Who knew one piece of paper--a white coloured background with a picture and a number--could be so important. It's all in context, I guess: my passport in my drawer at home means almost nothing; but suddenly having it looked at by the Chinese consulate, it quickly has value. I had to send my passport by courier to Toronto in order for someone there to receive it as well as bring it to the Chinese consulate for my visa application. I had a sickening feeling as it departed from hands and slipped into some generic envelope.
The good news is that the party at the other end received my passport and visa application. There was a delay in downtown Toronto due to the G20 summit; however, it went through today. I will need to have my passport couriered back to me before next Monday. This is a tad worrisome since we lose one day due to Canada Day being a stat day without mail.
Another glitch in the matter is that my visa is valid for only 30 days. I need to leave the country and come back to China for another 30 days since my time of teaching is about 42 days. I may have to go to Hong Kong for a weekend and come back. Apparently, due to the Shanghai Expo, the government is tightening up its reigns on foreigners entering the country for the first time. I guess to those who deal with this type of thing on a regular basis, this is nothing to worry about; however, since this is my first time dealing with this--I am worried. I just ask that you think about these logistics and that everything will fall into place.
Panic over passport--a possibility, but I hope to use this as an opportunity to evidence peace in my life because of Someone else looking over these matters.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Saturday, June 26, 2010
My Future Employment
I will be teaching at Huaqiao University in Xiamen, China. Xiamen is located in southeast China’s Fujian Province. It is located right on the south eastern seaboard, looking out to the Taiwan Strait. The city of Quanzhou is to the north and Zhangzhou is to the south. It has a population of 5 million (only?!?) and by several websites, it is considered China's 2nd most liveable place to live. By my employer's words, "it is not westernized, but modern."
Often the newer universities will buy up a hotel right beside the educational institution and house guest professors there. I will be staying at the university in a room that will be similar to a hotel and eating in the cafeteria. According to some websites that I have been reading, it is only the high end hotels that give out cutlery; the rest of the eating establishments have chopsticks. I'm going to have to learn how to eat with chopsticks or lose weight! :)
I will be teaching with another gal from the University of Waterloo. We have never met before and it will be interesting having to share a teaching load with a complete stranger. I'm sure that we will all have to be somewhat elastic!
Xiamen means "A Gate of China" referring to its role as major trading port with other nations. It is comprised of Xiamen Island and Gulangyu Island. This latter island is car-free and can be be accessed by a ferry. Gulangyu (pronunced goo lang you) is on my to-do list of places to visit because there is a famous Piano Museum on Gulangyu Island. This islan itself is about 2 square km and has a population of 20,000. These people have a fascination with pianos and have set up a museum displaying over 200 pianos. So, I guess if teaching doesn't work out for me, I could always play for my supper!
I never envisioned myself to be a missionary. I have heard lots of stories about how missionaries have had to get used to food, climate and housing' often in less than ideal circumstances. I usually breathed a sigh of relief and thought I could never do that! And now I find myself having to do this very thing (does this mean God is having a good chuckle?!) I'm trying to think of this as an adventure--the ride of a lifetime. I really do hope that I can adjust to the many things quickly and smoothly (not necessarily easily).
Often the newer universities will buy up a hotel right beside the educational institution and house guest professors there. I will be staying at the university in a room that will be similar to a hotel and eating in the cafeteria. According to some websites that I have been reading, it is only the high end hotels that give out cutlery; the rest of the eating establishments have chopsticks. I'm going to have to learn how to eat with chopsticks or lose weight! :)
I will be teaching with another gal from the University of Waterloo. We have never met before and it will be interesting having to share a teaching load with a complete stranger. I'm sure that we will all have to be somewhat elastic!
Xiamen means "A Gate of China" referring to its role as major trading port with other nations. It is comprised of Xiamen Island and Gulangyu Island. This latter island is car-free and can be be accessed by a ferry. Gulangyu (pronunced goo lang you) is on my to-do list of places to visit because there is a famous Piano Museum on Gulangyu Island. This islan itself is about 2 square km and has a population of 20,000. These people have a fascination with pianos and have set up a museum displaying over 200 pianos. So, I guess if teaching doesn't work out for me, I could always play for my supper!
I never envisioned myself to be a missionary. I have heard lots of stories about how missionaries have had to get used to food, climate and housing' often in less than ideal circumstances. I usually breathed a sigh of relief and thought I could never do that! And now I find myself having to do this very thing (does this mean God is having a good chuckle?!) I'm trying to think of this as an adventure--the ride of a lifetime. I really do hope that I can adjust to the many things quickly and smoothly (not necessarily easily).
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Preparation
During the first two weeks of June, I was in contact with the person at Renison College at Waterloo University. He was the one sealing the deal between the Xiamen University of Technology. It seemed to take a long time and a lot of back and forth. The President wanted this paperwork or that signature. In fact, one email stated that the project was probably a no-go because timelines were not met.
After that email, I figured I could end one contract and have a summer off. That would be nice, since our yard is now at a place where it looks beautiful and we can relax and enjoy it. I had kind of got my head around this scenario when I got another email saying that the powers that be were pretty sure that signatures and money were in place, but just to hang on.
So, I hung on! For what seemed to be a very looonnnggg weekend! It was very hard for me to have my life hang in the balance. It was hard to plan what should come next. I was trying very hard to plan my steps, but God had my future in mind already.
On Monday, June 21, the deal was sealed and I got the go ahead to proceed with paperwork. I had to get a visa application for the government. I'm looking into vaccinations as well as preparing for this course. I have never taught it before--talking about a steep learning curve! The emails are flying back and forth and I have come to a very important question: "How does one pack for 5 weeks with only two suitcases!?"
After that email, I figured I could end one contract and have a summer off. That would be nice, since our yard is now at a place where it looks beautiful and we can relax and enjoy it. I had kind of got my head around this scenario when I got another email saying that the powers that be were pretty sure that signatures and money were in place, but just to hang on.
So, I hung on! For what seemed to be a very looonnnggg weekend! It was very hard for me to have my life hang in the balance. It was hard to plan what should come next. I was trying very hard to plan my steps, but God had my future in mind already.
On Monday, June 21, the deal was sealed and I got the go ahead to proceed with paperwork. I had to get a visa application for the government. I'm looking into vaccinations as well as preparing for this course. I have never taught it before--talking about a steep learning curve! The emails are flying back and forth and I have come to a very important question: "How does one pack for 5 weeks with only two suitcases!?"
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Here's the story
It is hard to imagine the paths that twist and turn and then take you to a destination that is beyond my wildest dreams; in fact, I don't think I was dreaming this at all! As you know, I teach English as a Second Language. The nature of the work is that it is contract only. You fulfill a contract and then move on to the next one. Sometimes a company/organization/agency will continue to renew the contract, but other than that, it is not a permanent job by any stretch of the imagination.
Some of my contracts have been here at the local college in Olds. I teach a course of my own design called "How to Survive in Canada" to international students. I answer questions such as how to do banking, how to write an essay that is seen as organized by our western standards, and occasionally have to answer questions about dating!
Another place that I have taught is in Red Deer at an immigration agency. Here, I teach people from a variety of countries as well as levels. Sometimes my students have only been in Canada for a few months. If it is at the beginning of winter, I have to encourage them as much as I can that our winters don't last forever despite how they feel. Sometimes I feel like the president of the United Nations in that I may have anywhere from 6-7 different languages represented by up to 10 different countries. No, I don't speak any other language other than English; their job is learn English to the best of their abilities.
I have also done some video conferencing. I taught a class in one town and it was video conferenced as I had a "virtual" class as well. That was a real steep learning curve! All my materials had to be in PowerPoint and on the SmartBoard.
Because I am my own person, I also try as much as possible to upgrade and continue to seek opportunities for professional development. Last summer, there was a course using the curriculum developed by Advanced Consulting Education in which I learned how to teach teachers how to teach English as a second language to their students or train the trainer. After this course, I kept in contact with the head teacher and business owner of this company, inquiring where I could teach this course. She had asked if I was willing to teach the course in their intensive module. It meant that I might be away for one month as I would teach this course over a period of 4 weeks.
Paris and I talked about it and thought that it might be a good idea. After all, the potential colleges or universities where this curriculum is taught were mostly in Ontario, two in Manitoba and 3 in Alberta. I figured that I would be staying within this country and possibly fitting in time to be with my family.
A few weeks ago, she emailed and told me of a potential placement/contract for me. I was curious and excited. Her next email divulged where the potential was--CHINA!! I didn't expect that! I was thinking of staying within this continent. Both Paris and I agree that it is a wonderful opportunity for me, despite the fact that I will be away for almost 6 weeks.
One of the things that I am interested in experiencing is what it is like to be in another culture. I often have to encourage my students through their difficulties of getting used to our Canadian weather, food, traditions, language and culture. I really want to "walk a mile in their shoes." I see this opportunity as a way of increasing my empathy for my students. I guess I don't want my words to be empty when I acknowledge that learning English is difficult but they can do it.
I am hoping that this blog will serve two purposes: 1) to help me process my journey of learning a new culture, if only for 5 weeks and 2) to let you know how things are going.
Until next time...
Some of my contracts have been here at the local college in Olds. I teach a course of my own design called "How to Survive in Canada" to international students. I answer questions such as how to do banking, how to write an essay that is seen as organized by our western standards, and occasionally have to answer questions about dating!
Another place that I have taught is in Red Deer at an immigration agency. Here, I teach people from a variety of countries as well as levels. Sometimes my students have only been in Canada for a few months. If it is at the beginning of winter, I have to encourage them as much as I can that our winters don't last forever despite how they feel. Sometimes I feel like the president of the United Nations in that I may have anywhere from 6-7 different languages represented by up to 10 different countries. No, I don't speak any other language other than English; their job is learn English to the best of their abilities.
I have also done some video conferencing. I taught a class in one town and it was video conferenced as I had a "virtual" class as well. That was a real steep learning curve! All my materials had to be in PowerPoint and on the SmartBoard.
Because I am my own person, I also try as much as possible to upgrade and continue to seek opportunities for professional development. Last summer, there was a course using the curriculum developed by Advanced Consulting Education in which I learned how to teach teachers how to teach English as a second language to their students or train the trainer. After this course, I kept in contact with the head teacher and business owner of this company, inquiring where I could teach this course. She had asked if I was willing to teach the course in their intensive module. It meant that I might be away for one month as I would teach this course over a period of 4 weeks.
Paris and I talked about it and thought that it might be a good idea. After all, the potential colleges or universities where this curriculum is taught were mostly in Ontario, two in Manitoba and 3 in Alberta. I figured that I would be staying within this country and possibly fitting in time to be with my family.
A few weeks ago, she emailed and told me of a potential placement/contract for me. I was curious and excited. Her next email divulged where the potential was--CHINA!! I didn't expect that! I was thinking of staying within this continent. Both Paris and I agree that it is a wonderful opportunity for me, despite the fact that I will be away for almost 6 weeks.
One of the things that I am interested in experiencing is what it is like to be in another culture. I often have to encourage my students through their difficulties of getting used to our Canadian weather, food, traditions, language and culture. I really want to "walk a mile in their shoes." I see this opportunity as a way of increasing my empathy for my students. I guess I don't want my words to be empty when I acknowledge that learning English is difficult but they can do it.
I am hoping that this blog will serve two purposes: 1) to help me process my journey of learning a new culture, if only for 5 weeks and 2) to let you know how things are going.
Until next time...
Monday, June 21, 2010
The first attempt
Well, this is my first attempt at blogging. I'm hoping that this process will help me in my journey and give you, my dear reader, a chance to see what I have been up to.
My journey? Teaching in China...certainly not something I would have ever planned or even dreamed!
I will write more later, but until then...thank you for stopping in and I look forward to hearing from you as well.
My journey? Teaching in China...certainly not something I would have ever planned or even dreamed!
I will write more later, but until then...thank you for stopping in and I look forward to hearing from you as well.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)