The start of the internship has been a little rockier than expected for an unlucky few (we're sorry - and everything should be in hand to getting sorted now - if it's not please, please get in touch and we'll do our best to get it fixed).

Anyway, I thought that to inject a little bit of feel-good fun into proceedings, it'd be cool to hear about your favourite thing about China so far - it could be a particular dish, your students, the cheap beer... share the China love people!

Ahh, China... I am loving the opportunity to get to know the people and experience the culture!  Yes, we've had some bumps in the road, such as having to do major cleaning of the apartment and still waiting for hot water, but those pale in comparison to the benefits of this incredible adventure. 

I feel very lucky to have two completely different types of class experiences at my placement.  On the one hand, I have two classes which each have only about a dozen students (around age 15 - 16).  These classes meet for 45 minutes several times per week.  I am thrilled to be getting to know these young people.  I appreciate the flexibility of having the only mandate be that the focus of the class is oral communication.

On the other hand, I have six high school classes which are much larger (30-40 students) which each meet only once per week for 45 minutes.  Again, the focus is oral communication.  I am challenged by the range of language proficiency levels and the size of the groups.  But most of the students seem welcoming and interested in learning and I think we'll do well together.

I feel that this is an important opportunity to be an ambassador of good will between western and eastern cultures and people.  I'm excited about forming new friendships, establishing positive relationships which are building blocks to helping countries form positive relationships globally.

Call me happy  :-)

I have a few good memories already about china, on the first night me and a couple of mates went to a bar with local band on, the staff were friendly and there was a amatuer chiropractor in the toilets, when you were washing your hands he would practically snap your neck and back in two, but god was it relaxing. after that we went to another bar and haggled large bottles of beers down to 10 quai, the locals were paying 40. at 3 o clock he closed the doors and sat and had a drink with us till the early hours, we did this most nigths and even helped tempt passers by in, that was fun, ill never forget them days, hope to go back to that bar when my placement ends. yesterday at lunch (im in a boarding school) a few kids recognised me and were like, 'Hi Rich!' that put a smile on my face. im sure ill have a lot more before i go.

i-2-i course: 600 pounds. Flight to beijing: 500 pounds. A four year old flipping kerry the bird? priceless

Haha brilliant! My favourite thing was going to the Great Wall and the farewell party, which i don't remember much of! Its also been good meeting new people, living with someone new  and i guess it will be a good thing in the end being out of my comfort zone. Hopefully there will be a lot more of these cultural experiences :)

My favorite part was definitely the farewell party.  I wish I had gotten more contact info from people! (I didn't realize there would be so few foreigners here)

I've also enjoyed meeting the Chinese teachers here.  They're really sweet.

Love the people! So friendly! The staring doesn't bother me. I just smile and say hello. Walked past a parent holding their small child over the pavement to pee earlier, both were staring at me. So funny! Haven't got a favourite part yet. Enjoyed having students coming up to me to make conversation out of lessons, had fun on the sleeper train - although it was so long! It was amazing waking up to see the south of china whizzing by. The Great Wall was awesome! Everywhere has it's own strange beauty, whether its in the welcome from the locals, or the scenery around. I love how different life is here...

:O Thats mean Dave! I really feel for you, it can't be nice. But i'm so bored here. up to 5 hours in an office with nothing to prepare. Kerry is coming to see you tonight isnt she? I want to go out saturday night but not sure who else is and i don't fancy staying in a youth hostel by myself to be honest!

Seems like we should be jealous of Rozel...

I have to say the day trip we had in Beijing was brilliant! The great wall was one of the most surreal experinces of my life, just to be walking on one of the biggest and oldest parts of history in the world was awesome! the acrobat show was also so cool to watch, its amazing the talent these kids have and such a young age! They obiviously dedicate their whole lives to putting on a show and it is really evident! I hope there will be many more moments like this to come!

Yes, you did miss out Dave! Are you getting moved somewhere so you won't be alone?

Alice looks like you'll just have to stay out all night so you can take a cab home in the morning! I would join you if I could...

i dont mind the locals staring, it is understandable after all. in fact iv noticed iv been staring at random white people in the street, looks like im finally settling in.

Favourite thing so far? The little bread pancake things the lady sells outside my school for 1.5Y. What?!? They're delicious. =P

Either that or the 'Free from formaldehyde' label on cans of Siwo beer. That always makes me giggle.

I'm loving every minute of it though, and I actually get insulted seeing other westerners in Lin'an (OK it's happened once in 3 weeks.) I don't want to leave!! 

Besides teaching which i'm loving!...easily my favourite thing so far was the orientation in Beijing!!!  It was so much fun meeting new people and making amazing new friends!!!  I had a complete blast hitting the Beijing nightlife especially at the farewell party!  The excursion to the great wall, ming tombs etc was also a highlight!  I've uploaded a tonne of pics from that awesome fun filled week! http://www.tefl-chalkboard.com/sasheen4/photo_manager/albums/23 :) :) :)

With my pale skin and blonde hair I get stared at a lot and get asked for photos too. But it's understandable that they would be fascinated by me who to them is a strange foreign girl, as I am equally fascintated by them and their crazy country. This results in lots of random conversations with super-friendly people and it's this randomness that I love in China. There are so many weird and wonderful things here -The Great Wall, scorpions on a stick, Peking Opera, rickshaws, squatters, hot springs, temples, the dumpling man......and the crazy eye exercises the kids do twice a at school (WTF!) I can't say I have a favourite bit but it's the whole experience that I'm loving!  

It seems like no one has been on in awhile!  I hope that means you've been too busy having a great time.  But these stories have made me SOOO excited to go on the August China Internship.  I can't wait!

This past holiday weekend, my boxing coach, who doesn't speak English, invited me out to his village in the countryside and we had a whole barbecued lamb which was one of the best things I've ever tasted in my life, and we swam in the river with the dog who was really scared of the water, so that was pretty interesting.  The mountains were nice, and the bamboo forests were awesome.  The air was really clean too.  I also got to drive in China for the first time when his girlfriend's dad wanted a break from driving, and they thought I was so smart because I knew how to drive lol  I say it's my favorite experience, because it was the first time I went out with Chinese people when I felt I was actually a friend, and not just a free English teacher.