I’m alert in the packed line four train. Immediate Culture Shock: A 4’11 woman stands with her forehead buried in my back, as a man’s elbow stabs me in my side. Then I hear the telltale signs of impending, unpaid sick leave in the air…cough, cough. At first, the gravelly…...
On the Outskirts of Shenzhen: Dapeng, a New District by Alistair Heald
Shenzhen is a major city in Guangdong Province, China. It is also one of the wealthiest cities in China. Shenzhen’s temperate climate, relatively low pollution levels, and close proximity to Hong Kong, Macau, and several other interesting destinations make Shenzhen one of the China’s most desirable cities to live…...
Branching Out For Better Stories: My B-List Celebrity Experience by Laura Grace Tarpley
When I opened the text message asking if I wanted to be in a video about Bao’an District in Shenzhen, I was hesitant. “The video is about a Western girl who rides her bike around Bao’an,” Jason, the SDE employee, explained in his message. I assumed the “Western girl” was…...
Teaching in Primary Schools Survival
Teaching in Primary Schools It was the middle of my fourth week teaching in primary schools in Shenzhen at 5:12pm in the convenience store at the bottom of my apartment building. This was not my first visit here, nor was it my first time stopping here immediately after work buying…...
#ChineseLanguageStruggles: Trippin’ Up on the Third Tone by Ivan Berezowski
Of the myriad struggles beginner students of Chinese language encounter, near the top of that list is tones, particularly the much dreaded third tone, aka the low dipping tone. It is arguably the tone most foreign learners of Chinese mispronounce the most often, and it is often taught to be…...
Chinese Street Food From Breakfast to Beyond
Hi, I’m Amanda. Officially, I’m here to teach, but unofficially I’m here to eat all Chinese street food in sight. This isn’t a strictly Chinese phenomenon: I’m a really good eater, and I’ve spent the last few years grazing my way across countries. I have no known food allergies, am…...
Crippling Fear on a Crumbling Wall – A Great Wall Story by Ashley Dubois
My name is Ashley, and I have a serious fear of heights. Before I tell you my story, I already know what some of you will say: “Everyone is afraid of heights”. “Being afraid of heights is nature’s way to keep you safe”. If I were only afraid of heights…...
Teaching Abroad: 8 Epiphanies
Teaching Abroad I’ve slowly become a person who believes that ‘everything happens for a reason', as cliché as it may sound. Truthfully, I never prepared myself for an teaching abroad in China. For someone who decided to move to the opposite side of the world, I didn’t consider a lot…...
Teaching in China by Leanne Overby
Teaching in China My Experience Flashback to July 2016.It’s 9:45pm on Wednesday night. I’m sat at a table in front of my laptop in my parent’s cold basement (they love to crank the a/c in the summer). I’ve logged into Skype and am eagerly waiting for SDE’s call to start…...