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So my first day is over, officially on my second, and there is alreadya blog.. Not sure if that is good or bad, but either way, these will probably decline as my travel and work continues.
I took off from heathrow and everything was good. We had had the teary farewells, and I was on my own. Alone. I wondered around the duty free after clearing through security and couldnt find anything so I sat to read my kindle. Wrong, the battery wasnt charged, so I sat to read my phone and text random people. How had my kindle not charged? Any way too late for that now, first failure of my flight.
Going through on to the plane, there seems to be loads of empty seats. I think I might be lucky and be able to have some space. not such luck. I am the only one (and the person sat next to me) that has to seat together in an aisle of 4. So no sleep for me, or even if I did want to the crying baby definitely put an end to that. The guy next to me had no problem though. he fell asleep with his head on my shoulder, and all I could think was, 'Who doesnt shower before a long haul flight?' Well I dont think he had showered in a week.
Then comes the food. I get mine half an hour before anyone else, and they tell me it is not only vegetarian but also lactose free. There goes the delicous looking yoghurt, and about the only thing that taste near normal. Then comes the drink, I figure a wine or two cant hurt, might help me to sleep, again no such luck. So four movies, Martha Mary...blah blah blah, One Day, Johnny English 2, and 50/50, later i arrive in hong kong. By this point I am shattered and in need of a shower thanks to my wonderful neighbour. But instead I have to settle for a freshen up in the ladies bathroom and a change of clothes. Half human again I proceed to my gate. It is at this precise moment I realise I am the only European at the gate, and drawing some stares. So I wander around the shops again with my hand luggage that must weigh about 20kg alone.. Nothing I understand so back to the gate and onto the plain after much staring.
For the 1hour and half flight we are given another meal, again mine comes 20 minutes early, and is lactose free as well as vegetarian, but to be fair it was half decent. So we eat, drink and land. I am officially in China. No wait no one told me to fill in an arrivals form and go through a seperate procedure. Then I was in china. Grab my bag and go through to arrivals to see the only other caucasian waiting for me with my name on a placard! I felt so special. After drawaing a few more stares, I clamber into the school van and off we go to the city. It is a 40 minutes drive, which seems to take forever when you arent sure what you are meant to say, and cant see out as it is dark..
I'm giving my own chinese phone (not the number though) which when I say brand new, is the old style Nokia, but a new one.. I forgot what it was like to have an old phone that literally just calls and texts. i was also given a bottle of water a loaf of bread and two oranges. Random combination I know. I was dropped off at myapartment. Laden down with my suitcase, and hand luggage I am told I will be living in an apartment on the 8th floor. There are no lifts.. I haul my stuff and myself up there with the help of Cody and am shown my apartment. It is massive and pretty decent. We have a kitchen, a dining area, a study, lounge, two bedroom and a bathroom. My room alone is at least twice the size of the one at home, so I am pretty impressed at this point, especially after the stairs.
Cody tells me we are going out for a meal with some of the teachers, so I freshen up and we head to a restaurant, afterinforming them I a veggie. We are shown to a room, and sit down. I then notice I am sat opposite a cockroach, just relaxing on the wall, taking in the picture. Quite comical now, but at the time i almost jumped out of my skin. We go on to have a really nice meal, lots of vegetables, tofu and a soup with egg in with a couple of beers, then back home for a sleep.
Grab my pj's and a coat (its freezing at night) and head for the bed, sit down, then straight back up. I had to check whether my bed actually hada mattress as i was sure i was sitting on a plank of wood. But no. It is a mattress and it is apparently very good for your back. Lucky me.
An eventful night sleep, then out for lunch with more people, and my first day at work. Have an orientation and sit in on two classes. At this point I am practically s***ting myself thinking I am going to be doing that next week, and suddenly coming over all anxious, nervous and faint. No worries, normally you have a couple of weeks of observations, but unfortunately I get my first class next week.. Happy Leap Year!! so wracking my brain for fun educational games I can use, they seem fun and hopefully help me to relax. i speak to a few of the other teachers and they all felt the same at first so am slightly releived.
I finish for the day at 8:40ish, and walk back to my apartment. it is dark again and I cant really see. You have to practically throw yourself at the mercy of passing bikes, mopeds and cars when trying to cross the road - jaywalking to a whole new level, and then climb 8 flights of stairs. But wait. This is me. That is too easy. So I climb 8 flights of stairs (144 steps) to find that this isnt my apartment. go up another flight, and nope, still not my apartment. The next floor is the roof so I figure I dont live in this block. I trek down the stairs, and thankfully Caitlin, my flatmate rings me. I tell her I'm lost/confused, and she just says everyone is back at the school and if I want to go out. I do. Though i was told it was boys night. But all good, we are aloowed to tag along. So 6 guys and Caitlin and myself walk to a restaurant and are joined by three other female teachers and have a wonderful meal. Zumbai or however you spell it is lethal, just to let you know - down a shotof beer everytime. The guys leave for guys night and the girls stay and have a few more beers then home to sleep.
Sleep doesnt come easily when you are freezing and the c*** outside your window in the market is crowing all night and morning. As well as sleeping on a plank of wood. Get up at 7:30 and the only thing I can think of doing is showering in boiling water to thaw out, ready for my medical. I would have had a boiling shower but I cant figure out the temperatures of the boiler so I have a tepid shower, and then get out into the freezing cold morning. Though I did get a call from Beth, which brightened up my morning, and also managed to access Facebook!! Chinese government belive in strict censureship that they control, so no social networking sites or youtube or disagreeable media.
Now for this morning. I dont think I will be able to do it justice. So as part of the visa process have to undergo a medical examination. So David and myself, the two newest arrivals, arrive at the school. I forgot my passport so have to run home and up the damn 8 flight of stairs and back again. Start again. We arrive, fill in forms, have our photo taken, and passport checked then proceed upstairs. I am ushered into a female changing room, asked to change into what I can only describe as cotton, almost see through, blue and white stripped pyjamas 6 sizes too big. Get out. Made a mistake, no underwear, so get changed again. I leave the changing room to find David standing in his normal clothes.. Apparently the pj outfit is reserved for females only. I am told not to hold the trousers up, but to do them up. I try explaining that they are done up and there is no way I am letting go.
Kimi escorts us into various rooms. The first for me i was told to lay on the bed and lift my top. Slightly concerned and falteringly i do as i am told, so hold it around my ribs. Nope. Not high enough, needs to be under my chin.. They then put metal cuffs around my ankles and wrists and the eloctrodes pinched to my skin under my left breast. First way I have been like this to have my heart monitored. Next room is weight and height. I am asked if I wear glasses, which I dont so no need for an eye examination. Then comes a doctor who takes my blood pressure, then says I look like a russian. I am now informed that that means he though I was a prostitute and was propositioning me. next room is an ultra sound, so again lay on a bed and have to lift my top to right under my chin so they can check my abdomen. I am not feeling very comfortable at this point, or understanding the methodology but thankfully it is over quickly. The next room is radiology, 'take a deep breath and hold still. Dont move until I say.' Well i dont know how long I can hold my breath, but as soon as I heard chinese I let it go. Then urine sample. I am used to a western toilet, so the hole in the ground was intriguing. So was the lack of toilet paper, but oh well. no lid for the sample just wash hands and give to a lady to probe with sticks. I am feeling rather foolish at this point in my pj's which are constatnly trying to fall down and not very flattering. But more rooms to come. there is the gynacologist. Saw this room and wanted to run. Again though, it was not what i was expecting. Felt my abdomen and asked my to drop my trousers and bend over. I have to admit I was rather embarrassed and feeling slightly awkwardand uncomfortable. But no touching and I was told to go. Onto blood and then thankfully to get dressed.
That ordeal over, we went to get photo's taken. I was asked to change my top, and zip it up to my chin. Always fun, and then try not to laugh when all you want to do is laugh. So if I look special in my visa photo for the year, everyone will know why.
So that has been my stay here so far. Though did do some grocery shopping, and had a walk as the temperature has picked up. I havent gotten used to the staring yet, or the broken english stating that I am beautiful, but hopefully i wont feel so self conscious in a couple of weeks. Then again it is getting hot and skirts come out so I am sure there will be more staring to come, and possibly more people thinking I am 'Russian'. Work again later and see what the evening holds :)
Will be planning my trips around Fuzhou and into neighbouring provinces once I understand how to use the buses and can speak a little bit more Chinese than I already can, which is limited to Hello, and thank you! There will be photos added in the future. Love to all. xxxx
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