TravelStream™ news feed for member mcquila2 on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/mcquila2 en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Mon, 14 Jul 2008 12:03:23 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mcquila2/1/1211984400/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mcquila2/1/1211984400/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mcquila2/1/1211984400/tpod.html Mon, 14 Jul 2008 12:03:23 -0400 The world of China

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Harbin, China

Yep it's day eleven already. Skipped a few days :O but hey, I have my reasons.

To be honest, I'm not sure if I'll keep this up for very long. The life here is different for sure but you know it's only day 11 and already things are the same here as they would be anywhere I would live. I still do all the things I would do back home: go to the gym, drink and go out with friends, work, watch movies, read, go on the computer...etc.... it's kind of sad really. I was hoping for a bit more than this. I guess I should have figured as much but hey... it's China! I thought my life would be extremely different! Oh well.

School is pretty cool though. The children for the most part are terrific and well behaved. The other teachers are all very sweet and would do anything they could to help you out. I've yet to actually teach but that comes this weekend...I'm not nervous just anxious because I'm getting bored watching other teachers over and over. It should be an experience that's for sure. Life besides work is typical. I am going to buy a guitar within the month and see how well I can do with that. There is a street called "music street" that just has shops and shops of different instruments so maybe I'll pick up more than a guitar..who knows. Also there is this place the girls took me to that is a three level building dedicated to material. Clothing material and on the third floor is a bunch of different small rooms for seamstress' who have tons and tons of books with all different designs in them. You pick out what you want made and the material and then they make it for you! Unreal! I could even draw up my own designs and take them in and have a wardrobe that I invented! So neat!

Other than that there's nothing else that is that exciting. Hence the reason for not writing. When more exciting things come up I'll write again, until then, Ciao.

Amy
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mcquila2/1/1214234940/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mcquila2/1/1214234940/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mcquila2/1/1214234940/tpod.html Mon, 23 Jun 2008 11:56:32 -0400 The world of China

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Harbin, China

Well I've been here for over a month now...I can't believe it. Time is flying and I wish I was able to slow it down.

So far it's been life as normal like I was saying. Although I have been teaching quite a bit and I'm really liking it! I get a full schedule this week which includes 18 classes to teach in one week so it's a heavy load. I'm sure it's going to seem like a lot but it will eventually become second nature.

Today we went to the "Tiger Park." It was so much fun and sooo crazy how close you got to the Cats. They were beautiful. After we went there we walked to the closest town and had lunch. Walking around was so nice because we were in the "country" and it was so much different than being right in the city. It was clean and quiet and so refreshing. I really needed that. I've lived in a City before but you don't realize how much you miss the country until you get out. Walking around this City is like playing a sport. Your constantly dodging people and cars. The pedestrians don't have the right a way so you really gotta watch the traffic. Some days I just want to scream from all the glares and stares you get, the cars that don't have two cares for you and the people who won't move when your walking. They love to walk right next to you even though there's plenty of room. Why? I don't know. It's strange I tell ya.

Sarah and I had a beautiful day on the river a few days ago. We just walked around the City and took mad pictures. It was a great day. We didn't see anything too exciting but it was just nice to be out and venturing around. I think so far the Tigers were the most amazing thing I've seen. Other than that I've not much else to say. It's sad I know. Maybe I'll have some better stories soon...

until then
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mcquila2/1/1211177040/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mcquila2/1/1211177040/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mcquila2/1/1211177040/tpod.html Mon, 19 May 2008 02:40:24 -0400 The world of China

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Harbin, China

Second day here and I already love it! The people I work with are all fantastic! The culture is so interesting and friendly, and I'm not worried about work or life in general. I think this is going to be the best experience I could ever have asked for.

Yesterday wasn't filled with as much interesting stuff as the first day but I did some shopping for my apartment at WalMart believe it or not! It was such a huge WalMart there were escalators and I think it went 3 stories high. Pretty huge. Sarah and I got lost trying to find the exit! We walked in circles and circles and finally figured it out. While we were shopping we saw some naaasty stuff. Chicken heads, chicken feet, full headed things like fish. It was pretty nasty and the poor turtles... :( They eat the turtles. So sad but what can you do?!

Last night we went out to dinner and it was connor's birthday so there were a lot of shots (of beer) and dinner was great! We then went to a bar called "box" and got pretty wasted. Gloria (my boss) and I stayed there with others until 4 am! It was quite the night...then we had to get up early and go to the school and sign my contract and I had to watch a training video which was just how it sounds..boring but useful. Pretty uneventful all together but to me...it's a so new. I had a great time. Love the people, the city, the everything. Can't wait to see what tomorrow will bring cause I won't write about today seeing as I'm back home in my pj's and probably will be in bed for the rest of the evening. Lame I know but hey, when your hungover it doesn't matter where you are all you want to do is be lazy. :) Until then!

xoxo
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mcquila2/1/1211021340/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mcquila2/1/1211021340/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/mcquila2/1/1211021340/tpod.html Sat, 17 May 2008 07:29:24 -0400 The world of China

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Harbin, Heilongjiang, China

Well...where to begin. Today is Saturday, May 17th at 6:53pm and I am exhausted. I arrived here late last night at 1am. I woke up at 5:30 am so I'm super tired and not hungry. I am heading to supper with my new co-workers in about 5 minutes. Authentic chinese food should be good. I'm not a fan of canadian chinese food but I'm sure it's nothing like that.

When I was traveling here my flight got delayed from Beijing to Harbin. Due to this I had to wait in the airport for 5 and a half dreadful hours. During that time I met a gentlmen who smiled from ear to ear when he saw me sitting on the floor because there were no seats available. So a motioned him to sit as well. He did and he was a very friendly man. A little too friendly. He began trying to "woo" me with poetry and asking for my life story. Being from Prince Edward Island, the friendliest place in the world, :) I entertained and catered to him. I wish I wasn't so weak like that but.. So being so friendly as he was when his flight was called to board he managed to find me a seat and personally place me in it. Then with a sigh of relief he left.

I sat in that chair for around 2 minutes when I had gathered 3 young men whom one of them spoke a tiny bit of english. He said hello and they all laughed and carried on in their language. Then he continued. We talked about many things...well tried...the information got through eventually and we talked for hours. All in all we may have talked about 5 or 6 things but it took a long time to understand each other. During those hours we accumulated 7-9 people who all wanted in on the "english lesson". It was one of those experiences that you will never forget. My first impression was a great one. They were so kind and polite. When I left to use the washroom and came back they were up and out of their seats offering it to me. If I hadn't of had met these people my 5 and a half hours would of been horrific.
I passed out as soon as my ass hit the seat on that plane.

Today, I was much happier than yesterday. It was a hard time leaving my life back in Calgary, Alberta. I had friends, a job, a great house, and the best boyfriend a girl could ask for. Leaving Canada to do this was always something I knew I had to do. Not necessarily the teaching part but the traveling part. I have the bug and it's a hard one to shake. I think my time here will be satisfying to that bug.

I went for a jog today. Fitness has been something I've loved the last few years and I was feeling so lazy and my muscles were aching from the trip so I said screw the looks I'm going! I kind of regret that.... it was so awkward. As I decribed to my boyfriend, it was as if they never saw a canadian before not to mention a canadian running! It was maybe a bad idea but I think I'll keep going...I need the exercise. What else can I do?

Well I'm heading for supper...until tomorrow!

Amy
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