Just a little update with how well everything has been going in China since I moved here eight weeks ago. Over two months have passed since I moved from London to Chengdu. I am definitely a lot more comfortable with my daily routine of teaching than I was a month ago. I love my apartment and how peaceful and beautiful this city is, and I love how well I have settled in here!
The teaching is amazing! The students are still fascinated by the fact that they have a foreigner teaching them English. I love all of my students and I find myself using more Chinese to communicate with them every day. I spend most of my lunch breaks playing badminton, practicing English and having fun with them. They are all so kind and friendly, and even on days when I am feeling a little low, their happy faces cheer me right up! It’s great teaching such a wide age range of students (I teach kindergarten, grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8) but also means I am very busy and tired most of the time. I appreciate the weekends so much more now!
Because I am very busy a lot of the time, the last two months have flown by very quickly. I am really used to being far away from home now! I still do miss my family and friends an awful lot, but I talk to them every week, so I don’t feel as homesick. I am really looking forward to seeing them all in a few weeks.
The cultural differences are not as jarring to me now. I am used to the way things are done and the differences between the Chinese culture and western culture are not as hard for me to get a grip of. As such, I find it a lot easier to go to new places and meet new people, I am used to being stared and pointed at now!
One of the biggest differences that is proving to be quite challenging to get used to is the weather. Spring started a few weeks ago but the temperature is already hitting 29/30 degrees almost every day! If you are reading this and are from England like me, you will know that temperatures like this in the U.K. are not a regular occurrence, so I am suffering a bit. But it is wonderful to step outside and have it feel like summer! Although I am slightly nervous about the high temperatures and storms the summer will bring!
Thank you to everyone who has been keeping up with my blog posts about China. I love receiving messages from friends and strangers saying that they are loving my posts! I enjoy writing about my time here so much, and I will use my blog as a diary to read back on when I finally move back to London!
谢谢大家!
B x
Nice work! Great read.
ReplyDeleteThanks for taking a look at my blog! x
DeleteThat's great, I hope you keep strong. I totally understand what you have been going through. I loved Chengdu, visited it many, many years ago. https://www.daisyandthyme.com/thyme-to-travel-daisycamera-sucre/
ReplyDeleteChengdu is honestly so beautiful and I am beyond happy that I can call it home for now! I will check your blog out now! x
DeleteI am glad that your students welcomed you! Its awesome to settle in so quickly but it sounds like working in your purpose really helped.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading my post! Yes, the students have been amazing in welcoming me to China! I have had an amazing time so far and am really looking forward to continue teaching them! x
DeleteAnother lovely read! Don’t melt! X
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for keeping up with all my blog posts x
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