Sunday, August 31, 2014
Good-byes and Hellos!
Aug 26th arrives and we depart
Ever had one of those times you were a day ahead, or a week, or an hour? Well, we have lived it crossing the international date line. We left Seattle on Tues after noon and arrived in Shanghai China Thur evening about 6pm. My brain is still trying to wrap my head around it.
It was a great flight on Delta airlines. Plenty of in flight entertainment, food, and drinks. We traveled with the Burnett's who are at the same university as we are, and several other couples and single women who are in various other Chinese universities.
After clearing customs in Shanghai we walked what seemed from one end of the city to the other just to re-check our bags and catch our connecting flight. We were very fortunate to have an airport employee be our guide. He must have seen the dazed look in our tired eyes and assumed from the mountain of luggage we all possessed we needed the help he so graciously offered. He was right!
We waited about an hour to board the flight to Jinan. I am glad it wasn't any longer than that because I would have fallen asleep for the rest of the night right there in that airport chair!
Interesting fact - Chinese love hot water! They have been boiling their water for thousands of years and love it. So, to say the least, try to find a cold water fountain is out of the question. But, you can find warm and hot water dispensers everywhere! You can buy cold water bottles but usually they are at least room temperature.
After an hour and half nap, on the plane, I woke up to find myself landing in Jinan. Once again we were successful in getting all our bags and finding our way to the main enterance where our Wiaban (university liason) Nick waiting for us. Nick had also brought Pam, a returning teacher, with him. It was good to meet her and she was able to give us some great insights about the school.
Another hour goes by and we arrive at rhe Hanlin Hotel, which is owned by the university and where all the foreign teachers have apartments. We go through the check in process and head to our apartments. Nick stays around for a litle bit while we walk through asking any questions about how things work. We finally rest our heads on awesome pillows and fall asleep!
Here is a quick tour:
I love the washer - it plays
This is the spare bedroom we use
This is the living room, kitchen
Ever had one of those times you were a day ahead, or a week, or an hour? Well, we have lived it crossing the international date line. We left Seattle on Tues after noon and arrived in Shanghai China Thur evening about 6pm. My brain is still trying to wrap my head around it.
It was a great flight on Delta airlines. Plenty of in flight entertainment, food, and drinks. We traveled with the Burnett's who are at the same university as we are, and several other couples and single women who are in various other Chinese universities.
After clearing customs in Shanghai we walked what seemed from one end of the city to the other just to re-check our bags and catch our connecting flight. We were very fortunate to have an airport employee be our guide. He must have seen the dazed look in our tired eyes and assumed from the mountain of luggage we all possessed we needed the help he so graciously offered. He was right!
We waited about an hour to board the flight to Jinan. I am glad it wasn't any longer than that because I would have fallen asleep for the rest of the night right there in that airport chair!
Interesting fact - Chinese love hot water! They have been boiling their water for thousands of years and love it. So, to say the least, try to find a cold water fountain is out of the question. But, you can find warm and hot water dispensers everywhere! You can buy cold water bottles but usually they are at least room temperature.
After an hour and half nap, on the plane, I woke up to find myself landing in Jinan. Once again we were successful in getting all our bags and finding our way to the main enterance where our Wiaban (university liason) Nick waiting for us. Nick had also brought Pam, a returning teacher, with him. It was good to meet her and she was able to give us some great insights about the school.
Another hour goes by and we arrive at rhe Hanlin Hotel, which is owned by the university and where all the foreign teachers have apartments. We go through the check in process and head to our apartments. Nick stays around for a litle bit while we walk through asking any questions about how things work. We finally rest our heads on awesome pillows and fall asleep!
Here is a quick tour:
I love the washer - it plays
Jingle Bells when it turns on and off!
This is the spare bedroom we use
as an office
This is the living room, kitchen
dining, clothes drying area
Monkey-ing around
The trip home found us stopping in Blackfoot to see my 'gorilla' of a sister, her hairy daughter, and the Professor of a brother-in-law perform in Tarzan! Great job to their son who worked lights and sound to make them all look great. It was a fun production by the Blackfoot players.
We also were able to visit one more time with my parents and Jack's parents before arriving in our temporary room in Maple Valley at our sons house. We were there for just over a week, and what a week it was! Laundry, last minute doctor visits for the last immunizations, a dental visit to get the implant restored, more laundry, more packing and unpacking trying to get it all in and be under weight - which we were over on a couple and under on a couple - so we were close! I missed taking a photo of my poor daughter-in-law's family room area. Lucky for her she was out of town while all our belonging we strewn across her house :)
We also were able to visit one more time with my parents and Jack's parents before arriving in our temporary room in Maple Valley at our sons house. We were there for just over a week, and what a week it was! Laundry, last minute doctor visits for the last immunizations, a dental visit to get the implant restored, more laundry, more packing and unpacking trying to get it all in and be under weight - which we were over on a couple and under on a couple - so we were close! I missed taking a photo of my poor daughter-in-law's family room area. Lucky for her she was out of town while all our belonging we strewn across her house :)
Graduation week
Week 2 and Graduation
We were successful at completing the second week of intense TEFL by our amazing instructors! Snaps to Jamie and Geneil the program directors! Snaps to Lynn for all the hours of preparation to fill our minds with all kinds of teaching styles and aids. Snaps to Rita for teaching us survival Chinese - of which has been valuable since arriving to China. And, the program would not be without the support of the BYU Kennedy School director, Jeff Ringer!
We were successful at completing the second week of intense TEFL by our amazing instructors! Snaps to Jamie and Geneil the program directors! Snaps to Lynn for all the hours of preparation to fill our minds with all kinds of teaching styles and aids. Snaps to Rita for teaching us survival Chinese - of which has been valuable since arriving to China. And, the program would not be without the support of the BYU Kennedy School director, Jeff Ringer!
Saturday, August 9, 2014
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