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So the job search begins…

Tuesday, February 24th, 2009

Currently in Qingdao, home of the Tsingtao Beer! I know some of you guys so well that I know what you’re thinking already and I’m going to save you the time….. my answer is No! I didn’t single out Qingdao because of their mass production of beer. Besides being a coastal city, Qingdao’s demand for teachers at the time of my research was high. If anything, being a major beer producer is just a plus! lol 🙂 I do plan on visiting the Tsingtao Brewery since I’m here. I hear they pour by the bags!

Well, I must say Qingdao is gorgeous! Being by the coast, the air is nice and crisp, a definite change coming from the urban, smoggy, potential health problems cities like Beijing and Xi’an. I got a room in the much older part of town; here you can find narrow cobblestone streets, antique shops, and old historical buildings with much German influences (since being under German rule for 99 years). Local fruit and dried fish vendors are posted up at every corner. On foot I bumped into a beautiful church, which I found out later was St. Michael’s Catholic Church, and ran into three public parks and all this in a half a mile radius. Nice eh? I’m liking this place already! This rusty town is only 15 minutes by bus to the city and a 5-minute walk to the beach and train station. Besides it being really old, it’s a sweet place to settle in I tell ya!

I sent out my CV to a few schools this morning and spent the rest of the day site seeing. Tomorrow, I’m  meeting up with Joanna and Beth, the two gals I met back in Beijing. I have an interview set up already with a school in their area – thanks to them. I’m still amaze on how everything is falling into place…quicker than expected but delighted all the same. Then again, I’m jumping the gun because I don’t have the job yet 😉

Wish me luck.

Xi’an

Saturday, February 21st, 2009

What makes Xi’an unique is the enormous City Wall that surrounds the central block of the city. You can actually walk the entire wall in four and a half hours. The must see…Terracotta Warriors: They say it could be called the 8th wonder of the world. 6,000 plus soldiers unearthed dating back 2,000 years during Qin Shi Huang’s rule. A special attribute to this discovery is that each terracotta soldier is different; no two soldier’s faces are alike. Save the best for last and start backwards: Pit 3, Pit 2 then make your way to Pit 1 and you will not be disappointed. The Big Goose Pagoda at night with an awesome fountain/music show is pretty fantastic. It goes down every night at 8:30–highly recommended and the best thing is…it’s free!Click here for more photos!

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Great Mosque and Muslim Quarter: Good eats and cheap. I pretty much ate here every day. I don’t know the local names but they come close to: steam buns, loads of kebabs, flat bread sandwiches and heaps of desserts….the huashenggao “peanut cakes” are to die for!  

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I didn’t plan on staying here for five days but because the trains were full I had no choice. Though,  in my extended time here, I’ve developed a fondness for this city. I wouldn’t mind settling here at all. Anyway, I’m off to Qingdao…. It’s going to be a long train ride – 20 hours! Yikes! But with a fully charged ipod, a good book and bag full of peanut cakes – it won’t be that bad 🙂     

RIP Dan Kenn

Friday, February 20th, 2009
Dan Kenn, London, a friend and fellow traveler - Rest in peace brother. I met Dan back in Thailand, Sept 08. We, along with three others, also known as the crazy five, ... [Continue reading this entry]

Feeling Lucky and “Fresh”

Tuesday, February 17th, 2009
So after two nights in an overly priced single room I finally moved into the dormitory at Y60 bed ($7). Yep I could hear my bank account thanking me right now:) I roomed in with four gals. (Therese Norway, Joanna ... [Continue reading this entry]

The Great WOW

Saturday, February 14th, 2009

"He who has not climbed the Great Wall is not a true man." - Mao Zedong 

Ni hao from China! The past two days have been rugged to say the least. I never felt so helpless. My constant attempt at communicating in ... [Continue reading this entry]

See ya later San Diego

Thursday, February 12th, 2009

My trusty backpack and me are hitting the road once again. Sorry Trace, Sorry Marvin, I had to leave the massive luggage behind but thanks for helping me pack ... [Continue reading this entry]

Good times with fam and friends

Tuesday, February 10th, 2009

 

What a ... [Continue reading this entry]

Dreaming of tasty dim sum, fluffy pandas, and the great wall

Thursday, February 5th, 2009

I didn't get much sleep last night and surprisingly woke up early. I was laying in bed, staring up at the ceiling with a huge smile on my face thinking, "In eight days I'll be waking up in China!"

Ni Hao ... [Continue reading this entry]