Certified?

So finishing up all the training finally...thank god.  It was truly boring, but kind of fun to get to know a new area of Chinar.  Took a test this morning to get certified and we have a ceremony at 3.  I have to dress up...this sucks.

The presentation I was working on before went really well.  I was asked to be a teacher at a key school actually, which is one of the schools directly controlled by the bureau of education.  I don't know how I feel about it though...involves much more work and more supervision...

Anyway, thought I would just leave a quick update on life here.  Went to the beach last night to drink and chill with some friends.  Took a chill night which was nice again.  I think I've calmed down too much in my old age.  haha.  well until next time...

1 week in 一星期以后

So as I sit here working on my presentation for Tuesday's lesson, I realize that I have been here a week.  Can't believe how fast time flew.  I'm exhausted and am surprised by how much work we actually do.  I mean, don't get me wrong, this kid still parties, but it's amazing that even JUST out of college can make me feel old.  I get questions of what I do for a living now and if I'm married.  I guess that's a whole other off topic subject though.  Although I do feel old now.  I used to never get tired, but I guess partying with these Chinese has finally made a challenge.  We're up at 730 every morning (and sometimes out till 4...haha).

So to talk about this city a little more for those who are interested...it's a cool town.  Not really all that huge for China.  I think it's a very popular vacation destination for Shenzhen families and people from Hong Kong.  Sometimes the accent in Mandarin here is pretty funny because a lot of people speak Canto.  It's nice though...beachy, so I can't complain.

Friday night I had the first late night like I'm used to back in the states.  A few friends and I (Ben, Jeff, and Phong) went to a bar street.  So there are 2 here: one just called bar street (酒巴街）and the other is Hooker street (莲花路).  So Hooker street was friday.  Not to say that we get a lot of hookers in the states, but we drank quite a bit and didn't get home until 4 am...which made waking up for class at 730 kind of difficult...so I didn't.  I made it to the rest of classes though and was 1 of 3 that missed a pointless class so I didn't worry.  Plus my Chinese teacher loves me so I don't worry.

So now I continue with training.  3 days left in Zhuhai and trying to finish a final presentation.  I'm exhausted, but will probably still force myself to go out in order to celebrate finishing the first Chinese test today.  So I haven't changed too much just yet, don't worry.....guess I'm not all that old.

yup, finally here. 终于到了！！

So it may have taken an extra 20 hours, but i finally made it to china...got annoyingly delayed in san francisco as I guess I should have expected with my flight track record.  Anyway, it was actually a good thing, got to stop and hang out with Julie for the night and finally see san francisco since i didn't get to go when my sisters lived there.  Got to say, I actually like it!  Reminds me of a taller austin with less cars

So, next step was the second flight to Hong Kong.  About a 13 hour flight, which stretched to almost 14 in the end (again, just my luck in traveling).  Anyway, also with my luck and just something you would definitely expect of me...I met the ONE mexican on the flight.  He was a cool kid.  about 19 i think and moving ot Hong Kong for college!  studying engineering for the next 4 years because he wanted to be different and not go to the states like his friend.  anyway, gonna end up meeting up in hong kong when i go to visit so i can get my fill on mexicans on the other side of the world since I will be so deprived on this side of the world.

Last bit of news updates, Chinese class is going well.  I love Professor Qiu.  She is probably the funniest Chinese person I have ever met (which i guess doesn't say all that much, but she is hysterical).  We're going to lunch tomorrow because for some reason has taken a liking especially to me and has decided to "raise the bar" when grading me?  sucks.  but i guess it's better than her hating me...she for some reason prefers me even to the chinese kids in class (sort of typical too of chinese people. hyper critical of chinese)...TEFL classes suck and are boring me to death...hopefully they'll help somehow when i start teaching though.  I'm hoping desperately I get high school kids.  I will hate myself if i have young kids.  Oh and apparently someone was telling me that I should teach spanish here.  I can tutor kids and make an additional 180 RMB an hour (about 25 bucks an hour).  They don't have anyone to teach it here so it could be good for me to do since some people want to learn that in addtion to english.

One week left in Zhuhai (city for training) which is this awesome beach city.  really clean and nice.  lots of money here which is a nice break from the rest of china.  pics to come eventually...