyed ourselves last year, it seemed silly not to get both of those years here in beautiful Guangzhou. And so far, this year is shaping up to be ever better than the last!
Fist of all is our new partners in crime, our new fellow teachers. And really only one word can describe them: Amazing! or maybe Wonderful! but also definitely Crazy! All of the new teachers who joined us this year have so much zim and energy, and are so willing to jump in and do anything. It is so great to see and I can't help but see this year being a wonderful and exciting experience for everyone! Most of the new teachers have had some sort of overseas experience before coming here, even if it was just in travel and not in teaching, so they were a bit more prepared for all that China and Huamei have to offer. That being said, it is also a bot of a trip for me to be on the other side of what they are going through. I am not the first year, new teacher anymore. They are coming to ME with questions, and most of the time I can help! It is such a wonderful feeling to be able to return all of the assistance that was given to me last year (Thank you again Adam and Ana!! We miss you!!!)
This year is also shaping up to be great because of my courses. I am very excited to report that I am helping to develop a brand new Drama course here at Huamei!! Or at least trying! lol The first couple of weeks were a bit of a challenge just in trying to get the facilities that I need (and I am still waiting for some things, like a projector or tv so I can use ppt or video; always helps in drama to be able to view and analyze other people's actions/movement), but for the most part I now have a room just for my course and chairs for the students to sit on. I do have to say that their faces on the first day in this classroom when they realized that they do not have desks or chairs was priceless!! We are still working on staying focused and coming to class ready to work, not just play, but for the most part I think that they are starting to get in the groove. This week will be their first big assignment (they will be doing a group pantomime/tableaux story based on a photo), so we will see how much they have actually been listening...
Anyway, I better go get something to eat and head to the market for some veggies, but thanks for letting me ramble on and I hope that you come back again soon. I promise to be more frequent with my posts!!
So we're back! Last year was full craziness and fun, ups and downs, stress and beauty; so why not come back and do it all over again?! Most international schools look for at least two years of experience, and since both Richard and I enjoyed ourselves last year, it seemed silly not to get both of those years here in beautiful Guangzhou. And so far, this year is shaping up to be ever better than the last!
Fist of all is our new partners in crime, our new fellow teachers. And really only one word can describe them: Amazing! or maybe Wonderful! but also definitely Crazy! All of the new teachers who joined us this year have so much zim and energy, and are so willing to jump in and do anything. It is so great to see and I can't help but see this year being a wonderful and exciting experience for everyone! Most of the new teachers have had some sort of overseas experience before coming here, even if it was just in travel and not in teaching, so they were a bit more prepared for all that China and Huamei have to offer. That being said, it is also a bot of a trip for me to be on the other side of what they are going through. I am not the first year, new teacher anymore. They are coming to ME with questions, and most of the time I can help! It is such a wonderful feeling to be able to return all of the assistance that was given to me last year (Thank you again Adam and Ana!! We miss you!!!)
This year is also shaping up to be great because of my courses. I am very excited to report that I am helping to develop a brand new Drama course here at Huamei!! Or at least trying! lol The first couple of weeks were a bit of a challenge just in trying to get the facilities that I need (and I am still waiting for some things, like a projector or tv so I can use ppt or video; always helps in drama to be able to view and analyze other people's actions/movement), but for the most part I now have a room just for my course and chairs for the students to sit on. I do have to say that their faces on the first day in this classroom when they realized that they do not have desks or chairs was priceless!! We are still working on staying focused and coming to class ready to work, not just play, but for the most part I think that they are starting to get in the groove. This week will be their first big assignment (they will be doing a group pantomime/tableaux story based on a photo), so we will see how much they have actually been listening...
Anyway, I better go get something to eat and head to the market for some veggies, but thanks for letting me ramble on and I hope that you come back again soon. I promise to be more frequent with my posts!!
21 January 2011
End of a Term - Start of a New Year
So my first term as a teacher has officially ended. Now hopefully I will have time to breath.
This past term has taught me many many different things, both about myself and about my field. The first is most definitely that Teacher's Collage doesnt prepare you near enough for what you are getting into! The hours in the classroom are the least of your time, and yet they can be the most rewarding. Although the hours of preparation before a class are grueling and the hours of marking after never seem to end, the light in a student's eye as they give a good presentation or the discussions that are sparked in a debate, or even the smile and "good morning Ms. K" that I am greeted with each time I begin a class....that is what I am here for. That is what makes it all worth it.
This past term has also taught me (or at least tried to teach me) that I cannot expect so much of myself nor can I take each student's progress (especially the lack there of) as a personal failure. This is a lesson that I am sure I will need to continue to work on. Those of you who know me know just how hard on myself I am, and that just does not work in this environment. Failures are going to happen. There are going to be lessons that look great on paper and in my mind, but just DO NOT translate into the classroom; especially when language is a consistent challenge that must be overcome. And I cannot change all of the problems that these students come into the classroom with. One of the major issues that these students need to deal with is the combination of learning a new language in an environment where they only use it in certain classrooms (it is not until second term of grade 11 that they have all of there classes in English) and a constant rotation of teachers who rarely stay for longer than a year. Even if they get a teacher who works well with their learning style, the chance of them getting that teacher again is very slim. So these students do the bast that they can in the situation that they are placed in....but to be honest, many give up halfway through. I have never seen so many students fall asleep during a test (I even had 5 fall asleep during their final exam!) as I have seen here. And yet, I cannot change their willingness to work and will to succeed. I can only do the best that I can and realize that I will make mistakes...and hopefully the students will not hold it against me for too long.
So now it is time to relax, breath and reflect. And then get ready for next term, when it will start all over again...
This past term has taught me many many different things, both about myself and about my field. The first is most definitely that Teacher's Collage doesnt prepare you near enough for what you are getting into! The hours in the classroom are the least of your time, and yet they can be the most rewarding. Although the hours of preparation before a class are grueling and the hours of marking after never seem to end, the light in a student's eye as they give a good presentation or the discussions that are sparked in a debate, or even the smile and "good morning Ms. K" that I am greeted with each time I begin a class....that is what I am here for. That is what makes it all worth it.
This past term has also taught me (or at least tried to teach me) that I cannot expect so much of myself nor can I take each student's progress (especially the lack there of) as a personal failure. This is a lesson that I am sure I will need to continue to work on. Those of you who know me know just how hard on myself I am, and that just does not work in this environment. Failures are going to happen. There are going to be lessons that look great on paper and in my mind, but just DO NOT translate into the classroom; especially when language is a consistent challenge that must be overcome. And I cannot change all of the problems that these students come into the classroom with. One of the major issues that these students need to deal with is the combination of learning a new language in an environment where they only use it in certain classrooms (it is not until second term of grade 11 that they have all of there classes in English) and a constant rotation of teachers who rarely stay for longer than a year. Even if they get a teacher who works well with their learning style, the chance of them getting that teacher again is very slim. So these students do the bast that they can in the situation that they are placed in....but to be honest, many give up halfway through. I have never seen so many students fall asleep during a test (I even had 5 fall asleep during their final exam!) as I have seen here. And yet, I cannot change their willingness to work and will to succeed. I can only do the best that I can and realize that I will make mistakes...and hopefully the students will not hold it against me for too long.
So now it is time to relax, breath and reflect. And then get ready for next term, when it will start all over again...
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