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| Considering coming to China to teach, stop conside | ||
| If you are considering coming to China to teach, stop considering and just do it!! I am in my second year now, and I consider China my second home. While I was taking the TESOL course, in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, I saw a letter from another graduate who was talking about Owen Buckland and Yangshuo. It intrigued me, so I applied for a job through Owen. He works with his wife, Jennifer, and they own Buckland International Education Group. They are agents for teachers who want to teach in China. They are Chinese, but speak very good English, and Owen has a very, very good understanding of Western ways. They have been extremely helpful every step of the way. They told us to get to Guilin and someone would meet us at the airport. Their assistant, Tracy, met me, holding a sign with my name on it. After travelling for almost two days, I was very tired, very nervous, and kind of wondering what on earth I had done, selling my business, my home, my "stuff". The first thing Tracy asked me was if I had to use the toilet! (Make sure you have your own paper in your pocket, as it is not usually available!) Those were the best words I could have heard! A driver from Buckland drove us to Yangshuo, about an hour from the airport. My first experience on Chinese roads--very interesting!!! I was so tired, but so nervous and excited, I couldn't sleep, and I couldn't stay awake. It was night and I tried to see out the window, but couldn't--I could barely make out the silhouettes of the karst-type hills (finger like mountains poking straight up). When we reached Yangshuo, they took me to my hotel room, and asked me to go to the office in the morning. Tracy said the office was "just around the corner!" Well, I didn't know which corner, all the signs were in Chinese, and it was now daylight. I finally asked someone--I only kept saying "Buckland, Buckland". Finally someone pointed me in the right direction and I found the office. Someone finally pointed out to me that if I looked up, I could see, written on the building, "Buckland ESL Hostel". With all the strange Chinese writing, I never thought to look up! Tracy took me for a Western breakfast, and I haven't looked back since! (NOTE: Owen has just moved his offices into a brand new building, which I have not seen yet, but I hear it is beautiful, and there is a place for foreigners to stay there) At the Buckland Group, they look after upgrading your visitor's visa to a working visa. They give you much helpful information about China, about Yangshuo. The first few days are spent resting, getting over jet lag, seeing some of the sights around Yangshuo. The famous Li River runs through Yangshuo--there are many things to do on the river. I still use my favourite guide, Marcel, whenever I am there. He is excellent, gets the best prices, and takes you to some awesome places in and around Yangshuo--on the Li River, or to caves, or to climb Moon Hill--or many other places There are enough English speaking Chinese, or foreigners in Yangshuo, that it is a great gradual introduction to this absolutely wonderful country. Yangshuo is a small enough village that after one tour around, you can easily find your own way. About the schools, and about Buckland--some people have told me that it is better to try to find your own jobs, rather than go through an agent. That may be good for some people, but definitely not for me, and for many other people I have talked to. Owen finds the schools for us--he has certain standards in accommodation that the school must meet if they want a foreign teacher. There are usually western-style toilets, a bedroom, kitchen, living room, washing machine, air conditioning (air conditioner is any machine that "conditions" the air--makes it cool in the summer, and warm in the winter), furniture, and most cooking utensils. The thing I like best about getting a job through Owen, is that I know he is always there for me. If there is any negotiating to be done with the school for anything, Owen does it for us. If there is any trouble, we can call or email Owen and he will deal with it--we don't have to deal with it all by ourselves. He arranges the transportation to the school for us. He helps initiate us into Chinese life. He gives a training session for new teachers to China--either in person, or via a VCD that you can watch in the comfort of your hotel room. He or Jennifer are always available to answer questions we have. He teaches us a bit about Chinese culture, so we know a little of what to expect when we go to our schools. Another thing that for me is extremely important--I am a woman, on my own, in a strange country (though it is getting more familiar, and becoming more and more a part of my heart). I know, and my family and friends know, that there is always someone in China who knows where I am at all times! I cannot get lost in the shuffle! My friends and family have his email address, phone number and address in case they cannot reach me any other way, if they should ever need to. He is my safety net. I have talked to other foreigners who thought they had jobs, arrived in China, and were told that there were no jobs. These foreigners tried to find jobs on their own. Owen, Jennifer and Tracy are also becoming very good friends to me. When I see them, it is like seeing family! Yes, they are Chinese, and the customs, culture, day-to-day living are different than ours. They try their absolute best to make sure we are happy, because they want us to stay and help the Chinese people learn the best English possible. I hope to see you in Yangshuo some day. I return frequently, from wherever I am teaching, and it is like returning home. The people from the restaurants remember me and ask where I have been, Marcel always greets me with a smile and a warm welcome. Best of all, Owen, Jennifer and Tracy are always happy to see me and to hear how things are going. Judy Cairns, formerly from London, Ontario, Canada--now homeless, except for my home in China. Ttjcairns@hotmail.com |