Suzhou to Shenzhen: Nearly finished with my first year of teaching English

Suzhou to Shenzhen: Nearly finished with my first year of teaching English
samferguson88 May 23, 2014 18:20

I've hit the final stretch. In about five weeks I'll leave Suzhou and (fingers crossed) head to Shenzhen to begin a new teaching job. I've learned a lot during my first year in China. Not just about Chinese culture, but about myself- as corny as that sounds.

 

I came here not knowing much about what I was geting into. I had no prior teaching experience and hadn't lived anywhere besides California. Besides the initial culture shock where I felt like a fish out of water, I've grown pretty comfortable here. I adapted to teaching pretty seamlessly as well, which I think is in part because I just like kids a lot.

 

This year I taught third and fifth grade. I think it's hard enough to teach ESL to that age even in a small class, but I have 20 classes full of 50 students, so it was and sometimes still is a daunting task. How do you get a class that large full of energetic kids who mostly don't know what you're saying to listen to you and participate in unison? What kind of activities can you do with 50 kids at a time without it becoming monotonous? Those were obstacles that seemed insurmountable when I first started, and still sometimes can be a hurdle, but I've adapted and found ways to make the classes run smoothly.

 

The first day I got to China, I was dropped off at my apartment, shown where the nearest supermarket was, and basically told "Good luck". The lesson I've learned about myself while being here is that I can adapt and get comfortable with almost anything with time. It sounds simple and cliche, but until you push yourself outside your comfort zone it's just an idea.

 

I met a girl along the way and she lives in Shenzhen. We've gotten fairly serious even though we only see each other about two weekends a month due to the distance. She's got a good job there, so the plan is for me to find a new teaching job in Shenzhen and move in with her.

 

It's a bit scary because I've become comfortable with the job I have now and I have all these questions like "Well what if this new job is terrible?" or "What if this new job is much more difficult and you realize you're not meant to be teaching?". But then I realize, I've pushed myself to try something new before and it might have felt strange at first, but I adapted. I found my groove and got comfortable.

 

So even though the uncertainty is a bit nerve-wracking, I have to know that no matter the situation I'll come out alright, and most likely, a better person in the long run. Now the difficult part is actually finding a good job that is located close enough to where my girlfriend is working. If my experience with China has taught me anything, though, it's that things will work out one way or another. 

Tags:General Relationships Teaching & Learning Expat Rants & Advice Expat Tales

9 Comments

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hadleyj09

I will be finishing my teaching contract in Daqing, and I will be moving to Chongqing. I understand how you feel. Being excited for a new place and still wondering if this is actually the right move to advance your career instead of landing a job that you may not like. I hope that you have a blast in Shenzhen. I have heard of great things about that city. You will also be at the doorstep of HongKong. Good luck to you and I hope you can post a blog of your new experiences of Shenzhen. Fingers crossed for the best. Have a great time!!

Jun 01, 2014 13:49 Report Abuse

samferguson88

Thanks for the kind words. It's tough to walk away from something that's comfortable but sometimes taking a risk can be a great decision in the long run. I have a good feeling about Shenzhen. Good luck to you in Chongqing, looks like a cool place to live as well.

Jun 13, 2014 19:17 Report Abuse

Benjamin321

I respectfully disagree with the guest and here is why: Shenzhen is a very modern city, has a lot of Western convenience, benefits from developed city planning that gives it a lot of "Green" zones, and the winters are very very mild compared to the rest of China. I worked in Hangzhou for a couple of years and I am moving to Shenzhen this summer. I couldn't be happier, but I just find it to be a way better city for my lifestyle. If you're looking for any buds in the city hit me up with a msg.

May 29, 2014 14:00 Report Abuse

samferguson88

I totally agree with you, Shenzhen is a better fit for my lifestyle as well. Suzhou is a lot like Hangzhou (except the lake area in Hangzhou is cooler than anything Suzhou). It's more traditional, more polluted, and the winters are not so pleasant. Looking forward to the more Westernized Shenzhen, although the humidity kills me. Definitely will be looking for some buds when I get down there. Hit me up on facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ferg9

Jun 13, 2014 19:10 Report Abuse

mike168229

Good luck sunshine, be careful.

May 29, 2014 09:21 Report Abuse

samferguson88

Thanks.. moonlight? I will

Jun 13, 2014 18:57 Report Abuse

samferguson88

Who's got a good attitude? This guy! Thanks for the heads up but I've spent a couple weeks in Shenzhen and I like it just fine. Happy to be among a bit of western comfort and green areas unlike Suzhou where I've been the last year. Also, we're in China. Many cities have scam and crappy ESL employers. If you avoid blindly signing any offer you get, it's quite easy to avoid being scammed.

Jun 13, 2014 18:56 Report Abuse

musicjunkiealex

I've lived in Shenzhen for 4 and a half years so I know the place like the back of my hand. If you need any help, just send me a PM.

May 29, 2014 00:08 Report Abuse

samferguson88

I'll keep that in mind, appreciate it.

Jun 13, 2014 18:37 Report Abuse