kzel81
Barfly
Life in not about the amount of breaths you take, but about the moments that take your breath away
Posts: 61
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Post by kzel81 on Nov 29, 2006 6:25:18 GMT 7
Barring any major dramas with two stipulations I have asked for in a contract, it looks like I've finally decided on a school for next year - Jiangsu Jianyin Huashi Experimental School.
Though not quite as far South as I would have liked to have been, the benefits and pay seemed reasonable.
Now I'm caught up in a see-saw of emotions, one minute excited as all hell, and the next minute completely overwhelmed, then back to excited.
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Post by George61 on Nov 29, 2006 6:34:20 GMT 7
Good. Fingers crossed.
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Post by phets72 on Nov 29, 2006 10:38:52 GMT 7
Don't worry Kze - this is very normal.
I'll be home soon to fill you in on my experiences, but good luck and enjoy the ride.
Phets72
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Post by cheekygal on Nov 29, 2006 12:56:42 GMT 7
Congrats, kze!!! Welcome to OUR world ;D
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Newbs
SuperDuperBarfly!
If you don't have your parents permission to be on this site, naughty, naughty. But Krusty forgives
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Post by Newbs on Nov 29, 2006 13:30:53 GMT 7
All the best, mate. Have you run it past Nate, or someone similar? Where in Jiangsu is it? Is Jianyin a town in Jiangsu? It's not anywhere near Suzhou is it?
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Post by mich on Nov 29, 2006 15:48:59 GMT 7
ahh, the two - three weeks leading up to the biggest adventure of your life.
nervous? not sure if you're doing teh right thing? how will you cope? how will you feel? will you be homesick? excited about going? sad to leave your family? what if..what if...what if???
don't stress, enjoy it. If it's not what you think it would have been...you can always grab the first flight home....Home isn't going anywhere...
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Escaped Lunatic
Barfly
Civet Burger? Sounds tempting. Can I get fries with that?
Posts: 567
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Post by Escaped Lunatic on Nov 30, 2006 0:52:46 GMT 7
Don't sweat it. I'm less than 1 week from departing, don't even have my suitcases packed, and I haven't panicked yet. I'm perfectly fine. No problems whatsoever. Nope, not a care in the world. Totally fine. Couldn't be better. That's right, less than one week to go. AIIIEEE!!!! OMGOMGOMG! "Ice is forming on the tips of my wings Unheeded warnings, I thought I thought of everything" - Pink Floyd, Learning to Fly
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Post by kcanuck on Nov 30, 2006 5:27:13 GMT 7
Pay the extra $ for overweight baggage (if it's an option) you might appreciate having a bit more stuff than not quite enough. Safe travels to you both.
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Eagle's Nest
Barfly
A self-portrait ... note that there is a mess of confusion in the swirling mists of "self"
Posts: 283
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Post by Eagle's Nest on Nov 30, 2006 5:49:36 GMT 7
Awesome news! Go, girl go! We've been here three months and we don't regret for a moment the decision to enter into this alien universe. Just one bit of advice - no assumptions!
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Post by Missi on Nov 30, 2006 6:19:21 GMT 7
we are crazy for living here, crazy for staying here and most crazy for liking it here!
Can't wait for you guys to join us in the land of crazy people!
Serious though, I agree wtih kcanuck, pay the extra baggage if you can to bring over some food stuff too eat after your third month when homesickness starts. And pack some big thick socks. Or even grad you mailing address and send your self a parcel with stuff in it.
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Ruth
SuperDuperMegaBarfly
God's provisions are strategically placed along the path of your obedience.
Posts: 3,915
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Post by Ruth on Nov 30, 2006 6:30:32 GMT 7
So true, Missi, so true - the crazy part, that is.
I did mail parcels to myself. Quite a treat when they finally arrived.
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kzel81
Barfly
Life in not about the amount of breaths you take, but about the moments that take your breath away
Posts: 61
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Post by kzel81 on Nov 30, 2006 7:33:34 GMT 7
All the best, mate. Have you run it past Nate, or someone similar? Where in Jiangsu is it? Is Jianyin a town in Jiangsu? It's not anywhere near Suzhou is it? There wasn't any info I could find over at Nate's site, good or bad, nor have I found much on the web. Still, the whole going to China is a leap of faith in the first place for me, and the FT from the school I got in contact with was helpful enough, so I figure I just cross my fingers and hope for the best. In relation to where it is, it's my understanding that Jianyin is a town in Jiangsu, above Wuxi and Changshu. So, I can see Suzhou when I'm looking at a map of the area, but I have no idea how that translates in terms of actual distance or time from Suzhou. A couple of hours perhaps???
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Post by mich on Nov 30, 2006 12:17:47 GMT 7
I would suggest speaking to your airline.
(from Australia) 'teachers' are allowed to bring up to 40kg of luggage to accomodate for 'books'...I didn't do it personally, as I ran out of time. I believe that the airline requests that you have a certificate of employment from your school as verification.
Might be well worth checking it out and getting some information about it, it will only cost you a phonecall.
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Post by Lone Traveller on Nov 30, 2006 18:38:32 GMT 7
I didn't know about that 40kg rule!!!! (so I could have packed the kitchen sink after all) DARN IT!
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kzel81
Barfly
Life in not about the amount of breaths you take, but about the moments that take your breath away
Posts: 61
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Post by kzel81 on Dec 1, 2006 3:44:49 GMT 7
I would suggest speaking to your airline. (from Australia) 'teachers' are allowed to bring up to 40kg of luggage to accomodate for 'books'... Thanks for the heads up. I'll definitely give the airline a call and find out their rule on this.
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Newbs
SuperDuperBarfly!
If you don't have your parents permission to be on this site, naughty, naughty. But Krusty forgives
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Post by Newbs on Dec 1, 2006 14:49:02 GMT 7
I didn't know about that 40kg rule!!!! (so I could have packed the kitchen sink after all) DARN IT! I didn't know about it either. Mich, I don't want to doubt you, but are you sure? Is this, perhaps, airline dependant?
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Escaped Lunatic
Barfly
Civet Burger? Sounds tempting. Can I get fries with that?
Posts: 567
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Post by Escaped Lunatic on Dec 1, 2006 19:29:25 GMT 7
Definitely check with the airline. Policies change. If they do say there is such a policy, ask them where it's buried on their website and print out a copy - you can't count on getting a check-in agent who is familiar with all the finer nuances of teacher exemptions.
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Post by solongtinik on Dec 2, 2006 16:57:27 GMT 7
ey there KZ! WELCOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Post by mich on Dec 5, 2006 17:13:53 GMT 7
I didn't know about that 40kg rule!!!! (so I could have packed the kitchen sink after all) DARN IT! I didn't know about it either. Mich, I don't want to doubt you, but are you sure? Is this, perhaps, airline dependant? That's cool Newbs...I didn't know about it either until the bloke at the Melbourne Chinese consulate told me about it, he said airlines don't really advertise the fact. I found this out about aweek before I left..Chris spoke to the airline, and I had to get certain documents from teh school. I didn't have time to organise it all..that and by that stage I really couldn't be bothered with more paperwork. But check it out with your airline, won't hurt..
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Post by mich on Dec 5, 2006 17:16:07 GMT 7
sorry..I flew with Cathay....
not sure if it's airline dependant....
I left in Feb this year.
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kzel81
Barfly
Life in not about the amount of breaths you take, but about the moments that take your breath away
Posts: 61
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Post by kzel81 on Dec 6, 2006 5:11:51 GMT 7
Well, my original plans have fallen apart. Luckily though, one of the other schools I was originally looking at had a vacancy in February and contacted me to say they were still interested in me, so I will now be working in Guangzhou. Contract is organised, current and previous teachers gave outstanding reviews, start date has been negotiated, and my ticket is all organised. So, I have ten weeks to pack my bag, pack up my house, find new owners for my two beautiful cats, rent my house out and get my butt over to China.
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Ruth
SuperDuperMegaBarfly
God's provisions are strategically placed along the path of your obedience.
Posts: 3,915
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Post by Ruth on Dec 8, 2006 12:26:54 GMT 7
Oh my gosh - is ten weeks enough time? Deep breath. It'll all fall into place. Exciting times ahead for you. Guangzhou is within visiting distance of Dongguan. We're gonna be neighbours.
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kzel81
Barfly
Life in not about the amount of breaths you take, but about the moments that take your breath away
Posts: 61
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Post by kzel81 on Dec 8, 2006 12:42:21 GMT 7
Oh my gosh - is ten weeks enough time? Probably not, but it's going to have to be! Guangzhou is within visiting distance of Dongguang. We're gonna be neighbors. Nice to know I'll have someone to hassle when I get over there.
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Clover
Up And Coming
Posts: 24
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Post by Clover on Dec 8, 2006 14:48:12 GMT 7
Is anyone near Sichuan? Apart from panda bears and people who don't even speak Pu tonghua?
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nolefan
Barfly
Quod me nutrit, me destruit!
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Post by nolefan on Dec 8, 2006 15:22:26 GMT 7
Is anyone near Sichuan? Apart from panda bears and people who don't even speak Pu tonghua? I believe Mich is lost somewhere in between the pandas and those who can't make the difference between the "s" and "sh" sounds
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