07.05.18 (Day 2 Gastro)
WeRun Update: 3121 steps
Had no choice
Woke up at 4am after a difficult night of trying to sleep with this gastro. Today is supposed to be my test demo for my TESOL certificate but I'm obviously unwell to do it. I'm telling the school that I'm sick but I'm getting a 'you have to give 24 hrs notice' reply. Anyway, this gastros getting the better of me and I need to go to the hospital, but I can't register unless I have some ID, which is at my school. Regardless, I had to go to the school that day.
Cheap taxis
Can I just say, I am paying less than 5RMB or 1AUD for 80% of my cab rides here in Nanjing. That morning from my place to school (which is about 1.5km), cost me 0.1 RMB (2 cents AUD). That's cheaper than the metro (2RMB). The competition for ride sharing here is crazy and it's great for consumers!
TESOL done!
So I get to school and realise I might as well complete my exam now (which is just a 30 minute trial presentation but they know my skills so it really is just about ticking the boxes). Despite being on a benzo that morning, I was still able to dribble out a 30 minute lesson and officially pass my TESOL training.
Wednesday, 9 May 2018
Monday, 7 May 2018
Day 26
06.05.18
Also known as my worst day in China so far...
WeRun Update: 80 steps
Gastro is the worst...
Woke up this morning and started vomiting. Must have been the shitty Korean barbeque that I had the night before. Soon, I was vomiting and shitting at the same time. This wouldn't stop for the whole day. Probably made like 10 toilet trips. Set up 3 bins around the house for me to vomit. Mad fevers. No sleep. Luckily, I had two batches of Hydralyte to replenish those electrolytes or else I would be dead.
Couldn't even go to hospital...
There are no GPs or clinics here so anyone with any health related problems goes straight to the hospital. I do live like a 5 minute bike ride from there but I actually had no strength to leave the bed at all. Going to hospital in China is like my worst nightmare. I know that there's always a massive wait, just given the population size. Anyway, you have to register your ID at the hospital first and I couldn't even do that. My passport's at the Exit and Entry Bureau and they gave me a piece of paper to use as a temporary passport - however, that was at my workplace - so even if I did want to go to hospital, I would have to go to my workplace first and I was in no state to even get out of my door.
Thank god for delivery services...
Since I had no food at home and no energy to leave the house, I used the trusty 饿了么 (Are you Hungry?) app to order some congee for lunch. Then I got some bread for dinner. Then I got some anti-diarrhoea medicine after dinner.
Also known as my worst day in China so far...
WeRun Update: 80 steps
Gastro is the worst...
Woke up this morning and started vomiting. Must have been the shitty Korean barbeque that I had the night before. Soon, I was vomiting and shitting at the same time. This wouldn't stop for the whole day. Probably made like 10 toilet trips. Set up 3 bins around the house for me to vomit. Mad fevers. No sleep. Luckily, I had two batches of Hydralyte to replenish those electrolytes or else I would be dead.
Couldn't even go to hospital...
There are no GPs or clinics here so anyone with any health related problems goes straight to the hospital. I do live like a 5 minute bike ride from there but I actually had no strength to leave the bed at all. Going to hospital in China is like my worst nightmare. I know that there's always a massive wait, just given the population size. Anyway, you have to register your ID at the hospital first and I couldn't even do that. My passport's at the Exit and Entry Bureau and they gave me a piece of paper to use as a temporary passport - however, that was at my workplace - so even if I did want to go to hospital, I would have to go to my workplace first and I was in no state to even get out of my door.
Thank god for delivery services...
Since I had no food at home and no energy to leave the house, I used the trusty 饿了么 (Are you Hungry?) app to order some congee for lunch. Then I got some bread for dinner. Then I got some anti-diarrhoea medicine after dinner.
Day 25
05/05/18
WeRun Update: 8919 steps
Mobike Minutes: 10
Xianlin
About 10kms out from Nanjing city centre, there is the university area where many of the big universities are based. When I took the train there, it felt like I was heading into a rural town in China - maybe I'm just so used to living in the city. It's funny because 10km is about the distance between my house in Melbourne to the city. It was different in Xianlin, there was a lot more space and nature, and a lot less noise and bustle. The air felt cleaner too. It was more peaceful.
《后来的我们》Us and Them
Watched the hottest Chinese movie in the cinemas right now called 'Us and Them' which is about a story of a boy and a girl who come from a rural town and have dreams of trying to make a living in Beijing. The story goes through the various stages of their Beijing adventure and ultimately, when they bump into each other later down the track. As always, this Chinese movie was melodramatic and you could hear lots of crying and tissues being whipped out in the cinema. The story mainly focuses on the love story between the two and how they both try to overcome the hardships of trying to make it in a big city, especially when they're from a town where everyone knows each other.
Korean Barbeque sucks here
It's expensive. The meat is not good quality - frozen even. You have to cook everything for yourself. Worse news to come. Never eating again.
Saturday, 5 May 2018
Day 24
04.04.18
WeRun Update: 12346 steps
Mobike Minutes: 20
Hours left on TOEFL: 2 hours
No longer a tourist...
Went to the Exit and Entry Administration Bureau to get my passport approved for temporary residency - apparently they have to send all passports to Beijing to run a background check before I get it back (policy has tightened)
Almost done!
13 hours out of the way for my TESOL training. I have to prepare a 30 minute class for Monday on the topic of my choosing with a powerpoint presentation. Again.
AustCham Drinks
The Australian Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai along with Caulfield Grammar School (who have a campus in Nanjing) celebrated the 20th anniversary of Caulfield Grammar's presence in Nanjing at the Shangri La Hotel. Free flow drinks and finger food, so why not? And I was really missing hearing some Aussie accents. There's an outdoor area with a view of the Nanjing skyline and conveniently has a basketball ring there too in a cage (only in China!). Some Chinese people attended the event in the hope of handing out some business cards and I took the opportunity to do some networking. It was good to see the Aussie community come out, despite having a small population here in Nanjing. Then back to Arcano for a couple of drinks (China's very own craft beers and IPAs...) and darts and that was a wrap.
WeRun Update: 12346 steps
Mobike Minutes: 20
Hours left on TOEFL: 2 hours
No longer a tourist...
Went to the Exit and Entry Administration Bureau to get my passport approved for temporary residency - apparently they have to send all passports to Beijing to run a background check before I get it back (policy has tightened)
Almost done!
13 hours out of the way for my TESOL training. I have to prepare a 30 minute class for Monday on the topic of my choosing with a powerpoint presentation. Again.
AustCham Drinks
The Australian Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai along with Caulfield Grammar School (who have a campus in Nanjing) celebrated the 20th anniversary of Caulfield Grammar's presence in Nanjing at the Shangri La Hotel. Free flow drinks and finger food, so why not? And I was really missing hearing some Aussie accents. There's an outdoor area with a view of the Nanjing skyline and conveniently has a basketball ring there too in a cage (only in China!). Some Chinese people attended the event in the hope of handing out some business cards and I took the opportunity to do some networking. It was good to see the Aussie community come out, despite having a small population here in Nanjing. Then back to Arcano for a couple of drinks (China's very own craft beers and IPAs...) and darts and that was a wrap.
Thursday, 3 May 2018
Day 23
03.05.18
WeRun Update: 8934 steps
Mobike Minutes: 25
TESOL hours completed: 8
Numero Uno
The school that I teach at has weekly public classes where a teacher will talk about a new topic. It's open for all students at the school. Today was my turn to take the class and was also my very first proper class in China. It was late afternoon, and there were only two students. Both were aunties with their notebooks ready. They addressed me as teacher, which I still need to get used to. Since it was my first time, they wanted to get to know me, where I come from and vice versa. They both wanted to learn English because they had both retired (60+ years old) and wanted to travel around the world. They both also had kids studying overseas (Canada and Germany). The thing that surprised me the most was that they were not shy at all - they would speak at every opportunity and whenever I corrected their mistakes, they would write it down in their notebooks. I really enjoyed teaching them because they were determined to improve their English and having motivated students makes teaching more satisfying. Although it wasn't what I expected to be my first teaching experience (I expected annoying little kids), I found it to be fun. I'm glad the aunties were impressed with me and I could hear them praising me to reception. They like me because I can explain things in Chinese and they feel more comfortable learning from me. After the class finished, one of them even offered to walk me to the train station (since I was new to the city?... although I walk through it almost every day... but I accepted anyway out of respect)
Just someone from a small city, wanting to make it in a big city.
I realised that there were more things I could do to immerse myself in Chinese culture. What better way than to watch a Chinese drama! I started watching: 北京女子图鉴 which is about a girl from Chengdu, a slow-paced city, who wants to make it in Beijing but encounters the hardships of moving and adjusting to the big city. Fitting, right?
WeRun Update: 8934 steps
Mobike Minutes: 25
TESOL hours completed: 8
Numero Uno
The school that I teach at has weekly public classes where a teacher will talk about a new topic. It's open for all students at the school. Today was my turn to take the class and was also my very first proper class in China. It was late afternoon, and there were only two students. Both were aunties with their notebooks ready. They addressed me as teacher, which I still need to get used to. Since it was my first time, they wanted to get to know me, where I come from and vice versa. They both wanted to learn English because they had both retired (60+ years old) and wanted to travel around the world. They both also had kids studying overseas (Canada and Germany). The thing that surprised me the most was that they were not shy at all - they would speak at every opportunity and whenever I corrected their mistakes, they would write it down in their notebooks. I really enjoyed teaching them because they were determined to improve their English and having motivated students makes teaching more satisfying. Although it wasn't what I expected to be my first teaching experience (I expected annoying little kids), I found it to be fun. I'm glad the aunties were impressed with me and I could hear them praising me to reception. They like me because I can explain things in Chinese and they feel more comfortable learning from me. After the class finished, one of them even offered to walk me to the train station (since I was new to the city?... although I walk through it almost every day... but I accepted anyway out of respect)
Just someone from a small city, wanting to make it in a big city.
I realised that there were more things I could do to immerse myself in Chinese culture. What better way than to watch a Chinese drama! I started watching: 北京女子图鉴 which is about a girl from Chengdu, a slow-paced city, who wants to make it in Beijing but encounters the hardships of moving and adjusting to the big city. Fitting, right?
Tuesday, 1 May 2018
Day 22
05.01.18 (International Labour Day)
WeRun Update: 7132 steps
Mobike Update: 20 minutes
Walking around the dorms...
So I have a friend who studies postgraduate law at NJ university and shared some stories about her experiences as a local student, whilst we walked around the university dorms.
- She lives in a small flat with 3 other girls, there is no shower in her flat
- In the male flats, there are no toilets - bathroom and shower are all common
- To shower, she has to walk 100m to the local 浴室 public bathhouse and there are no separators
- If you are an undergraduate living in dorms, there are curfews. You have to report to the person at the gate if you are late. At the postgraduate level, you still have to register but it is more lenient from what I've heard
These conditions are definitely different from what we're used to in the West. Foreign students do get much better accommodation than local students - I've personally seen the stark difference when I studied in Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
Could've starred in a movie!
One of China's most famous actresses, Fan Bing Bing is filming her latest movie in Nanjing - she was spotted at Nanjing University a few weeks ago. I received notice from a basketball WeChat group that I'm in that they were looking for basketball players who were above 178cm to be extras in her new film. It would be 8 hours of filming at Hohai University and you would get 60RMB for the day. I was so close to registering since I thought it would be so dope if I could star in a Chinese movie and there aren't many opportunities around. But I had an important family lunch that I had to attend so I missed out! I've had quite a few encounters with stardom here in China - and I think there'll be many more in the future.
Yo can we play with you?
Finally get to test out my Dame4's at Southeast University. We played against these high school kids and we definitely underestimated them. People have this habit of just walking to your court and taking your ball and shooting with it without asking - you might think it's a bit rude but it's just the culture here. Everything is shared (haha communism). Then within a matter of seconds, heavy rain started to pour down. When it goes, it goes hard here in Nanjing.
I'm a uni student
There are heaps of good food joints and nice cafes around the university, which I haven't really checked out in my time here. I'm writing this blog in a cute little cafe called Nannar Cafe, it's got pretty good vibes - massive book shelves, nice sofas. Don't think this will be the last time I hang out here.
WeRun Update: 7132 steps
Mobike Update: 20 minutes
Walking around the dorms...
So I have a friend who studies postgraduate law at NJ university and shared some stories about her experiences as a local student, whilst we walked around the university dorms.
- She lives in a small flat with 3 other girls, there is no shower in her flat
- In the male flats, there are no toilets - bathroom and shower are all common
- To shower, she has to walk 100m to the local 浴室 public bathhouse and there are no separators
- If you are an undergraduate living in dorms, there are curfews. You have to report to the person at the gate if you are late. At the postgraduate level, you still have to register but it is more lenient from what I've heard
These conditions are definitely different from what we're used to in the West. Foreign students do get much better accommodation than local students - I've personally seen the stark difference when I studied in Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
Could've starred in a movie!
One of China's most famous actresses, Fan Bing Bing is filming her latest movie in Nanjing - she was spotted at Nanjing University a few weeks ago. I received notice from a basketball WeChat group that I'm in that they were looking for basketball players who were above 178cm to be extras in her new film. It would be 8 hours of filming at Hohai University and you would get 60RMB for the day. I was so close to registering since I thought it would be so dope if I could star in a Chinese movie and there aren't many opportunities around. But I had an important family lunch that I had to attend so I missed out! I've had quite a few encounters with stardom here in China - and I think there'll be many more in the future.
Yo can we play with you?
Finally get to test out my Dame4's at Southeast University. We played against these high school kids and we definitely underestimated them. People have this habit of just walking to your court and taking your ball and shooting with it without asking - you might think it's a bit rude but it's just the culture here. Everything is shared (haha communism). Then within a matter of seconds, heavy rain started to pour down. When it goes, it goes hard here in Nanjing.
I'm a uni student
There are heaps of good food joints and nice cafes around the university, which I haven't really checked out in my time here. I'm writing this blog in a cute little cafe called Nannar Cafe, it's got pretty good vibes - massive book shelves, nice sofas. Don't think this will be the last time I hang out here.
Day 21
30/04/18
International Labour Day Holiday Period (30-4 to 5-1)
Long weekend for the Chinese. The streets were as busy as I have seen them. Tomorrow is the official holiday.
WeRun Update: 4944 steps
Mobike Update: 16 minutes (4 of those minutes someone used my bike)
MoBargain
I decided today that I use Mobike often enough to get a monthly pass for 20RMB (which means I have to use it more than 20 times a month for it to be worth it). Before I bought it, there was a feature which allowed you to spin the wheel to get a discount. I ended up landing on 2, which I initially thought meant I was only getting 20% off but then I remembered in China, it's the other way around. So I actually got 80% off and only had to pay 20% of the price. 4RMB for a month? That's a bargain.
I guess they really do push them...
Although I didn't grow up in China, I was able to experience how hard parents push their children to do well in school, from a very young age. One of my friend's daughters is in Grade 1 and was stressing about her daughter getting 97.5% in her English test. They examined every missed percentage and asked me how they could do better for next time... She was in first grade and was already taking extra English classes, piano classes AND table tennis classes. All so that she could get ahead of her peers. The competition is real!
Looking for love?
During lunch, an aunty was asking around the table to see if anyone had a suitable match for one of her friends' daughters. I remember hearing the requirements: must be above 175cm, must be working in Nanjing, must have studied Engineering. And that was just the beginning. There were about 10 more that were on the notes.
International Labour Day Holiday Period (30-4 to 5-1)
Long weekend for the Chinese. The streets were as busy as I have seen them. Tomorrow is the official holiday.
WeRun Update: 4944 steps
Mobike Update: 16 minutes (4 of those minutes someone used my bike)
MoBargain
I decided today that I use Mobike often enough to get a monthly pass for 20RMB (which means I have to use it more than 20 times a month for it to be worth it). Before I bought it, there was a feature which allowed you to spin the wheel to get a discount. I ended up landing on 2, which I initially thought meant I was only getting 20% off but then I remembered in China, it's the other way around. So I actually got 80% off and only had to pay 20% of the price. 4RMB for a month? That's a bargain.
I guess they really do push them...
Although I didn't grow up in China, I was able to experience how hard parents push their children to do well in school, from a very young age. One of my friend's daughters is in Grade 1 and was stressing about her daughter getting 97.5% in her English test. They examined every missed percentage and asked me how they could do better for next time... She was in first grade and was already taking extra English classes, piano classes AND table tennis classes. All so that she could get ahead of her peers. The competition is real!
Looking for love?
During lunch, an aunty was asking around the table to see if anyone had a suitable match for one of her friends' daughters. I remember hearing the requirements: must be above 175cm, must be working in Nanjing, must have studied Engineering. And that was just the beginning. There were about 10 more that were on the notes.
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