As I promised myself I spent the weekend having a bit of a look around. As it turned out I didn't actually get very far from where I live as there is so much close by. I'm 5 minutes walk from Xinjiekou which is THE main shopping area with HUGE shopping malls and a plethora of underground shops. I'd go into one mall, end up going underground and then resurface in a completely different place!! Too bad if I wanted to be somewhere in particular but it didn't matter ...

What a venture to get to class. I am living in the city but most of my classes are on the other campus in the new suburb....Jiangning University Town!!! This campus has only been open since 2003. Up bright and early to catch the 0650 bus out to the campus which took about an hour....not being a morning person this is going to be my challenging day each week!! I think I might take the cues from other teachers and take my travel pillow and sleep through the trip. ...

Met with the Dean and Assistant Dean of the School of Nursing today...both Professors who didn't speak English!! Needless to say it was a very interesting meeting with the ?office manager acting as an interpreter....we had lots of smiles and nodding so I'm not sure if they understood what I was saying or they were being polite. Anyway the meeting went really well....I think!! I am teaching first year nursing students (29 of them) Communication skills, second yea...

Well after all my woes I finally arrived safe and sound about 2300 on Thursday night. Completely exhausted I literally fell into bed not even bothering to check out my surroundings. Friday morning and I finally get to meet Fan Fan who has been my contact with the University....talk about great first impressions...I hadn't even had a shower!!! Anyway she is really lovely and is very organised with all the procedures I have to go through. By Friday afternoon I had ...

Beijing is regarded as the most important city in the most populous country on earth, a place with a fabled past facing a 21st century future as one of the world's great metropolises. Beijing is not only the political capital. It is the economic, cultural, diplomatic, and educational heart of the nation. I have been booked on a couple of organised tours here so it was an early pick-up at 0800 on my first day to head out and see the Great Wall of China at Badal...