Chinese Banking

19/08/13 

Today we were up and at the bus station for 8.45am. We didn’t hand around long and headed straight to the bank with 17 other Aihua teachers to set up our Chinese bank accounts. Fastforward four hours and we were still waiting to get our accounts set up! The Chinese teachers were helpful and they had the best intentions but bringing 19 people to the bank to set up accounts was the worst decision ever. Our training was due to start at 1pm but safe to say we missed that so it was rescheduled for 2.15pm which we just about made, after grabbing a McDonalds for lunch and eating it as we ran to the subway! After a long ride on the subway we had another walk to yet another school. We arrived hot and tired and not in the mood to teach the other teachers a children’s song but that’s what we had to do – I’m certainly learning that you have to keep on keeping on when you’re in China! The day didn’t really improve. When we got home we had to lesson plan for a mock lesson in front of the other teachers. So really, the less I say about today the better!

P.S We managed to find some fresh milk in the Carrefour supermarket – it cost 10p and comes in a bag! They also sell pig hearts, which is pretty convenient as I imagine you can never get enough pig heart.