Easter Dinner in China. Don’t you love the lilies?
This is my first holiday away from the USA. I was feeling a bit lonesome for America and my home church. God is with me everywhere though and When I prayed to him this morning and read his word, I felt a sense of peace and his love washed over me. You are never alone when you have God’s love. However I still want a puppy!!! That would be very awesome.
I wish there were foreign teachers that were my age and singletons like me. I have to get out and explore Nanchang but I have no sense of direction and will probably get utterly lost. I guess I want a partner in crime, who knows maybe next years crop of foreign teachers will bring me a gal pal.
I have met some amazing people in China like Joel, Lulu, Ron, Bai Qing, Dawn, Sean, Keith,Jessica and Jonathan. They have become good friends as well as spiritual supporters for me.
i have met English professors Lily and Andy(Andy is really cute) that I hope we can become better friends. I would love to hang out with those two but I live in the boonies. Maybe one day I can suggest an outing. I just have to reach out to people more. On this day, I reflected on Jesus’ love for us and I realized that I have been hiding my glory, due to fear of rejection. My greatest gift is my love for others.
This Easter Sunday, I spent the more in fellowship with my new spiritual family. I have to say, I really love that God placed these people in my life to help me grow. I am the type of Christian who thrives on fellowship. I like to worship in a group setting, prayer is more powerful in numbers. I also like my time alone with God as well.
This Sunday Lulu spoke on love. She did a great job and spoke from her heart. I just love Lulu she was not a Christian all her life. This sermon made me realize how much Jesus loves us all. He gave the ultimate sacrifice for us on the cross.
After service, Dawn made a an Easter lunch. This was my first western meal since I came to China. I had ham, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, broccoli and bread, There were also baked beans. It was so good, I tried not to eat too much since I am losing weight in China. I didn’t take leftovers. Dawn and Sean have a rarity in China, they have an oven!!!. I should have taken a picture of their oven!
My apartment building in Nanchang at the university.
My first month in China, i spent living in a hotel on campus. I felt extremely displaced. The reason why I was living in a hotel was because, they were renovation my apartment. The hotel had it’s perks but I really longed for a place to call my own. On March 21st I got the call that I could come to The Foreign Affairs Office and pick up my keys! I was so excited. I walked over with Ron’s wife. I first, being a Christian asked Mr. Grumpy, if he would like me to pick up his keys fro him but he yelled at me. I am trying to be a good Christian but that man( he teaches English too) is really grating on my nerves! He has bad knees so I was trying to be kind.
I found out that I live on the third floor in room 301. i am not in the same building as Ron the Canadian and his wife. They live next door to Joel and Lulu. Joel and Lulu are my friends and I really like them we got to church together. I was bummed that I do not live next door to them. i do live next door to Jason, the Filipino. He is also an English teacher at my school and he has been at the school for five years. He is extremely nice and offered to help me when I need heavy things lifted.
The apartment wasn’t clean and I had no bed linen, so I opted to take the white van into town and pick up bed linen at Auchan (chain department store in China).I then dropped off the bed linen at my new place and went to the hotel i had class on Friday in the afternoon so I moved my luggage over to the new apartment. It took about three trips and I hurt my ankle in the process.
People from the university came later on Friday to bring in my computer, luckily I bought a LAN wire with me. I discovered that I had no internet! Oh no my life was ruined. what would, i do? I had whole weekend without the internet, it was torture. i spent time cleaning.
Friday, night, I made the bed and collapsed on it. i was exhausted. I also got my first cold while living in China and it was very chilly. Oh and when I took a shower the next morning, my apartment flooded. I was wondering why the water was not flowing out of the drain. I had to take the strainer out!!!!. when i got out of the shower there was water everywhere!. In the dining room and kitchen. I only had one towel. I bought cleaning supplies and several mops. Mr. Grumpy will be living downstairs from me, I hope the water did not leak into his apartment.
Besides the mishaps, I have to say that I am so glad to be home 🙂 The only thing I need now is a dog and then my life would be awesome
When, I decided to write a blog it was to a means of catharsis as well as to provide insight for people who may want to teach in China. I don’t want anyone to make the same mistakes that I did, the process and the paperwork can be very tricky. It would behoove the future teacher in China to know the complete process and be prepared to remind their sponsoring school concerning deadlines. I didn’t do that and almost had to pay a huge fine. Read my story and I have to say God was with me today and I really felt his presence. If you are an atheist then this is not a post you will want to read so stop here 🙂
This morning Ron( The Canadian) and I had to apply for our residency permits. Actually I had to apply, Ron had and expired Z Visa. Ron had to get an L Visa then he has to go to Hong Kong and apply for a Z Visa then come back to get a residency permit. His Visa expired 20 days ago and he has to pay 500 yuan for each day. So he has to pay 4000 yuan , buy an L Visa and a two way ticket to Hong Kong. Not very cheap!!!
The driver picked us up from the hotel(yes I am still living in a hotel) at 8:30 am. Ms H( her job is to take care of the foreign teachers, she works in the Foreign Affairs Office) met us there. Now usually this is an extremely quick process. The building we went to was for Entry and exit of people coming and leaving China. This place handles Foreign Experts Certification, Residency Permits and other things. Ms. H handed our paperwork in to one office. Then we both had to get photos taken then we proceeded back to the original office. This was where we got yet another photo and Rob was to get his L Visa and i was to get my Residency permit.
photo compliments of teachinchina.org This is how a Residency Permit looks. Thank goodness I can get one!!!
Then it hit!!! Houston we have a problem!!! Ms. H was arguing with the Police officer behind the desk and scurry around and trying to talk to other people. Ron glanced a peek and told me it was a problem with my Visa. I was getting worried. I asked Ms. H what the problem was, I am in freak out mode right about now. I was scared and thoughts about being deported started running in my head. Or about spending more money like poor Ron, money which I do not have readily available. I did a Tsrah prayer with all my heart to God. God used people as a vehicle to aid me. Ms. Hwang had a connection another police officer who called the supervisor and talked to hi,. I was allowed to apply for my Residency Permit. I am an extremely lucky girl, I have to remember how much God loves me and he is with me.
The day ended with a Chicken, Muslim bread( Chang Min needs to bring me the bread from Shanghai, this stuffy I had was puny compared to the ones by him) purchasing a knife loose tea green and chamomile. So boys and girls, what lesson have you learned today?
Lesson Learned
1) Know and be aware of all steps in obtaining your Visa, Health Check and Residency permit
2) Keep a calender of due dates and get on top of your school. you are the one that suffers for little hiccups not them.
3) Keep a calm rational head
4) Come to China with enough money so you can deal with bumps along the road
5) Know that once you enter China you have to get your health check, residency permit within 30 days. Keep reminding your school!
I have been teaching in China for two weeks, I’m still alive Jo!!!! I have to say, I love my students. I have so many of them. I have 7 classes. Each class has its own distinct personality. I can’t wait to teach them and develop lesson plans for them. I will be getting my teaching materials next week. Until then, I will be scouring the internet for lessons that I can do for my classes.
First Class:Cute and shy. I love this group. they are my innocent ones. I only have 9 boys and over 70 girls
I can say that though this may be premature, I am so much more happier teaching in China than in the USA. I have got my enthusiasm and love for teaching back. My last job almost sucked my enthusiasm out of me. Volunteering in my churches Children’s Ministry really salvaged my love of teaching and made me realize that it was not me but the crappy working conditions that I was dealing with.
Second Class: Small and Obedient. I only have 26 students in this class. I can do so much more in this class. We are going to do more scenarios in this group.
My whole mindset has changed, it may not be unicorns and dragons singing and dancing together all the time. However I have such a sense of peace. I have found my niche. I like working with college kids too. This blog is to introduce my lovely students. I have approximately 560 of them. I am quite the Baby Mama! Enjoy my children.
Third Class: The Talkers This class is very talkative. This is a very good thing. I call them My Chatty Patties.
Fourth Class: The Helpful Class. This class id very very helpful.I really enjoyed teaching them. They all remembered my name.
Sixth Class: The Funky Fresh Bunch, These guys are very so hilarious silly! I gave them my QQ. I have students QQing me already. This class told me they want pen pals and they are really into learning about American culture.
Fifth Class: Patient Students. I got lost trying to find the building. I had to have a student(Helpful) escort me to this class. They waited so patiently for me. I only have 4 boys and the rest are girls.
Class Seven: Where the Boys Are. This class is boy dominated. the boys are sitting on the sides and in the back. I had two boys who have a good command of English. Th.is class has my mobile number.
I have not written about my experiences working at the second campus of my college. The second or actually the original campus is in downtown Nanchang. If you like city life this is the campus for you. If I lived at this campus, I would really have more of a taste of Chinese Life. The location is great, there are open markets and a park not too far from the campus. However the Wanli campus has the pretty factor. The Fushen campus is just not that pretty and it is very close together. The one great thing is that I won’t every get lost at Fushen campus like at I did at Wanli.
I teach mainly at Fushen Campus. I only teach two classes at Wanli. All the foreign teachers live at Wanli and are bused to the Fushen campus which is about 30 minutes away depending on the traffic. In the morning it takes close to 45 minutes to get to work. That is a much better commute than I had to my former school in the USA. The driver smokes like a chimney and spits like a fountain but he is very kind. The bus reeks of cigarettes but this is common in China. I open the window and the problem is solved.
Sometimes the other English teachers are on the bus or some Chinese teachers. Today there were only two people on the bus including myself. This week is an even week. I only have two classes on even weeks. I have an early morning class at 8am, so I have to catch the 7:20 shuttle bus. I overslept so I was not looking cute today.
I stop where I want to stop!
On Fushen campus the elevators are selective. Meaning they only stop at certain floors. I found out this tidbit last week. I teach on the 5th floor and the 10th floor. Last week I pressed the 10th floor and the button did not light up. I kept pressing the button. there was a student in the elevator who was trying to go to the the 7th floor. Well the elevator passed our floor and we up to the 11th floor. So we tried again. finally someone told us it does not stop at our floor. I have to go to the 9th floor at walk up to the 11th floor and walk down. Oh and the elevator also does not stop on the 5th floor, It stops on the 4th floor so I have to go the fourth floor and walk up. This is another example of The Chinese Way. that’s ok the Chinese Way is going to help me lose weight!
My class was very cool, they were surprised seeing me. Black people are a novelty in China. I hope more people venture out to teach in China. I had a very young girl who was only 16! she is very smart. This class ranged from 16-20. I had some boys that sat in the from of the room. Usually boys sit in the back, In China boys can be very shy, The girls seem to be more vocal and enthusiastic about learning English. My quest is to win my boys over. I think English needs to be learned in a relaxed place. I know many of my students are upset that their oral English is not top notch. I want to get them to a level where they feel confident, With confidence and a practice their English will improve but not overnight it will take work.
I asked to boys to help me demo a lesson. They were sitting up front. I could tell that they were nervous. I never ask the boy, so today I gave the a reward for assisting in the lesson. I gave then each a penny. The class was so ecstatic and clapped. American coins are a big thing for Chinese people. It is considered an honor to receive such a coin from a foreigner.
slant.investorplace.com
I only had one class today and it was over at 9:30 so I sat soaking up the sun. It reached a high of 79 degrees here and the sun was shining. The bus will not pick me up until 12, so I have a lot of time to waste I watched the students do calisthenics and I have to say that Chinese people are in incredible shape. After playing several round of Angry Birds, I walk around the campus. This campus is very small. I decided to take some photos. I guess the security guard didn’t like it much, He said something to me in Chinese. I didn’t know what he said. Then he came back and wrote me a question in Chinese. Luckily three girls that were English majors came and explained to him I was an English teacher. After he heard I was a teacher his demeanor changed, He offered me his chair in the shade. Unlike the USA teachers are actually appreciated in Asian cultures. In fact everywhere but the US teaching is a career that is looked at as reverent.
I was chatting with the English majors about American cultural. They told me that the guard didn’t know why I was there and thought I was an exchanged student and lost. For some reason everyone is China thinks that I am a student. Even my students think I am younger than my age, which I will not divulge to anyone. After the girls left. I sat waiting for the bus. Next time I think I will have an early lunch and also open that time up for my students in case they need extra help.
I love to people watch and absorb a different culture. I am enjoying china and I am learning so much about myself. I really think everyone should experience life in a different culture, a total immersion. A few of you are sitting and reading this and living vicariously through my blog. you are thinking that i am brave to do this and that you can never do this, I am saying take the chance. I too live through someone else blog( http://www.lifebehindthewall.wordpress.com) and it took me two years to just do it. I am so much happier! I leave you with additional photos of Fushen Campus.
One thing that I really miss back home is my church. To me, my church was more than a church it was my spiritual family. Sunday were my favorite day of the week. When I was an atheist, I hated Sundays because it meant that I had to go to work the next day. I use to call it Sorrowful Sundays. Once I accepts Christ into my heart that all changed.
The White Van
Leaving Liquid Church and all my friends behind were so difficult. Liquid Church was God’s instrument to save my soul. I am so glad that I was lead to them. I can still look at sermons online but there was something lacking. It was fellowship. I am a social person and I love to communally praise and worship God. One thing that I was scared about is losing my way once I moved to China. China is not a Christian country, though there is an undercurrent of Christian faith developing in China. As a new Christain, is my faith strong enough not to be swayed?
I know that I needed to find another church to attend. My campus is a bit a ways out of town. Ok there are chickens and vineyards nearby. Yes I am one step above Green Acres. The campus is modern though. So going into downtown Nanchang can be a bit of a challenge for a non Chinese speaking lass. So I have no been to church since I left the states.
A few days ago, I had a strong inclination to phone Joel another foreign language teacher at my school and inquire about a local church. He just looks like a Christian. My hunch was correct he told me that he and some other teachers at various universities all formed an informal church. that sounds perfect, right up my alley. The one thing about Liquid Church that I loved was how informal it was.
Sunday morning Joel told me to meet him and his wife Lulu at the small gate of our school. Joel and Lulu will be my next door neighbors once my apartment is remodeled. I went to eat breakfast first, I had baoza and soymilk again. I love baoza. On my way I meet a student who wanted to converse with me in English. He wanted to practice his oral English with me. He has a n exam in a few months and he failed it prior. I even gave him my mobile number if he wanted to further communicate with him. If someone speaks to you in English in China it is a good thing to take notice of.
I then walked to the back gate also known as the small gate. A friend of Lulu and Joel were going to meet us at the back gate with his car. Lulu and Joel met me on their motorbike. Keith was the name of the guy with the car and he was originally from Glen Cove, Long Island. What a small world! I watched him maneuver around the highways of Nanchang and it reminded me the video game “Pole Position” All I have to say is driving in China is not for the faint of heart. I would be too scared with motorbikes, pedestrians and bicycles coming out of nowhere and from all directions. There are no traffic rules in China. It is just The Chinese Way.
Keith drove us to the university where we all would meet. It was in a coffeehouse! They call it ETC (English Training Center). On that campus they had a building where Chinese students can come hang out and speak English. That is pretty cool. I met Dawn her husband Sean and their adopted child Thomas. I also met Jessica who was a young intern and Jonathan who was also from New Jersey(Monmouth County). The group is small but immediately sensed the fellowship of the group and felt right at home. Everyone was so laid
Oh and there was coffee there. I have not had coffee since, I left America. Coffee is a rare treat. I was extremely excited about this! Dawn made me a cup. It was so yummy. I felt that for a brief moment that I was transported back to the US. There is Starbucks in China but remember I live in the chicken area of town so I don’t get into the city much. Starbuck will be a rare and expensive dream for me. I will just have my weekly cup of coffee at church.
Basically each week a different member of the congregation will sign up and preach a sermon based on the scriptures. We have worship music music in the beginning and following and ending in prayer. We have prayer requests as well. I signed up to be the last speaker. I will have to start to prepare a sermon. I don’t like to speak in public, even though, I am a teacher and that is what I do for a living. God will guide me to what I want to preach about when the time draws nearer, I have 6 weeks to plan for it.
After church we all headed in town for dumplings. We had three Chinese people that assisted us. Lulu helped me, she is Chinese. Oh Lulu is pregnant and is having a baby! Everyone knows how much I adore babies. I love dumpling. I ordered mushroom and chicken and plain mushroom dumplings. I also ordered a green ice tea. It came to about 15 yuan. That is equivalent to $2.41 in USD. I got 12 dumplings and a drink for $2.41. I love China!!! A woman came by and gave us soy sauce. We had a choice of either adding chili peppers, garlic or vinegar to the soy sauce. I chose garlic. Oh my gosh my dumpling tasted amazing! Having fresh garlic in the soy sauce really enhanced the flavor. I had some of Lulu’s pork dumplings and they were good too.
After dumplings we went to Aukman’s with is a grocery store that has a great foreign food selection. I have no kitchen yet so I was just observing everything. They have an extensive fruit and vegetable section. I liked it better than Walmart. Oh and a score I found Grape Mentos there. I have never seen Grape Mentos, so I bought them. Actually Sean bought them for me. they were only 2 yuan. After Walmart we parted ways. Lulu, Joel and I took the white vans that dropped us off at campus. I did not know about the white vans until today. For 3 yuan(48 cents) they drop you off at various college campuses The white vans also wait outside of the college gates. My campus is the first stop going into town, so i’ will always get a seat.. This is very convenient, now I won’t feel trapped on campus. There is a shopping mall a many small stores in that area of Nanchang and it is easy to get to from my campus! Another score!!!
Today was a very good China day for me. I found a new fellowship of Christ followers, made new friends, had coffee, ate dumplings and experienced the white van. I have off for most of the week. On Tuesday, I have my health exam. I have one class on Wednesday and another on Friday. Even weeks are my easy weeks. I have to say I appreciate teaching more here than in the states.
I think that I am the ultimate supreme ditz!!! There has to be blonde roots under my scalp. I told my readers before that there is a Chinese way and our way. When I came to the campus, I was told that someone would take me to set up a bank account so I would get get paid. Well I waited and waited, Yesterday someone from my school called me and asked fro my bank account number so they can pay me. I was like I do not have a bank account no one has taken me to get it set up. the woman on the other end of the phone was confused that I did not have an account. She told me to get one. Then she asked me if I spoke Chinese. I asked her if knowing “Ni hao” counts.
Fast forward to today. I am off today and relaxing. I get another phone asking about my bank card number. I explained again that no one has helped me to set up an account. she then explained that the Canadian teacher went and did it on his own. So I informed her that he has been in China for six years and I have only been in China for two weeks. She said she would send someone to help me. The Canadian teacher told me later he just showed them his passport and looked confused and said English teacher and one person did everything for him.
She called back and told me Harry would come help me and from now on Harry was assigned to me. Harry is a students and he is very helpful. Harry helped me the last time when I was roaming around my campus utterly lost. He took me to my class that I was late for. I was roaming around lost for an hour! Harry speaks English, so that is a plus. I guess they are annoyed at me that I was passed on to poor Harry, I hope he gets paid for this.
Well all this occurred before noon time. I was told that Harry would contact me so I waited and waited. I then called another foreign teacher with a Chinese wife to see if she could perhaps help me to set up an account. his wife was in class. He told me he would go to the office and push their buttons. Actually once I move into the my apartment he will be my next door neighbor. I am at the hotel so I am very far from the FOA office. He said we can double team them to get things done. I called the coordinator for foreign teachers. Her phone was busy well so I texted her a message. It was now 3:15.
Within minutes Helpful Harry called, he told me that he was waiting at the bank for me. We have a bank on campus but no one speaks English at the bank so I would need a Chinese person to go and explain things for me. So I put on my shoes and go. Apparently I am not walking quick enough because Harry calls me twice! I don’t have wings on my feet. I am not a track star I am a fatty! Then the person in charge of foreign teachers called and explain that Harry is waiting. The walk is about 15 minutes. I am trying my best I tell her that I am on my way. I wish that teleportion was discovered!
Harry meets me halfway and explain that the bank was about to close and that was why he called me. We rush to the bank, I am inwardly cursing being a fatty and not losing weight before coming to China. The gate was about to close but she let us in. Harry takes my passport and they speak in Chinese. On a sheet of paper all in Chinese he fills in my passport and Visa number. I write my name. We go to the window. They make a photocopy of my passport page. All is well, but then they ask me for $25 yuan. I was in such a rush I did not bring money. Helpful Harry did not have any money either. He had to ask a friend of his that was on line to lend us 25 yuan. right now I am mortified embarrassed, I smile at her and say thank you but she is looking at me like I am the village idiot. If they told me that I had to pay to open an account, I would have brought money. I have 25 yuan at home.
First Chinese Bank Account!!!!!Success though, I have my first Chinese bank account, However the card says student. I hope they gave me the right card. Harry took a picture of it to text to the office so they can enter it into payroll. I invited Harry to dinner but he declined because it was too early, It was 4:18. It is sooo cold and windy that I did not want to head out again , so I took a bowl with a lid on it so I can take my food home
I relate this to all not as a complaint, it is just for you to understand the Chinese Way. If you are an extremely organized thinker and stringent to routines then China is not the place for you. The Chinese wait until the last possible moment to do things and then rush everything. Chang Min is like this as well! Myself, I am a disorganized thinker so it isn’t that bad. I do get frustrated with things and am glad that I have other foreign teachers and Harry to help. This is all very new to me. I will definitely help the next next foreign teacher to help ease their transition.
Ok off to enjoy my dinner of tofu and celery with rice and hot peppers9everything is spicy in this province) and to talk to Chang Min for awhile I already called him three times today because I love the sound of his voice and we video chatted with qq. Now we are just regular chatting. If he was here with me in Nanchang the banking would have been so much easier. Oh a spoiler for all you Chang Min romance lovers, he is coming to visit in April!!!!! So happy.
