Half a year in Beijing

So this past week was the half a year milestone for my new life abroad. I started working at my new school yesterday, though both it and today were just housekeeping days. Yesterday I showed the team leaders my lesson plan for my first classes as well as my overall plan for what I am going to teach throughout the semester. We shall see how well they accept the latter, but today was a simple opening ceremony for the school. I introduced myself on stage to all the students, faculty and some parents as well. I believe there might have been a local official or two in the mix as well. But they heard me talk, so now the parents know the school hired a native speaker to teach their kids. There is new prestige in that.

My contract and residency permit shall see me staying in Beijing until the end of July next year. Then, depending on how things go with this new school I might either sign on for another year or move elsewhere. I've been leaning towards remaining in China for a while now because it is a stable place to gain work experience. Once I have enough teaching experience, which will make up for my lack of an actual teaching degree which shall open up new realms of employment for me.

My summer was fun. I went to different parks and tourist destinations, such as the Forbidden City. I am yet to visit the Great Wall, mostly because that requires booking a tour or something and I'd prefer to go with friends. I have been going to the gym regularly. I am working with a personal trainer who is helping me lose weight and gain muscle. So far I have lost 10kg which I am pretty pleased with, though that is still just the beginning.

There are some downsides to this new life. Today is my sisters 25th birthday, so I am missing seeing her for that milestone, and my little niece is graduating from nursery onto a Primary school. My grandmothers aren't getting any younger, and my father's father passed away two months ago. I'm still raw on that on occasion, despite the man and I not having the warmest of relationships.

But it's just a few short months before the semester break when Chinese New Year rolls around. I'll be sending the family all present for Christmas and seeing them in the winter.

Note: For anyone interested in my writing work for Muscle Fan, I have submitted a few new scripts recently and we shall see how well they are accepted. I hope you liked Aztec Muscle 3 because the 4th and final issue of that series is a good finish I feel.