The Big Meeting

Hey Guys,

Let me just start with some pictures of Xining, so basically a LOT of tower flats

Michael and Alex

Ta'er Lamasery on the mountain behind the Complex

I've just got back from a meeting with the head teachers of Xining which was held at Xining Middle School Number 7. I can certainly call it eye opening. The school we were at was such a contrast to the surrounding area; my first impression of the school was surprise at how modern and new it looked, it had music rooms and lots of specialist spaces. However once we passed through the first part of the building we then found corridors with peeling paint and with classrooms filled with wooden stools and desks all in lines facing the blackboard. This is what China is trying to move away from and why the teachers of Xining have invited us.

One thing that did truly surprise me was the facilities for special educational needs; the school had an anger management room, a creative room and a relaxing room. I didn't think there was much provision, if any, for SEN children.

Alex showing off her drumming in the music room.

Sand box therapy apparently

'Even without sunshine, you can still make a rainbow'
'And your head will become a tomato' -Mike 

Anger Management- Nothing like beating up a clown

The older part of the school...

The meeting with the head teachers was all in mandarin but we were given some information about the schools (in English) so we could research the different schools. As far as I can work out if you are teaching junior or senior school kids then you are working 9 hours a week and if you are teaching primary you are working 12. They have also planned for us to go on an excursion with schools for the Saturday of each week which is pretty sweet. However none of this is actually confirmed and Matthew is still avoiding our questions.

At the meeting, they circulated a lesson plan example and having read it, I can certainly say that to call it boring would be an understatement. At the end of the meeting we got to eat some fruit which was AMAZING, I've missed bananas and oranges! I tried my first lychee since coming to China too. 

Michael, Deena and Alex

Siziwe and I

The Complex Guardian

Mike is sensible, see how he wears a woolly hat and a coat?
Will is an example of no sense no feeling...

Teaching the Senior Management Team... GULP

Hey Guys,

Yesterday we were told by Matthew (who is Chinese by the way! Matthew is his English name!) that we were going to each give a 10 minute lesson to the senior management! They encouraged us to aim it at the age group we wanted to do teach, so naturally mine was aimed at primary school students.

I chose to do mine on transport, I showed them pictures from my journey to China and Xining and elicited from the group the names of the methods of transport. We then played a game, where I shouted out a method of transport.

Taxi - BEEP BEEP
Train- CHOO CHOO
Coach- Groups of 3
Plane- Arms out and plane noises
Subway - Conga line!

The staff loved it and I loved watching them conga around the classroom! Overall I think we were well received though there was an argument between the headmistress and the vice head (all in mandarin) once we had finished. Matthew assured us that it wasn't about us...

Yesterday afternoon, we went into Xining so we could go to the supermarket and get the essentials, for me namely milk for my tea, fruit, water and some snacks. One of the Chinese teachers took our passports and went to the police station to register us (and about time too!)

We then had to sit through another lecture which was entirely in Mandarin, this time it was Matthew giving the lecture. Again not a clue what it was about, I played hangman with Alex and Deena.

Highlight of yesterday was definitely trying Yak jerky! It is really nice, not dry though!

We are feeling a little bit isolated and captive here at 'the complex' so emotions are running high;  we just want to know what's going on and how we can have some freedom! Its like a prison here, they send us to our rooms and knock on our doors when we need to go somewhere or eat. They call it 'rest' I call it confinement! Seriously there is an exercise yard and EVERYTHING.

Woke up this morning; yesterday the shower had no hot water, today the shower had no cold water. Getting sick of these showers! On the plus side we got a Western-ish breakfast of eggs, hot dog sausages, sweet stale bread, Haw Jam and hot 'milk'! It was glorious! And we stayed full for more than a couple of hours after eating!!! Chinese food fills you up quickly but you don't stay full very long. Plus the majority of it seems to go right through you, if you know what I mean.

Been chilling out this morning after putting a bit of pressure on Matthew to answer our questions. I've been playing Chrononauts and Fluxx with Alex, she loves it!

Off to a school in Xining soon to meet all the head teachers of the schools here, hopefully should get some clarity as to our role here. Either that or it will all be in mandarin and we will have to resort back to hangman.

See you later!

The Xining

Hey everybody!

Been a weird couple of days here at the Practical Training Base of Xining for School Students or the complex as we have come to know it.

Basketball court

Very Pretty

Home Sweet Home...

On Monday we went to Matthew's office in Xining and we talked about his project 'Education for the International Awareness', we think he wants us to introduce new teaching methods to the Chinese classroom and teach the children about British culture. However there is an awful lot of emphasis on the 'WE THINK'. 

The food here is pretty good (the evenings meals are amazing). They don't drink water with their meals here all they drink is green tea, it is strange. Last night I swear I had a gallon of the stuff! They just kept refilling the glasses when you weren't looking!

Yesterday we did some lesson planning, by that I mean we were locked in the computer suite for 3 and a half hours. Planning lessons is difficult as we still don't know what age we are teaching, their ability, how many of them there are etc.

We then had to attend a lecture in Mandarin, very boring and to this day we have no idea what it was about.

Mr ... Chi? (still struggling with Chinese names) We call him the Godfather,

In the evening we decided to go exploring... in the dark. We were given torches by the guards and told to be careful. We found a local shop which is cool and we found a whole load of statues. It was really exciting.

 
I really think we are starting to gel as a group, it is nice :)

Xining- The First Impressions

HELLO EVERYBODY!

I SURVIVED!

For those of you who don't know I found out on Saturday where I was placed in China, Xining in Qinghai Province (West China on the Tibetan Plateau). This also meant a 22 hour long journey from West Beijing Train Station to Xining.

There are seven of us in total, 4 girls and 3 boys. The girls consist of Deena (Swindon), Siziwe (London/ South Africa), Cecila (Sweden) and Alex (South Tyneside) and the boys consist of Will (Exeter), Mike (Doncaster) and me.

Alex, Deena, Will, Mike, Siziwe, Cecilia and I

Getting on the train was 'fun' with my two huge suitcase and my rucksack (which fell apart). It was stressful and the Chinese people were just shouting at us because we were in the way. TTC had booked us a hard sleeper which was better than a seat on the train, at least we had beds. What we didn't expect was the absolute lack of any space to put our bags! We managed it though, just. Next challenge were the bunks, we were expecting a top and bottom not a top, MIDDLE and bottom! Naturally I was booked onto the top bunk but Alex said she'd swap with me. That girl is a life saver. However I was still on the middle. Needless to say I had EVERY Chinese person in our coach watching me attempt to scramble onto my bunk. I was graceful as always...

Sizi on the TOP bunk

Deena & Siziwe

The journey itself wasn't that bad, I read my book (The Big Over Easy by Jasper Fforde), listened to my audiobook (Is it just me? by Miranda Hart) and slept. The toilets were foul though!

22 hours later we pulled into Xining, our first impression wasn't good. The smog was atrocious and the city seemed to be either a building site or a pile of rubble. However we were met off our train by someone who appeared to be expecting us, his name was Matthew. He shepherded into his minibus and we made our way out of Xining to our accommodation.

We are staying at the Practical Training Base of Xining for School Students on the outskirts of Xining. The campus is gorgeous and comes complete with its own lake, motorcross course, climbing wall, high and low ropes courses, gym, basketball court, canteen and teaching buildings!

Fresher food than CAMIC!

Motor Cross?

The accommodation is really nice and they have WESTERN TOILETS! I am currently sharing with Mike but should be getting my own room soon (I hope). Only downside is that there is no storage whatsoever! However there is now WIFI!

This is probably a good time to point out that I still no nothing about where I am teaching in Xining, what age group or what ability level. However having talked to Matthew, we might not be starting teaching until next week. Matthew has set up a project regarding international influences on Chinese education and wants us to help him with it. We are not really sure what it entails but I don't think we have much choice!

Now it is definitely time for bed!

PLACEMENT NEWS

Hello Lovely People!
I have been told where I am going!!!!


I am going to XINING! In the west of China on the way to Tibet!

I know nothing about what it will be like there or what age I will be teaching.

I have a 22 hour train journey awaiting me tomorrow morning... FUN TIMES.

Lots of Love

xxxxx

So Here Comes Goodbye!

Hello Everybody!

I am very happy to tell you that things are looking up since my last post, still no placement though.

I had a brilliant day yesterday, Mandarin lesson 8-11am (only 5 of us came, commitment!), then I headed to the Forbidden City!

I was a bit disappointed with the Forbidden City, it was vast but there is only so much Chinese architecture that one can admire before getting bored. I did get approached by a scam artist though, a beautiful woman who talked to me in good English who tried to persuade me to join her for a tea ceremony. TTC had warned us of these scams so I turned her down.

I went to Jing Shan Park after the Forbidden City and was blown away by the views of Beijing. I am glad I came on a clear day because you could even see the mountains in the distance! It was beautiful!

Next I headed back towards CAMIC because Kathryn had organised a farewell meal for our group in an all you can eat hot pot restaurant called Hot Pot Hot. For those of you who don't know, a hot pot restaurant is somewhere where you cook your food in a kind of soup. I chose mushroom and once it had got hot enough added loads of seafood (squid, octopus, prawns, etc.) and some vegetables. It was certainly quite an experience! They also provided entertainment in the form of a band who walked around singing and playing their instruments, so naturally all 20 of us got up to dance with them! It was so much fun!!!

Beth and Eddy

Alice's Unorthodox Cooking

A whole squid to myself!

Chicken Feet! Surprisingly Nice!

Oh and the TOILETS, not only did they have HEATED SEATS but they also sprayed water and air dried your bum! Quite a shock if you weren't expecting it!!!!!

Next we headed to the Irish Volunteer (the local Irish bar, £1 beers) for a final farewell. We had some fantastically heartfelt speeches (Lewis did a very good one). It was really sad!

Eddy, Me, Lewis, Dorothy and Evelyn

Ellie, Louise and I

Katheryn and I

Rachel, Me, Sarah and Tom

Rachel and I

Mark, Sam, Luke & I

Brad and I

Some people left at 5am this morning (Mark among them), Owen left about half an hour ago and everyone is set to leave at various points throughout the day. It is sad but I know we will stay in touch!

I still don't know where in China I am going, I might not know until MARCH. Not too happy!

Until next time!