Hey guys, just want to let those of you who teach or are planning to teach in China know about this free VPN service I have found… Those who don’t know already Facebook and Youtube etc are blocked and you need a VPN to use them. Super VPN Service is gives you a great VPN service with access to many servers around the world, this is also useful for accessing TV from back home or...

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Well I went on a visa run for Astrid at the weekend to Hong Kong. Luckily I had Friday evening free so we took the 6pm coach there, arriving at about 10pm. We didn't take many things, just her big handbag for a change of clothes and a small one for her money so we decided to walk to look for hotels in Nathan Road which is famed for cheap hotels, especially hourly hotels! I...

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The title says it all, Since arriving in China just over 4 months ago I haven't had much time to write on the chalkboard site. But now things are changing, I am leaving my job at EF and moving to work for a kindergarten in the same city, the hours are better and the pay is more which folks gives me more time to start blogging on a regular basis again.   So starting from...

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  Well it’s been a busy week, I haven’t been teaching too much but I have been getting to know Dongguan! The city has so much to offer, from local 4 kuai ($0.35) food to expensive western restaurants. From Places to go shopping, to places to go and relax and all for a reasonable price. I have spent more money than I imagined in the week I have been here but I have made some...

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I arrived in China at around 9:30pm, this was when my visa was stamped and I set foot on Chinese soil.   The timing of my arrival was perfect; I got through Hong Kong immigration and looked at the screen for where my baggage was. Walking to it I was looking with the hope my baggage would be coming although I doubted it then what do I see? That’s right it was my bag, I...

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I wrote my last blog less than 1 week ago and it seems today like it was written 4 weeks ago. This week has seemed so long, partly I think due to going to Bangka at the weekend. That was a really great holiday and was very relaxing but as I had my flight at 6am and I had to leave for the airport (or so I thought) at 4am I decided to go out...

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Well I’m into my last two weeks here in Indonesia, 11 days remaining to be exact and it is with mixed emotions…Happiness with the prospect of new challenges and environments but sadness at not being with my fiancée and ‘some’ of my students. I posted on my Facebook status last week that I had however many days until I leave and some of my students (TB level) commented saying they didn’t want me to leave!...

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Well the past week has flown by and I have managed to accomplish nothing worthwhile. I have been on leave for the whole week as my contract ends in what is now fourteen days and I am compelled to use my leave or lose it! Unfortunately money constraints have forced upon me a choice between taking a holiday to somewhere exotic now and enjoying four days in Hong Kong before starting my new job in...

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I am reposting this on behalf of Astrid as I feel this is something that needs to be told to the widest audience possible! PLEASE REPOST AND ADD TO ALL GROUPS! Thanks ------------------------------------------------- This is a real warning. I'm not joking. Still remember the call th about I thought it was an interview? That I thought happen so soon? Well, I told you, the interviewer is not a real employer. I was so tired tonight...

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So my weekend in Bandung was not as much as a holiday as I would have liked, I had to wake up at 5am to drive to Bandung, then wake at the same time the next morning to drive Astrids mom back to Jakarta, wait around and then drive back to Bandung. Still I must note that I enjoy driving a lot so it wasn’t all bad!   On Friday we went for a walk...

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