So, what's with all the mention of China?
On August 28th, 2008, I began a gap year to China and around the world, which will last over six months. I'm currently an English speaking teacher at Yibin University in sichuan province, and I will eventually be travelling home via the trans-siberian railway and Thailand. I'll arrive home in England sometime in early 2009.
Why China?
Why not? I wanted to travel the world before starting uni, and I think China is the perfect place to start. It's one of the oldest civilisations in the world, and is constantly changing. It's about to be at the forefront of the world stage, has a beguiling, fascinating culture and boasts a rich, vibrant history. Besides, I wanted to live somewhere totally different from England - and let's face it, what could be more different than China?
Where the hell is Yibin?
Yibin - also known as "Gateway to the Yangtze" - is a prefecture-level city (population c. 600,000) in the highly populated southwestern province of sichuan, well-known worldwide for its spicy "Szechuan" cuisine! It is in a sub-tropical region, making it warm and humid throughout the year but with clearly demarcated seasons.
Yibin is well-known amongst Chinese domestic tourists for its stunning natural beauty. There are mountains offering scenic views of the countryside, including the famous Bamboo Sea and Xingwen Stone Forest. A place inhabited by people for over 40,000 years, there is a lot of cultural and historical interest to be found!
Why did you choose to volunteer overseas?
Here are some of my reasons:
I wanted to help others.
It'll probably improve my career prospects.
It'll be helpful for my university language degree.
I want to develop, mature and become more independent.
I wanted to make friends with people from around the world.
I want to travel the world.
I'll have lots to talk about when I get back!
What countries will you be visiting on your gap year?
So far, I've visited:
China (duh!)
Thailand
At some point during my travels I will be stopping in:
Russia
Mongolia
Estonia
I also may be visiting:
Hong Kong
Japan
Cambodia
Laos
Vietnam
Nepal
India
What is a gap year?
Whether you're a student or in full-time work, you might feel like taking a year out to do something different: be it travelling, work experience, learning a new skill, or doing all three! In the UK, a gap year is normally associated with students who have just finished sixth form college and who are doing long-distance travel and/or volunteer work before they start university. I've let my uni know that I won't be starting till September 2009, and they've secured a place for me when I get back.
What sort of work are you doing there? Do you get paid?
I'm working with the non-profit organisation, lattitude as an oral English teacher at a university. I teach classes to around 200 students aged 18-25, give lectures to large groups of around 500 students on Western lifestyle, and also run "English Corners" for any students (regardless of their major) wishing to improve their English. As a volunteer, I do not get paid.
What's the Trans-Siberian Railway?
The Trans-Siberian Railway is a stretch of train track running over three thousand miles across Asia and Europe. The two-week journey I'll be taking will start in Beijing, going through Mongolia (Ulan Baatar), Russia (Ekaterinberg, Moscow, St. Petersburg) with connections to Estonia (Tallinn.)
What are you doing when you get back?
As I've already mentioned, I start university a few months after I return. I'll be studying for a degree in French with a minor in Italian at royal holloway, University of London.
Any other questions? Drop me a line and I'll be happy to answer them.