Update of August: Beijing- Part 1

I am going to try (hopefully successfully) to update our month in China so far! Bare with me- I will post each significant part of the trip separately.

Part 1- Arriving in Beijing
When we arrived in Beijing after the 14 hour flight and almost missing our connecting flight we were exhausted and tired. We made it through what Jordan and I call the “Swine Flu section” successfully, after “indirectly” having our temperature taken at least 3 times. We were some of the first of the group to arrive and found one of the coordinators who pointed us in the right direction to wait. There are about 90 new teachers with this program and all of our flights were landing within an hour of each other. After everyone arrived, we were then escorted to our hotel where we would stay for 2 weeks. The ride to the hotel was fun to see all the changes since Jordan and I had been in Beijing right before the Olympics. The smog was still there to welcome us to China. After freshening up we went to dinner at a Japanese restaurant-yes, we know we’re in China… =) and bought SIM cards for our phones. It’s a pay as you go society here. We were both exhausted and came home early and slept like babies! Our training for the program began the next day, August 4th and we were immediately in classes for the next two weeks. Our days would begin at 8 and we would have teaching classes for our Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL in China) certification, Chinese class, and everyone taught for one hour a day. Our days ended around 4 pm, but then were usually followed by meetings with the program about odds and ends little things to prepare us for the next stage in Shenzhen, China. Needless to say at night we were tired, had to lesson plan for the next day, and eat.

During the two weeks of training Jordan and I were able to find some time during the evenings to meet back up with his buddy Joe who is another fellow NGCSU alum and Jordan’s old roommate from Tsinghua University in 2007. Joe’s girlfriend Linda cooked dinner for us one night and then I made a fool of myself attempting to play Nintendo’s Wii. It was a lot of fun and I enjoyed getting peak at Chinese apartment style homes.

The weather was incredibly HOT, humid, smoggy and rainy while we were in Beijing. It was depressing how very little we actually saw the sun. We did have one day off during the two weeks that was scheduled for the Great Wall. Jordan wasn’t as excited to go back for a third time so I made a deal with him. If the sky was smoggy we’d stay at the hotel and rest or if the sky was “clearish” we’d go. I’d already seen the Wall on a smoggy day and had the pictures to prove it, but I ended up winning the deal…the sky was absolutely BEAUTIFUL that day and I’m so glad we went! I’m pretty sure I have more pictures of the beautiful mountains all around the Wall than us actually ON the Wall. Pictures to follow ASAP!

One night the program paid for us to all go see an acrobats show. It was absolutely amazing! It was children performing from about 8 years old to 18 year olds. It reminded me of watching a travel channel documentary! We saw 12 girls on 1 bicycle circling the stage! 3 girls balance and switch about 15 umbrellas back and forth…with their feet!!!! Some very flexible and muscular guys jump and flip over pole vault like pole but without the stick to lift them!!! It was incredible to see how determined, focused, and talented each performer was while on stage- and to think that this IS their life. I tried to take pictures during this wonderful event, but was quickly reprimanded by the staff! Oooops! =)

I’m going to briefly (ok, I know I get carried away with details) highlight some other fun parts during the training…

• We had to be observed during our training three times according the Shenzhen Education Bureau before proper certification could be received. Jordan and I both received excellent evals, except they always told Jordan he did great, but sounded like a redneck. We both just laughed it off and decided that China wasn’t worth losing our “roots” to and we would speak like true Georgians! =)

• In this program there are quite a few couples- only two married ones that are new, us being one of them. We have become good friends with Emily (from Ohio) and Murray (from Pennsylvania) who went to Queens University in Charlotte. We have enjoyed hanging out with them on many occasions. Of course we’ve made other friends too, it’s just funny how people were standoffish toward us at first when they learned we were married. Then when they figured out how cool we really are, they haven’t stopped saying “You’re our favorite married couple ever.” Or “You two give me such hope!” Oh me!!!!! I like to agree with their comments =)

• Narnia.- Near our hotel we all found this little side street/ally type area, but the only way to get to it was to go through one entrance of a store and through the exit. We called it Narnia since we had to go through the store. Close enough to a wardrobe we figured. Here we found some of the greatest dumplings, called jiaozi (pronounced like jow –rhymes with “chow” d-za. Jowd-za) Please note that this is MY interpretation and pronunciation. This is probably 80% incorrect. Haha, but I’m trying!!!!! The owner of the dumpling restaurant had the cutest baby girl…*Aunt Grace, I even held her for a while!!!…and when it was time to go back to her mommy, she cried…Jordan wouldn’t let me hold her ever again…No babies in China he said!

• Our program provided a closing banquet for all of us at a nice restaurant the night before we left. We were given our official TEFL in China certificates and some great Chinese cuisine. Finding food we’ve enjoyed eating hasn’t been the real issue for Jordan and me, but our stomachs would definitely disagree. Oh well, we have to eat- and with chopsticks…I’m almost a pro. Definitely will be by June!!!!!

Ok enough of Beijing! I think I've hit the maximum word limit for a blog! Sorry so long!!! I will update about our arrival in Shenzhen next!!! Love to all!!!