The Move to Wuhan

The original plan was for me to train in Beijing for three weeks and then move to the city of Wuhan, where my permanent home will be.  However, after a week into training, the Beijing location decided to go ahead and send me to Wuhan.  There is a national holiday coming up and the Beijing location was going to have a whole week off.  However, in Wuhan, we will only have two extra days off, so I went ahead and came here.  I was kind of disappointed, because I didn’t get to explore Beijing at all really.  I was working nonstop the whole time I was there.  However, I moved forward with a positive attitude and knowing that I will return during the year and see some of the sites! 

Working in Beijing was crazy.  I grew up in a small town, so nearly getting ran over every day was not something I was used to.  Pedestrians here have no right away, so you are literally dodging traffic.  Beijing is like New York on crack…!  However, I did enjoy my quick stay there and meeting everyone that I did.   

I have now been in Wuhan for two full days…and I already love it!  Wuhan isn’t as big as Beijing, but it is still a very large city.  However, I love my walk to work much better than in Beijing.  I only have to cross the road once, and it really isn’t a bad intersection.  The walk is so much more peaceful than in Beijing.  Also, the people in Beijing were always in such a hurry.  Here in Wuhan, people are much calmer and relaxed.   

Americans aren’t as common in Wuhan as they are in Beijing, so we do get a lot more stares, but that doesn’t bother me.  Many times, we will get a smile and a hello along with the stare.  The Chinese here love to practice what English they do know.  Also, we pass a middle school on the way to work, to lunch, and back home.  There are always kids in the streets, because at lunch, they are free to leave and go to the stores on the street.  They think we are so funny, and they love to walk behind us and giggle.  Sometimes, they will even work up the courage to say hello…and then I hit them back with a goofy look and a NIIIIII HAOOOOOO (hello in Chinese) and they run away giggling!  I love it! 

Also, it is part of their culture for girls that are friends to walk down the street holding hands, or if you are sitting next to a friend, have a foot touching or a knee touching your friend.  This makes it so easy to be here without family.  The tenderness and caring just radiates from all the girls I work with.  They love to hear about my culture, and they really love it when we ask questions about their culture.  I love teaching, but I love in-between classes just as much!  This is the time when I get to be silly and fun with the two Chinese assistants we have.  Candy and Pat…such sweet girls.  

I will put pictures up soon of the new place I’m living in and the new assistants I’m working with!