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craigbarber
craigbarber
Alreet! I was always going to do some form of travelling when...
Traveller since: 08/21/09
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craigbarber's Journal


Inner Mongolia days two and three

On the second day we dragged ourselves up and on to the coach for the 3-4 hours it would take to get to the dessert. Luckily we had pen and paper so played pictionary to pass the time, we’re sad I know… Eventually we arrived at the dessert and after a 20 minute walk down a hill we all got our lunch and were given the plan for the day. We would have about 2...
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TTC trip to Inner Mongolia day 1

The Chinese always have time off for mid autumn festival but this year China also celebrated it's 60th anniversary of becoming the 'Peoples Republic of China'. To the Chinese it signified a big celebration of the last 60 years and yet for myself and the other teachers it gave us a few extra days holiday! TTC organised an optional trip to Inner Mongolia. I saw it as a chance to see an area of China...
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Teaching in China

Firstly sorry for taking so long to get this post out, there has been a lot going on during the past few weeks. Steve and I have moved into a new apartment with another English teacher. His name is Eddy and he's from the States. The walk to work is longer but the place is much nicer and there is even some greenery in the form of a small park! Anyway enough of that unimportant...
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My trial by fire...

So I find out that I’m going to be based in Shanghai for the next few months. Shanghai wasn’t my first choice as I didn’t really want to go to a city; I was up for seeing some of the more rural areas of China. To be honest though I wasn’t really bothered where I was placed as I didn’t know enough about China when filling in my application to make an informed decision. I...
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AH! QUARANTINE!

As we (the i-to-i teaching interns) were well aware of on arrival in China we would be placed in quarantine to make sure that we didn't have swine flu. What I didn't realise was just how much fun quarantine could be! I'd assumed that we'd be confined to our rooms or at best one floor but we could go anywhere in the hotel, just not out into the street. The first couple of days we...
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Departure imminent!

About 2 months ago I was ringing up i-to-i to enquire about their courses and now I’m only 5 days away from a 5 month trip to China! It’s been a busy couple of months, doing the course, sorting out everything I need for the trip and fitting in the usual nights out and reunions that coming home from Uni signals. I am, as far as I’m aware, prepared: 120hr course… check. Visa for China…...
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