Holiday Season (8 months down)

It has been 8 months officially now. I have also missed last month post/update whatever you want to call it, but I’ve been busy with teaching, celebrating Christmas, planning my trip to Thailand, New Years and now Chinese New Years.

Celebrating Christmas here was a little tough for me to be honest. I’ve grown accustom to not working for a week or so around Christmas, and spending it with family and friends, but this year I worked on Christmas day so had a small yet joyful celebration the following with some fellow expats in Harbin. We all exchanged gifts, stories, ate like no tomorrow, we also had our fair share wine and beer.
All in all a very good of people under one roof. New Years wasn’t anything to special just hit up a few bars, seen some friends, went to a club and seen some fireworks! More of quiet night, but with a heavy crowd of people as there should be.

Right after this holiday hours started at work. Meaning longer hours to put in prior to having my vacation time start, and I will tell it was like murder with all the weird hours I had to complete during those last two weeks of teaching before the break, but all in all worth it.







Chinese New Years was a good celebration. I was invited to a party/celebration with a co-worker and her family, they played games, cooked together (I hand made dumplings!), drank together and shot off boxes of fireworks! I was lucky enough to aloud to light a few of them myself. After that we all headed back inside to resume eating and drinking. My coworkers husband was trying to challenge me to see who could drink the most, and I can honestly say that man can drink! I lost count of how many we had fairly quickly. To summarize this occasion, I was shown a great deal of hospitality and love that night, it really made me feel like I was home with my family back in Canada.

All of those events have gone successfully, and next is time for me to relax under sun, in a hammock (God willing), with cold beer and explore Thailand to the best of my abilities! This was just a quick little update of the last two months. Next post will be my experience in Thailand, until next time!

New Post Alert!!! 6 Months Down

It is now officially been 6 long months living in Harbin, China, with 6 more to go. Occasionally still meeting some new interesting or cool people around the city, and also being introduced to some hidden gems or events within the city not many people know about, especially locals.

Since my last post a lot has happened in Harbin so far. I’ve been to a live music show in downtown Harbin, that most locals never knew occasionally takes place. The music was good and soulful, although I didn’t understand the words because it was in Chinese haha, other than that it was very good and relaxed vibe. Along with this we have stumbled upon some new cafes that similar life back home in the West or Europe. This is a nice change in pace from the normal routine of life here amongst the small expat community that resides in Harbin of simply going to bars or clubs each weekend.

Halloween was heavily celebrated in China more than I thought it would to be honest. Me and some close friends dressed up as 70’s Basketball team and I was there coach! It was a night to remember in Harbin. Met some cool people at some bars both locals and expats like myself.

SMOG ALERT!!!
When the weather begins to transition from Autumn into Winter here in China, there is heavy increase of smog throughout the country and masks are mandatory especially if you're a foreigner here temporarily or just simply want to protect your health, either way you should wear a mask!

It has started to snow here and to be honest I am actually looking for to winter here, as they have many ski hills throughout Harbin and outdoor activities such as the Ice and Snow show. This takes place throughout Harbin at various locations according to the information I have been given on this major event. Events that take are swimming in the river during the coldest period in winter, an ice city similar to the one in Montreal, Quebec only as I’ve been told it is much larger here in Harbin and also an assortment of games.

On the topic of winter activities that some locals in Harbin like to partake in is hockey. I was privileged to see a pick-up hockey game that one of my friends here plays in with some locals and police officers. The players here are actually really good at hockey from what I seen. I might also find a sport to play during winter to occupy some time here.

That is life in Harbin currently. Until next time!

Did a little Hiking

Fenghuangshan Geopark 

Did a little hiking in Wuchang, Heilonjiang, China at Fenghuangshan National Geopark. It was an amazing experience a truly great way to break in my 4 months of living in China!

This hike so was a work excursion with the school I work with here in Harbin. Great co-workers and leaders I honestly couldn't asked for a better environment to work in, especially since its my first time not only teaching in China, but living here too. The journey began from district in Harbin to Wuchang, which was a 5hr bus ride filled with games, trivia, laughter, food, a karaoke and of course some amazing country side views along the way.

When we finally arrived to our hotel, which was surprisingly a lot nicer on the inside than I would of expected after seeing some of the nearby hotels and motels along the way. As we entered the hotel we were greeted kindly, cleaned up and served lunch before our first hike which was 2500m that took about 2hrs to complete at a good steady pace. There was one view in particular I wish I could of gotten a better look at was, at one the viewing points on the peak of the mountain when the clouds parted a gave you a strong sense of just how high up you were from the bottom of the mountain.

After this we headed back to hotel cleaned up ourselves ate dinner together like a big family, gave toasts, went outside for some more karaoke, team building exercises and a little bonfire to end off the night. 

The second mountain was a 6000m hike with a lot steep steps, plus rain which made it a little challenging to hike through and navigate through safely, but luckily we all came prepared for the unexpected weather patterns. Throughout most the hike when weather was good believe it or not I practically ran up the mountain to each rest area just in case it decided to rain cats and dogs along the way up. I have since been called "Superman" by my coworkers and they wonder if I can fly haha! The entire 6000m hike took me around 4hrs at a relatively steady pace with my team. 

The views along the way and even at the peak of each mountain were breath taking "literally" lol

All in all it was a very rewarding experience of accomplishment, team building and like I said before a great way to ring in my 4 months living in China. 

 

 

This experience was even better, because it was with not just co-workers and leaders, but individuals who are very family oriented have now become family to me and make me feel more welcomed to this country.

So I attended a Wedding!

So I attended a Wedding!

 

So I was invited to a wedding by a friend I met here Lisa, whom I mentioned in a previous post. The wedding was an amazing experience, I met a lot of people and as you could image being the only western face there I was the center of attention next to the Bride and Groom of course. 

I was then asked to be the best man at wedding, because it would be considered a great honour to the family, so I gladly accepted after only knowing the family for roughly one hour haha.  The Groom was the brother of Lisa who is very nice guy and owns a successful shop in Harbin. After the ceremony I was invited by Lisa's father to have a beer in celebration although I had enough, in Chinese it is a disrespect to decline a kind gesture on special day like a wedding. Long story short I am now really cool with the family and some of their friends once they all could see how much I can eat and drink, all with minimal bathroom breaks after a few hours of drinking.

I also discovered that it is a big honour to have western friends and especially on special occasions like a wedding.

All in all after each progress update I do on my life here, it just keeps getting better and better! After only 3 months here I've done more and experienced more then some locals or other foreigners who have been in Harbin or China longer than I have. Slowly becoming famous here, haha!

 

Life in China!

Life in China after almost two months has been great truly cannot complain. Only problems I've is the language which I am still learning and the fact I've been sick here more than I usually do back home in Toronto. 

So recently I've been asked by my student's why I don't have a Chinese name, and trying to explain that young children can be difficult when some of them have different levels of understanding the English language. A friend of mine from Toronto helped resolve this issue recently "Jaleel in Chinese pinyin is 贾里尔 Foster is 科史達." So I will present this to my students one day soon and  hopefully its correct, or at least close enough for them to understand or correct LOL
I teach at two different school and, usually have a driver who picks me up from my home and back. Well one day my driver tells me he's a father, I say congrats! Then some Chinese hip hop comes on and he started bobbing his head, I don't understand a thing all I can say is that rapper must of been spitting fire!

Recently got brave and got a hair cut in China, as it is super hot here some days an having a lot of curly hair on your head isn't a good idea. As some of you may have already seen on Instagram, surprisingly it actually turned out good! I also introduced some Chinese girls to Trey Songz, because they've never heard of him before. That was the highlight of that week!
Being a foreigner here is like being a celebrity most days. People wanting to talk to me, always checking out my shoes, getting free stuff or discounts at certain stores and people wanting to take photo's with me. Also as you can see above free food and beer from my favourite restaurant.
Also found a Wal-Mart Super Center here of all stores! (proof coming soon)

Next I am looking forward to Harbin Beer Festival which will be taking place in about two weeks from now, which should also mark my two months in China. Stay tuned!

One month in China!

One Month in China

So after one month of being in China I must say life here is pretty good, can't really complain. The people here are really friendly and helpful, especially considering I do not speak the language very well but I am slowly learning the language day by day, trying new foods, new drinks and meeting new people.

Finally in China!

So far my time in China has been very warm. The people of Harbin are very welcoming and helpful to foreigners who barely or do not at all speak the language. For example there is a lady downstairs from my apartment who owns a nice little convenience store speaks zero English, but she has been my go to girl for all my basic necessities. On that note the people I work with at the school are also very helpful when it comes to taking me places or helping order food and keeping familiar with the city.

Yesterday I taught my first class of students, I will admit I was extremely nervous but once I was in the class room it was easier than I thought and went very smoothly teaching the students. Than on my way home a guy stopped me and was trying to ask me for directions, looks up and we both smile at each other than start laughing when he notices I don't speak the Chinese or speak very little of it LOL

The weather here in Harbin so pretty hot, a little humid and rainy similar to weather in Toronto. One thing I was told about was how cold it gets here from the people I work with and other foreigners I've met so far. Coldest temperature is around -25 to -30 in the mid winter months, and as crazy as that may seem Toronto used to be the way years ago when I was kid. I look forward to the winter months for the Harbin Ice Festival that happens here. I've seen pictures and videos of it and it is marvelous sight, plus the ski resort looks like a place I might check out.