... has already started. And we didn't report on it immediately. Apologies for that and our only excuse is that we were away in Europe (as most of you will have seen us) and that blogspot is currently blocked by the Chinese, but we expect it to work again soon, it usually doesn't take very long. So, therefore I'm writing the blog from work.... (after hours of course).
Time has flown by since we got here, which is now 9 months (!!!!) long enough to have a baby, or to enjoy the different seasons. Yes, there are indeed seasons here. When we got here, it was quite warm and humid, then it went slowly but surely down to -10 degrees and now (after a brief few days of spring) it's suddenly up to 30-35 degrees. So, all the summer dresses I've bought ove rthe years, trying to wear them on the odd hot day are now in daily use. This makes a total change to the winter life and suddenly the roof terraces all over Beijing are open and people are sipping cocktails at 10pm in just skirt and t-shirt, it's unbelievable.
I guess, I shoudl loose a few words about Mark's and my work. Mark has goven up one of his three jobs and is now busy deciding which other one to keep, so I'll keep you posted on that. My new colleague finally arrived in May and now I don't have to stay in the office quite as long anymore, which makes a nice change. I also get to write a couple of new projects which reminds me of uni and how we learned to spend months on it, here I have about 2 days.I guess theory and practice is not always the same.
This Thursday is Dragonboat Festival and I wish I could tell yo uwhat exactly that means, but unfortunately all I know is that some dragon boats wil lrace each other. We will be in Hong Kong with Sunnia, enjoyong the races in the harbour I guess.
Then, not long until my good old German mates are getting off the plane to see in which mud hood we live here, how disappointed they will be! WE'll go and visit Xi'an and of course all the major site, and there may even be an overnight stay at the Great Wall.
And then of course we'll be back in Europe in about 7 weeks, so it's gonna be a busy time until then.
So, keep in touch everyone and I'll keep the blog updated from work!!!!!!!!!
Monday, 25 May 2009
Wednesday, 22 April 2009
Shanghai and home
This will have to be a quick post.
I'm writing this during the break of my weekly three hour English class or job number two.
I don't necessarily think teaching English is my strong point, but it is a good opportunity to speak to another bunch of Chinese students and understand their thoughts about China, their expectations of life in the UK and their ambitions for the future, etc.
More than that, these guys are going to come and study in Newcastle, so I think there's loads of useful advice and preparation I can give them.
I'm also keen to give ideas back to former colleagues at Newcastle Council and the two universities about how they can improve the experience for their Chinese students.
In the wider sense, Chinese students to the UK is such a major business with so many policy implications for both countries that I find it extremely interesting. If on the off chance I was ever to do futher study in the future, this and other ideas about migration would definitely be my focus. With birth rates falling across the west, dealing with young people moving to our cities is something we're going to have to get increasingly used to - and people have problems with it today...
Anyway, enough of that.
I recently read an article in one of the ex-pat magazines here which gave gentle amusing criticism to writers of blogs in China. I was proud to see that I'd achieved all of their cliches. However, this blog is written for friends and family back home and to help me remember when we eventually leave China. So I make no apologies.
Had a great time in Shanghai last weekend. Went expecting to think less of the place now we live in Beijing. I enjoyed our visit in 2006 but thought it felt very much like a world city without much feeling of being in China. However, many, many would also say that of Beijing. Anyway, to cut a long story short we had a great time. Ate at a cracking French (contemporary European...) restaurant with brilliant views of the bund on Friday night. Stayed at a lovely hotel. Had a great time wandering round the city in the sunshine on Saturday visiting parks, shops and the French Concession and then met up with Michael and Shelley (Suzhuo isn't far away) for a meal on Saturday night.
On Sunday Caroline had to work - which in reality was the reason for the trip.
As you may have seen if you watched the F1, it rained - damn heavily.
A point on that, you know you're in a big city (20M) when they can host an event like a Grand Prix without you really noticing an increase in visitors.
Me and Michael met up and he gave me pearls of wisdom about marriage...
It was an enjoyable and quite relaxing weekend, which we both need given our heavy work schedules at the moment. My 3 jobs don't take up as much time as Caroline's ridiculous 2, but more importantly we're both enjoying it and trying to carve out interesting experience and opportunities for the future.
So one more busy day with a load of tasks today and then tomorrow morning we've got a flight home to catch.
Can't wait to see friends and family.
Speak to you all soon in person.
Will no doubt get the chance to update this with some recent photographs in the next 2 weeks too.
I'm writing this during the break of my weekly three hour English class or job number two.
I don't necessarily think teaching English is my strong point, but it is a good opportunity to speak to another bunch of Chinese students and understand their thoughts about China, their expectations of life in the UK and their ambitions for the future, etc.
More than that, these guys are going to come and study in Newcastle, so I think there's loads of useful advice and preparation I can give them.
I'm also keen to give ideas back to former colleagues at Newcastle Council and the two universities about how they can improve the experience for their Chinese students.
In the wider sense, Chinese students to the UK is such a major business with so many policy implications for both countries that I find it extremely interesting. If on the off chance I was ever to do futher study in the future, this and other ideas about migration would definitely be my focus. With birth rates falling across the west, dealing with young people moving to our cities is something we're going to have to get increasingly used to - and people have problems with it today...
Anyway, enough of that.
I recently read an article in one of the ex-pat magazines here which gave gentle amusing criticism to writers of blogs in China. I was proud to see that I'd achieved all of their cliches. However, this blog is written for friends and family back home and to help me remember when we eventually leave China. So I make no apologies.
Had a great time in Shanghai last weekend. Went expecting to think less of the place now we live in Beijing. I enjoyed our visit in 2006 but thought it felt very much like a world city without much feeling of being in China. However, many, many would also say that of Beijing. Anyway, to cut a long story short we had a great time. Ate at a cracking French (contemporary European...) restaurant with brilliant views of the bund on Friday night. Stayed at a lovely hotel. Had a great time wandering round the city in the sunshine on Saturday visiting parks, shops and the French Concession and then met up with Michael and Shelley (Suzhuo isn't far away) for a meal on Saturday night.
On Sunday Caroline had to work - which in reality was the reason for the trip.
As you may have seen if you watched the F1, it rained - damn heavily.
A point on that, you know you're in a big city (20M) when they can host an event like a Grand Prix without you really noticing an increase in visitors.
Me and Michael met up and he gave me pearls of wisdom about marriage...
It was an enjoyable and quite relaxing weekend, which we both need given our heavy work schedules at the moment. My 3 jobs don't take up as much time as Caroline's ridiculous 2, but more importantly we're both enjoying it and trying to carve out interesting experience and opportunities for the future.
So one more busy day with a load of tasks today and then tomorrow morning we've got a flight home to catch.
Can't wait to see friends and family.
Speak to you all soon in person.
Will no doubt get the chance to update this with some recent photographs in the next 2 weeks too.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)