Last days

It has come to my final days here in Beijing. I really have enjoyed this adventure and this screen of the film that is my life. Beijing is a very different place. I would suggest it to anyone looking for a different experience. However, anyone that has any type of breathing problem or is trying to stop smoking, it is not the place to be. Though there were times when I wasn't enjoying myself, the overall experience of being in this culture and traveling across the world has changed my life. I look forward to being home for a bit, but also to the next adventure. Hopefully this time, I will be in Costa Rica!

Wipeout!!

So today I just did some errands and paperwork type stuff. I had to go across town to do these things, but they had to get done. Anyway, it was a very hot day. Hot and humid, so needless to say I was sweating pretty much all the time while I was outside. I think I got some extra stares because of this, but whatever, I am never going to see these people again. So after a long day of doing things I finally got back to Xidan where I have to catch a bus to get back to the hostel. As I was coming out of the subway I saw the bus I needed at the bus stop and knew I wouldn't get that one, so I just kept walking towards the bus stop. Then I noticed that the bus was staying at the stop a littler longer than usual so I thought I might be able to make it. I started to run to try and catch the bus and didn't quite clear the step up right in front of the bus. WIPEOUT!!! In front of all the people on the bus and at the bus stop and it was rush hour. Quite embarrassing. My knee was skinned, but luckily there wasn't much blood. So that moment goes at the top of my most embarrassing moments list. :o)

Plans

Plans are always apt to change and so that is what my plans have done. Because China is so far away from everything I know and love, I have begun to look at staying and teaching in Mexico for a while. I have a couple of jobs that I am looking into in smaller towns there. Mexico is not far away, so friends and family will be able to visit me or me visit home during my holidays. So that is what I am looking at now, but plans being the nature that they are can very likely change.

Homsick

Yes, I am homesick. I miss everyone and everything about home so much. I was pleasantly surprised today when I realized I only have three weeks left when I had been thinking it was four weeks. I am not doing to much more as far as the tourist thing. I feel like I have pretty much been everywhere I really wanted to go and I am coming back anyway. At least that is the plan. I can't wait to see everyone!

I am glad that I have spent this time here. I have gained so much knowledge about myself and my surroundings. I do enjoy traveling, but I think three months in one place is the maximum. Of course if I find a steady job working for someone, then I will have to commit to more time than three months, but who is to say that I have to work for anyone? It is a thought I have seriously been thinking about recently. Why not start my own business here? Not right away of course, but once I am fluent in Mandarin, I think I could do it. And there isn't anything better than working for yourself.

Moving On

I have written TEFL a few e-mails asking them to respond, but guess what? They haven't. I am not surprised.

That aside, the rest of my stay here has been pleasant. I am staying in a lovely hostel that is situated in a historic hutong area. One of my favorite parts of the hostel is the courtyard where I can sit outside and just read or knit or make jewlery. I haven't been able to do this before in China because taking all that stuff anywhere is such a hastle. I am meeting people from all around the world and hearing all different languages.

I have made the plan to come back in September and work and take Mandarin classes. Right now, it is just a plan, but that is what I need. I still have a lot of things to work out, but as of today, I am coming back to China in September. It is one of the best places to continue teaching English. But who knows, I might find something I really like in the States too. I have direction and I am walking, but the road ahead is foggy and unclear. I am ready for my next adventure wherever it takes me.

The Program

TEFL is not a good program! On the website it says that you will get reimbursed up to $750 depending on how much your flight costs. There is no mention of having to teach 180 hours to begin with nor that working these 180 hours is a stipulation of how much you are reimbursed. Oh, and you do not find the 180 hours to work, but they find it for you. So, if they don't find you enough hours you don't get the money. The jobs that they do find you, you don't necessarily keep because the school has to like you and your teaching methods. They have to like your teaching methods even though you are not supposed to have any teaching experience, according to the website. They "prepared" us for teaching by giving us five days of teaching methods and having us prepare short lessons. So after having no previous teaching experience, we are expected to go into a classroom full of students and know exactly how to make them like us and how to get the material across in an easily understood fashion. I guess some people are just natural teachers, and I am not one of them.

The underlying message: If you ever consider going with TEFL, don't! DO NOT trust ANYTHING on the TEFL website!

End Of the Program

The TEFL program is coming to an end. I am sad to be parting with all the firends I have made in the program but I am not sad the program has ended. Let me just say that it is not the most organized. We encountered many problems throughout the program and it was not all it was hyped up to be on the internet. I don't know if it was the program itself or just the management, but there were some questions that we had that went unanswered by the program. It was a good way to travel, but I would not whole heartedly recommend the program.

In other news, I have about 7 weeks left here. I am going to be staying in a hostel for the first time. Online the place looks nice, but I haven't seen it in person. I am excited about staying and a little anxious. I will be totally on my own. It is going to be a new adventure inside this adventure.