Ah, there’s nothing like rising out of bed at 8:00AM, taking a shower and heading downstairs for some greasy, chowmein for breakfast. As much as people might have a laugh about this, it’s my favourite thing here so far! (Yes, that’s a really fat comment on my part). It’s the only time I get to feel justified tucking into Chinese food at the crack of dawn :)
Anyway, today the interns received all the introductory information they needed. From 9:00AM – 4:00 PM, our in-country leader explained the whole internship process. From payment to customs (for example, tipping is the exact opposite in China. It is FAR from a compliment, it’s actually an insult! One of the interns learned that lesson the hard way their first night!). We also got to hear a lesson from an actual English teacher in China – and Australian guy who has lived in China for many years teaching English. It was actually really entertaining and quite helpful I’d imagine!
Tonight the interns will head over to the university down the road and officially sign their contracts! And then tomorrow morning we’re up at 6:00AM to go check out the Great Wall, the Ming Tombs, Birds Nest Olympic Stadium, Yashow Market, a genuine Beijing Roast Duck Dinner and an Acrobatics Show!
Until then? I’m off downstairs to eat another meal in the hotel’s canteen. FYI – the food here isn’t really labeled, so every meal you sort of have to guess what you’re serving. The smart thing might be to serve little bits and then go back but most people are quite happy to just dish it out and see what happens!
Wish me luck tomorrow!
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Heh I've recently come from year and a half in Australia and New Zealand so everything is just too cold!!! Oh I'm 100% sure I'm applying, just waiting to get paid on Saturday and the current blogs of disaster are getting me really excited already (I miss living like a hobo in a random country).
Well no questions so far, I'm just killing time at work by keeping on top of the current groups blogs and researching my travel plans for before hand! Go russia :D
Being back home is okay... but not very well! Am sick right now... but will be better soon enough. At least Leeds feels warm to me now!
So you're still not 100% sure about the internship? It's good that you've travelled before... I'm sure you've been able to tell that the rookie-travellers are having a bit of a tough time :). Hope you decide to do the internship and let me know if you have any questions at all!
Thats the plan. I'll be in China in August so if I can get onto the internship it will make life easier for me to stay out but if not I'll figure something out!
I can see everyone getting to the point of 'please no more chinese' eventually... It's a good thing that I've already learnt from previous travels to not question where certain things are from and just eat it (and meat is great!).
Hows it feeling to be home now? Strange or just slipped straight back into it?
:) Glad you share my love for take away at absurd times in the morning! Are you doing the internship at some point?
I won't lie... I'm sort of in the "I don't want to see Chinese food ever again" stage right now ... after just 1 week there! But I think that boils down to me not being the biggest meat eater and being sick right now.
Sounds good, keep us updated :D
I also love the idea of being able to dig into a greasy chinese in the morning and it not being a hungover leftovers from the night before ;)
Hiiii, during orientation you stay at a big hotel (we're staying at the "Home for Royal Mayors" - but it might be different next time? The hotel is perfectly fine, it's no Hilton BUT it's clean enough AND it has western toilets which is a HUGE plus :) During the orientation, you share a room with another intern which is kind of nice as I think it automatically gives you at least one friend upon arrival! I had my own room and I've sort of had to fly solo for a lot of it..
You'll get all your meals provided during the week. A few times you'll get to have a nice meal out but for the most part it'll be food in the kitchen at the hotel. At the hotel we've stayed at the food has been hit or miss. If you're not fussy and you like meat, you'll be in heaven! If you're fussy (the general you... not you specifically!), well you won't have a great time.... but that's true of travelling anywhere!
I'm happy to answer any more questions you have sooooo feel free to send them my way!
Hi! I'm doing the internship on Aug. Do the interns get to have their own room during the orientation program? what kind of a hotel is it? Thanks for all the info!!! Have fun there!
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