This One Time In China...

 

Summer 2015 has been incredible. I can't believe how much I have packed into this summer, but at the same time can't believe it's almost over. However one of my main experiences this summer is certainly the time I spent in China. Let's back it up, and explain that a little bit. I was staying a 40 minute subway ride away from downtown Shanghai for 7 and 1/2 weeks. Although trips to Beijing, Huangshan, and Hangzhou were had amongst that. I was teaching English as a foreign language in China at a summer camp, and travelling in between sessions. I was petrified upon arrival, for almost two months in a country I had never even contemplated visiting, prior to this opportunity arising; with people I had never met (the other volunteers teaching alongside me, who were lovely by the way!) ; and doing something I had never done before (teaching actual human children!). This was the furthest outside my comfort zone I have ever been. Sometimes I feel the need to push myself outside my little comfort zone of being home watching Netflix and YouTube. It's exciting but scary as heck!

However, this was a fantastic opportunity to trial teaching, and experience a new culture, and do some unexpected traveling. Overall it was one hell of an experience. It wasn't a holiday as such, as there were stresses and there was work involved. For instance lesson planning is tough and time consuming, and teaching with little to no experience definitely includes a learning curve or two.

Nevertheless there was a balance between work and play. During play time (haha) we travelled. A lot. We never stopped the whole two months (my feet still hurt, no joke). This included visiting exquisite Temples, beautiful parks, and The Great Wall of China!

 My Top Three Tourist Stops In China 

These are not actually in a particular order, despite them being numbered:

1. The Summer Palace in Beijing. It is absolutely stunning. It includes a beautiful park, lake and architectural structures. A lovely day out, casually strolling around, partaking in an ice-cream or two. Splendid.  

2. The Great Wall of China in Beijing. How can you go to China and not visit the Great Wall?! It's a must, it is a wonder of the world after all. Although I must admit it was a lot more hard work than I had imagined. The climbing is intense at times, for an unfit gal like myself haha. In addition we went on a day with a lack of great views, due to fog and mist, but nonetheless a very cool experience. So on a nice day it must be wonder(wall)ful! haha.

3. The Jing An Temple in Shanghai. We visited our fair share of temples while in China, to say the least. All are lovely, but this one is utterly breath taking. It is very grand, and you just feel very serene being there. Also we saw a Monk on his iPhone whilst there. That's a surreal moment, if ever I had one.

 

...and there we have it. These were just a few of my favourite places I visited, although there were many more amazing pit stops for tourists I could suggest.

Regardless of the fun adventures we had, one of the absolute highlights for me personally was learning and growing in confidence when teaching in China, as well as having great fun with the kids, my kids.

Nevertheless, to finish off I thought I'd mention something a tad unusual. The Marriage Market in Shanghai. It is like real life Tinder! Quite surreal. Parents have written profiles of their children, things such as a picture alongside a name, age, and sometimes even weight etc., displayed in the park for potential suitors to view... not something I have stumbled upon whilst wandering through any park in England before, that's for sure!

That's all folks! Hope you have all had a brilliant summer, and let me know where I should blindly go off on my travels to next, in the comments below xx