country and culture

The world won’t pass you by in China!

Trains at the speed of lightening, great walls, high rises, hutongs, dumplings, early morning tai chi…

What will be your story outside of the classroom in China? China’s vibrant culture will leave you breathless! February welcomes the Chinese New Year – full of parades, food, and festivals, such as the Lantern Festival which is perhaps the most memorable sites you will see while in China. Open yourself to a new diet – taste Peking duck or share a ‘hot pot’ amongst friends. Spend your evenings attending the Peking Opera or a Chinese acrobatic show. Find your inner balance by joining an early morning tai chi (tai ji) session in a nearby square. Learn to value the essence of tea o the simple stroke of Chinese calligraphy. Last but not least, learn to get around in Chinese with basic Chinese lessons (you’ll learn some at orientation) or dive in completely and learn Chinese while you are immersed in the culture! Already speak Chinese? Brush up on your skills. Your resume will thank you for it later!

Location, location location…

China is a huge country and you could find yourself teaching in one of many diverse cities and towns. Although it is unlikely that you will be teaching in one China’s largest cities, it is likely that you will be based close to one that you can visit on the weekends.

China’s cities are world famous! You could find yourself teaching outside of Beijing–China’s culture and art hub and a modern city strewn with some of the world’s greatest historical sites. Walk to work past Tiananmen Square. Visit the Forbidden City or the Great Wall of China on a day off. Explore the waterways of the Beijing’s historical hutong district.

Or perhaps you will find yourself living outside of Shanghai-the country’s financial and industrial capital-the powerhouse of China’s economic rise. Known for its economic prowess and long history of foreign influence, massive development to the city’s infrastructure and transportation system is constant. High rises and high-speed maglev trains house and transport Shanghai’s 20 million inhabitants. Explore the city on the world’s first commercial high-speed maglev train that reaches speeds of 430 km/h!

The city of Nanjing, is only a two-hour train ride from Shanghai. The city prides itself on maintaining a traditional Chinese city atmosphere, while also welcoming urban development in designated parts. It has tree-lined streets and historic sites from the Three Kingdoms Period such as the Confucius Temple (later Imperial Examination Hall), the city wall, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen’s Mausoleum, and the Nanjing Massacre Museum.

You could also find yourself near the seaside city of Qingdao. With a little over a million people, this city is steeped in interesting history and you will find fabulous seafood restaurants, beaches, and a colonial German-style of architecture that makes this city truly unique! And, there is the city of Hefei with over 4 million people, it is a fabulous location if you like the great outdoors as it is the gateway to the misty mountain peaks of Huang Shan.

No matter where you end up in China, you are in for an amazing adventure!