Marlies goes China

Published September 8th, 2006 by Mliesie

Yulin, at last…..

Yes, we’ve arrived in Yulin and I finally have my internet connection connected, so let there be news!!!

 It has been quite an interesting week so far (it already seems sooo much longer). Our flats are absolutely HUGE. Unfortunately mine was just ‘a little dirty’ (ever heard of eufemisme???), so I have been cleaning for about 4 days in a row. It looks almost spic and span….until I open a window and desert sand keeps coming in. One of the inconveniences I have to live with, but I manage. Just because the flat is so big. I have a huge living with a ‘covered balcony’ attached; this is where we dry our laundry (looks pretty fancy though, I’ll post a picture soon). Then there’s a small area where I have a dining table and from there you walk into the open kitchen and again there’s a covered balcony. Then ofcourse I have a bedroom in which I could get lost, a guestroon with a single bed (both beds have Chinese mattresses - just so you know-) and a study where I am working on my blog right now. Oh, and ofcourse…….tha bathroom. Plain and simple, with a regular toilet, shower and a very interesting washing machine…Yes, life seems to be good, so far.

As to work: I will be teaching Oral English to the 4 first Grade classes, but they do not start until the week after fall vacation (mid-October!!!). So all I am teaching now is English Writing to 2 third Grade classes. So that is  4 periods a week!!! Pfeeeew, life’s hard. Fortunately this did give me time to clean the flat, explore the surroundings of the campus a little, help Kate out with some extra oral lessons, and enjoy a lot of local culture already. The ambassadors of Culture and Tourisme of various countries are in Yulin at the moment; and as our WaiBan’s wife is one of the interpreters, we are enjoying some of the events presented to the ambassadors. We were actually mistaken for ambassadors as well, as they are not used to seeing foreigners in Yulin and thus concluded that we must also be part of the group……!!! Yesterday we enjoyed a walk through 1st Street (ancient Yulin, but completely renovated Chinese style) and today we enjoyed a performance of local artists: dancing, singing and a world famous Yulin flute player!! Aren’t we lucky to be here!

There’s still so much more to tell, but I don’t want you to get bored. Keep checking the pic-page as well, I try to upload new pictures every now and then. Have a great day and keep commenting!!

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