Last Saturday, after a crazy yet amazing 9 days in Beijing we left to go to our projects.

After 12 hours overnight on a train we arrived in Nanchang, the Provincial Capital of Jiangxi. Getting off the train at 7.30am from a fairly sleepless night, we were met by our waibans (two women called Sophia and Ivy, who we can approach for anything we need or when we require help).

2 ½ hours driving out of the city and further and further into the countryside, we arrived in Yihuang. With no time to freshen up or to settle in, we were whisked to the school where we were greeted by the head teacher, Mr Luo, and various other members of senior staff within the school. We were also presented with a MASSIVE bouquet of flowers each which was a lovely gesture. The school itself is large and has a grand exterior; however it became apparent that the Chinese consider what is perceived to be more important than what is actually there. Inside the school it quickly became easy to see that the school has only basic facilities despite our first impressions.

A banquet was held in the honour of myself and Kathryn, and this was when we first experienced truly how much the Chinese love to drink. Everyone has a fairly small cup which must be filled, and when somebody toasts you (which for us was a lot - the Chinese will toast you to welcome you), you must finish whatever is in your glass in one. Fortunately for us we were only given beer and nothing stronger, but when you're exhausted from lack of sleep and the extreme heat drinking over a litre and a half of beer in half an hour doesn't make you feel great.

Eventually we were taken to our flat where we could finally relax and organise ourselves. The next day we were given off to prepare our lessons and get used to our surroundings.

On the Tuesday morning we started lessons. I teach 16 lessons a week with around 70 pupils per class (which works out to around 1200 pupils, aaaah!), and all classes have varying degrees of English. Some classes are easily able to have a flowing conversation with you and understand just about everything you say, whereas others barely understand a simple 'hello'. The classrooms are incredibly basic - although some have projectors we do have to rely a lot on the whiteboards. The students themselves don't have their own laptops like so many of us do at home, and instead they gather information from the teachers or from books. The classrooms aren't secure and the doors are made of thin sheets of metal with gaps along the top and the bottom - although right now I don't mind this as it lets some air in, I know in winter when the cold air and winds come it will be difficult to put up with.

So far the lessons have went well, and although at first it was daunting walking into a class of foreign students I have settled well and the whole experience feels a lot more normal.

Yesterday (Monday 8th September) the whole of China celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival (also known as the Moon or Lantern Festival); a day of celebrating a good harvest and praying that next year's harvest will be just as bountiful. Families come together - many different generations often crammed into one house - and celebrate together with a huge banquet. We were fortunate enough for an invitation to be extended to myself and Kathryn to celebrate the day with our waiban, Sophia, and her family and extended family. 15 of us were huddled around a small table piled high with food, and toasts were made to eachother and the good harvest with a warm, pink, highly alcoholic drink that was homebrewed by a member of Sophia's family.

There is one thing that still bugs me, and will until I leave. We are the only white people in Yihuang, which means we get stared at. A lot. I do understand that many people here have never travelled outside of Jiangxi, let alone the country, so they have never experienced the diversity we are so used to back in the UK; but I do feel it is rude when people stop their cars to stick their heads out the windows to stare and take photos, and drive off without even a 'hello'. I'm sure that over time I will get used to it and right now I just have to put up with it.

All in all, my first week has been great! Excited for all that is to come in the approaching months and will update my blog as often as I can.

zàijiàn!