Well, I survived my first week here. I arrived last week, and was picked up at the airport and taken to my apartment here on campus. So far everything has basically been what I expected, and it is quite comfortable here. Except for one thing that I definitely underestimated: the cold. The temperature isn't too cold, around 5 degrees, but it is a very damp cold so feels much cooler than it is. Also, I was told that because Nanjing is considered part of Southern China (although it's right on the edge), they are not allowed central heating. Now that I've been here awhile, with my heater blasting day and night in my bedroom, it is not so bad. However, even in the classrooms and the cafeterias it is cold, and everyone seems to wear their winter jackets all the time.
There are two American teachers in my building around my age, and I get along well with them. Two nights now I have gone out with them to a local bar/restaurant called the Blue Marlin. There are many foreign teachers here teaching English, and they all seem to be quite connected and friendly, so that is a relief. One night we ventured into town to a bar called Don Quixote. I realized it was ladies night, and the sangria was free pouring all night. Let's just say it didn't take long for me to ask the Chinese singer who was playing guitar and singing Western cover songs, if I could sing a duet with him. We sang Sweet Home Alabama...trust me to create my own karaoke my first night out on the town!
Yesterday and today I taught my first two classes. So far I've met with the same group, the second year students. There are 23 of them. Although I was warned by many people that their English level is not very good, it is hard to imagine until you are actually standing at the front of the class, trying to communicate a point in VERY slow and clear English. It's hard to know if they understand you or not; either way, the response is 23 blank stares. Trying to involve the class is akin to pulling teeth. It's not that they don't want to participate, but it is very different than the teaching style they've been taught their whole lives from Chinese teachers. They are used to sitting and listening to a lecture for hours, whereas personally I can't stand the sound of my own voice to be able to talk that much.
The food here is decent. It's definitely different than our idea of Chinese food. Everything has lots of vegetables, rice, and little meat, so I find I although I eat a lot at each meal, I am hungry two hours after eating it! But the nice thing is the cafeterias are big, so there are lots of options. At least I won't starve!
Well, that is my update for now. I will write again soon, once I 've had a few more classes, and let everyone know how they are going! And I will try to take some photos of my room and the campus. Bye for now.
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