Back In Beijing...

I tried to write earlier either upon my arrival, or right before I left but couldn't find the time. I was also unable to access facebook or the internet from my computer. I have finally figured out how to use the wonderful world of technology over here.

As most of you have seen, I have arrived safely. It has definitely been an indescribable experience coming back. I have considered walking around with a notebook in hand in order to write down the strange quirky things I see in the world of Beijing. It's so much different than the states, especially coming from a small town in Washington. I have had to adjust to not having a car but relying on public transportation. Subways and Busses are the way to travel, but they can be so jammed packed at times that you feel claustrophobic. You don't really have a choice when you are trying to get from point A to point B. Every morning I go to school I have to walk to a subway, take it five stops away, walk to a bus station, ride that for three stops and then walk to the school from there. It can be a very overwhelming experience.

I don't really have a point of reference with this blog at this point but wanted to let everyone know I am alive. The last week I have met everyone in my group-- there are 19 of us taking a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) course and then we are split up into groups were we will be teaching at various schools. I was introduced to my colleagues at my school and saw some of the students. I will be working mostly with 3 to 6 year olds-- I didn't realize that 3 year olds had even a full vocabulary in their native language let alone could start to learn a second language, but never too early to start I guess. Plus, this is China. (You may see this phrase used a lot, sometimes there are no words to describe what happens here as it is so foreign, all you can really say is "this is China"-- or the newly acquired "it's different". Not bad, not good, just different.)

I have spent a few days and nights wandering around to explore and to try and get my bearings around here. I carry a map everywhere I go. It is quite strange but because everything has changed so much and I spend a lot of time in places I never really did before, I never know where I am. The city is huge!!!

I also had the wonderful experience of trying to, and successfully finding an apartment. The first day was quite interesting as this short little Chinese man met me at my hotel. I followed him to the Subway, 2 metros and 8 stops later we got off where we met two more men. I was told to get on the back of a scooter and rode around Beijing looking at various apartments. I was not impressed with what he showed me and felt ripped off. The next day i decided to find a new agent and started making calls. I met up with this very nice man (no scooters included-- but a taxi ride to the building)-- where he showed me 3 units. The first I wasn't too impressed with as the kitchen had been built inside the bathroom by the owner because he wanted to save space. How sanitary. The second was gorgeous but was expensive, and the third was the size of a box. We went back to the original and while the agent called the owner it was taken (thankfully as I didn't want to cook where my toilet was), so we went back to the second, I met the owner and with my wonderful Chinese skills (exaggeration) she fell in love with me and dropped the price and hired me to tutor her children. While it will never compare to living in an apartment in the states-- my main requirements were a toilet (some may have holes in the ground), a shower not over the toilet (very common here), a washing machine (most people hand wash clothes and it is rare to find dryers), a refrigerator (a luxury only foreigners usually require, most keep their food hanging outside to keep cool). Apartments are furnished so I needed a bed too. My place has a bonus of a couch, a tv, internet, cable, an electric stovetop AND a microwave (YAY). I also have a large bathtub with a shower. I am glad to have found a place so I have something to call home.

I will be moving in on the 25th as my hotel is paid for until the 26th. I have the 25th off, two days of work the 26th and 27th and then a week break from the 28th to the 4th. Looking forward to some time to settle in and have a break. I might make my way to Shanghai or camp on the Great Wall. The adventures at this point are endless.

I think that is enough for now, plus I have to get to homework. I will try to find some more exciting stories to share. This includes only a small fraction of what I could tell, but apartment hunting is worth sharing. But it is something one can truly only experience themselves. You have to see it to believe it-- Pictures will come, I promise.

pre-China jitters

So, I promised many of you I would keep you up to date once I leave the country. In effort to not repeat myself, I thought it may be a good time to start a blog. That way, if you choose to read it you can, if not, then don't. But, I will try to write as often and as much as I can. For all of my international friends, this may seem amusing to you, but coming from a small town in Washington, it's a lot to take in, understand, and go back to.My intention of writing this is to keep my Bellingham/Washington friends informed, but also describe what Beijing is like now to those of you who left long ago that I graduated with. Remember this is all very foreign to anyone who has never been to Beijing. But also remember that many of us have spent years living there and may know no different. I have two audiences to work with, and want to try and inform, possibly entertain everyone.

As many, or all of you know, I am moving to China. In T minus 21 days I will be boarding a plane to take me to the other side of the world. I accepted a position working at a company in Beijing teaching English. (For those of you who don't know the location of China, I have included a map below). Now, I have heard good things and bad things about this particular job, but my contract is only a year. I may end up finding another position while over there, but for the time being I will be employed with this original company. I depart September 11th at 2 in the afternoon from SeaTac. I will arrive in Tokyo on September 12th. Switch planes, and then fly to Beijing. My arrival time is 22:50. I will be picked up at the airport and taken to my hotel where I will be staying for two weeks. Now, this is a 2 star hotel, but it includes free breakfast :). Whatever, that consists of, I am not sure. I currently have a return set for November, but not knowing when I can take vacation, this will change. It may not be until next August.

Having grown up in China, I am excited to be going back, but also a little jittery at the thought of such a large place, and knowing so little about the changes made. I have begun to pack, clean, throw away everything. On September 4th I will move in with my brother as I have sub-letted my unit. I am getting rid of almost everything. I can travel with only 2 50 pound suitcases and a carry-on. This doesn't leave room for much, and I don't know when I will get back. I figure everything is so cheap though, that I will take clothes and find the rest on arrival. I will be given a cell phone by the company, but only with a few minutes on it.  I may or may not have internet to begin with, but hoping Starbucks will be at my rescue with a free wi-fi connection. Facebook is blocked, but I hear there are ways around this.

As the day gets closer I am more excited to board that plane, but also sad to move on from the last 8 years in Bellingham. It hasn't quite hit me yet, but as my owners and tenants find out, I realize the vastness of my choice from the eyes of people that have never been outside of this town. It's eye-opening even for me.

With that being said--- I have never blogged before and will next time try to make this more entertaining. I will include photos, color etc. I am very much looking forward to the next step in my life.