Things to do in Beijing

I'm sure there will be plenty of things for me to do in the largest city in the world... but just in case you wanted a list:

Hiking on The Great Wall
















Obviously you cannot be in Beijing and not go to The Great Wall. This may be the one thing that I want to do above all else. The history behind some of these things astonishes me. America is certainly historic, but nothing like it will be in China. The oldest thing her is like 400 and The Great Wall started being built in the 5th Century and was not completed until the 16th Century.

Shopping at The Silk Market
















This is where I will hone into my bargaining skills. Bring on the knock-off, designer bags! I cannot wait for this part of my journey. Anyone who knows me knows that shopping is basically my only hobby.

Visiting The Forbidden City
















What used to serve as the home of emperors in China, is now a museum honoring the palaces and dynasties of China.

Marveling at The Bird's Nest












Visiting the site of the 2008 Summer Olympics will be pretty cool. I mean, just look at this stadium!

16 more days until I see Beijing for myself.

Mandarin lesson:
Tù (rabbit)

Spring Break

I can't believe it's already Friday which means Spring Break is coming to an end. I only have one more week left of working and then I have another week to spend at home packing, praying, and preparing.

I have spent my Friday morning watching The Royal Wedding and thinking, honestly, about how I would hate to have a royal wedding. It was too long and boring for me. I mean, it was great for them and I loved watching it, I just wouldn't enjoy it if that were my wedding. It was not very personal. I am now watching the Prince William movie on Lifetime. It's as thrilling as any other original Lifetime movie.

Laundry has pretty much taken over the majority of my break, and I am still not finished. I for some reason feel like I can't start packing until all of my laundry is finished. So my main goal for this week has not even been touched. I am really hoping to start packing this weekend. I still need several things (deodorant, make up, snacks, the list goes on...). I am going to make a big Wal Mart trip tomorrow after my paycheck comes in to get some of the essentials.

Everything is happening so fast. It's like if I blink for too long I will be in China.

Here's to keeping my eyes peeled for the next few weeks.

Mandarin lesson:
Xǐyī fáng (laundry)

Check

To do list:
Visa




















Well, there's one big thing marked off in my adorable, owl notebook. Whew. Nick and I went to DC today for my Visa. It took all day. For real. The whole day. We did have about an hour and a half for lunch. We went to the zoo and spent about 45 minutes running from exhibit to exhibit. I was a fan of the lions. We didn't get to the see pandas... I am pretty bummed. Maybe I can find some in the woods of China? Probably pretty safe to go panda sighting.


















I met the nicest man while waiting in line to pick up my Visa. He was from Harbin, China which is most well-known by the Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival every year. Basically, it is so cold there that they can just build huge ice sculptures in the city's square and people from all over come to view them.

If this man was a representative of the other people in China then I am feeling very positive about the general nature of the country's people. I'm not sure if I've ever met anyone nicer than him.

Mandarin lesson:
Nánzǐ (man)

In three weeks

I will be officially on my way to China. It will take me longer than a day to get there... But I will get there eventually (Tuesday, May 17 at 6:40pm, to be exact).

I am thankful for:
Grey's Anatomy coming on this week
Spring Break
Chocolate Easter bunnies
Cuddling with my cat and dog

I am trying to enjoy every moment I have left in the states. I do not have many more moments left before I am off to China. I can't believe it is almost here. Didn't I just make the decision to go only three weeks ago? Wow...

Mandarin lesson:
Diànshì (television)

Beijing/Wuhan

China.

Lots of cities, towns, provinces, people.

It was official that I would be placed in Wuhan with a friend of mine. Well, that friend of mine is no longer going to be moving with me to China and now some plans have changed. I will still be leaving for China next month. Luyin bought my plane ticket last night! ((More on my flight plans later))

Now, instead of staying in Wuhan for the majority of my trip, I will hopefully only be there for a month or two tops. I will still be in Beijing for training for about a month and then I will fly out to Wuhan until August. I will go back to work in Beijing for the (probably) remainder of my time in China.

I will be rooming with another new Romp 'N Roller that I met at orientation last week. I am unsure if she will be with me in Wuhan for that small amount of time or not. Either way, I am happy to know we will be together in Beijing!

Flight:
Washington, Dulles to Toronto
Toronto to Beijing
I depart on Monday, May 16 at 12:32 pm and I arrive in Beijing on Tuesday, May 17 at 6:40 pm. Yes... that is an uncomfortably long flight. In coach.

Excitement level: HIGH
Anxiety level: OUTRAGEOUSLY HIGH
Readiness: LOW

My goal for the Spring Break week is to pack, pack, pack. I would like to have that pretty much done and I would like to have gone to the eye doctor and I will be going to D.C. on Thursday for my Visa. Oh, and I need to return a pair of pants I bought at Old Navy for China. They are itchy. Why? Lots to do.

Mandarin lesson:
Huánghūn: Pòxiǎo (Twilight: Breaking Dawn)

Time

goes by so fast.

23 more days until I leave for China.

23 more days until my whole life changes.

23 more days until I am lost in a big city, in my own thoughts, in a new world.

23 more days until the rest of my life begins.

Excited. Nervous. Scared. Lonely. Ready.

Time.

Mandarin lesson:
Shíjiān (time)

My life of list writing

But at least I have this adorable notebook...

















to fill with lots of lists...

















The fabulous life of a list-writer.

Mandarin lesson:
Māotóuyīng bǐjìběn (owl notebook)

Living in Communism

I have been researching what it is like living in a Communist country without much luck. It is probably a bad thing that I can't find good/bad points of view about Communism. In some respects it sounds nice to know health care and education are free of charge, unemployment rates are super low, firearms are prohibited and their usage is punishable by death, and a very low poverty rate (especially in urban areas). Poverty in China is defined by living on less than 8.16 yuan a day ($1.25 USD). I am feeling comfortable in the fact that I am not going to lead/be part of an uprising or movement to change the government. It is looking like as long as you do your job and turn a blind eye to the government, everything will be fine. Is it a little difficult to think a conservative, Republican such as myself can do such a thing? Well, yes. I believe in free speech, basic human rights, competition in business, free-thinking... But I can understand that this is a country with a different way of doing things. Who am I to judge?

Any information on living in Communism will be greatly appreciated! Please refer to the comment section below!

Mandarin lesson:
Měiguó (America)

Wuhan

"…the capital of the Hubei province - a modern metropolis with unlimited possibilities, situated in the heart of China. Wuhan is an energetic city, a commercial centre of finance, industry, trade and science, with many international companies located here. Having scientific, technological and educational institutions such as Laser City and the Wuhan University, the city is also an intellectual centre." - www.wuhan.com

Now that it is official that I will be living in Wuhan, I thought I would really start researching this city that I had never heard of prior to two weeks ago.

From what I can see on the map-
















Wuhan is technically in "central" China. It is situated on the Yangtse River (the third largest river in the world) and dates back over 3,500 years! The Harmony Express has been clocked as being the fastest train in the world and it is stationed in Wuhan!

Population of Wuhan- a whopping 9,100,000... To put that in perspective: There are 8,175,000 people in New York City. I honestly can't imagine a city with more people than NYC. It seems like Wuhan is not as dense as the Big Apple so hopefully I won't feel so congested by people at all moments.

Referred to as "The Home of White Clouds and the Yellow Crane."

The Yellow Crane Tower was built in the year 223 AD. Wow... America was not even a thought.




















I am excited to see this in person!

Most followed religions- Buddhism and Taoism. Both of which are very peaceful and interesting to me. I will enjoy learning more about these religions.

From what I have been told and researched, Wuhan is very Chinese. Yeah- duh, Chelsie, you're in China. Everything is Chinese. Well, just hear me out. Wuhan will not be westernized. There will not be "real" toilets. No, not even in my own home. There will be very few Americans. There will not be as many familiar franchises. I will really be living, breathing, walking in the Chinese culture!

Popular foods in Wuhan:

• Hot and dry noodles
• Duck's neck (yes... neck)
• Soup dumpling (which really sounds amazingly delicious)
• Salty doughnut

Maybe Wuhan will be great? One can only hope since this will soon be my address.

Mandarin lesson:
Huǒchē (train)

As promised

Things I am NOT looking forward to in China:

1. Squat toilets- There is nothing inside of my newly-found, adventurous self that wants to use a squat toilet. I never thought I would have to think that I may not have a "westernized toilet" in my own home. Shoot, I never even thought that there were people who didn't have a "westernized toilet" in there homes. As far as I have always been concerned there was only one kind of toilet in this world and I had already come across that one kind. Can you even imagine this:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   being my life??? Quite honestly even I cannot believe it.
   
   
2. The food- There's really no part of Chinese cuisine that I am looking forward to eating. I have no desire to eat scorpion or ox stomach or toads or cow esophagus. Really? People eat these things?!? WHY!!! And I, being the very picky eater that I am, cannot even fathom eating anything like this:
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Who enjoys that? Really? Who? What even is that?
   
   
3. The flight- I am already scared of flying as it is. Now I will spend an entire day on a plane? Like... literally... the WHOLE day. What about claustrophobia? I've never used an airplane toilet before. But I guess if I am going to be experiencing all kinds of new toilets I will consider myself blessed while I am peeing on the airplane. What does one do on a plane for 20 hours? You can only watch so many movies...

Moral of the story- If, heaven forbid, I do not have a real toilet in my home I will attempt to hold it until I go to work every day. At least I will build some new muscles in my thighs. McDonald's may be my new favorite restaurant. I will probably never be scared to fly again. These are all good things.

Mandarin lesson:
Cèsuǒ (toilet)

Looking forward to...

1. No tipping- Tipping isn't expected in China. How awesome is that? When thinking about going out to dinner I get to just eat and not worry about trying to do the 20% math conversions on money that I don't even totally understand the conversion rate of.

2. Bargaining- I've been told to to start bargaining at a fourth or even an eighth of the asking price. Then settle around a third. I am going to come home with many fabulous finds. Purses, clothes, trinkets... shopping is what I do.

3. Spitting- Wait, what? Yeah... Chinese people believe it is unhealthy to swallow their spit so they just halk big loogies right on the street, grass, sidewalk, neighbor's shoes... Why would I look forward to this? Well, I'm really not okay with the thought of getting spit on me (I will try to avoid that) but I am excited about being able to just spit wherever I'm at and have that be okay.

Maybe later I will talk about what I am not looking forward to.

Mandarin lesson:
Tài guì le (too expensive)

Lists

What exactly does one bring to China? Well, I need a year's supply of:

• Pearls probiotics - For the rejuvenation of my body's resources after my digestive system goes all out of whack. I think eating scorpions and turtles might mess with the make up of my body... not sure... but just saying.
  
• Deodorant- Yeah, apparently Chinese people don't believe in things like perfumey armpits. They prefer sweat stains and BO.
• Contacts- Although I am sure I could get these in China I would rather make my life easier by getting them here.
• Tampons- What exactly do the women do there?
• (travel) Toilet paper- Public restrooms do not have TP. And the toilet paper they do have in the stores is weird and probably feels like sand paper.

If anyone knows of any other things that I will need for the year then please let me know! I will get to writing a list of more things shortly!

Mandarin lesson:
Hé (scorpion)

Holy crap! I'm moving to China next month

Why?
When I decided I wanted to be a teacher I knew I wanted to teach overseas. I always envisioned myself teaching in Africa; however, an opportunity to go to China came up and I decided to take it. Of course I would still love to teach in Africa as well. Being a world traveler was kind of something I thought I wouldn't be able to do. It's expensive. I'm scared of flying. I am overflowing with anxiety. These things won't hold me back anymore. This experience will change my life and it is an opportunity that I am not willing to let pass me by.

What?
I will be an instructor at a Romp 'N Roll center in Wuhan. I will be teaching English, music, art, and gym. I will talk more about job specifics in a later post.

When?
I am set to leave on May 15 which is about 4 and half weeks away. I interviewed and got the job on April 1 (which made it difficult to prove it wasn't an April Fool's joke). My contract runs until June 14, 2012. I will be there for 13 months.

Where?
I will spend my first month training in Beijing and then it is off to Wuhan! Luyin (my boss) wants to open 100 centers across China in the next 10 years. So I am hoping to have the opportunity to visit many other cities in China and throughout Asia.

As I learn more information I will post for all of you to read! I will definitely keep you updated with pictures and I will make sure to share every (or most every) piece of my journey with you. Feel free to follow my blog and leave comments! I won't have a cell phone while I am gone so it will be easiest to contact me on here or by email!

Mandarin lesson:
Zàijiàn (goodbye)