Well I seem to have talked about it, read about it, discussed options with people etc etc BUT it is finally becoming my future reality.....
While I am not in the i-to-i internship program I am keeping contact with as many people as possible. I'm a firm believer that we can all support each other irrespective of who we work for and look forward to some active socialising!!!
I'm just doing the paperwork to get my Z visa.....oh dear forms, forms forms.....but then once in China I'll have the fun of getting my residency permit as a foreign expert -sound impressive but I'm sure it will be more paperwork. Having worked in Government for 30 years I should be used to the wheels of bureaucracy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Off to see my Dr this week to check on my vaccination status. I think I'm up to date with the basic ones due to working as a nurse but there are a few I'll need - Thyphoid and Japanese encephalitis- at least. The WHO havve a gret website where you can get an honest appraisl of what you REALLY need vs what might be recommended by the travel doctors. Worth a look as some vaccinations are VERY expensive...
Have posted a topic seeking feedback from the current interns.....hoping to get lots of helpful advice that guidebooks, websites etc just dont have - you know those little daily things that can make all the difference to your life.
And then the BIG issue....what to pack....I am still baffled as to how I can fit 6 months in 23 kgs of luggage!!!! I've just had 8 weeks in Europe and that was hard enough!!!
Taken peoples advice and am putting most important info, scanned docs etc onto my USB and also hae an external hard drive with lots of photos - its like my mobile photo album.
I look forward to sharing everyone's countdown as we start to get nervous, excited, apprehensive, happy and probably the full gamut of emotions!!!!! Stay in touch and we can help each other maintain our sanity...
Bye for now.......to be continued as the weeks go by!!!
Loading recent content...
What do you think?
Add Your Comment!
Log in to leave a comment or Create an account
i will be travelling alone to teach in china in september. keep in touch. :) GOOD LUCK!!!
physical examination - tick
vaccinations - tick
eye examination and new glasses - tick
flights booked - tick
Think I'm slowly getting everything organised. Just have to sort out the packing caper!!!!
How is eveyone else's preparation going??
We'll find out where we'll be teaching on our first week in Beijing, where we'll be taking a Cultural awareness course and doing a bit of sightseeing, I think.
I'm glad to help if I can. I will be heading down to Taizhou in Zhejiang province and I'm a little worried of the heat humid weather I will get there. I'm big and sweat very easy. As for vaccinations I only had my hep A and B done before I came to China. I have a mass of teaching experiance for both big and small classes. If you need any activities just send me a line when you get here and I'll see how I can help.
When do you find out where you will be going?
Thanks. I've been reading on travel health and it seems very reasonable to get vaccinated for the Japanese encephalitis! I don't understand why they didn't vaccinate me when I went to the travel health clinic for my other vaccinations! :( Now I'm in the UK and they vaccines here are very expensive! :(
I did also choose Southern China, because of the weather! I don't think I could cope with the cold winters of Northern China. So I understand we'll meet each other in Beijing on 23rd August, then?
Hi thanks for joining me on the countdown to China. Great to hear from a fellow Aussie who is experienced in China so don't be surprised if I shoot a few questions your way.....especially as the time gets nearer!!!
Borrix - great to see we will be in China at the same time. Like you I dont have a placement yet but have applied for southern China. With regards vaccinations I am choosing to have one for Japanese encephalitis as I am VERY prone to mosquito bites (I'm sure they see me coming and just zoom in!!). I've included the info from the WHO guidelines below which might assist your decision making. At the end of the day you must feel comfortable - I tend to be fairly conservative and don't get vaccinated often when going to SE Asia as I'm not always going off the beaten path. Not knowing China I'm being a bit more protective.
Cheers, Kate
Japanese Encephalitis is recommended for longer-term travelers, who are susceptible to mosquito bites and will be outdoors during mosquito season (which can last from May to November in southern China).
Hi,
I finished my TEFL course with i-to-i and will hopefully be going to China in August with the internship programme. They haven't told us whereabout we'll be placed.
I also think once there we can support each other when things become difficult! :)
I'm really looking forward to this new adventure.
Speak to you soon.
Borrix
PS: I got all my vaccinations but they never told me the Japanese encephalitis one was necessary. Any advice will be appreciate it.
G'day,
Where are you going in China? When do you arrive?
I'm a fellow Aussie, so if you have any questions I'd be happy to help. I've been in China since 2007 and as long as you have a positive attitude you should love it here. Also be game to try the strange food it's not as bad as you think.
» Comments RSS