My Adventures in China

Three weeks in...

2011-09-24T17:29:00.000-07:00

Hey everybody. Sorry it has taken me so long to post up. I think I've found a reliable way to do it now, but that could change quickly. Here are the highlights so far:

Classes- I'm teaching chem 11, bio 11, pre calc 12, and PE 10-12. Total number of courses I've taught before = 0. So as you can imagine, I'm keeping busy. My most difficult class is the pre calc. I'm not having issues with the content, rather the lack of textbook and practice problems. It is a bit of a struggle, but I'm making due. The PE is ok, although I struggle with the grade 10's. Their English is still being worked on, so I get a lot of blank stares. Chem is really easy, I'm teaching it to the grade 12 students, so it's going well. Bio is coming along too, although it is new to me too. All in all, classes are going well. Very happy with the lack of discipline problems, it actually allows me time to TEACH!! Go figure...

Chinese culture- I have experienced much of this so far. Fall festival was fantastic, with music and dancing. Too bad we got stuck in a torrential downpour... Some pics up on facebook. The crazy taxis have taken some getting used to, but I am cool with it now. I can go out, and get a taxi home. I know the bus route to get downtown, so that's good. I have experienced real Chinese food. I usually eat in the school cafeteria, which offers a buffet style lunch menu for teachers, so I have tried many things there, some I like and some I don't. I have been for hot pot, both in a local place (dark room, upstairs, kinda shady) and an upscale place, both being fantastic. Last night we went for dumplings at another upscale place, very tasty. After that we went to a tea house, got the full tea experience. Saw the long spout, behind the head action, and the calming, relaxing experience, complete with live music. I have been to the local disco, which is not really a disco at all, more like a variety show with music, dancing, jokes, all sorts of stuff. I liked it, although it would probably be better if I could understand what they were saying. I have been on tv (at fall festival), been photographed ( at a local mall's 10th anniversary), and typically draw attention to myself wherever I go. Not many people as big as I am here, with white skin...Oh, add donkey and duck blood to the new foods I've tried. Donkey is pretty good, can do without the duck blood.

My skype is up and running now, so if anyone wants to chat, we can set something up. I will probably get a cheap cell phone here next week, but I'm sure long distance will be a killer, so skype will be the best. I have set up my Chinese Bank account with Bank of China, so that is a good thing, gotta pay those bills. First payday next Friday, then a national holiday, 5 day weekend!!! Whoot!!! I'll be posting some more pics on FB soon, of my school and such, so keep your eyes open. I hope all is well on your side of the world. Don't be afraid to drop me an e-mail, keep in touch. mrfergusson@gmail.com

Take care friends,

Dan, live in China

First week here!!

2011-09-07T05:38:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone!! I hope all is well for you all. I have made it to China, after a harrowing 27 hour day. The jet lag hasn't really bothered me, thankfully. My apartment is nice, posted some pics on PhotoBucket. Search MrFergusson. The first thing I noticed coming into Shanghai were the vast number of cargo ships coming and going. Also, the ocean wind farms were pretty cool. Then I noticed the green landscape. Very nice!! Another shock was customs at the airport. It literally took no time at all. My luggage was ready before I got to the baggage pick-up!! I couldn't believe it!!! When I got into Changchun, the principal Sarah was there to pick me up and take me to the apartment in Jilin, about an hour away. It was here that I noticed the driving even late at night. The drivers here are scary. Traffic laws seem non-existent at times. Pedestrians never, and I mean never, have right of way. Just drove downtown by taxi for teacher night, pretty scary, but kind of cool also. The dinner provided to the teachers was fantastic. I am really starting to get used to the food. There are a lot of things here that I can get back home, but there are also many new things to try. Keep following along for more on that :-)

So, turns out that I'm teaching mostly sciences, Bio and Chem, both classes I've never taught before. The chem should be alright, it's the bio I'm worried about. The only science I never took in high school: Bio... I think I'll be alright once I get in to it, I have a lot of studying to do!! My students are wonderful, well behaved, polite, and clever. They are going to make this year great, I just know it.

Well, I have a ton of work to do, thanks for taking some time to follow along, talk to you soon!!

D

Still waiting...

2011-08-26T20:07:00.000-07:00

Well, for all those who didn't know, I am still in Calgary. There were issues with my work visa, or z-visa as it is called. I was a little bummed about it for a while, but it does give me more time to spend with friends and family before I head to the other side of the world, so I can be thankful for that. Good news today: the missing documents that were holding up my visa application arrived from China. A letter of invitation from my school, and permission to apply for the visa from the Chinese government. I need to send these to Vancouver to complete my application, and I'll finally be good to go. My new flight date is Sept. 3rd. I'm sure it will come faster than I think. I am learning a lot about what it takes just to travel...

On another note, I was contacted today by another overseas agency, this one for the UK. I had to turn down an interview. I guess I may actually be good at what I do, maybe...

In any case, there is the updated situation I find myself in. I hope all is well with you readers, and thanks for following along :)

D

The Beginning

2011-08-22T09:53:00.000-07:00

Well, here I am, sitting in my mom's living room, the smell of tasty breakfast wafting to my nose. I have decided to create this blog to document my upcoming trip to China. Social media may be unreliable in China, so this will serve to keep my friends and family updated on how things are going. Please feel free to follow this blog, to post comments, and follow along with my teaching adventure. I will be posting details of my trip, along with general thoughts on anything that strikes me. I will try to update this regularly.

D