It was a long flight back to China. Especially when all you want to do is carry on being with family. It was a very short visit this year as we had to get back to China before our visa's expired. Which meant we had to be in Hangzhou on July 17th.
Before we left Shenzhen, the locals warned us that it was hotter and more humid than Shenzhen. I was like .... never, Shenzhen is nearer the equator, Hangzhou could never be more humid and hotter. Boy was I wrong!!!
Hangzhou is a city that has many, many lakes and rivers and I think this adds to the humidity and the heat. And not only was it hot and humid but rainy too. We walked around with umbrella's as we did not know when it was going to start raining.
It was a bitter sweet beginning as the staff were all new, because of the school being a start up school, even the staff that deal with the foreign teachers were new to their jobs. Thank goodness we have been in China before and knew some of the processes. We landed in Hangzhou on the Friday late afternoon, picked up by a staff member and told that they don't work on weekends. We needed to go an open bank accounts and phone cards on our own. WHAT!! And we were only put up in the hotel for 3 days. In those 3 days we also had to go and see our apartment, sign contract and move in. We had secured an apartment with an agent from South Africa. I felt that there was no support for us and was very homesick.
Being one of the first teachers to arrive in Hangzhou, we went walking around to have a look at the area where we were going to live. We also met up with couple, Christina and Sarina. They also came through to Hangzhou early. We went out for a Hot Pot dinner with them. I must admit the area where we were staying for the three days was really beautiful.
During the three days, we went out to eat at local restaurant as the food at the hotel was terrible. We landed up at one around the corner. Whoever invented the translator is a genius. Because we needed it to order our food. Look at the menu.
On the Monday morning we had breakfast our favourite local restaurant. This was going to be a busy day. After breakfast we had to go sign our housing contract, go and have a look at the apartment, then to the police station to check in, back to the hotel to check out and move our things into our apartment, at this stage we only had our suitcases. All our boxes were waiting to be sent from Shenzhen. We then had to go back to the tax office, to the police station again, then to the gas company and then we went to look for China Telecom to install our internet. Our agent went above and beyond her call of duty. Even though she does not speak any English, we communicated fine through Wechat using the translate feature.
Now that we are in our apartment, we decided to try exploring the area a bit. However the weather is a put off because ten minutes outside felt like you had just had a shower. Near our apartment, a block away, is Century Mall. It has a few western stores such as Starbucks, MacDonalds, Watsons, etc and a lot of their stores inside are brand name clothing stores. We enjoyed visiting Starbucks in the evening and watching the nightlife that goes on outside and dining at the Japanese restaurant.
We also went on a small tour of Hangzhou with a few teachers. It was organised by one of our KG teachers. We all put money in to hire a small bus to take us around to a few of the sights. Hangzhou city centre is really beautiful and metropolitan. Here you find a lot of western shops to choose from.
We visited the West Lake, which is the most famous lake in Hangzhou and the Leifeng Pagoda.
We stopped on the way for a buffet lunch at a vegetarian restaurant.
After lunch we visited the former residence of Zue Xueyan. This home is truly unique. The beauty of the home on the top and rocky tunnels beneath.
We then ended our trip visiting HeFan Pedestrian Street. This street at some points remind me so much of Shanghai. And why would it not. Shanghai is only a forty minute fast train ride away from Hangzhou.
From the time the school organised the school WeChat, I had been speaking with Alicia Harris, another South African. And when she arrived in Hangzhou, it was also a late Friday afternoon, and left on her own to find her way. Well we were able to help her out in getting her bank account and phone card set up. We then went for a tasty dinner at a Japanese Restaurant in the Century Mall.
On August 20th I started at RDFZ Kings College Hangzhou. It was the first time at the campus and all I can say is WOW. Our school campus is state of the art. I have worked at International school that have been really nice but this school's campus just out weighs them all. I am really impressed and can't wait to get into my classroom. During the first two weeks at school we had a school BBQ Chinese style which meant everything was on sticks, visited Ikea to buy some necessities, and had friends over for some home cooked food.
Before we left Shenzhen, the locals warned us that it was hotter and more humid than Shenzhen. I was like .... never, Shenzhen is nearer the equator, Hangzhou could never be more humid and hotter. Boy was I wrong!!!
Hangzhou is a city that has many, many lakes and rivers and I think this adds to the humidity and the heat. And not only was it hot and humid but rainy too. We walked around with umbrella's as we did not know when it was going to start raining.
It was a bitter sweet beginning as the staff were all new, because of the school being a start up school, even the staff that deal with the foreign teachers were new to their jobs. Thank goodness we have been in China before and knew some of the processes. We landed in Hangzhou on the Friday late afternoon, picked up by a staff member and told that they don't work on weekends. We needed to go an open bank accounts and phone cards on our own. WHAT!! And we were only put up in the hotel for 3 days. In those 3 days we also had to go and see our apartment, sign contract and move in. We had secured an apartment with an agent from South Africa. I felt that there was no support for us and was very homesick.
Being one of the first teachers to arrive in Hangzhou, we went walking around to have a look at the area where we were going to live. We also met up with couple, Christina and Sarina. They also came through to Hangzhou early. We went out for a Hot Pot dinner with them. I must admit the area where we were staying for the three days was really beautiful.
You could not even wear make up as it washes off your face with perspiration.
During the three days, we went out to eat at local restaurant as the food at the hotel was terrible. We landed up at one around the corner. Whoever invented the translator is a genius. Because we needed it to order our food. Look at the menu.
On the Monday morning we had breakfast our favourite local restaurant. This was going to be a busy day. After breakfast we had to go sign our housing contract, go and have a look at the apartment, then to the police station to check in, back to the hotel to check out and move our things into our apartment, at this stage we only had our suitcases. All our boxes were waiting to be sent from Shenzhen. We then had to go back to the tax office, to the police station again, then to the gas company and then we went to look for China Telecom to install our internet. Our agent went above and beyond her call of duty. Even though she does not speak any English, we communicated fine through Wechat using the translate feature.
This is the area we live in.
Now that we are in our apartment, we decided to try exploring the area a bit. However the weather is a put off because ten minutes outside felt like you had just had a shower. Near our apartment, a block away, is Century Mall. It has a few western stores such as Starbucks, MacDonalds, Watsons, etc and a lot of their stores inside are brand name clothing stores. We enjoyed visiting Starbucks in the evening and watching the nightlife that goes on outside and dining at the Japanese restaurant.
I just love their traditional dress - the Qipao.
We visited the West Lake, which is the most famous lake in Hangzhou and the Leifeng Pagoda.
Leifeng Pagoda
I climbed up all the stairs.
West Lake
After lunch we visited the former residence of Zue Xueyan. This home is truly unique. The beauty of the home on the top and rocky tunnels beneath.
We then ended our trip visiting HeFan Pedestrian Street. This street at some points remind me so much of Shanghai. And why would it not. Shanghai is only a forty minute fast train ride away from Hangzhou.
From the time the school organised the school WeChat, I had been speaking with Alicia Harris, another South African. And when she arrived in Hangzhou, it was also a late Friday afternoon, and left on her own to find her way. Well we were able to help her out in getting her bank account and phone card set up. We then went for a tasty dinner at a Japanese Restaurant in the Century Mall.
On August 20th I started at RDFZ Kings College Hangzhou. It was the first time at the campus and all I can say is WOW. Our school campus is state of the art. I have worked at International school that have been really nice but this school's campus just out weighs them all. I am really impressed and can't wait to get into my classroom. During the first two weeks at school we had a school BBQ Chinese style which meant everything was on sticks, visited Ikea to buy some necessities, and had friends over for some home cooked food.
My classroom still in progress.
School BBQ
When you are tired, you can certainly visit Ikea for their AC and their comfortable beds.
Sunet and Alicia at our home for Sunday lunch.
Please keep reading and I will keep writing.
Comments are welcome.
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