You just never know

All this time I've been planning a trip to Tokyo and Seoul, or a revisit to Europe, I had never once thought about going to China. I mean, is China even considered a vacation for someone from Hong Kong?

Well, the answer is a "yes" and a "no." Because later in the week, I'll be going to China--for 5 weeks! So the "yes" is because I'll be going during my vacation, and the "no" is because I'm not going there for vacation. Confused? Read on.
I just signed up for a 5-week training course to get certified in International T.E.S.L and in China-specific T.E.S.L. I'll be in Haimen, Jiangsu, just a Yangtze river across from Shanghai. In fact, I'll be arriving at the PuDong Airport in Shanghai.

Never would I have thought of returning to Shanghai so soon; I was there with Johnnie only last September. We had a great time last year watching people parading around in pajamas. I plan to snap more shots of these gems, but it would have to be on the weekends, for I was told the training is pretty intense during the week.

I'll have hands-on experience teaching at a local public school. That ought to be fun. As for accommodations, I'll have my own room, fully equipped with bathroom, kitchenette, fridge, satellite TV, phone, and most important of all, ADSL connection. Yep, so I'll still be wired while in China.

Upon completion, the center can arrange a teaching position for me in China, or schools in other countries. But for what these foreign teachers are making in China, though relatively respectable in China, I think I'll go broke working there. More likely, I'll take the T.E.S.L. Diploma and China Certificate with me back to Hong Kong, where I can apply for a part-time position teaching in the morning, and still be able to keep my day job.

So I have lots to do from now till Saturday. I need to pay my dues, buy a ticket, study for the prep course, pack my luggage, load my gadgets, and clean my teeth. Good times ahead.

Filed Mon - April 26, 2004, 08:12 PM in

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