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Tune in this week to hear #travelstories and #advice from our ambassadors! š ā¢ ā¢ ā¢ #travelasia #wintervacay #paidvacation #globetrotter #expatchina #getpaidtotravel #chinaorbust #teachoverseas #lovetotraveltheworld #eastasia #uncommonlife #livecourageously #challengethestatusquo #domorewithyourlife #liveoverseas #tryeverything #chinalife #expatlife #expatsuccess #expatteacher #whynotchina #justgo #siasuniversity #nowhiring #internationalliving #thesend
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Happy Monday! There's a new post on the blog! Rebekah Pusateri chose to go home to Seattle during Sias University's six-week paid vacation. As a seasoned teacher, she has great tips for taking time off, and what to pack when coming back to China! Check out blog.academicsinasia.com to read the latest from China! ā¢ ā¢ ā¢ #travelstories #wintervacay #paidvacation #globetrotter #expatchina #getpaidtotravel #teachoverseas #workwithbenefits #uncommonlife #livecourageously #challengethestatusquo #teachervacay #domorewithyourlife #liveoverseas #whynotchina #justgo #siasuniversity #nowhiring #packinglist #reversecultureshock #chinaexpats #expatlife #teachervacation #homesickexpat #homesick #cultureshock #selfawareness #takecareofyourself #packinglist #reversecultureshock #teachersoļ¬nsta #winterbreak2018
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Most of our #sias teachers are traveling back this week after the six-week (paid) winter vacation. So we asked our ambassadors to share about their travels. Keep an eye out for their global adventures throughout the week! š ā¢ ā¢ ā¢ #travelstories #wintervacay #paidvacation #globetrotter #expatchina #getpaidtotravel #chinaorbust #teachoverseas #lovetotraveltheworld #eastasia #uncommonlife #livecourageously #challengethestatusquo #domorewithyourlife #liveoverseas #tryeverything #chinalife #expatlife #expatteacher #whynotchina #justgo #siasuniversity #nowhiring #internationalliving
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Intro to Waka Part 3 by @missmle86 ššØš³ ā¢ When it comes to choosing unfamiliar produce, you can only monkey-see-monkey-do your way through it. Today I learned to check the middle of the bundle for garlic buds, which are apparently undesirable. ā¢ Waka (and many other supermarkets) have multiple stories. To go up or down floors, shoppers take their carts to the flat and heavily magnetized escalators. They are strange for standing, but great for carts. The attendants at the bottom creeped me out until I realized they were there to prevent heavy carts from tipping, or people from tripping at the bottom of the automated incline. ā¢ Chinese culture can seem invasive or jarring at first, but when you re-learn a process as simple as grocery shopping, you learn to appreciate the logic and kindness of people who will school a bumbling foreigner on Grocery 101. Henan province is the best. ā¢ ā¢ ā¢ #growingexperience #dayinthelife #shoppingtrip #crashcourse #expatlife #expatwoman #chinaculture #cultureshock #expatsofinstagram #expatchina #grocerystore #supermarket #overseaslife #teachoverseas #independentwoman #selfsufficiency #humbling #aia #lifeabroad #lifeinChina #socialgrowth #whynotchina #teachingenglish #teachersoļ¬nsta #teacherlife #teachersfollowteachers #teachingenglishabroad #worldchangers
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@missmle86 says shopping trips have been her most formative experiences in China. So over the next few days, she'll be sharing a crash course on supermarket shopping in China. ā¢ INTRO TO WAKA PART ONE š ā¢ You know what REALLY shapes you as a person? Little things. Daily things. Small, common interactions. Then having to throw all of it out the window because common courtesies are suddenly not common or courteous. To me, this dilemma most easily summed up in a trip to the grocery store. The first time I went involved a lot of benevolent yelling and assertive pats in the right direction. It's humbling to relearn such a basic skill, but no worriesāif you're headed this way, I will HAPPILY give you the grand grocery store tour! ā¢ Waka is one of two large supermarkets that Sias teachers frequently visit. Both are just a reasonable walk or a quick bus ride down the street from Sias' main gate. It has a little bit of everythingāgroceries, food, home goods, even some Western imports. (For everything else, there's Taobaoāthe Chinese Amazon.) ā¢ The first thing you should know as a foreigner in a Chinese supermarket... Thou shalt NOT take a purse, bag, or beverage into the grocery store. Store them in the free lockers. If you don't want to use a locker, there is always an attendant at the entrance who will put your belongings in a locked bag. The cashier will unlock the bag for you when you check out. ā¢ Stay tuned for Part Two of Intro to Waka š ā¢ ā¢ ā¢ #growingexperience #dayinthelife #shoppingtrip #crashcourse #expatlife #expatwoman #expatsofinstagram #expatchina #grocerystore #overseaslife #teachoverseas #independentwoman #selfsufficiency #humbling
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It's the beginning of a new (lunar) year here in China. Maybe it's a good chance to revisit or restart those new year's resolutions. š What do you plan to accomplish this year? Is world travel or a new job on that list? If so, we'd love to have you join the rest of us here at Sias University! Head to our website to apply! šØš³šš· ā¢ ā¢ ā¢ #newyear2019 #lunarnewyear #newyearinchina #newyearnewjob #timetotravel #paidtotravel #seetheworld #teachoverseas #teachersmakeadifference #bethechange #happynewyear #chinalife #expatlife #yearofthepig #zodiaccalendar
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New post by @wanderwoman_kat72 šØš³ ā¢ When my sister came to visit me over her winter break, it made me re-evaluate my perception of my life here. China is wildly different from America, especially the America that we came from. We grew up a small, South Georgia town. Everyone knew everyone. Generations had grown up in that town and most people never leave. There are miles between neighbors and the back roads are the only roads. Coming here can be overwhelming sometimes. The cities are busier, the buildings taller, and chaos (or perceived chaos) is a part of life. I see the city of Zhengzhou as alive and vibrant. But for my sister, the same city was too much (too much activity, people, noise, pollution). Truthfully, I felt the exact same when I first went into Zhengzhou. I was exhausted after spending five hours in the city. Gradually, your perspective levels out. You take what used to be chaos and you find beauty in it. But it's not something that happens all at once. This process is gradual. My advice: if you are struggling to adapt to your new life overseas (or worried that you will struggle), give yourself grace and time. The beauty is there, if you give yourself a chance to see it. ā¢ ā¢ ā¢ #cultureshock #bigmove #surviveandthrive #culturaldifferences #giveyourselftime #adjustments #beautyiseverywhere #beautyineverything #takeiteasy #giveyourselfgrace #lifeoverseas #expatlife #chinalife #expatsofinstagram #perspective #citylifestyle #countrygirlatheart #backroads #bigcitylights #perspectiveiseverything #slowdown #slowexposure #motionblur #motionblurphotography #teacher #teachersfollowteachers
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New post from @rebekahisalwayslost šØš³ ā¢ This week we asked Rebekah to share about her social growth in China. Find out how language learning opened doors for her in China! Check out her latest blog post at blog.academicsinasia.com! ā¢ ā¢ ā¢ #Chinaculture #Chinafriends #Chinalife #Chinatraditions #Culturedifferences #Eslteacher #Expatlife #Languagelearners #relationshipbuilders
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New post by @wanderwoman_kat72 šØš³ ā¢ Most people that move overseas are expecting the culture shock that comes with moving to a new country. Even if you are going to a country that is similar to your own, there will be things that catch you by surprise. Many of the new teachers that came to SIAS were expecting the culture shock to be from Chinese culture. It is very different from what we are used to in the United States. However, once we got here, there was a different culture that we also had to acclimate toāPeter Hall. All the foreign teachers live in one building. These people are our co-workers, neighbors, bosses, and friends. Some people thrive in this type of living environment. Some people don't. One bonus? You don't have to be alone when your going through culture shock. Just make sure to take some me-time when you need it. Do you think you would thrive in an environment where your friends and co-workers are also your neighbors? ā¢ ā¢ ā¢ #surprise #cultureshock #cultureshockchina #findyourhappyplace #metime #community #communityliving #bigmove #stayconnected #supporteachother #workenvironment #closeknitcommunity #surviveandthrive #coworkers #lifeinchina #whynotchina #meigouren #laowei #siasuniversity #sias #eastmeetswest #chinaculture #expatlife #chinalife #expatsofinstagram #teacher #teachersfollowteachers
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@wanderwoman_kat72 on personal growth in China. šØš³ . My undergrad degree is in psychology. I know a lot about recognizing the signs of stress and learning to cope with that stress. Even so, I was not prepared for the amount of stress as an expat. We face more challenges and stressors than a normal person due to where we live. Because of the circumstances surrounding my move to China, I was not able to set up basic things until a month after I arrived. At first, I was okay with that. I figured that any new move would come with road blocks. But as the weeks went on, I noticed myself losing too much weight, not sleeping well, having trouble concentrating. I did not realize how much of a toll the stress of not being fully settled was taking on my body. My life here is now settled and I don't have all that stress weighing on me. Even so, I have kept a lot of my coping mechanisms. One of my favorites is going to a tea or coffee shop and reading a book. What is your favorite de-stressing activity? . #stressrelieving #cultureshock #cultureshockchina #findyourhappyplace #cope #copingmechanism #psychology #settlingin #bigmove #cureitwithcoffee #coffeefixeseverything #readtorelax #readersofig #surviveandthrive #signsofstress #takecareofyourself #loveyourself #mentalwellness #emotionalhealth #takeiteasy #giveyourselfgrace #expatlife #chinalife #expatsofinstagram #teacher #teachersfollowteachers
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New post by @missmle86 šØš³ ā¢ The 21st century teacher is supposed to be innovative and engaging; at least that's what my alma mater taught me in grad school. #gfumat Theoretically, students learn a concept more deeply if more senses are engaged while learning. American teachers read that and think, 'Yeah sure, duh.' But in China? Classic form of teaching reigns supremeāteachers lecture, students listen. Teaching methods are beginning to evolve in elementary schools, but my college students don't easily adjust from one learning style to another. My professional goals have been to introduce my students to learning in different ways, especially because I teach Cross Cultural Communication. It's rewarding to watch them soak in the subtle details of a western symphony, or decide how to evaluate just which details are important to learn about a foreign country. It's like watching a light turn on. What cultural challenges have you overcome in the classroom? When was that aha moment when you knew you bridged a gap with your students? ā¢ ā¢ ā¢ #teachersoļ¬nsta #professionaldevelopment #professor #teachinginspiration #teachinginchina #learningtobeateacher #teachingabroad #crossculture #crossculturalcommunication #teachingmethods #alwayslearning #neverstoplearning #teachersmakeadifference #eastmeetswest #whynotchina #expatlife #chinalife #teacherlife #teachallthethings #collegestudents #collegeteacher
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New post by @wanderwoman_kat72 šØš³ ā¢ When I was 18, fresh out of high school, I went on my first trip out of the country. Before that trip, I wanted to work in counseling. But on that trip, my vision for the future changed. Dramatically. For these kids, English and education is a way out. It is an opportunity for them and their families to have a different future. Their parents often choose one child to go to school and sacrifice in order to afford it. I decided after that trip, that I wanted to help people work for a different future. Through my job here in China, I have found opportunities to keep doing that. I work with a project that helps children whose families have been affected by HIV/AIDS. Society rejects them out of fear, even if they are not infected. My project gives them an opportunity to learn English, which will help their chances at getting into college. I am not the only one working on this project, and we would love to have you join us. What do you say? ā¢ ā¢ ā¢ #vision #teachersoļ¬nsta #teachersmakeadifference #teachingenglish #makeadifference #worldchangers #helpothers #hivaids #hiv #aidsawareness #expatlife #chinalife #whynotchina #teachoverseas
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This week we asked our Ambassadors to tell us about their professional growth in China. @sias_international_university is a unique environment where you are trained and mentored by expert teachers who want to see you thrive in your classroom. You don't have to be an experienced teacher to teach Oral English here. I didn't have a single day of teaching experience when I arrived in China! But teachers of all backgrounds find their skills sharpened by the professional training and classroom experience. For some people, fear of being inexperienced is the primary reason they don't come to China. I'm glad I didn't let that fear stop me from coming to Sias. What about you? Are there any fears keeping you from moving to China? ā¢ ā¢ ā¢ #whynotchina #fears #fearoftheunknown #getoutthere #bebrave #professionaldevelopment #teacherlife #teachertribe #professor #oralenglish #efl #esl #collegestudents #whatsstoppingyou #expatlife #lovechina #chinatravel
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#chinaperks from @izbiss ā¢ China is the place to be if you're a #foodie. My husband and I have probably tried at least one new food every week in the last 5 months. Going out for food fits well into our budget as #Sias teachers and it has really helped us adapt to Chinese culture. ā¢ One of our favorite things to do is enjoy a family-style meal with friends. We pour over the menu and order multiple dishes to share, rather than getting individual meals. Just down the street from Sias, we found an orange chicken dish that far surpasses all my fond memories of Panda Express. ā¢ At barbeque restaurants, we order trays of raw food to cook at our own table. It's a community-oriented mealāvery symbolic of Chinese culture in general. Each person watches the food in front of him, carefully turning each skewer so that the food cooks perfectly for everyone. ā¢ Sometimes when I'm craving sweets, I'll buy a fruit kabob from the vendor right outside Sias' East Gate. They're a traditional Chinese treatāfruits like grapes, strawberries, and crab apples are skewered and covered with a sweet sugary glaze. ā¢ Baozi is the traditional Chinese breakfast dumping. I was never a breakfast person before, but I converted when I first bit into that soft steamed bread. You can get them with almost any stuffing imaginable. Meat, peppers, even tofu! ā¢ As you might expect, there are countless varieties of noodles in China. My personal favorite is La La Mien which I can only find on Sias campus. It's the perfect comfort food on a cold day. ā¢ ā¢ ā¢ #foodgram #streetfood #chinesefood #eatwell #baozi #community #familystyle #noodles #barbeque #kabob
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#chinaperks from @izbiss šØš³ ā¢ ā¢ ā¢ My last six months have been full of new things. New husband, new country, new job. As the semester wound down, I realized I needed some time away to reflect on the newness and establish healthy patterns for the coming year. Some of my fellow teachers are traveling outside of China during winter break. But I'll be using most of the six-week paid vacation to intentionally forget what day it is and remember who I am outside of all the changes that 2018 brought my way. If I had a career in the States, I might be cramming all my reflection time into a few un-paid days off. More likely, I wouldn't take time to reflect at all. And my mental health would be taking a hit. ā¢ But to be honest, this time for reflection is more of a Sias perk than a China perk. Paid winter holiday, long summer breaks, and 3-day weekends were just a few of the reasons that we chose #SiasUniversity over other schools in China. And now my mental health is thanking me for it. Fellow teachers, how do you maintain mental and emotional health after the semester ends? What do you do to reflect and prepare for a new year? ā¢ ā¢ ā¢ #mentalhealth #emotionalhealth #teachertribe #lifechanges #remember #reflect #refocus #selfrecovery #whatdayisit #healthyhappylife #2019 #2018 #expatlife #cultureshock #takecareofyourself
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Hello! I'm @izbiss, social media coordinator for AIA. This week I'll be sharing about the benefits that come with #chinalife. ā¢ ā¢ ā¢ Yesterday my husband and I set out for a little retreat in the city of Dengfeng, just a couple hours west of Sias. As newbie China travelers, we expected to make a few mistakes en route to our #airbnb. And sure enough, Google gave us the wrong destination address. So after arriving in Dengfeng we took a bus and ended up in the wrong part of the city. Fifteen minutes and a taxi ride later, we were at the door of the hostel and chatting with our friendly host. Between the bus and the taxi, we only spent 8 yuan correcting our mistake. That's about 1 US dollar! Travelling on your own can be daunting, but it becomes a very affordable game when you approach it with an adventurous spirit! How about you? What's the most memorable mistake you've made while traveling? ā¢ ā¢ ā¢ #mistakeshappen #surviveandthrive #adventure #chinatravel #expatlife #borntogo
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New post from @wanderwoman_kat72 . In every place Iāve lived, what makes it feel like home is very different. China is home to me because of my friends. We arrived from a 16 hour flight together, went through culture shock together, and adapted to our new home together. After all of that, we couldnāt help but become each other's support. Once you build a foundation like that, it is easy to appreciate the little things that make a place home. For me, every one of these pictures has a special meaningāmy first classroom here in China, a quilt from my great aunt who passed away recently, and a taste of the South (ZAX BBQ in Zhengzhou). I would not be able to enjoy these moments and stories without my support here in China. My friends here are my foundation. They allow me to remember my old stories with fondness and to be brave enough to make new ones. What stories will you bring here to tell us? What stories do you hope to make here in China? . . #cultureshock #friendslikefamily #travelstories #mutualsupport #whynotchina #expatlife #lifeabroad #liveandlearn
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@missmle86 is one of our teachers that some lovingly refer to as a boomerang (a Sias teacher who moved back to their home country for a time before eventually returning to China). We asked her to reflect on some of the things she loves about #chinalife the second time around. . I love the river that runs adjacent to Sias campus, especially at night when the multicolored neon lights flicker on the water. When I moved back to the US, I'd often think of Sias as that beautiful walkway. Memories of Xinzheng were encapsulated by by images of food street and the local temple. I visited the temple recently and accidentally caught a photo of myself in the mass of polished roots with embedded dragons. It made me feel like I was back in a place where I fit. One more thing I love about Chinaāintensely geometric window frames. My eye is pulled to them over and over again, a detail hardly worth explaining to the casual listener, but lovely to soak up in a quiet walk on a dark evening. . . #sias #boomerang #expatlife #homeagain #ancientchina #temples #geometricarchitecture #adventureisoutthere #liveuncommon
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@rebekahisalwayslost has some great advice to share in her blog! See the link in our bio for the full article! Blog.Academicsinasia.com . My bedsheets are something else that makes my apartment feel like home. I bought bedsheets from the United States to take with me, knowing that China doesnāt have fitted sheets. That did take up more space in my suitcaseāI was hesitant about taking them for that reason. I highly recommend taking your own sheets though because it feels like Iām still in my bed in the states. Having a cozy bed set-up is very important. Your bed is the place where youāll crash exhausted after a day of work, after a bad day of culture shock, or where youāll snuggle up to read a book or watch a movie... . . #athomeinchina #packinglist #whattobring #expatlife #livingabroad #whynotchina
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Shared by @missmle86ā This September I made a rookie mistake: I put all of my most precious, lightweight mementos in the same place. When the airline lost my bag, part of me held my breath until it was in my hands again. My travel journals, indigo from Mexico, shells from Italy, birds from Latvia, antiques collected in my college town; all sweet markers of happy memories. I was thrilled that my English teacup and silver spoon arrived intactātokens of childhood tea parties with my Nana and great-aunt. My miniature museum, a tangible timeline of my life, turned a nice room into my home.Ā What little treasures would you take with you across the world? #delicatetreasures #teacup #travelmomentos #childhoodmemories #expatlife #lifeinChina
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One of the best sunsets in Xinzheng! As the sun sets over our little town, many teachers are packing their bags to head home. Tomorrow is the Oral English teacherās leave date, and then the break will officially be here! Itāll be quiet around here for the summer, but weāll be moving and grooving again when August rolls around. Everyone have a safe and relaxing summer. Weāll see you back next year!
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Final is here! All of the Sias teachers are busy with preparing the final exams! Canāt find empty seats at the cafe!šš¤š»
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Can you guess why John is holding Mr.Moose?? Check out our āwhat to packā part 2 video! Link in Bio! šš¼ #canadianpride #canadiansnacks
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Itās not raining but itās just too sunny! š A lot of Chinese girls are afraid of the sun because they want to maintain their fair complexions! #culture #china āļøāļø
