The afternoon sessions today were my Class Rules! lesson plan and it worked by george!

The first lesson was quite funny because I didn't even get to the 'consequences' part of the lesson because they kept breaking the rules I'd written on the board! The other two classes (including the 'difficult' one on my first day) worked like a charm. I made sure we ended on a fun note though and played hangman with them, . It was hilarious because they screamed when they didn't get a letter right.

Now I have to make their name tags and make sure I follow through on my discipline. I don't think that's going to be a problem :) Stop laughing!

Have to go, I'm going out to Metro (a wholesaler that's not overcrowded) to buy my name tags, 9 boxes in all!

I can't wait for tomorrow!

Love you all
Katrina

written by  KatrinaB on September 6, 2006 from Dongguan, China
from the travel blog: China Dreaming
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Most of the teachers are going out for dinner and drinks to celebrate and then tomorrow is Teacher's Day, which is HUGE in China. We had to go to the Winnerway Hotel this morning to practice speaking and walking onto the stage. I'm taking my digital camera and I promise to take pictures and post them on Flikr. Promise!

I still need to get ready, so good night.

Love you all.

Note: RIP Peter Brock...disasters come in 3s, I wonder who's next?

written by  KatrinaB on September 8, 2006 from Dongguan, China
from the travel blog: China Dreaming
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FYI - my computer is being looked at today to see why my microphone won't work so I may not have it for a couple of days...don't know.

So, have a great weekend and I'll chat later.

Love
Katrina

written by  KatrinaB on September 9, 2006 from Dongguan, China
from the travel blog: China Dreaming
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It started when we had to get to the Winnerway Hotel (where it was being held) 1 1/2 hours early for no apparent reason. Our table was great, 3 from the front of the stage and central which I think has to do with us being foreigners and that we're interesting specimens to be viewed.

Here is a photo of myself and two other teachers, Daniel and Klara from Germany.

The ceremony was okay, all the foreign teachers had to get up on stage and say 'happy teacher's day and have a nice night' in different languages, mine was 'Australian'. It kinda went 'G'day everyone, Happy Teacher's Day and I Hope you gave a beaut night, hooroo'. MMMMMM. We were then pulled up onto the stage (twice) without any notice to hand awards of excellence to the Chinese teachers...such is the Chinese way.

Then came the food...suffice to say I only ate from 3 dishes out of ten and if you look at the below picture you'll understand why. Yes that is a boiled chicken's head...all we wanted was McDonalds!

After many toasts and drunk Chinese teachers telling we're beautiful and handsome we headed to a private room at the hotel for the 'after party' which was the strangest part of the night. The room was amazing and we had Chinese people come into the room that we didn't know and then they'd start singing Chinese Karoke...bizarre.

Left to right: Daniel, Olivia, Tamzin, Klara, Kathryn, Aine, Ville and Charles.

Then...then...one of the attendants opened the door with another foreigner next to him and ushered him into the room. This poor foreigner is Andreas (who is Swiss and lives in Beijing) and he only asked if they could show him somewhere to have a drink...they thought he was a teacher too! Very surreal. However, Andreas has a great sense of humour and after we insisted he join us he had a good laugh as well. Andreas works for a company that has the rights to televise Chinese basketball and was in Dongguan for a match but it was cancelled. This is the great part of the night..Andreas offered to get us tickets for a basketball match in October and if we're ever in Beijing, we can stay with him! How great is that!?!

Left to right: Aine, me, Andreas & Klara

This is all part of the 'China experience' and I'm having the time of my life even though I'm missing my family, friends and Oz.

I'm adding more photos to Flikr (see previous post for address).

Love
Katrina

written by  KatrinaB on September 11, 2006 from Dongguan, China
from the travel blog: China Dreaming
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Wow, this week has flown by!

Only one more lesson after lunch and then we're off to Hong Kong for tonight and most of tomorrow.

It's been an okay week, still finding my feet and learning the children's names...which is hard because I have 12 classes of 35-40 children!

I have had two Chinese lessons with a lovely teacher named Wendy who is very patient with our terrible pronunciations and horrible use of the different tones.

I'm taking my camera tonight so there will be lots of photos on Sunday!

Love
Katrina

written by  KatrinaB on September 15, 2006 from Dongguan, China
from the travel blog: China Dreaming
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Firstly, the bus trip to Hong Kong was a NIGHTMARE!!!!!!!!! instead of taking 3 hours it took 5 because of bad weather, lots of traffic and stacks of accidents. We didn't get to our 'digs' until 11pm so dinner was at 11.30pm! We had the best Indian I have ever had, delicious! We stayed in Kowloon in a guest house call 'New Lucky Hotel',(picture of the room is on Flikr) mmmm....not! at least it was clean :)

Olivia shared a room with me that you could barely turn around in!

After an early start in the morning we headed to hand our passports over to get a new visa (business) and spend the day shopping. We went to Hong Kong Island were all the main shopping chains are. I bought some books and a beautiful pashmina from one of the side alleys.

After dragging my aching feet everywhere we had Japanese for lunch then rushed to pick up our visas then catch the 3pm bus back to China.

As much as China can piss me off (being stared at constantly and the chaos) it was good to get home and have an early night!

What I loved most about Hong Kong was that I didn't get stared at...wonderful! It's amazing what a difference it makes...next holiday..Macau!

Love
Katrina

written by  KatrinaB on September 16, 2006 from Hong Kong (historical), Hong Kong
from the travel blog: China Dreaming
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I miss you all but I know this is something I have to do for myself. Thank you for all your support and well wishes that you've sent by email and comments on this blog.

On a happier note, this is the last week of terms (!?!) We're all looking forward to time off from school and a mini-break from Dongguan. 5 of us (Ville, Aine, Kathryn & Olivia) are heading to Macau for 2 nights mid next week. We still have to work out the details but we're all really looking forward to the trip.

Well, now I have to do lesson plans for the week, so have a great week and chat soon.

Love
Katrina

written by  KatrinaB on September 24, 2006 from Dongguan, China
from the travel blog: China Dreaming
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I had today off due to the poor students have their monthly exams (I have to make up for in Saturday!) so I have time to add an extra blog entry this week and the topic is Mooncake.

Mooncake is given to people as gifts for certain celebrations in China. At the moment everyone is celebrating 'The Mid-Autumn Festival' even though it's still hot! Though, at least I'm not leaving pools of it where I stand anymore :) (er..I'm not kidding).

Back to Mooncakes; well I've heard about them from the other teachers and was advised to throw them straight into the bin. I, of course, wanted to try one of them and was really excited when one of my students gave me some....I'm not sure if it was a respect thing, she was sucking up or her family had too many:)

Kathryn (another teacher) told me she liked them and that they had seeds in the middle so I was prepared and knew what to expect..well, mostly.

I've put all the photos of my adventure (LOL) on Flickr because I'm having problems uploading them onto the blog.

Needless to say, the majority of the teachers were right...never ever eat Mooncake...blah!! phewy....blah! I couldn't spit it out fast enough. The texture is revolting, the flavour foul and the smell nauseating. Sorry if I offend anyone that actually likes Mooncake...you can make fun of me..I love Vegemite :)

So Michelle...I hope this gives you another insight into the weird and wonderful (no... scratch the wonderful)...just the weird food here. Oh, and yes...I'm still drinking my pineapple beer but only once or twice a week now it's not so hooootttttt!

Also...to Lisa, Al and Jack...thanks for the USB stick for my farewell pressie...I use it every day in class and my students are very impressed because it's 1GB!

There are only 2 days of school to go to school holidays and on the 3rd, Aine, Ville, Kathryn, Olivia and myself head to Macau for 3 days (2 nights) for a well earned break. We purchased our bus tickets last night and we can't wait to do some more travelling. We were actually kinda dancing in the street..LOL...it doesn't matter what we do, we're going to be stared at anyway!

I now have to print off my lesson plan, so have a great Friday everyone!

Love
Katrina

written by  KatrinaB on September 28, 2006 from Dongguan, China
from the travel blog: China Dreaming
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I've put a stack of photos up on Flikr and I'll post an entry tomorrow...lots to tell.

Love
Katrina

written by  KatrinaB on October 6, 2006 from Macau, Macau
from the travel blog: China Dreaming
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I'm definitely having a drink tonight and it's not going to be pineapple beer...something much stronger is required.

Gotta go back to school.

Love
Katrina

written by  KatrinaB on October 9, 2006 from Dongguan, China
from the travel blog: China Dreaming
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