Back home to South Africa

And then it was time to go back home. We left Shenzhen by ferry to Hong Kong Airport.  I found going to Hong Kong Airport this way was much easier.  The ferry terminal is just like the airport with restaurants and shops to buy from.

You can check in your luggage at the ferry terminal to meet you at your destination.

Hong Kong Airport.  

Having lunch as it is a long wait for us to fly.

It was good to be back in SA.  Little gifts were waiting for us.  The first week was very busy.  My daughter, Kerry, secured a teaching position in China.  And she was working  full time when we got there, so we had to assist her in all her visa requirements.  So we drove from one side of Johannesburg to the other.

Daddy's girls no matter what age they are.

During the first couple of days, the ladies also went on a Spa day at Mangwanani Health Spa.  It was very nice.  They do all different types of treatments except for gel nails.  I do prefer to go to a smaller spa for more private treatment.  Here some of the treatments are with 15 other people of whom you do not know.  It was a good experience though.

One  chain of restaurants in South Africa is called Spur.  When living abroad, you wish for this fast food when you get back home.  Once you have tasted it again, it is settled and then the craving stops.  Another chain of popular restaurants in South Africa is Wimpy.  If you ever visit South Africa you have to give them a go.

A beautiful South African sunset.

Our nieces were on school holiday and so we decided that we will take them down to Durban for a short holiday.  They came with us to visit Granny and Grandpa.  For two of them it was the first time on an aeroplane.

One of the attractions we took them to was Ushaka Marine World.  While there we visited the Amazing Dangerous Creatures.  We also had a walk on the beach.  The children loved the ocean.

 

Because of the holidays Ushaka had lots of entertainment.

One of them was Zulu dancing.

Some Sand Art by our local artists.  They create these pieces of work and for you to admire them you can tip them.  

 

There is also a lovely restaurant that overlooks the ocean called Moyo.  We stopped and had sundowners and watched the beautiful African sunset.

We also visited PheZulu (which means on top in isiZulu language) which is on the top of a mountain range called Valley of a Thousand hills.  

At PheZulu we watched the traditional dancing of the Zulus.

At PheZulu they also have a crocworld.  You can also hold the baby crocs as well as snakes.

Talking strolls along the beach at Umhlanga is also very relaxing.  There is also plenty of photo opportunities as this is one of the most beautiful coastlines.

We also visited Durban North.  There is a mall called Gateway which is huge. If its shopping or eating out you are looking for then this is the place.

My Beautiful Family.

As quick as the holiday had started is as quick as it finished.  We thoroughly enjoyed meeting up with our family and friends.

But our new adventure was about to start in a new city in China.

Hangzhou

Keep reading and i will keep writing.

A year in one Write

Wow, it has been an awful long time since I have posted in my blog.  And so much has happened.  I am going back nearly a year now so that I can catch you all up with our adventures in China.  Yes we are still in China but we have moved, again.

January 2018

CHINESE NEW YEAR

As we usually do at GOS, some teachers got together and decided to treat our Chinese Teaching Partners to a Chinese New Year Dinner.  This time I got to organise it and decided on a restaurant called The Wrecking Ball.  They managed to offer us a 5 course meal which was really scrumptious.  So much as happened with all of us that went and I will try to explain as well.

What a good bunch of teachers I have gotten to know in Shenzhen.  From the front on the right is Michelle - Chinese (she has had a baby), Carina - Guatemalan (She is moving to Vietnam), Judy - American (she is now in Thailand), Barbie - Chinese.  Left from front is Francis - Chinese (No longer working at GOS), Hizi - Chinese, Bella - Chinese (Was my teaching partner) and lastly myself (No longer at GOS).

We had a splendid evening out with lots of laughter.  The five course meal was also very mouth watering.  I even managed to buy some South African sparkling grape juice from Cape Town.  

It was a lovely Evening.

February 2018

We have also celebrated CNY at school.  Again we have had a market that the parents have put on.  The children buy the tickets and then the proceeds go towards a charity.  Later that day we had a performance by different grades representing different minorities here in China.  It was really well done GOS.

The entrance to GOS celebrating the year of the dog.  Some of the students playing a traditional Chinese instrument.

The market was very festive.

My class also celebrated in class by making dumplings, cooking them and eating them.

The children also made couplets to stick on their home door posts.

March 2018

SOMETHING MORE TO CELEBRATE ABOUT!

My daughter has finished her B.Ed degree and is now teaching in China as well.

Well done Kerry, we are so proud of you.

April 2018

Every year in English we learn about the Great Fire of London.  The children get to build these awesome Tudor house like the ones in 1666 and we got to set one alight and show how the fire spread in London.  We also had the opportunity to have the Fire Department attend to put out the fire (for safety reasons), and then they spoke to the children and taught them what to do if there was a fire.  The children absolutely loved this activity.  Not only did we have a hands on activity, we also created a massive display at the entrance of the school to celebrate the children's work.

May 2018

A NIGHT OUT

When you are in Shenzhen you have to visit  OCT Harbour.  It is stunning in the evening with all the lights, sounds and smells.  It does get busier at night, but that is because of all the restaurants and the 3D movie house.  Around the OCT area there is also an art studio and a beautiful village to walk around.  The restaurant that we ate at is Italian and serves the most delicious food.  Not only is the food good, but they also have a live band to set the mood.

June 2018

ALL PACKED UP

As some of you know I resigned from GOS in Shenzhen and accepted a position at a school in Hangzhou.  So this was our last week in Shenzhen.  We packed up our apartment and went to stay in a hotel for the last week.  The reason for this was because another teacher wanted our apartment, but had to move in before the summer holidays.  She was kind enough to still have our boxes in the apartment until we got back to China and had them shipped up to Hangzhou.

So during our last week we had to go out a lot to eat.  The hotel we stayed in was very nice and right next to the school.  So this meant I could sleep in.  Yay.  

This is the hotel we stayed at for the last week.

Some beautiful sights outside the hotel.

We went on many walks so that we were not cooped up in the hotel room.

And went out for dinner.  We stumbled upon a restaurant that served lamb roast.  They give the Chinese spice on the side so we ate it without and it tasted like proper western lamb roast.  It was delicious.

WATER FIGHT

During the last week of school we had a whole year group water fight.  The children loved it as now was the time they can target the teachers. Obviously there were rules to follow for safety reasons.  It was extremely hot on the day and the water was a lovely reprieve. 

INTERNATIONAL DAY

Another end of the year activity we have is an end of year KS1 party.  So the Year 1s and 2s got together and have a huge party.  There were 6 class of 24 students attending and parents supplied the eats to share.  This year we linked it to our International day.  The children learnt about different countries and parents were given some sample recipes to cater for their child learned country.  

My class studied Hawaii.  They had lots of fun creating artwork that represented the country.  We then displayed their work at the party.

And as usual, the parents over catered and there was so much food available.

My Teaching Partner - Bella Chen.  I will miss her dearly.  

SCHOOL LUNCH

End of year school lunch and the last time I would be with the staff of GOS.  The lunch took place in the hotel where we were staying.  They put on a delicious spread.

Friends I will miss dearly.

Bella, Michelle and Frances.

GOODBYE LUNCH

We met up with Bella, Michelle and Frances at a Japanese Restaurant as our last meet up before we left Shenzhen.  It was an enjoyable day but a sad one as well.  At this restaurant you pay per head, then eat as much as you like.  But it doesn't come like a buffet style.  You can book a private room and then choose on the menu what you want to eat, and can add on afterwards if you are still hungry, and it gets cooked right in front of you.  Very Yummy.

There were tears when we left.  Even though we are leaving this part of our adventure behind, it will never be forgotten.  All the friendships we made and experiences we have had will last a lifetime. 

GOODBYE

Then it was time to leave.  We took a the ferry to Hong Kong airport.  I loved going to Hong Kong this way as it is not as busy as going through he other check points through to Hong Kong.  It only take 40 minutes to get there.  I also like the feel of being on the water, relaxing.

Your luggage also gets checked in before you go through customs at the harbour.  You don't see it again until you reach your destination and in our case that was Johannesburg, South Africa.

Then it was the wait for our flight homeward bound.

Keep reading and I will keep on writing. (I promise it wont be long till my next post.)