China - Volunteers' Reviews

My wonderful and very memorable journey in China

Hi

I have been occupied for quite a while before I can write you back. Here's my account of the wonderful and very memorable journey.

Surely we enjoyed the trip to China very much including the giant panda conservation program. At the start of our travel, in the face of the worldwide H1N1 flu scare and surveillence measures particularly in Asian countries, there was indeed some inconvenience and uneasiness created for visitors from N America. However we arrived safely at Chengdu airport on Sunday May 31 to be greeted by Ada, the Global Crossroad local representative, a smiling and enthusiastic lady. Retrospectively, it would be more smooth for us if we knew beforehand the hotel name and address for completing the health declaration form and foreign visitor form at the Customs.

At the airport, Ada helpfully set the sim card for my cell phone to enable me to get connected at least with local calls and brought us to Home Inn conveniently located at city centre. She ensured our well being in the coming week before she flied back to Shangdong, like arranging a taxi to pick us up to and fro from panda base daily and ordering dinners for us at the Inn ( we requested not the hot spicy kind ! ) At later days I was able to solve the problem in getting IDD service by another way, ie simply buying an IP card from street stalls and started calling overseas from my cell phone.

On Mon Jun 1 sharp at 8:30, Ada introduced us to Ramona, the panda program coordinator who welcome us and walked us through beautiful and serene bamboo tree trails to arrive at our destinated enclosure where we found 4 pandas ( aged 1-2 years old ) already eating and playing outdoor and capturing many visitors' camera with their lovely playful poses. The jolly-looking Keeper immediatly showed us the cleaning duties indoor. We put on a blue gown, heavy gloves and boots ( thankfully we brought our own masks ) and started scooping up panda faeces for daily weighing, then sweeping the left behinds of bamboo shoots, pouring a bit of disinfectant before washing with a hose. After this we had the great opportunity of feeding the pandas by throwing plenty of young bamboo shoots to the playground. Of course we took many photos for ourselves. Ramona took us next to the cub panda enclosure where 8-10 cubs ( less than 1 year old ) are actively and vigorourly rolling. climbing and huggging each other ! We visited the little red pand zone and the panda theatre. The films were good with English commentation and beautiful music. We then had a rich and delicious lunch at 11:30 and long break till 2:30pm.

What awaited us in the afternoon was interesting. We prepared formula milk in dishes, crushed some medicine/supplement tablets to powder form to be added to the milk, drown up exactly 3ml medicine into syringes to be adminstered through mouth and cut up some apples. The 4 pandas were called by their names and obediently got ready indoor for their treats. We fed them at close distance and could pat their heads while they sucked the milk ! Afterwards they were cleaned up and bathed with a jet of shower. At the end of the day, Lesley and me enjoyed icecream and pancake at a cosy cafe by the lake.

Tue and Wed 's schedules were similiar, but we could finish the cleaning duties faster. We fed the pandas outdoor this time by hanging out slices of apple and panda cake by a long stick, attracing them to stand up to catch them, sometimes stumbling over one another ! We had more free time and loved to explore other enclosures especially the cubs. Got to be there early enough, otherwise they would be carried indoor to A/C houses once the outside air became hotter than 26 C. During lunch breaks, we enjoyed relaxing with a cup of jasmine tea in front of the rose garden facing the swam lake where numerous big colourful fishes kept jumping up really jumping when you fed them. Or simply sat under the bamboo tress everywhere.

Thu was Kitchen day. We helped in moulding the panda cakes from dough made from powder of several organic grains which smelled good. Lesley also assisted in washing bags of yellow beans and kernels in a large sink and then placed them in large pans to be dried in a huge oven. We learned the different kinds of bamboo twigs and young shoots and how they were washed and delivered.

Fri Lesley was lucky to hug a little Red panda and took pictures at YMB 100. We visited the panda hospital but no chance to witness doctor's exam on a panda. In the afternoon, we had a lecture by the program manager. Her presentation was informative and helped to consolidate our knowledge on giant pandas.

Sat we did bird watching by the swam lake and successfully identified several kinds with use of binoculars. Time had come to say farewell to staff and the dear giant pandas. We must had encountered almost 25 of them in the week. Finally we were issued a certificate in recognition of our completion of the internship experience which will be remembered forever.

We moved onto our next tour of Chengdu city, Leshan Giant budda and Emei Shan. We enjoyed visiting the historic sites, parks, museums and buddish temples and learned a great deal about the Chinese culture, history and buddism, I liked the opportunity of meeting and talking to the young ladies and guys of present China, like Ada, Romona, cafe owner and our tour guide. Afterall the last time I visited China was over thirty years ago. And lastly I treasured the intimate moments travelling and experiencing together with mmy daughter Lesley.

All the best to everyone.
June

My Teaching Experience in China

I am currently working in Qingdao at a kindergarten. I have a 2 year old daughter who is here with me and she attends the school at which i teach.

My hours are Monday to Friday from 8 to 5. My job is to teach english to 4 classes and when i am finish i help the Chinese teachers with their classes or I prepare for my next days lessons. The school i am at is very clean and the staff are very nice. I just recently celebrated my 30th birthday and the principal gave me a surprise birthday party with a cake and present.

The principal every weekend asks me if i have something to do (since she knows that i am new here and wants to make me feel comfortable and knows that i have no friends or family) and if i don't, she will pick me and my daughter up and take us lunch, shopping or church. The staff really try to make you feel at home here.

I am scheduled to leave china April of next year and have been here since May of this year.

When it comes to global crossroad, all i can say is that they have been extremely helpful. Before my arrival in China, Misha was my contact and she kept in contact with me from beginning to end and still e-mails me from time to time.

I was sent all my paperwork on time by globalcrossroad regarding fees, placement of living, placement of school and all my other details needed. I had a little problem getting my visa since Bermuda has no chinese embassy and was worried that my placement for school would not be the same once I arrived in China because of my delay in getting a visa in bermuda but they worked with me and held my placement. Everything that was told to me before I left Bermuda is what i see today and i am very happy.

I too, had doubts because i was traveling so far and with a baby and wrote to misha and jeff and they nicely reassured me of my visit and i have not had any problems in the two and a half months that i have been here with global.

When it comes to Jeff, all I can say is that is goes above and beyond his call of duty. When i arrived in china I was very scared because i knew no chinese and everyone i saw was chinese. Jeff picked me up from the airport on time and the minute i met him i felt safe. When I first arrived here, because of the climate difference, my daughter had to be rushed to the hospital because she had a fever. The principal, teachers and Jeff came to my aid. It felt like my family was here. I can pick up the phone and call Jeff for anything and he would always attend to my needs in a timely fashion. He is very professional and takes pride in his job and makes sure that all his foreigners are well taken care of.

As for what Qingdao is like, it is very laid back, clean and the locals are generally friendly. To be honest, i have not done that much exploring only a little. i have a baby so it is very hard to come and go as i please since she likes to take naps. but from the little places i have seen, it is very beautiful if you like mountains. i like mountains because there are none in bermuda. but there are great shopping areas, everything you need is very close.

I will send you some pictures that i have taken here.

I hope you come and join me in Quindao. it would be nice to have another english speaking person to talk to while i am here. trust me you will love it, global would take very good care of you and it is a very interesting experience that you would not want to miss out on.

see you soon
Jamila

I was not ready to leave when my two months were up

Hello! Hello! Hello! As I approached Hangzhou Tian Mu Foreign Language School for the first time, I had no idea what to expect. I was greeted with big smiles and loud "hellos" from the primary school students. I couldn't help, but smile and shout "hello" back.

I spent two months teaching english at Tian Mu in Lin'An, China. I alternated each week teaching at the primary school and the high school. I usually had two classes a day, so I would spend about 1.5 hours teaching and a few hours preparing everyday.

The primary school students were eager to learn. I taught them english songs, new vocabulary and english games. The high school students were curious to learn more about me and American culture. One day all the english teachers at the school came to observe my class. I gave the students a lesson on sports and American culture that day. I knew I would be guaranteed to get a smile from the students if I mentioned Yao Ming, a famous NBA player from China.

I enjoyed teaching, but most of all I am grateful for the new friends I have made. The other teachers took me out to dinner, to tea, and to sing karaoke. They introduced me to their families and one teacher even taught me how to make dumplings. I felt like part of the Tian Mu community.

I was not ready to leave when my two months were up. It was an unforgettable experience.

Roberta Quis, May, 2007

Hello Jeffery! I'am sorry I'am late upon sending you an e-mail, but I promised you that I would share my experience with other potential teachers coming to China ! My experience here in Southern China has been wonderful!

I've been here for 6 months already, and I've loved every minute of it. The students at Number 1 Middle School are great and very friendly. When I walk down the street in downtown Daaihliang, people stop and talk to me an ask me where I' am from! I tell them San Francisco ! When I speak Cantonese with them, they're also very surprised! I go to the local McDonalds and have coffee; the Children are always coming up to me and want to learn to speak English! My experience here in China has been wonderful. I plan on staying here for as long as I can. Learning a new culture is always great! I' am also studying on how to write Chinese Characters. I can now write a few sentences in Chinese! The food is great in Shunde, and there's so much to do here. The best experience so far has been meeting new friends everywhere I go. It's so much fun because they come up to me and want to talk to me about America and what it's like being an American. So if anybody wants to ask me any questions about China please feel free to e-mail me, and I will be glad to share my wonderful experience with anyone who asks! It's great living in China

Grant Gains

Everything here is okay. The city is small to medium sized and has mostly everything someone would need. The apartment provided is nice and has one main room, a bedroom, a kitchen, a dining area and a bathroom. There is heat and air conditioning, a stereo, tv/dvd player and an DSL internet connection. Hot water is available almost all the time. There is a washing machine provided as well as a stove like item and a microwave. It also has a western style toilet, sink and showerhead in the bathroom. It is located in a small area that has one main entrance and is kept under watch at all times by a gatekeeper. The apartment is off campus and is about a 10 minute bus ride.

Everything people need is within walking distance and there is a main busline that can take you to the central part of town; about a 10 minute ride. The central part of town has a town square and a mall. The bus can also take you to the train station and the bus station.

The only westerners in town are foreign teachers and we are from all over the world. Canadians, Americans, South Africans, Cameroonians and Ukrainians to name some. People have been here a varying amount of time. There is no one to directly help you with your problems you may have so its essential to set up good relations with your neighbors.

Ben Cascio

Teaching Experience in Pingxiang

Pingxiang, in the Jiang XI province, is a good place to teach; especially if you want to experience a perspective of a China with less foreign influence than a city with many tourists like Shang Hai, or Hong Kong.  The entire city has only about seven or so foreigners, five of whom are us teachers at Pingxiang College.

Pingxiang is a small city by China's standards, and the people are working hard to develop the city to make it more modern. They are constantly building more government buildings, more stores, anything they think will improve the area.  Outside the center of the city you can find farmers and coal miners.  Pingxiang city is famous for the coal it produces, as well as its spicy food.  So far, all of us five foreign teachers enjoy the local food.  We prefer the spicy food to other varieties, and also enjoy the Chinese style of cooking over that of the West.

The students we teach are quite enjoyable.  They are eager to learn and to soak up all the knowledge we can provide, and they also want to create friendships with us.  They will ask us many questions about ourselves, our lives, how we spend our time - they want to get to know each of us as a teacher and as a person; they also want to practice their English.

So far, each of us foreign teachers have got along quite well together.  The five of us include a great variety of cultures and backgrounds; We have two from England, but one of them is Indian; one from Egypt, and Mark and I are both from the US.  We have enjoyed getting to know one another and working together to improve our students' English and to communicate with the college.

Upon arriving at Pingxiang College, the English department, including our bosses and assistants, were amazingly welcoming to us.  They took us out for some meals, even gave us all a welcome meal at the college.  The College also provided each of us with our very own flats, including all the Western conveniences we would expect: two rooms - a bed room and a main room, a bathroom with a shower and Western toilet, and a small kitchen area.  The flat is furnished with all the furniture one would expect in an apartment, including some important features, such as a computer, internet, a television, a DVD player, a fridge, a microwave, and an electric stove and wok to cook with.  We don't have ovens but really don't need one because you can find plenty of variety of food choices to eat without it.

Pingxiang College also assigned an assistant toe each of us foreign teachers to help us adjust to the culture and to find anything we need.  They helped us find the stores and market in which we would shop, and also help with any equipment failures, or other problems we may experience while working here.  Our assistants want to have good relationships with us, besides helping us to adjust to the new culture and position.  They have many responsibilities besides assisting our communication and work with the College, but still take the time to befriend us and make us feel comfortable in Pingxiang.  I have been impressed with my assistant, his willingness to help me and desire to be my friend. I truly enjoy our relationship, and I am sure you will appreciate yours as well.

The communication between the school and the teachers could be better.  They don't tell us much about the curriculum they desire us to teach in their classes, and once in a while they ask us to do something with only a little warning.  The College provides us with a text book from which we are to develop the curriculum for each of our courses, but we don't know the level of the students until we begin to teach them.  Such an experience isn't easy for someone who has never taught English before.  While it is beneficial to have the freedom to teach what one wants wit the style he or she prefers, it is important to have a better idea of what to teach the students so we don't go over or under their learning capacity.  Despite the communication issue, we understand that everyone is busy and it isn't easy to communicate everything to us.  Thus, we simply try to keep informed on important issues by asking our assistants.

My experience teaching at Pingxiang, so far, has been enjoyable and beneficial.  I have learned a lot about China and about teaching; tools that I will take with me wherever I go in the future.  If you come to teach at Pingxiang College I am sure you will have a great experience, while learning a good deal about China and the Chinese people; especially if you can lay aside any previous expectations or desires you may have and just take things as they come.

Amy

The hospitality here has been unparalleled to any thing I've ever experience

Working in china has so far been a very different and interesting experience. Although having traveled a lot in my past, this has defiantly been one of the most unusual experiences of my life. After arriving in Shanghai (which is a SPECTACULAR city!) we moved on to a town called

Taxiing, about 2 hours drive from Shanghai . The hospitality here has been unparalleled to any thing I've ever experienced. The locals are all very warm and welcoming (and we have on one occasion even received a bunch of flowers from a tea house whilst sitting there, for coming to their town!), and the school has been just as hospitable.

The apartment is very spacious and well furnished, with air conditioning in the bedrooms and front room -a nice plus point! so far working has been extremely rewarding and enjoyable. The children all have wonderful personalities, and are all very eager to learn. There have been moments where they have made us feel extremely appreciated and we are humbled by this. I am so glad that I have been given this opportunity to change the children's lives in such a small yet significant way.

Emma Deane from Taixing , China

Teaching is great, far easier then expected

Hello!  My name is Paul Ladd and I'm an American born and raised in the city of St. Louis Missouri .  After graduating from college I took the unlikely adventure of moving to China in the city of Taixing to remove myself from the rat race in the American job market.  It turned out to be as difficult as expected to set myself up: starting with a company to first obtain a preferable job at a respected school, buying a plane ticket at a reasonable price, traveling to Chicago to get a visa, inoculations, packing, constant negotiations with schools, and a variety of other issues. 

It was all worth it.  After a 26 hour plane ride I arrived in Shanghai to find a local holding a piece of poster-board with my name on it.  The modern airport gave way to the excitement of Shanghai which housed some of the tallest buildings in the world, thousands of cars, bicycles, mopeds, scooters, and motorcycles crowd the street, and buildings are lined with flashy advertisements reminiscent of the film "Lost in Translation".  Looking about is an experience all in itself, especially after finding myself to be the only westerner (European decent) in sight.  The first two days were spent with a gaping smile and a look of confusion mixed with wonder.  I'm not ashamed to say that it completely blew my mind for lack of a better word.

After a stint in Shanghai we moved onto the city of Taixing with a short two hour bus ride.  The appeal of big city life combined with a rural feel is the personality of Taixing and was well accepted.  I was shown the rather large two story apartment that would be my home for the next year that although was almost beautiful in its design, lacked reliable hot water, was freezing cold, and didn't include any source of central heat.  In other words, it was perfect.

Again, walking down the street is it's own experience, on one side is a 17 story hotel of grandeur and beauty, on the other side is a crumbling home with a small street vendor selling sticks of meat at 13 cents for two.  Men stare in wonder, women point and laugh with their friends, kids just look up half afraid/half amazed.  Hello is yelled at all angles, "magoi-ren" is whispered (which means American), and I was told the I was one of only half a dozen or so westerners in the entire city of one million.  Wild.

Teaching is great, far easier then expected.  The children in this culture hang on your every word, soak up every thought, learn as best as they are able.  On the urging of their parents these children are more then happy to spend 50 minutes experiencing a whole new world from an American.  An easy to follow guide is placed at our feet to assist in the flow of the classroom, a teaching assistant fluent in both English and Mandren is available at all times, and a general sense of excitement is always near when driven students enter the room.

At a rural school that I visited only yesterday in a small community I was greeted by three hundred screaming children at recess who have never seen a westerner up close in their lives and were disparate to shake my hand, scream "hello", or simply crowd in for a picture; of which I took many.  It marks as one of the most increadable moments of my life.

To those who read this I hope it helps you better understand the experiences of an American thrown into a foreign land and having a blast.

Paul Ladd from Taixing , China

Having a great time here in Dongning

Hello Jeff,

It's Mark Eaton.  Simon told me that I should send you an update about my time here so far.

I'm having a great time here in Donning.  The city is a lot bigger and more modern than I thought it would be.  The people all seem very nice, and very interested by my presence, so it is fun to try my Chinese with anybody who cares to come and talk to me.  It's also really cold now, but seems to be getting warmer.

The Apartment is also very modern, and has a kitchen, shower, washer and dryer, and refrigerator.  It's also very warm, since there are heaters in both bedrooms and the living room. I also get along great with my roommate, Rodney, and it is nice to have somebody to talk to in English.

I eat most meals at a restaurant that is just below our apartment.  The people who work at the restaurant are incredibly nice, and the food is very cheap.  A typical breakfast will cost me 1 or 2 yuan, while a lunch or dinner will cost me less than 10 yuan.

Simon has also been a great unexpected addition to my time here.  He has been a great friend, and very helpful as I get adjusted to living in Dongning.  I did not think that we would have a translator/guide, but it has been great having him here.

The school has also been a pleasant surprise.  The kids have been energetic, even when I go in for my 8:20 pm class.  Currently, I only teach one class per day, but when the term really starts in March, I am told I will teach about 25 classes per week on a very good salary.  The children also really like sports, as do I, so every day during their 2 hour lunch break I like to play either basketball or soccer with them.

That's it for my update.  If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail me. Also, I've attached some pictures, but if you want to see more pictures or more descriptions of anything, I have a blog that you should visit at spaces.msn.com/markinchina2006.  Talk to you soon.

Mark Eaton

Many great experiences as a teacher

I have had many great experiences as a teacher at TongLu School in Zhejiang province, China . The town of TongLu , surrounded by a river and mountains, has everything I might need such as restaurants, markets, pharmacies, and shopping. The school campus is also very self-sufficient and acts much like a small community. Many of the other teachers have gone out of their way to make me feel at home. They have invited me to participate in extracurricular activities, have offered to make me dinner, and have taken time out to show me around town. All things considered, I have been very impressed by their hospitality.

Before coming to China , I thought it would be difficult to meet people without knowing the language. However, there are several teachers who know English and are willing to tutor me in Chinese and teach me more about their culture. Furthermore, my students are extremely intelligent and motivated to learn English. When I see that my students have learned something new, I feel a great sense of accomplishment, and am happy that I made the decision to teach in China . After graduating from college, I wanted a new and exciting experience. Teaching in China has allowed me to do satisfy that goal, experience a new culture, and provide enough money to live comfortably. When I finish teaching, I feel that I will have gained invaluable vocational and life experience.

I owe most of my positive experiences in China to Jeff Gao and Global Crossroad. Without their step-by-step guidance through the process of living and working abroad, this experience would not have been possible. Mr. Gao and Global Crossroad were especially effective in making sure everything went smoothly during the initial transition period.

Overall, I have been extremely happy with the results and highly recommend the Global Crossroad program.

Misha Seay and Ryan Honeyman  Zhejiang province

My experience in china thus far has been truely an adventure and very educational

Hello Mr Gao!

My experience in china thus far has been truely an adventure and very educational.  It was definitely a culture shock from the moment I got off the plane in Beijing because normally in America one is accustomed to seeing a few Asian in a giving airport but never the entire airport.

After landing in Beijing , the next flight took me to Mudanjiang and it was there that I met Simon (the representative from the #1 high school in Dongning).  From Mudanjiang we traveled about 4 hours in a cab to Dongning. In this city I have found that the people here are very friendly and always willing to help if they can.  My roommate and I have often been mistaken for being Russian because we are right next to the Russian border (this is very funny to me mainly because I am a black male and I have never in my life been called a Russian) The food here is not bad either. 

There have been only 1 or 2 dishes that I have eaton thus far and didn't like.  One thing that I have noticed which I don't care for to much  is that the Chinese do a lot of spitting on the ground (out doors and some times in doors).  The best thing about this whole experience so far is the students.  Right now I am teaching in a high school and my students ages range from about 16 to 19 years old.  Some of them know a lot of english and others are not so good.  The only time that I am teaching now is late in the evening (8:20 to 9:05) because the semester doesn't really pick up until March. However, even though it's late in the day most of the students are very energetic and excited about being in class. I haven't really had any severe problems.  I might have one student reading in class and at that point I have him or her stand up and we engage in english conversation.  I have never really taught a class before, but for the most part, I really like it. 

Rodney McCoy

Jeff,

First, thank you for the experiences I have had here in China. I would have never survived here if it weren't for your assistance with the program. The fact that Kevin spoke English was very helpful and necessary for a person like me who does not understand or speak one word of Chinese.

My time here was invaluable and enriching for my personal growth. Living in a foreign country, utilizing the transportation system, working in the schools, living in an apartment were all opportunities for growth. Despite the language as a barrier, I was able to get around quite well in Shanghai. I utilized the buses and the subway system. It was a feeling of accomplishment, being able to get to and from different areas without having a guide by my side - during the volunteer time.

I learned that what matters is to have an American in the classroom - it seems that the quality of the lesson is only secondary of importance. Of course both would be optimal! My time spent with children is one of the passions in my life. So, connecting with so many children in a foreign country, no less, was a time I will never forget. One student whom I felt I didn't engage at all came up to me after class and asked me for my cell phone number! I gave it to her and hope that she calls me. There were also particular classes that were well-versed in English and I was impressed at how much they knew. My advice to each class was to continue to practice their English. I said, "I promise you, it will be important for you and your future." If one student got my message, I will feel like I have done my job. Thank you for sending me to Shanghai - where there was a good balance of city life/traveling and volunteering.

We spoke about the travel in Qu Fu. I truly enjoyed Mount Taishan - Despite the fact that the tour guide spoke no English and I spoke no Chinese, the time sitting on the rocks by the waterfall surpassed our differences and all was OK.

It was definitely a challenging experience being immersed into a culture where I look different and cannot communicate with the population. With that challenge came an two weeks of a rewarding experience that I will not forget -

Thanks again for everything - I enjoyed meeting your family, as well as our time talking about lifestyle, philosophy, and potential business ventures!

We'll talk soon. Shei Shei - Zhen Shang Hao

Hilary