So this is finally it - the final few hours to which it all boils down to. I leave Wuhu in just over 12 hours (& yes, here I am on the net writing a blog entry!!) at 1:40pm tomorrow & then in less than 48 hours I leave China. It's quite a strange feeling to be honest. I wouldn't say it hasn't hit me yet, but its deffinately bitter-sweet.
I was packing with a hangover today... well, this afternoon. It was Neil's birthday yesterday so we went out last night & celebrated in Chinese style by going to KTV (karaoke) & then onto Royal Hero where we drank an awful lot. It's fair to say I didn't surface untill lunch time & I had a wopper of a headache! As if packing isn't hard enough!
Two salpadines & a few cups of black tea later I was sitting on my case desperately trying to get it to shut but having no success what so ever. I'm having to pop down to China Post tomorrow morning before I leave to mail a bunch more stuff home as it simply will not fit in the suitcase, despite having two bags of hand luggage as well! And a handbag. To say I feel like a pack horse doesn't begin to describe it!
So I have my bus ticket, my hotel is booked for tomorrow night at Shanghai airport; it would seem I'm all ready to go. I'm feeling a bit nervous about tomorrow though as it's the first real solo traveling I've done as Melissa met me at the airport when I arrived & Patrick & I got the coach together. Any traveling I've done whilst I've been here has been with other people as well so tomorrow will be the real test! Keep your fingers crossed for me!
My kids at Shui Yang yesterday were very sweet. I had told them that it would be my last lesson this week & some of them had bought me presents, pens, apples, cards, photos of them & things. I was very touched as one class I didn't even think liked me all that much! They shouted as I left the classrooms at the end of thelessons, "no, Amie, stay, please stay!!" I'd like to say I'll miss them... but in all honesty, I didn't feel that attached to my students as there was so many in a class that you don't really get to know them all that well. But they were sweet kids. :)
So what's next??
That's kind of the question of the hour really! I'm applying to do a CELTA (a certificate to teach English as a foreign language) in New York or Denver & also some internships, hopefully in the US as well. This would be for February time. Then it's on to Argentina for late Spring & Summer, possibly to teach English again but also to attempt to learn Spanish.
(I know I haven't really ended up learning Chinese so perhaps this is a foolish ambition for the next stint of traveling, however Spanish seems somewhat of a more realistic option than Chinese which is so far removed from English & really, I couldn't see me ever using once I left China so had no real insentive to learn the language!!)
Then I start Uni on September 22nd, 2008. This, however, seems too far away to even contemplate at this time!! I still don't quite know what my plans for the Christmas season include yet!
By the way; even more photos went online this week & the links are as follows...
Brush Painting Lesson: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=19370&l=2f883&id=500193915
Tongdu School Promotional Day: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=20745&l=07736&id=500193915
JiaHua Shan Weekend Trip: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=20748&l=2c5e4&id=500193915
Random Photos: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=20754&l=5caca&id=500193915
Preparing Aston for Xmas: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=20757&l=fdbf9&id=500193915
On this note, I think I'll bid you farewell. I hope the blog has been interesting for you & given you a taist of what life has been like here for me. I will continue to keep my blog once I resume my travels in the new year but untill then, thanks all for reading & maybe see you in the not too distant future!
Zai Jian! (Good Bye!)
Amie
xx
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Friday, December 07, 2007
So one week today I leave Wuhu. I'm not sure it's hit me yet that I'm actually leaving; it feels as though I should still have another 3 months to go in a way. Tell you what though, I sure am looking forward to the central heating - I can see my breath when I breath out indoors today. Not impressed.
JuaHua Shan
We went on the company trip last weekend to JuaHua Shan - a mountain with lots of temples & what not. It was pleasant; there was fresh air & quite pictoresque (reminded me of an Alpine resort but with a Chinese edge) & really, I wasn't complaining as it was free because the company paid. But it was bloody freezing & it poured down on the Sunday to the point where I looked like I had just got out of the shower! We then had a 4 hour bus ride home with wet feet & of course, no heating on the bus... Fuuuun.
We also couldn't have a shower in the hotel as "we were in the mountains, so the conditions are not so good & so there is only hot water between 7 & 8pm" - as the guide told us in her bright & by this point annoying tones -which of course was when we were eating dinner. There was no way I was having a shower in the morning either as the tap was practically spitting icicles. Hmm.
Lady Luck ain't on my side
Last week, I wrote how Habby had been planning a superstitions & luck lesson. After discussing this my luck began to go down hill.
On Friday morning, my new bank card arrived from mom which I was very excited about as after my wallet was knicked in Hefei a few weeks back, I had been taking subs off friends here & stuff & was very happy to have my own money supply again. The day was off to a good start.
On my way back from English Corner at Medical College - at which, a girl had started practicing her French with me which threw me a bit to say the least! - that evening, I got out of the cab & left one of my nice gloves in the front seat. So now my hands are freezing with this cold weather. My bank card then didn't work in 3 banks which I tried which have always worked before saying the bank couldn't issue my money. For some reason, at this point, I knew it was going to be a bad evening.
That night, in the club - one of the 2 in Wuhu - which we frequently go to, where we know all the staff & many of the other regulars, my bag was swiped from table I was sat at. When I realised, I was not happy as you can imagine & couldn't believe this was happening all over again. Just topped off the evening really. My new bank card had been in there though there was nothing else of value as it was such a small bag... I suppose I should be greatful for that much but somehow didn't see it that way!
So now I'm back to square one, transfering money into my friends' accounts so they can withdraw it for me. *sigh*
As my time here draws to a close, I seem to have less & less to report &I don't want to bore you with too many ramblings about daily boring life here so I think I'll draw this entry to a close. See you all in a week - which I still can't quite believe!
xx
JuaHua Shan
We went on the company trip last weekend to JuaHua Shan - a mountain with lots of temples & what not. It was pleasant; there was fresh air & quite pictoresque (reminded me of an Alpine resort but with a Chinese edge) & really, I wasn't complaining as it was free because the company paid. But it was bloody freezing & it poured down on the Sunday to the point where I looked like I had just got out of the shower! We then had a 4 hour bus ride home with wet feet & of course, no heating on the bus... Fuuuun.
We also couldn't have a shower in the hotel as "we were in the mountains, so the conditions are not so good & so there is only hot water between 7 & 8pm" - as the guide told us in her bright & by this point annoying tones -which of course was when we were eating dinner. There was no way I was having a shower in the morning either as the tap was practically spitting icicles. Hmm.
Lady Luck ain't on my side
Last week, I wrote how Habby had been planning a superstitions & luck lesson. After discussing this my luck began to go down hill.
On Friday morning, my new bank card arrived from mom which I was very excited about as after my wallet was knicked in Hefei a few weeks back, I had been taking subs off friends here & stuff & was very happy to have my own money supply again. The day was off to a good start.
On my way back from English Corner at Medical College - at which, a girl had started practicing her French with me which threw me a bit to say the least! - that evening, I got out of the cab & left one of my nice gloves in the front seat. So now my hands are freezing with this cold weather. My bank card then didn't work in 3 banks which I tried which have always worked before saying the bank couldn't issue my money. For some reason, at this point, I knew it was going to be a bad evening.
That night, in the club - one of the 2 in Wuhu - which we frequently go to, where we know all the staff & many of the other regulars, my bag was swiped from table I was sat at. When I realised, I was not happy as you can imagine & couldn't believe this was happening all over again. Just topped off the evening really. My new bank card had been in there though there was nothing else of value as it was such a small bag... I suppose I should be greatful for that much but somehow didn't see it that way!
So now I'm back to square one, transfering money into my friends' accounts so they can withdraw it for me. *sigh*
As my time here draws to a close, I seem to have less & less to report &I don't want to bore you with too many ramblings about daily boring life here so I think I'll draw this entry to a close. See you all in a week - which I still can't quite believe!
xx
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