Tianjin Transport (30/3)

I filmed some clips of my commute to work my second or third week in Tianjin. It’s just taken some effort for me to sit down and tell myself to put those clips together to make an actual video. So, don’t be fooled by the fact that nobody is in winter gear in my video. It’s turned into the Arctic Tundra overnight in China. Just a few days ago, it snowed in Beijing! But anyways, I digress.

I thought it would be neat to share a bit of my daily routine here in China. It’s very exciting for me, as this is the first time I’ve ever had to take the metro to a job before. When I got a metro card just like the locals, it was a big moment (this video was filmed before I had the Tianjin staple of a metro card, and instead was purchasing a token for each ride).

If you’re traveling anywhere with a subway/metro system: use it. Metros exist for a plethora of reasons, the best of which is that it saves money. In Tianjin, you save 20% of your fare when you pay with your metro card as opposed to buying one-way tokens. Getting a card does involve a 20¥ fee, but that works like a deposit, so I’ll get that back before I leave. Other perks of the metro are that it’s better for the environment, works as shelter against the elements, and is an ideal place to people watch.

As with any public transportation in a metropolitan city, expect craziness during peak times, such as morning rush hour and around dinnertime (7AM-9AM and 5PM-7PM). Having experienced rush hours in both New York and Beijing, rush hour in Tianjin, by comparison, is a breeze. For that I am really grateful! It’s taken a bit of getting used to the fact that the concept of “personal space” doesn’t quite exist in China. This is very evident should you take any public transportation around here, and even while you’re waiting in line for food… let’s just say that lines don’t exist at all. Be prepared to be cut in line almost everywhere! But the most inconvenient aspect of the metro is that it only runs until about 10:30PM, so I’ve had no other option but to take a taxi home if I miss the last subway. However, compared to the cost of cab rides in America, taxis here are incredibly inexpensive, and therefore reasonable means of transport (less than $2 if I’m running really behind and need to cab it to work).

Riding in taxis in China is always an experience. I still remember my first taxi experience in Beijing. It was terrifying. One of the first observations I made in China was that pedestrians do not have the right of way. I repeat: pedestrians do not have the right of way. I mean, cars will stop for pedestrians, but it’s almost as if it happens as a second thought for drivers. Drivers here drive very fast (in addition to an English newspaper, I have yet to see a single speed limit sign), and tend to stop at the very last second should they need to. Upon my first few weeks of arriving here, I had a couple of close calls as a pedestrian, and remember seeing my life flash before my eyes a few times as a passenger!

After my fair share of cab rides since I’ve been here, I’m no longer a basket of nerves through a ride. In actuality, I find them to be quite comfortable these days with the winter weather and all. And taxi drivers are some of the coolest people ever. They are the locals with whom I’ve practiced my Mandarin the most, and mostly to give directions, but I think it still counts. I remember one time I managed to communicate to my taxi driver that I liked the song playing on the radio, and he proceeded to blast the stereo for the rest of my ride. So sweet.

My commute to work takes about a half hour. I walk ten minutes to the subway from my apartment, ride for three stops for about 15 minutes, followed by a five minute walk to my teaching center. From my apartment to the subway station, I’m going in the opposite direction of traffic, so you’ll notice in the video that plenty of bicycles, mopeds and motorcycles pass me on my right side. Given the traffic congestion in China, I think it’s wonderful that they have an entirely separate lane for smaller means of transportation on main roads. Did I tell you about that one time I rode on the back of my co-workers moped? When in China, right?!

I apologize in advance that the quality isn’t the greatest, but I hope you enjoy this little video of mine nonetheless.

Love from Tianjin ♥

Three Tianjin To-Do’s

The Great Hall of the largest Buddhist Monastery in Tianjin.

Recently, a friend back home asked what I did for fun around here. Well, I teach preschool aged-preteen students English five days a week, and that’s pretty entertaining. But as much as I enjoy teaching, I am only human. I look forward to days where I can just rest my voice from speaking so much. I get two days off a week, and while my days aren’t always consecutive, I still make it work.

I gave myself the personal goal to either visit a new site or two in Tianjin on my days off or try a new street food or new restaurant… aka be a tourist. In an effort to save money, I’ve mostly been checking out the local sites, as a majority of them are free and with my poor sense of direction, can easily kill a few hours in a day. A few of my favorite places I’ve visited have been the Buddhist Temple of Great Compassion, Cheer Market at Joy City, and Da Hutong in Downtown Tianjin.

I’ve visited quite a few temples since I’ve been in China. After awhile, they all start to look very similar (much like how in Europe, when you visit basilica after basilica, it ends up being a blur). So, I might be a little biased because this temple is quite near to where I live, but I highly recommend a visit to it. Admission is 5¥ (less than a dollar), and you receive a few sticks of incense to burn in offering as well. While every temple I’ve previously visited had been flocked with tourists (i.e. temples in Beijing my first week in China, and Guangzhou and Foshan during Golden Week), this one was mostly filled with worshippers. I use the term “filled” loosely, as the temple grounds are the largest in Tianjin, and so I felt, for the first time in forever, that I wasn’t in the most populated country in the world.

I visited the temple a little past nine am on a Wednesday. It may have been coincidence, or maybe mid-week mornings really are a less popular visiting hour, but whatever the case, I’m really glad I made the decision to go when I did. The grounds were incredibly peaceful, and while the architecture wasn’t something I hadn’t seen before, I admired how clean the temples and yards were, and I loved how many areas of open space were available for one to just perch and people watch. You’d be surprised at how sparse benches are to come by in China, unless you’re in a park of sorts. Next time, I plan on visiting during lunch-time, as their restaurant is the only monastery in Tianjin that serves vegetarian food. I will also be sure to bring a book with me, as I foresee myself enjoying many days off reading in one of their courtyards.

The malls in China are impeccable. I have yet to enter a mall that hasn’t been incredibly clean, contemporary, large enough to play a decent game of hide and seek in, and full of brands with plenty of nice items, that are sadly too pricey by the standards of your favorite friendly neighborhood thrifter. Joy City in Tianjin is one of these malls. It took me three separate visits to cover it from end to end (at least I think I’ve covered the whole mall!)

Similar to how the temples in China have been a blur, visiting a mall in China can be a dizzying, overstimulating experience, especially if you go on a weekend or during a holiday. I appreciate that the malls here, similar to malls at home, serve cuisine from all over the world. I know that whatever craving I have, I can satisfy it by going to the mall. Just as diverse are their shops and the fashion they house. Not to mention that almost every mall I’ve visited has had some sort of arcade, playground, or full scale ice skating rink within it. What sets Joy City apart though, is a magical place called “Cheer Market.”

If I could describe Cheer Market in three words, they would be: inventive, youthful, and energetic. A space on the fifth floor of Joy City has turned into a haven for creatives. The set-up is meant to replicate that of a pedestrian street, but instead of knock-offs and questionable street eats, this market is filled with vendors who are selling original handmade goods, organic eats, and their skills with accessible workshops to the masses. I felt like I was transplanted to the Chelsea Market in New York, which if you’ve ever been… you know that it’s always difficult to leave because there’s always something new to see.

All of the interior decor and design featured through the market, specific to each vendor and their style, was very pleasing to my eyes and gave me such a happy heart. A favorite area of mine was on the second floor, where a gallery was located. The “Public Art Space” was beautiful. I made sure to leave my mark. Also on the second floor was a contemporary installation piece which the public could engage in as well. Not having seen much contemporary art since I arrived (and being a “fan” quite the understatement), I left Cheer Market after my first visit, well, cheerful, and very joyful that I could get my art fix on at Joy City.

Now, imagine that you need to do grocery shopping, pick up some new kitchen utensils, buy a birthday card for a friend, plan a dinner party, and possibly purchase a new outfit for said dinner party. Back home, that would require a trip to multiple shops/destinations (or maybe just Target, ^_^). It would take an entire day of running errands to gather all the supplies on my list. But in Tianjin, I am very fortunate to live two blocks from the mecca of all things imaginable.

Shopping central is located by way of Guyi Street and it’s surrounding area, recognized as 大胡同 or “Dà Hútòng” in Chinese pidgin English. It roughly means “big alleyway,” although “big” would be an understatement. It’s an actual maze, this place. I’ve been there close to a dozen times, and I still don’t think I’ve seen everything that this area has to offer. This super duper market is actually comprised of several streets and alleyways, indoor malls, food vendors galore, a post office, a few restaurants, and banks. Basically, it is it’s own little city. Everything on your grocery list and otherwise can be found here, and every price is negotiable (if you’re good at that sort of thing).

Da Hutong lives up to my expectations of a traditional Chinese market. There’s lots to look at, and it’s where all the locals shop for deals. It’s a cacophony of people bargaining, vendors hawking their wares, scooters and bicycles going up and down the alleys and sidewalks, and pans sizzling with street food. You can easily spend an entire day wandering through this massive shopping center, and there are different areas that are supposed to be designated for certain goods according to signs throughout, but a little bit of everything seems to be sold and scattered throughout. I find that the best way to experience and take in a place is to just walk around. I’m only in China for a few months, and I want to take advantage of the time I have here, but you don’t and shouldn’t have to necessarily be in a new place to feel motivated to get up and at ’em. You could be in your hometown, a place you’ve lived for a few weeks, months, maybe even years. Go check out that restaurant you keep saying you’ve been meaning to try! Or finally visit that shop with the neat window display that always catches your attention!

It helps having a destination or two in mind of sights you want to see (and a map), but they’re not always necessary. I find walking around, especially on my days off where I have no obligations to fulfill, greatly entertaining and relaxing. It’s especially fun in Tianjin, where I don’t know my Mandarin characters, and so stepping into a new shop, and just the entire supermarket experience always involves some surprises. There’s a lot to be discovered still in Tianjin, and I find it so convenient, and completely adore that my three featured Tianjin to-dos are walking distance from my apartment, and that anything further away, I can just hop on the subway for. I’m not sure where I’ll live whenever it’s time for me to establish some sort of permanent residence, but if there’s one thing I know, it’s that I would be happiest in a walkable city or town. Yes, please.

Take a walk on your next day off, for no reason. Where’d you end up?
What are some of your favorite places where you live? Let’s share stories, friends. Feel free to send me a message/comment.

Love from Tianjin ♥

Eating My Way Through China : A Pescatarian’s Perspective

When you have certain dietary restrictions, eating out can become a bit of a hassle. Of course, it helps having a few favorite restaurants where you know your diet can be accomodated. I’ve been a pescatarian for five years now, and I also have food allergies (namely all tree nuts and shellfish). At twenty-three years old, I’ve lived on the same continent, and easily know what/where I can eat without having any major issues.

But this past August, I jetted off to China to teach English for six months. Back home, Chinese cuisine has never been a favorite of mine, mainly because many dishes use ingredients I am allergic too. A huge concern for both me and my parents was how and what I would be able to eat in a country where I barely knew the native language, and therefore couldn’t effectively communicate my allergies.

For orientation week with LoveTEFL, the meal plan set-up we were provided was actually very convenient, despite the culture shock I experienced and how little of an appetite I initially had after arriving in China. With our meal plan, we each got a card with money on it. This money could be spent in the cafeteria, and at a couple of restaurants, cafes, and convenience stores also on campus.

So while the cafeteria wasn’t anyone’s favorite place to eat, it was set-up as any school cafeteria in the West. I could see and choose what I was eating, and there were no surprises involved with any of my meals there. Even if I had been ravenous, there were always vegetarian options in the cafeteria (all kinds of vegetables, rice, egg pancakes, noodles, tofu, etc). I also definitely enjoyed my share of chocolate croissants and tea from the cafe on campus too.

LoveTEFL also took us out to local restaurants in Beijing a few times during orientation week, and when it came to eating out, there were enough vegetarians in our internship group that we had our own designated vegetarian table. I’ve said this in a previous blog post, but I’m going to say it again: whoever said I would starve as a pescatarian with food allergies in China is a liar. I felt that the restaurants we ate at were fairly accommodating of our dietary preferences and restrictions. There was always more than enough food! Much more than what most of us could consume given the culture shock and homesickness we were all similarly experiencing.

Canteen/Cafeteria nommin' — Canteen/Cafeteria nommin’

I’ve been in Tianjin, where I’ve been placed for teaching, for almost eight weeks now (crazy!!!). And while LoveTEFL isn’t here to hold my hand and order for me in restaurants, I’ve managed just fine. Here’s some advice for those heading to a foreign country with dietary restrictions/allergies:

Learn some phrases in the local tongue. The phrases I am most comfortable speaking in Mandarin, aside from greetings are “wo chi su” (pronounced: woh-chee-soo for “I eat vegetables”) and “meiyou rou” (pronounced: mayo-roh, roughly “no meat”).
I have two epi-pens with me too, in case of an emergency. If your allergies are as serious as mine, you probably already have an epi-pen or two in your possession. Just double check the expiry dates on them before your trip and get your prescription filled as needed.
If you have allergies, knowing how to say “I am allergic to such-and-such” is especially helpful as well, and gives me more of piece of mind when trying new dishes. I know that learning a new language can be tough. I feel really self-conscious whenever I speak Mandarin. But, if you have a phone or tablet, you can always screenshot these phrases or write them down on an index card to carry with you.
A couple of apps that I’m finding most helpful if you have a smartphone or tablet with you, are Pleco and Waygo. Pleco is an English-Chinese dictionary, where you can type in an English word to come up with a translation (and sometimes phrases work too), and Waygo specifically translates food/menu items with your device’s camera. Both work offline, which has been a lifesaver on more than one occassion. Waygo I tend to use at the grocery store more than anything, to distinguish the different flavors of items, but I have tested it on a few menus with pictures, and the translations are pretty decent. But still, use caution. Asking is always better, if you’re not certain.
Another great thing to ask others are for recommendations for places to eat. If you don’t feel comfortable asking just anyone, don’t hesitate to ask your fellow teachers at your school! Everyone is always so willing to help at my teaching center, and I’ve been shown some really great places to eat. Bonus is that they speak both Mandarin and English, and know of my allergies, so I feel comfortable trusting my order with them.
Amazing breakfast place a co-worker took me to.
Cook at home! That is, if you enjoy cooking. Not only does it save money, but there are no questions or surprises when you eat what you cook yourself! Just be careful about picking up snacks from the market. While Chinese brand items are sometimes cheaper, altogether too often do I choose something that looks like a plain flavor, only to translate it via Waygo and learn it’s actually peanut/sesame/shrimp flavored. A safe bet are recognizable brands of snacks, like Quaker, Lay’s, Oreos, Ritz, Nestle etc.
When it comes to drinks, if you’re on Team Tea like me, you won’t have a problem. Very popular, and for a 1/3 of the price back in Florida, I’ve enjoyed one too many bubble teas/boba drinks (or milk tea, as they call it here), almost always from little shops or kiosks at the market, and one unfortunate time I drank expired milk tea from 7-11. Teabags are easy to find at the market, but expect to pay a little more for brands such as Lipton. I also recently gave milk here a shot. It came in a convenient little pouch, and while it was a bit sweeter than I was expecting, I would drink it again!Food is a common language in itself, no matter what part of the world you are in. While I do tend to cook at my apartment a lot, eating out is a terrific opportunity to practice the language, and experience the culture. Food has always been a great way for people to come together. Don’t let your diet restrictions or preferences keep you from trying new items. It’s alright, and reasonable to be hesitant, but don’t bridge on paranoia. I think it’s very important that I take advantage of traditional dishes and distinct tastes I can only find in China (that also of course won’t put me in the hospital). One of my favorite treats so far looks like a “bath bomb,” but it actually a mini jam filled fried cake, a traditional Tianjin snack.

Some of the most delicious things I’ve eaten so far on this trip have been from street vendors! I’ve also become a huge fan of hotpot and “malatang.” With both hotpot and malatang, you choose from an array of fresh and raw ingredients that are cooked and typically served in a broth with spices of your choosing. Malatang is meant to be spicy, although I prefer mine mild.

For hotpot, you choose your ingredients, and cook and serve yourself from a boiling pot in the center of the table which you share with friends/family (or, you can have yourself a hotpot party of one). The places I’ve been to for malatang featured shelves of baskets of ingredients which you fill a bowl with, depending on what you want and how much you want (vegetables, noodles, protein, etc). You pay by weight, and your bowl of ingredients gets cooked right before your eyes. You can hit every food group enjoying malatang or hotpot!

12067306_10153197878702547_20093053_n — Hotpot happiness.

I’ve been incredibly satisfied after every meal I’ve eaten out. Aside from drinking that bad milk tea (my own fault, for not checking the expiry date), I have not had any real issues with food in China. Every person is different and some people adjust to foreign cuisines a bit faster than others. Several people on the internship decided to go vegetarian while in China, at least to start, and that’s something to consider if you’re headed to a foreign country with a sensitive stomach. Just take your time and take advantage of trying different foods. There will be plenty of it, around every street corner. Just keep an open mind, and as the saying goes, “when in China…”

Love from Tianjin ♥

Three weeks into teaching… go saints! (And bingo!)

I woke-up late to my first day of orientation in China a month ago (Florida-time). It’s crazy to think that I’m midway through my third week of teaching! These past few weeks have been really busy getting settled into my new teaching center, meeting a ton of new students, remembering and forgetting a ton of new names, and creating a ton of new lesson plans. New, new, new… I came to China to teach, an extraordinarily new direction for me to go in, both professionally, and literally in terms of geography, but I’ve become quite fond of the thrill that comes with being in a foreign place.

A word on my teaching center: I have been referring to it as a “teaching center” as I don’t work at a traditional school. Rather, I work at tutoring facility, similar to Kumon in North America. It’s called MaxEn International, and they have centers all over China (we use workbooks and programs designed by McGraw-Hill, if that educational publisher rings a bell for anyone back home). Classes are either two or three hour sessions, and children attend these classes after-school or on weekends to learn and practice their English.

So while I do work evenings and weekends, the classes are very small, thus manageable (I have never had more than twelve students to a class), and rather than teaching one grade level, after these three weeks I will have covered the spectrum from pre-school to high school aged students (3-14 years old), which I think is terrific experience. Also, if you can’t tell from the photos below, we have a uniform of sorts, so that you can easily spot us teachers in a sea of students. As unflattering as this shade of green is, I’m actually really grateful for this uniform. It saves me a lot of time in the mornings. Also, more importantly, the mascot for MaxEn is a lion: go saints!!!

I’m learning that while I thought I would enjoy teaching a younger group of kids more (2nd grade and below), it’s certainly a lot more difficult than teaching the older kids, who already have a foundation of the English language. The little ones are so adorable, but they just require a lot more attention (and not to mention bathroom breaks). Even trying to explain certain vocabulary words, like “teamwork” and “salty,” in terms they can understand have stumped me a couple of times.

I am pretty exhausted leaving my younger level classes. Since the littlest munchkins have the shortest attention span, I try to keep the students as active as possible with role-play and games. My go-to games are “hot potato” and bingo, depending on the age group. Kids love games, and if you can turn vocabulary review into a game, you’re golden. A typical school day in Tianjin begins at 7AM and ends at 5PM. To follow these hours with another class at 6PM makes for an incredibly long day. Really, it’s just essential to me that the kids have fun while learning.

Lesson planning itself is a lot more basic and simple than I make it out to be sometimes too. I overthink everything, lessons included. The center itself is well equipped with any resources I may need though, aside from the occasional piece of realia, such as fresh fruit. But we have workbooks for each level with vocabulary and phrases depending on the topic of the lesson that I am expected to teach. My lessons are comprised of either Powerpoints or PDFs with some visuals for the vocabulary (which includes photos, videos, realia, etc), worksheets, flashcards, and games, of course. Each lesson comes with an online version complete with a couple of games that we also have access to, so there are plenty of ways to drill the vocabulary and help the kids learn.

Since I’ve started teaching, I’ve dealt with students who are disruptive to the class, students who are unwilling to participate, or who are only speaking Chinese, and students who won’t speak at all. Yes, these situations can, and have been frustrating, but slowly and surely I’m learning the best ways to handle these different scenarios. When it comes down to it, they’re just kids though, y’know? One of the toughest parts is going into a new class and not knowing what level of English the children already know. Did I make my lesson too hard? Too easy? Both have happened a couple times because every class is different. Even students at the same level have different strengths and weaknesses in their English. I’m learning that flexibility is key as a foreign language teacher.

It can be a little disheartening feeling like you haven’t taught students anything in a class, and sometimes I feel that way with the youngest kids. But, I know that with the youngest group of students, the kids are just really small. They’re still learning social skills, fine tuning their motor skills, and it’s hard for them to grasp so much new vocabulary, especially in a second language.

I do always finish class with an older group of kids feeling much more accomplished, and it just feels very rewarding, knowing that my kids are leaving having learned something new. I’m so honored to have this opportunity to be a mentor to these students. They’ve given me something to look forward to each day, and I feel like I have a real sense of purpose here, no matter how much of a class is spent coloring more than anything. I may be the teacher, but I have undoubtedly, and still am, learning just as much as my students. China is one big classroom in itself for me, where around every corner there’s something unfamiliar and refreshing to see, a different dish to try, a new phrase to learn… and for this experience, I just feel really grateful.

Love from Tianjin ♥

China: Taking on Tianjin II

Touring around Tianjin

The first few days in Tianjin were rainy and gloomy. Much preferred over it being sunny and humid, so that hasn’t stopped us from seeing a few sights and exploring the area around where we would be living. Fellow teachers Lynn and Crystal took us around Tianjin our second day here. Our first stop was the Tianjin Eye, which driving from the train station to our apartment the day before, was the first sight I saw in the distance. They have just opened up a ferris wheel in Orlando, but I didn’t get to ride it before I left, so I was super excited to see this one! Unfortunately, it wasn’t in operation due to the weather, but it’s something to definitely look forward to.

Crystal and Lynn took us to Tianjin Ancient Culture Street, or Guwenhua Jie, an area not too far from my apartment where handmade local items are sold, such as clay masks of the Chinese opera and wooden hair combs. There are also plenty of traditional Tianjin street foods available. The items in the stores are expensive, as this area caters to tourists (maybe not so if you are better at bargaining in Mandarin than I am!) but the prices to sample local snacks were very reasonable. I had street food and survived!

I couldn’t tell you the names of things I ate, but can describe them. First were these delicious mini rice cakes with jam on top that had the texture of a cornbread muffin, an egg and flour crepe with bread folded into it, and tea soup. The tea soup wasn’t for me, but I loved the rice cakes and crepe!

11922934_10153138112762547_136573273_n — Adorable little rice cake queen.

11948065_10153138113012547_923147259_n — We’ve got strawberry, peach, blueberry, kiwi, mango, and mystery jelly!

We walked around a few different malls for the rest of the afternoon. I don’t think I will ever get used to how huge the malls in China are. The last one we ended up at had four floors, but there were basically two of these malls next to each other. Way too many to tackle in one day, so we stuck to a couple of floors. Clothes are more expensive than I thought they were going to be here. I mean, I guess it’s expensive for me, your friendly neighborhood professional thrifter. It’s a little disappointing considering I packed really light in hopes of picking up some things here, but it looks like that will have to wait. I did hear of a popular website for clothes though, called taobao.com. The entire website is in Mandarin, though, of course.

Our late lunch was a meal in one of the many restaurants of this mall, called TJ Tex Mex. I know it’s a little strange to want to eat Mexican while in China, but for some reason, I always crave Chipotle when I’m traveling. It just reminds me of home, and I also know that Mexican is always a safe bet with my allergies. I ordered a Guacamole Bowl, and while it wasn’t Chipotle, it hit the spot and I was very satisfied.

Crystal, Lynn and I at an outdoor food court in one of Tianjin's many shopping plazas. — Crystal, Lynn and I at an outdoor food court in one of Tianjin’s many shopping plazas.

11938057_10153138113367547_233712076_n — Guac Bowl, come to me!

Tianjin and I have gotten along quite well so far. As a bonus, I’m pretty sure I spotted a Mexican restaurant in the mall that was close to our apartment. And, I’m pleased to inform y’all that to this date, I’ve taught three classes! I will share more details about my teaching center, my first few lessons, and the students soon… but to say the least, it’s been great so far.

Here’s to a four day weekend to prep for my lessons to come. Hope you all have a terrific week!

Love from Tianjin ♥

China: Taking on Tianjin

Tianjin bound: August 30

Farewell, Beijing! You will be a quick half hour train-ride from my placement in Tianjin. Now, when I found out I was being placed in Tianjin, I was worried. If you don’t watch the news, Tianjin was where a series of chemical explosions took place earlier this month. How far was I being placed from where the incident occurred? Was the air safe? The food? What is the aftermath//cleanup looking like? I had so many questions and I was really hesitant about living there. After speaking with several teachers who live there, I felt reassured about the location of my placement.

If you know me personally, you know how much I hate when people worry about me. So don’t, pretty please! I’m a good three hours from where the incident occurred. And if anything, Tianjin is probably the safest place in China right now. As it was a fairly recent occurrence, everyone is on their a-game about security and safety. I promise, I am no less safe than being anyplace else in the world right now. C:

We were met at the station by three fellow teachers of MaxEn Tianjin: Aileen, Iris, & Maxwell. I really appreciated that they met us at the station. It can be quite stressful moving about in a country where you don’t know the language. All were very sweet and helpful, as is everyone I’ve met from MaxEn so far, which makes me even more excited to start teaching at their centers. They also got us lovely flowers for the apartment, and Maxwell got us pizza for lunch! I was so happy. I miss Western food. So. Much. But it looks like finding some here in Tianjin won’t be difficult.

11933064_10153136851322547_1135179616_n — Pizza Hut in China! Where they put corn on their pies.

Right off the bat, after hopping in a cab from the train station, I can tell that this city is going to be different from Beijing. I could literally feel the difference, and it’s not just because it hasn’t stopped raining since we’ve arrived in Tianjin, the first rainstorm I’ve had to deal with since I got to China. It’s just so much less crowded here. There’s less people on the road and streets in general. The hustle and bustle of Beijing reminded me a lot of New York City, whereas walking around Tianjin, I don’t feel that anxiety. And I definitely feel a lot more comfortable crossing the streets here. Riding in their taxis… not so much. I think it’s safe to say that taxi and bus drivers across China rule the road.

The director of the center I will be teaching at, Belinda, took us out to dinner at this restaurant in a mall called Joy City, not even a mile from the apartment. You know, I don’t think I will ever stop being impressed by Chinese malls. The couple that I visited in Beijing were so nice, clean, and contemporary. Joy City was another nice mall with an incredible variety of restaurants, from Korean to Italian to Mexican and Mongolian. There were so many options, and it was great. I know where I will be getting many of my meals here.

But a highlight for me at this mall was the fact that there was basically an amusement park/camp/playground/arcade for children inside. I’m talking merry-go-round, rollercoaster, sandbox, arts and crafts… you name it, I’m sure this mall could distract you for hours on end, just on this one floor. Dinner was grand, I’m really happy this mall isn’t too far from the apartment (which itself, after some tidying up is starting to come together), and tomorrow we have a day of sightseeing in Tianjin. I’m very much looking forward to exploring and learning more about where I will be living these next few months!

China: Week One – Let’s Get Down to Business II

BEIJING SIGHTS – AUGUST 26

While in Beijing, we also had a day of sightseeing organized by LoveTEFL. We began the day climbing the Huanghuacheng section of The Great Wall. The Great Wall was originally built by seven different kingdoms. Each section of the wall is built a little differently according to what materials are available in that area. But, the walls were eventually united by The First Emperor of China. It served as a national defense structure of China, where troops burnt wolf dung during the day and bonfires at night to transfer signals.

It is over 5,000 km long, Definitely give yourself a few hours or maybe even most of your day to dedicate to exploring this world wonder. We only had two hours, and I was not prepared for how difficult it was going to be to climb the wall and climb down within that time span. But the view and the breeze makes the trek all worth it. As our tour guide Kathy said:

“You are not a true man unless you climb the wall.”

The Great Wall was followed by a tour of a cloisonné factory. Seeing the amount of detail that is put into the ceramic work is insane. It’s a very tedious process, and I had always wondered how those pieces were made. A lot of teamwork and patience. And some magic, because it really is incredible.

We visited the Ming Tombs, specifically the tomb of the emperor who moved the capital of China from Nanjing to Beijing. He spent 18 years building his tomb, and as a result, it is the largest tomb in the area. I learned that he had 16 concubines, all of whom commit suicide when the emperor dies by hanging themselves, and their bodies are carried from the Forbidden City to the area of the tomb. Ironically, the tomb itself hasn’t even been opened for preservation purposes, yet it is amazing how many visitors the grounds generates. The area of the tombs are really nice, though. Beautiful architecture, and plenty of shade, seats and trees about.

We quickly passed by Tiananmen Square, named for the “Gate of Heavenly Peace” to the North of the square, which is recognized as the entrance to The Forbidden City. The square is one of the largest public squares in the world and is the home to the National Museum of China, several monuments, and the Mausoleum of Chairman Mao Zedong. Zedong led the reconstruction and renovation of the square in the 50s to it’s present glory of being able to hold over half a million people.

We also saw The National Grand Theatre (also known as “The Giant Egg”) where they hold operas, ballets, and concerts. Very briefly we saw the Bird’s Nest (Beijing National Stadium) and the Water Cube (Beijing National Aquatics Center). Both were built for the 2008 Olympics and will be used again in the 2022 Olympics. It was a relatively busy area, and security was tight. So while it would have been neat to check out the inside of both structures, I understand why security had to keep an eye on the traffic in the area.

We concluded the day with a Chinese acrobatic show. It didn’t tell a story like I was expecting it to, but showcased a variety of acrobatic and stunt acts, from gymnasts, to jugglers, to motorcycle stunt daredevils. My favorite act were the female gymnasts who synchronized a performance on bicycles. For the finale, over a dozen of them managed to balance on one bicycle. Their performance was so graceful and mesmerizing.

I still unreal to me that I’m here in Beijing. The highlight of today was seeing and climbing the Great Wall. I think that was a highlight for all of us, to have been able to visit a Wonder of the World. It really is such an incredible site. It’s been such an amazing day, a nice break from the TEFL training and being cooped up inside for the past couple of days. I’m sad that I’m going to have to leave busy and bustling Beijing so soon, but I am grateful that it is only a half hour journey by train.

China: Week One – Let’s Get Down to Business

AUGUST 22ND – AUGUST 29TH

Phew. Well. Being able to find reliable internet in China? This must be what it’s like to win the lottery!

•••

If I could describe my first week in China, in three words, I would describe it as: overwhelming, dynamic, and different.

This is the first time I’ve ever been to Asia, and the longest period of time I will be away from home. My first couple of days in Beijing, I experienced a bit of culture shock, and homesickness. We are staying at the University of International Business & Economics for our first week of orientation, training, and sightseeing in Beijing, and learning our official placements on Thursday. As an international campus, there are students here from all over the world, living in China to learn Mandarin as part of their programs. It’s a huge campus. As part of our accommodations, we have a meal card to use for every meal, which we can spend as we wish between two cafeterias, two restaurants, a fruit market, convenient store, and two coffee shops.

ORIENTATION + CHINESE CUISINE

Unfortunately, my appetite was basically non-existent upon arrival. Culture shock at it’s best. To even think about the fact that I was actually in Beijing felt really overwhelming. But for the first couple of days, I really made an effort to try at least something different for each meal from the “Canteen,” our cafeteria on campus. Adjusting to having Chinese for every meal (when back home, I eat Chinese once every couple of months) has been really difficult. And I’m not the only one who has been in dire need of variety when it comes to food. A good deal of the group has gotten ill this week handling the culture shock as well, and we have ended up taking multiple necessary trips to the 7-11 down the street from campus.

That being said, we’ve grown tight as a group over the past week and found ourselves little niches of friends who are dealing with the same sort of surprises and frustrations over being in a new place. That and the long, seven-hour or so teacher training sessions we have had this week with LoveTEFL have functioned as a great bonding experience. They have been helpful training days, though. I haven’t looked over my TEFL course material since I was certified last December, so it’s been a great review. And as I stated in an earlier post, I have zero teaching experience, but it seems like the majority of us are in the same boat. Having to prepare and present a couple of lessons for the class has been very good practice, and both of our leaders, Chris and Graham, (both of whom are experienced English teachers as well), have been very supportive and knowledgable.

As an added bonus to our teacher training days, we even had a Mandarin lesson, which I was really excited about! The tones are the hardest for me to distinguish (zh/ch/sh for example, are just slightly different from each other). We learned greetings and phrases (thank you/xiè xie, pronounced “sheh sheh”) and some basic vocabulary, such as the different members of the family. I can’t wait to put some of these phrases into practice. I know Mandarin is one of the hardest languages to learn, because of the different characters, but five months is the perfect amount of time to try and practice and pick up as much as I can.

In total, there are 73 of us by the week’s end (two people I know of have decided to return home). I am one of five Americans, with everyone else being from the UK and a couple from Australia. After spending a week being surrounded by a majority of people from Great Britain, I can see myself leaving China with a British accent. How crazy would that be?

Aside from campus meals, we have enjoyed a handful of eats out at local restaurants, also organized by LoveTEFL or the schools we have had training with before we leave for our prospective cities at week’s end. Whoever said that I wouldn’t survive as a pescatarian with food allergies in China lied. Every place we have eaten at has served us more than enough to eat (and I say “us” as there are at least a dozen vegetarians, or “vegetarians” for this internship). My favorite meal to date has been a Hotpot lunch. I loved being able to cook everything in our own boiling broth pots in the middle of the table. It doesn’t get fresher than that!

A couple nights the group has headed to Helen’s Cafe, which is basically the coolest bar I’ve ever been too. It’s located in such an ideal location too, just a couple blocks from the campus. It’s frequented by backpackers and travelers alike as they serve both Western and traditional Chinese fare. There’s graffiti all over the walls and ceilings, signed by people from all over the world. Bars in Asia > Bars in America.

Placement

I learned that I will be placed in Tianjin, about 30 minutes by speed train from Beijing. I will be working with MaxEn, similar to a Kumon center in Canada and the States. We would be teaching afterschool hours and on the weekends, anyone from the age of 3-17 (but mostly younger children). The center we trained at was very nice. They are a very well resourced program and have everything from computer labs to interactive whiteboards we are able, and encouraged to use for our lessons.

We spent three days with MaxEn Beijing, learning about the different softwares and workbooks with lessons and activities that we had access to. We each came up with our own demo lessons to present to our centers via webcam! I did farm animal sounds. I opened with a game of duck, duck, goose, played a few games using flashcards, and ended my lesson with Old MacDonald. It was a lot of fun and the atmosphere was a lot more relaxed than when we presented lessons during training with LoveTEFL, despite the fact that this time around, we presented individually. I’m really excited to start teaching with MaxEn, although I am very sad to be parting ways from everyone in our group who is still waiting to be placed or staying in Beijing. But, I am excited to meet the teachers of Tianjin who I’ve only been able to contact through WeChat and webcam, and also to experience a different area of China.

Me + Beijing vs. Chicago. And a burrito.

Traveling is never without its hiccups. My 24+ travel-time from Orlando to Beijing was no exception. Troubles began with my layover in Chicago. What was supposed to be a three hour layover turned into a five hour layover due to “airplane maintenance…” but I like to look at it as though they were double, no, triple checking everything to make sure we all landed safely.

It was finally starting to hit me, that the next flight I got on would take me to an entirely different continent, and that I would land at about 3AM Florida-time in Beijing, China.

When I went abroad last summer, what I craved the most was a burrito. There are lots of places to dine and make last minute purchases, but no Moe’s or Chipotle. Surprising, since O’Hare is such a big airport. It looks like my last “American” meal/snack was going to be an Asiago bagel from Starbucks.

I met up with Hannah, a sweet gal from Michigan who was also going on this teaching adventure to China. We had spoken almost everyday since April, sharing our fears and stresses over China. It was so wonderful to finally meet her in person.

Aside from our delay, other hiccups included:

forgetting my toothbrush
breaking the home button on my Ipad case
the lady sitting in the row in front of us rearranging her carry-on that was stowed up above in her compartment, and her socks and underwear falling onto Hannah & I. She didn’t notice, making it all the more awkward. I ended up having to chuck up her delicates, and I did so without her noticing, phew! I mean, we couldn’t say anything because we were laughing so hard.

We had a full flight, and there was very little legroom for thirteen and a half hours. I only wish that we had individual screens where we could choose what to watch. I caught a bit of Far From the Maddening Crowd, Hot Pursuit, and The Longest Ride… and when I say “a bit,” I mean that I couldn’t stay awake through any of the movies they played.

But just like my flight from Orlando to London last summer, the food, drinks, and snacks were plentiful. I love that for both meals, they offered a Westernized dish, as well as a traditional Chinese one. I was very open to trying a Chinese dish, but unfortunately, they didn’t have vegetarian options (ravioli + scrambled eggs for me!)

Out of the thirteen hour flight, I want to say that I slept for half of it, but it was very disruptive. I was, and still am exhausted. Adjusting to the time change has been so fun, fun, fun. I was pleased to learn that after getting picked up at the airport, the rest of our evening was free to rest up.

Getting on the Internet is difficult here, as is adding photos to my blog posts. But the air is clear, it’s currently in the seventies, there is a beautiful breeze, I just finished a basic Mandarin course, and I can’t believe I’m in Beijing!!!

More to come on my first official day in Beijing. But first, I have a group meal at a local restaurant to look forward to in a little bit!

Beijing Bound: ONE WEEK

I am excited to share that one week from today, I will be flying into Beijing!!!

————-•••————

The journey to this day, where I can finally share on my blog that I’m actually leaving, hasn’t been without its obstacles. I didn’t receive my Visa until this past Wednesday, which to me, is cutting it a little close. This is the first time I’ve had to acquire a Visa for traveling, so I’m not sure if the timeline is the same if I was to visit a different country for a prolonged period. Anyways, after I had that in hand, I purchased my travel insurance (also a first for me!) and submitted both these documents to LoveTEFL (more on that in a bit), and received this email yesterday:

it's really happening! — djkaljfkh!!!!!!

Lucky for them, I’ve been packed for almost a month now, aside from some toiletries. I’ve learned that the earlier I start packing, the better. I’ve always been a planner. This trip has been in the works for about a year. I committed to going on August 22nd last summer, and August 22nd this year is when I will land in Beijing. Surreal.

Why Beijing, you ask? Well for one, I’ve never been there before. And if you know me, you know that visiting new places is a favorite hobby of mine. Adventure is out there, and I think we need to take it upon ourselves to try new things, meet new people, and explore spaces and places that are foreign to us, especially if you’re young/able/still trying to figure things out. You learn so much about yourself, other people, and other cultures while traveling, not to mention the memories you’ll make! Traveling always puts me in the happiest state of mind.

After Europe last summer, I looked into going abroad almost immediately after returning home. And that was where I learned about the benefits of teaching abroad. I did a lot of research and decided to complete a TEFL course through LoveTEFL. LoveTEFL is a UK based company who provides accredited TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) courses, as well as teaching internships such as the one I am completing, recruitment for permanent placements, and more. I was certified last December, became a US citizen in January, booked my one-way to Beijing in May (because hey, if the stars align, I’d like to spend as much time abroad as possible), finally booked a return flight home a few days ago at a price I couldn’t pass up, and now here I am: one week until I leave for Beijing, and what looks like will be total of ten months being abroad. I’m still organizing my post-China plans, but I will keep ya posted on those as best as I can.

I liked that LoveTEFL offered an internship option, so I can experience what it would be like to teach English abroad without committing to an entire year. Aside from volunteering at my middle school, I don’t have any experience teaching or commanding my own classroom. But that being said, I really enjoyed the teaching course. Lesson-planning came pretty naturally, and the course itself wasn’t hard, but I know that teaching isn’t for everyone. You have to be patient, organized, disciplined, and basically ready for anything. I know I’m in for a few surprises, but I see this all as part of the adventure that awaits.

I have a feeling this week is going to fly by. See you in seven days, Beijing. ♥