Sitting here at the 10 month mark of my time in Beijing I am experiencing a real ‘mixed bag’ of emotions. With family and friends waiting for me at home I am, of course, excited to be getting back to the UK once my year here is up. However, this year has been the most fascinating and broadening experience of my life and the thought of leaving China leaves me with a somewhat empty feeling. I know there will be so many things to miss, things that you can’t find in the UK. You grow so close to the people that you live and work with and, of course, like any family you have fun memories to look back on. These are the most important things I will be taking with me when I leave.

Memories that stand out include the hike to the ‘Wild Wall’. This unrenovated section of the Great Wall leaves even the locals breathless. Mind you, standing at the top of a 200m precipice will do that to anyone!! I will also treasure my memories of teaching. You’ll not meet students like ours in many places around the world. Their enthusiasm for learning and participating is the most rewarding part of the job. They have endless questions about language and Western culture. Most of them are not shy either. I will always remember being asked “is it possible for you to see over the bridge in your nose?” Obviously a source of endless fascination for them!

Outside of work I have had some amazing travel experiences. One of reasons why I came here was to travel and to see the ‘Real China’. I have not been disappointed. My travels in Tibet were the high point (quite literally) of my time here. For the less adventurous there are also many places accessible for weekend trips just to get out of the hustle and bustle of Beijing. One of my favourite memories is of my first trip out of Beijing to Nanjing. Our companions on the overnight train offered hours of entertainment. For example, when Ben (one of our Australian teachers) taught an enthusiastic Chinese man the words to ‘Land Downunder’. Hilarious.

Life in China for a year obviously comes with its challenges. You get homesick, you get culture shock, you constantly get pushed out of your comfort zone and some days are just plain boring. However, what you experience here, the friendships you make, and what you will take home with you make it all worthwhile and then some!

Chaoyang Park with students	Halloween at Real Life English	At the Great Wall

Megan Brentlinger – USA

Every day at Real Life English presents a new and exciting challenge, and Fridays are definitely no exception! On Fridays, we host an ‘English Corner’ which is not only for our students, but is open to anyone who wants to come learn the language and culture! Each English Corner has a different theme, and is organized by a different teacher. In the recent past we have had topics such as a cooking competition, an English pub night, Australian culture, music, sports…almost anything you can think of is fair game for English Corner! The students love English Corner because it’s a more relaxed environment for them to practice English, and they get a chance to learn a bit more about the culture and have some fun while they are at it!

Speaking of fun…holidays are always a good time here at the center!!! Whenever a holiday rolls around, you can bet that there will be a fun-filled schedule of activities planned for the day. The Center transforms into a haven of holiday happiness. The school is decorated to the nines and holiday spirit is in the air. For Halloween we had things like bobbing for apples, ghost stories, and a pie eating contest! All of the teachers wore a costume, and a few students dressed up, too!

If there is one thing I remember that I was told about Real Life English before I left home, it is that the teachers and staff of Real Life English become your family while you are here in China. Being here for over 5 months now, I have come to realize the importance of this statement. Here at Real Life, we have teachers from many different English speaking countries, so sometimes the holidays we celebrate may not be celebrated by all of the teachers. But I am always amazed by the teamwork and camaraderie that appear when there is a special event, like English Corner or a holiday extravaganza at Real Life. We truly are a family away from home!

At an English Corner social activity with a student	At Real Life Center	At the Great Wall

Name: Benjamin Donald
Country of Residence: Australia
Profession: English Teacher in Beijing
Hobbies: Music and playing the guitar

1. Is this your first time in China ?
Yes it was. Actually it was my first time to another country outside my own, and while I had a bit of a background with learning Chinese and studying Chinese history and culture I still knew I was jumping in at the deep end!

2. Why did you decide to teach English to Chinese in Beijing ?
Because I studied Chinese at university in Australia , I hoped to have the opportunity to improve my own Chinese by living in Beijing. I also wanted to get a feel for teaching and see if that was something I would want to pursue further in the future. And for more personal reasons, just to have a change from life at home!

3. How do you find your teaching experience in Beijing ?
I have really enjoyed it; the students themselves are a joy to teach. When I think back to what students were like when I was in school and then I know how lucky I am to teach students who actually want to be there, and are so eager to learn. Not just learn about the English language, but also about where I come from, opinions on everything, and my perspectives on their home country. Some of the classes I have had have been really eye-opening

4. How do you like Beijing ?
Beijing is a crazy city and I mean crazy in a good way. It changes, constantly, and sometimes literally overnight. Beijing people are usually very friendly and if you are wanting to dive in and try your language skills out you will have some fascinating conversations with the locals, especially the local taxi drivers! So much is happening here: of course there are the obvious preparations for the Olympics but in Beijing I think you are witnessing a concentrated view on what is happening all over China – watching a country change and evolve right in front of your eyes.

5. What do you find most interesting about your time in China ?
Just enjoying a completely different lifestyle to the one I had know at home. Seeing new things and finding new ways of being and thinking. Also, seeing the huge amount of opportunity here.

6. Tell us a few memorable experiences in Beijing .
I think a few teachers will say this one if asked, but the trip we did out to the wild wall in summer was awesome. Definitely the best way to see the Great Wall in my opinion: as nature has left it. The first time I went to the Forbidden City was also a high point . I went on my own and was lucky enough to be there on a day when there were not that many people (that is in Chinese terms). I managed to be on my own quite a bit while I walked around and it was humbling in some ways to stand where Emperors had stood. Then there are just the countless moments you have with the friends you make here. Every so often I zone out and look around me and realize what a great group of people I am privileged to know and work with.

7. How has your experience in China changed you so far?
Actually in a few ways. One way is simply getting used to change. Coming from the town I came from, where hardly anything ever changed, to Beijing where everything and everyone constantly changes, has been a pretty big learning experience. Also you can not underestimate the affect a change of scenery can have on your outlook and view on things.

8. What is the thing you like the best about Beijing / China ?
The lifestyle I have here, and the friends I have made. The potential to make whatever you will out of your time and career here.

9. What advice or tips would you give to other teachers who plan to come and teach in China ?
You know I remember reading this section on the website when I was back home in Australia and reading it several times. It was a daunting idea coming to China and so I looked for as much advice as I could find.

I will pass on some advice that I read, and what I think was very good advice: don't come with expectations of what it will be like, because you are 95% certain to be wrong. This place will and does constantly surprise you. If you come with an open mind and a willingness to learn you will only find your time here rewarding. Remember you are in another country, things here are different to home, people here do things differently, and in many ways think differently and this catches you out sometimes. You WILL have days where you feel like you just want to scream, and you will question why you came, but these days are the exception to the rule and you make new friends and allies who are in the same boat as you and you willl never lack for support.

As I said, China has the potential to be anything you want it to be. If you come hanging on to your ways of being and doing from home, I feel you will miss out on half the experience here - but if you come, let go and let things take you where they may and you will have the time of your life.