No Honeymoon... One month in.

One month in with no honeymoon phase. I arrived in Shanghai safely, with a 15 hours layover, I booked a 4 star hotel online. Yep 4 but more like 2 stars. Anyway it was clean-ish and smells nice-ish; plus it came with a huge low price tag, free wi-fi and airport pick up and drop off. With an half decent night sleep, I made it to Jinan all in one piece. Got picked up by my Manager, soon to be friend and go to person for directions, bus routes and stops.

I was so excited that dragging my 3 heavy overweight luggage in a heavy down pour of rain did nothing to dampen my mood. Plus, I just found out I won't be having a room mate for most or the entire duration of the current semester (6 months). 

Foreign Teacher's Apartment for my school

Then, I walked into my apartment and my excitement hit an all time low. 

Looking back, I can't say for sure what it was but I can recall clearly asking, "how much will it cost me to get cleaners in here? And where is the closest grocery store, I need to buy some household cleaning supplies. 

I did get cleaners, paid for by my school but I might as well have gotten nothing because they did such a bad job I had to complain. Yes, I am a very detailed cleaner but even to the least detailed or not so clean person this is an awful cleaning job. I was not surprised though as I was warned I would be getting a so called "China Cleaning" - didn't know what this meant at first but now I do. I was advised to take before cleaners and after cleaners picture of the whole apartment. Which I did but I went a step further to clean by myself every inch of the apartment except my bathroom and then took pictures just so I can show what I meant when I said please clean. Please see some pictures after cleaners cleaned below and above.

After Cleaners cleaned.

After I cleaned

So, what have I done in my first month besides scrubbing my kitchen floor?

I have been teaching from day 3, at an English language school, and from my second week,  few public school English classes got added on (some agreement between the public school and my actual school). Visited few historical/ tourist attractions out of many friendly Shandong province has to offer. Shulianxian, The Thousand Budha Mountain, Qufu (Confuscious birth place), Five Dragon Pond, Daming Lake and Batou Springs (highly recommended). Not much has happened but so far, I am adjusting and adapting very well.

I will fill you in on food and commuting in my next post. Stay tuned.

Shui lian xia 水帘峡

Thousand Budha Mountain 千佛山

Spring Square 泉城广场

Baotu Springs 暴徒全

Five Dragon Pond 五龙潭

Daming Lake 大 名湖

So ... Did I accept the offer?

It has been a very long couple of weeks. Trying to figure out what the next course of plan would be should I accept the offer or turn it down? What this would mean for me now and my career aspirations.

Like I said in my earlier post, this would be a stepping stone to other interesting and career changing opportunities. I would need to quit my current job, move to the other side of the world away from family, friends and foes.

The uncertainty still remains as I am not sure what to expect, I am yet to arrive at answers to some of my questions. Some of which would not be answered until I commence on this new adventure.

So far, it has been a rocky road, one that I hope someday I will be able to look back and smile. I have been very excited about this offer and have been reading on Jinan, Shandong as well as China. Some reviews have been encouraging and some not so much. All in all, one thing is for sure - keeping an open mind provides some form of cushion.

Great Wall of China

 

I am sure with any decision in life, there are bound to be challenges and obstacles that makes you want to run the other way, change your mind, regret the choices you've made or wish you could time travel back to the past. I am hoping this is not one of those instances. I am anticipating lots of travels, time and wallet permitting.  

So ...

Did I accept the offer?

Yes I did.

I gave in my two weeks notice at work, started packing up some of my things that I will be taking with me the rest of my stuff I have found a storage space for (a bit skeptical about safety). FYI - Packing is not fun, especially when you have to consider airline baggage allowance. Although I am able to send some of my stuff over once my Visa is confirmed, I have been warned postal/ courier service to and from ... is not very reliable.

Enough of my packing dislikes.

Looking forward the next 12 month of UPs and DOWNs, happy and not so happy, culture shock and new experience. 

What's next ...