Thailand!

Happy Easter! Being in a non-Christian country, to be honest I hardly noticed it, but have had a few deliveries of creme eggs which has put me in the mood!

I just had a two week Easter holiday and spent it in Thailand. I flew to Bangkok, where I met Owen, an old uni housemate. We spent a couple of days there staying on the famous Koh San Road, and we visited a market, saw a big buddha and, most excitingly, went to watch Muay Thai Boxing. We had ringside seats and saw eight fights back-to-back, including one knock-out. It is kind of a mixture between kick boxing and conventional Western-style boxing, pretty aggressive!

We then took a long bus down to Koh Tao, which is absolutely beautiful. The smallest of the three islands (including the better-known Koh Phangan and Koh Samui), it is famous for diving, although we sadly didn't manage to fit any in. We hired mopeds to explore the island - unfortunately we got rather lost, went off-road and had a crash or two that resulted in quite considerable payment for damages! Otherwise we were chilling by the sea/pool, eating copious amounts of delicious Thai food, drinking smoothies, playing pool, and enjoying the general laid back feel of the place.

We then ferried to Koh Phangan in time to coincide with one of the renowned Full Moon parties. We met up with Ben, another old housemate. The party was fairly epic - a packed beach partying all night and into the morning! We also went to an excellent pool party the night before, to celebrate Ben getting a job offer. The days were spent recovering, hydrating and generally chilling. There were some tropical storms while we were there resulting in blackouts across the island - we managed to find a restaurant lit by candlelight and cooking by gas so we managed to eat out during a blackout!

Our final destination was Koh Samui, the largest and most touristy of the three, and to be honest we were less impressed after the paradise of the other two. The beaches are still beautiful, but full of sun loungers and old Western tourists, whereas the other two islands are almost exclusively young backpacker crowds. Still, we played some mini golf, shopped, swam, played beach frisbee and still had a great time. Owen and Ben left on consecutive nights, so, with two days remaining, I decided to head back to Koh Tao, where I had an incredibly lazy 48 hours, before the epic bus back to Bangkok to fly home.

Overall thoughts on Thailand (islands) - AMAZING food, absolutely beautiful beaches, fairly touristy but not really in a bad way, mostly fab weather, friendly people, loads to do (much of which I didn't get round to so....maybe back in future!).

Back in Beijing now for a new term. Bizarrely we work two weeks than have another five day holiday, so currently considering mini-breaks around China. Then it's hardcore work as students are preparing for exams.....rather them than me!

Now I have to start planning my Summer holiday!

Staying in China...

Once again, apologies for the long gap between messages...finding the time (and effort!) to sit down and write these is not one of my strengths! But as I am currently being paid 35pounds an hour to tutor two kids who are simply sitting in silence writing English essays, I have the time to sit and blog!

So the big news of the last six weeks is that I will be staying in China next academic year, so I am now signed on until Summer 2010. I will be able to take an international PGCE next year, which is as good as any PGCE I could take in the UK, except it does not qualify me to teach in the state sector. However, taking it here also means I will gain an extra year's teaching experience, and I will be paid throughout, rather than getting into more student debt! I will also be able to do more traveling throughout South-East Asia in the holidays, and continue to explore China. Beijing is starting to feel like home!

I will be back in England in the Summer for around the first half of August, and I also plan to come home at Christmas, as I get three weeks off. So look forward to seeing everyone then.

With that decision made, I am starting to look at new apartments for next year; planning to move in with a couple of friends, pool our housing allowances and get a really big place! The football season has restarted after Winter break - we have won two, lost one, and I have scored in both the wins. Also had a memorable football social, involving some rather drunken singing of all the anthems of the different nationalities of people in our team! The other night, following a successful concert I helped put on at school, I went to one of my colleague's flats, where we had champagne, and she had hired a personal chef to come in and cook us what was quite literally a feast - some of the best food I have had in China. Living the high life!

In February I also managed to get myself onto the staff for the school ski trip, so I enjoyed three days of skiing for free, which was great. It is something I am really glad I will now be able to continue pursuing next year. Winter is finally over, and Beijing is nice and mild now.

I also went to Xi'an to see the terracota warriors, which were amazing. We had three days off so it was great to get a backpack and be 'on the road', so to speak. We stayed in a really cool hostel whre we met lots of other traveling Westerners. We cycled around the ancient city walls on rickety old bikes, and explored the old Muslim quarter and markets. The terracota army itself was actually fairly average...until we reached the last 'pit', where you see whole, totally excavated warriors lined up in military fashion...amazing.


I am sure I have done lots more in the last six weeks but I literally cannot remember; time flies by here. I am off to Thailand in two weeks, so will try to write before then; if not, you will get a Thai round-up in around a month!

x

P.S. I was asked to write something about the presence of Christianity in Beijing, China obviously being a primarily Buddhist country. I have a good friend here who is a Christian. There are obviously no 'churches' in Beijing; however, there are numerous churches inside the posh Western hotels, and I believe you are required to show a passport to get in. I think you also have to pay, to contribute for rent/supplies/maintenance etc. Basically, there is an active Christian community here, but it is fairly hidden away from Chinese eyes. With regards Buddhism, the only temples I have actually seen are the tourist ones, so I am not sure where the majority of Chinese people actually go to pray; I think many do it in their own homes.

January feat. Chinese New Year!

Right, sorry it's been a while; this is what I did in January:

It was Chinese New Year. We got a whole week off school, and Beijing went mental. Everyone in China goes back to their family home, so lots of Beijingers leave the city; some people come back, but generally the city is much quieter, much less traffic. BUT...all over town shacks selling fireworks appeared on the streets! During the week there were massive fairs in the parks in the city, and almost all shops and restaurants were shut, but there are - no exaggeration - week long, relentless fireworks! I let a few off myself, and suffered a fairly burnt finger in the process. Living on the 22nd floor meant many rockets explode around my height, and they went on into the early hours, so I didn't sleep much. The highlights are midnight of the first day (Sunday) and the last day (Friday), when the whole sky is lit up; seriously, anything you have seen on New Years or whenever, it does not compare.

In January I have also:

Been skiing, twice. There is a resort (fake snow, but still) about 40mins outside Beijing, and for about £25 we can get there, hire equipment and ski for the day, which is pretty awesome. There are about three green slopes (easy), three blue (medium), five red (hard) and one black (expert). The first time five of us debutants paid for a lesson, which was useful; learning how to stop etc.! Second time around, though, I was flying; went down all the blue slopes and a couple of reds by the end of the day! I am getting the hang of the zig-zagging, stopping is pretty good, I am fairly controlled, and I only fall over occasionally! I have learnt that going slow is actually more impressive than fast though! We are going again this coming weekend, and hopefully a couple more times before it shuts in March.

I have been ice skating, on a genuine frozen lake; for all that chat about England being freezing and having snow, it is colder here, I swear! I have even bought thermals (not cool/sexy). Still, it was fun skating on proper ice - not as smooth as a rink! You can also hire chairs on runners, with ski poles, and sit/ski across the ice!

I went to the Great Wall, for the second time. This time we did a proper hike - about 10km - along a fairly remote section, which was really spectacular. I have to say I have been a terrible tourist in Beijing, having still not seen many of the famous sights, but I don't think I will ever tire of the Wall; it is incredible.

I have been for an all-you-can-eat, all-you-can-drink champagne brunch in a 5* hotel. AMAZING. There are certain Western foods I can't/rarely eat, but this had it all. It cost about £40, which is obviously a lot for a meal out here, but think how much it would cost back home?! They had everything - fried breakfast foods, salads, soups, pastas, eggs, roast meat, grill, sushi bar, fish, oysters, breads, puddings, fruit...weird things like blended raw steak in a cocktail glass, and much more. And champagne, wine, vodka, beer....it is open from 11.30 until 3.00 and we were there for the duration! So worth it. And I so got my money's worth. I think I may be going back there for sure.

I have bought an electric bike. My old regular bike was falling apart so I have treated myself, so I now fly around the city! I can get to work in about 10 mins, probably quicker than it takes a taxi in the Beijing traffic. It is...awesome. I don't even have to pedal. I just charge it up, pull the handle back and enjoy!

I cannot remember any more. It actually hasn't been the best month, as I was ill when I got back from California, and I have not been loving the cold, but as you can see, Beijing does have a lot to offer.

Future holds two fairly solid months of work (though hopefuly broken up by the school trip - I get to go for free if enough kids sign up (fingers crossed!)), and Thailand in April. Still no decision on a job for next year...

Peace out. x

Happy New Year!

I just got back to Beijing from California. The end of last term seems ages ago, but I will try and remember...

I had a couple of Christmas parties; firstly, with my football team on a Saturday night, at our sponsor's bar, where we had a four course dinner and all-you-can-drink beer. It was a great night; first I won a new pair of boots in the raffle; second, and more importantly, we had the annual A's v B's drinking boat race. It was hugely anticipated and exciting, and we claimed the victory when the last player on our team, a notoriously slow drinking French guy, tipped his pint over his head to claim the victory! Hilarious. We are on winter break now which is a bit rubbish but I am finally going to join the gymn and I am due to play some indoor 5-a-side, so should keep fit.

The following day we had a staff Christmas party at school, where two colleagues bravely volunteered to cook a full Christmas dinner for about 90 guests. I helped serve drinks on the bar and played some music; it was a really nice social occasion with colleagues but without students. It was also an occasion where we started with mulled wine around midday, moved onto wine and beer with lunch, followed that with champagne and ended with whisky and brandy provided by the head, so it all ended very merrily!

Finally, in the last week of term, I was heavily involved in the end-of-term, whole school carol concert, in which, at 24 hours notice, I was required to conduct the whole thing, as my head of dept had to coordinate groups off and on etc. I also sang in two of the numbers. It was actually quite nerve wracking, but a good opportunity to show the head my worth, and it went really well. I have been offered the chance to stay for a second year in China, to take my PGCE here, with a good salary, so I am spending lots of time this coming month deciding what to do next year.

After the end of term I headed to California, where I have been the last two weeks. I flew into San Francisco, spent about four days driving with my family down the spectacular coastline, through to Los Angeles, where I spent Christmas, New Year and, on the 27th, attended my brother's wedding, where I gave a best man's speech. It was a fantastic occasion and a great fortnight. We also went to Disneyland and Six Flags, saw Hollywood and lots of famous sights, played golf at Pebble Beach, visited Hearst Castle and Monterey Aquarium, and much more. I met lots of my new inlaws, all of whom were awesome. I got back early Saturday morning, and start work again Monday morning.

So it's been a good few weeks; will hopefully know more about next year by the end of January (that is my New Year's resolution!). Hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas and New Year.

Craziest week yet!

This past week:

Monday, went to see Kylie Minogue. Sure, not the coolest, and I did go with a bunch of girls, but nonetheless it was a pretty impressive show, in a great arena, and she pulled out a few classics. China doesn't get a lot of big names, so it was well worth going.

Tuesday...one of the year 7s at school, who I tutor, is the son of one of the most famous Chinese film directors. His most famous film in the west is Farewell My Concubine, and he has won a Palm d'Or at Cannes for another film. So...quite impressive. His son had four tickets to the premiere of his new film, and he gave me one! It stars Zhang Ziyi, perhaps the most famous Chinese film star (Crouching Tiger, Memoirs of a Geisha, Hero, House of Flying Daggers - so pretty awesome!), and also Leon Lai, who is a massive Hong Kong popstar. We went out to 'China Hollywood' for it. In fact, we did not see the film; it was a kind of chat show, Q & A session with all the stars of the film, interspersed with music, dancing, and excerpts from the film, which actually comes out this week. Despite the fact that it was all in Mandarin, and I couldn't understand a word (!), it was still pretty amazing to be there. Once people found out we were with the son of the director (plus we were probably the only white people there!), we were moved right to the front, only a few seats down from the director, Zhang Ziyi and Leon Lai.

Wednesday was a friend's birthday, and we went to one of the pretty cool Western places here for pizza and drinks. Once again, wasn't home until the early hours. Thursday I played football 8-10pm, in a temperature that, given wind chill, was calculated to be minus 22! Probably the coldest I have ever been. Took Friday easy, then partied again Saturday till about 3am. Got up early Sunday, played football for the last time before the winter break, scored the crucial goal in a 1-0 win, so that was great; then in the evening managed to find a bar showing Norwich vs Ipswich, and we beat them, so was in a very good mood!

This is all on top of the fact that my minimum average work day at the moment is about 8am-6pm, often later, and I'm up at half 6 every day. I am knackered! Got football xmas party next Saturday, and school xmas party Sunday, and a big carol concert to get the kids ready for. Off to California in 11 days!

Busy Billy x

Half Term & Hong Kong

I've been so busy, hence the long time between posts. Apologies.

A couple of weeks ago, now, we had half term, so I used the time to try and see a bit more of Beijing. I got out to the Great Wall with lots of people from school, which was fantastic. We went to a section on top of a mountain, so took a cable car up. We walked along it for a few hours, taking innumerable shots of effectively the same photo! To get down they have built a toboggan chute, so you sit on a little car and control how fast you go down! Awesome. I also went to a Chinese acrobat show, which incredible - some of the feats of strength, balance, dexterity etc were unbelievable. I discovered the student-y area of Beijing, which has a really cool feel to it, and lots of great bars, restaurants and markets. One favourite bar runs beer pong every thursday night, it's a totally Western crowd. A friend and I went along and played and had a great night.

On Friday of half term, with term due to restart on tuesday, the headmaster's secretary rang me, at about 2pm, and asked if I could go to Hong Kong, to sort out my visa. At 6am, the following morning. So 18 hours later I was flying to Hong Kong! With my flatmate, Louise, who had similar issues. We couldn't go to the visa office until Monday morning, so I met up with one of my housemates from uni, Owen, who is my Asia buddy and is working in Hong Kong, and we had a crazy weekend! Went up to survey Hong Kong from The Peak (highest point in Hong Kong), took a ferry between islands, saw the Temple of 10,000 Buddhas, went out to the beach, went to a bar where they give you fur coats n you stand in a freezer....and so much more! Fantastic weekend. Spent ridiculous amounts (Hong Kong is expensive!). Great times.

Since then have been working pretty long hours; the choir at school had their big concert this week so have been rehearsing like crazy. It went really well, and I was called on stage and presented with wine, which was really nice. There's no rest though - Christmas carol concert in two weeks, so it's going to be busy 'til the end. Last week should be full of parties n stuff which I am looking forward to. Three weeks to California!

I have been thinking a lot about what to do next year. The headmaster implied if I wanted to stay they'd like me to, and I could even take a PGCE whilst working here, but I'm not going to (though it was nice to be offered!). Am thinking of coming home n settling in London, either to do a PGCE, or another year's study, conversion course in languages or economics. I change my mind every day!

Off to watch England get battered at rugby later! Playing football tomorrow, it may be the penultimate match before the winter break. Beijing is cold right now. Cycling to school in the morning, it's in the minus temperatures. Brrr.

Peace out. x

Two months...

So it's been a while; in the last two weeks, I've been very busy at work.

Of the four full time music staff, one is in Japan for a fortnight and the other two got ill simultaneously last week, so I ran the department for a few days! It was pretty stressful, but I think I came out with lots of credit, so no complaints. Last Friday we had HaRRoween; an event in school with food and lots of music, stalls and games, which pretty much falls to our dept to organise. It was a big success, and was actually pretty fun; we had lots of different musical acts, some with or run by us, some put on by the students, all fairly decent. We also had our inter-house music competition on the same day; hence why I have been so busy. The competition was really good - there are some fantastic pianists here, and a really, really good drummer, so it was a good day.

After those events lots of the staff went to a karaoke bar, where we drank and sang for a few hours, which was great. The Chinese staff are, without exception, AMAZING at karaoke; even I was put to shame! The best I managed was a few Backstreet Boys numbers...

The weekend just gone the Girls Choir at school spent the weekend at a spa outside Beijing, and I had to go to supervise. It's an annual trip - they do lots of rehearsals during the day (their big concert is coming up), then go to these lovely hot springs and spa in the evening. They're a really nice group, so it wasn't very hard work, so I helped out with rehearsals, then was able to relax in the evening. I had my first ever massage! Back and feet...I didn't really know what to expect, and, to be honest, I really didn't like it! She hurt me! Was a fun weekend overall.

Have been playing every weekend for the Beijing Barbarians, and have started playing midweek 5-a-side as well. Got on the scoresheet last weekend in a 6-2 win, played two 5-a-side games midweek, one win, one loss, three goals in two games, then had a 2-2 draw this weekend. We're up to 4th in the table. We're having a club dinner on Friday, which suits me as it's half-term at the end of this week - all the guys are really nice, so that's going well.

So yep, one more week 'til half-term. Am STILL having visa issues, but there is a still a fair chance I will go to Hong Kong next week. And it's under 7 weeks until California!

x

P.S. Had a nice three-way skype with the family on my Gpa's 90th, and had my first skype with the boys in York last weekend, which was awesome. Although the nudity was probably unnecessary. Anyway, if anyone ues it, let me know!