I have now been in Hong Kong for 2 weeks. I have to say I don’t think I have achieved a lot but hey, that is the beauty of a career break!
So far, I have managed to take a day trip to Shenzhen to visit family and to learn how to make dumplings from scratch. Albeit not very successful, it was the participation that counts! (I would welcome any Chinese dumplings recipes.) One of the funniest thing I have seen that day was when crossing the HK-China border, I suddenly found myself surrounded by kindergarten kids crossing the border in troops! It was quite a site. Apparently, as the living cost in China is so low compare to Hong Kong, those who live at the border would send their children to be schooled in Hong Kong and then go home across the border at the end of the day!
Baring in mind how little and young they are, it was all a very civilized affair. They were all wearing their ID cards across their neck, and following each other when crossing the passport controls. No one was screaming / crying / fighting... and they all listened to their “nanny” who was making sure they go through passport control safely! It was like mother hen and lots of little chicks. Very sweet. Saying that, it’s quite a commute for little kids on a daily basis. Total respect to the kiddies!
I have also started my private one to one tutorials. I currently have 3 students between 10 – 16 years old. Even though our lessons are suppose to be focusing on their oral skills, their parents have specially requested for me to assist them with their interview skills as they are all about to be interviewed by their prospective high school / secondary schools. Luckily, their basic English speaking skills are already pretty good. Therefore it is more to do with teaching them how to behave in interviews and group discussions. Even though it is my forte to train people how to be successful in interviews and assessment centres, I do find it a little strange that I am teaching a ten years old the same skills as university graduates and successful businessmen in the UK! I guess it goes to show how much pressure students in Hong Kong are under in this metropolitan city!
As it is the weekend, I manage to go on a family outing to Lantau Island yesterday. We took the very scary cable car across the beautiful mountains to visit the big Buddha. We also went to a mini carnival at Mui Wo with lots of little stalls selling local produce. I love all the islands in Hong Kong. It is so different to the city. It’s very chilled and great for BBQs!
TTFN!
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Hey Sandy :)
Cool, sounds like fun. Are you nervous at all about starting teaching? Have you ever taught in schools before? How did you go about setting up the tutoring then?
Yes! I saw the news articles about the drought. It is in Yunnan i believe, which is about as far west as you can get, towards the Tibetan mountains. Looks bad. The 3 places are Jinan, which is North, a bit too far north for me i think. Gets very cold there! Another is in Qingdao, which is sort of South East. This one i like, it is a seaside city, on the peninsula directly facing Korea and Japan, in Shandong province. The last is in a city called Loudi, Hunan province. Quite a central area. But quite south also. The one by the sea appeals to me for many reasons, i like being by the sea. I also like the thought of being close to Japan. Japan was my dream place to go to, til i found out you needed a degree for the work visa :( Looking into it, it seems that they will forsake the degree if you have 2 years + experience. So i think thats my goal.
I was thinking, a year in China, a year in Indonesia, maybe a year in Vietnam or Cambodia. Then hopefully they will think i have enough experience to get a job in Japan!
So you have family in Hong Kong then? Have you visited Hong Kong before?
Hi Rin!
Well am taking a career break so have to make the most of the free time I have on my hands! Yes - my job is in Thailand and will be flying out at the end of the month. Am currently just passing time in Hong Kong while doing some private tutoring to boost up the cashflow! I knew you would not have a problem finding a teaching job in China. Congrats on the offers. Where are they all based? There is massive drought somewhere in the West at the moment!
Wow Sandy, you're really visiting a lot of places!
Am i getting mixed up or did you get a teaching job? I didn't think it was in China though? Thailand right? Also i'm sure i read that you had just been to Spain for Peublo Ingles!
Anyway sounds like everything is going great for you :) When do you start in Thailand then?
We'll hopefully be in China within the month, we have had 3 job offers, so its just a matter of final decisions now!
Talk to you soon. Take care!
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