The China Teaching Web

Even though I was in a daze, I will never forget my first night in China. I remember the deep excitement that welled up inside me as my airplane’s wheels met the runway at Beijing International Airport. I snapped my first picture in Asia with my ultra mini Sony camera as the plane taxied into the terminal area. The picture was not remarkable but I wanted to capture my first moments in Asia. The next three hours were a blur as I made my way through customs and retrieved my luggage. No one paid me much heed in the airport. No questions were asked of me by any officials and neither were my bags searched.

It was 1:30 in the morning when I put my bags in the back of a taxi and gave my directions to a driver. I rode shotgun in the silent taxi; my driver did not attempt to speak with me. Even in the early morning hours, the bright Chinese characters on buildings and signs welcomed me to the country and I knew that I had embarked on my greatest adventure yet. An hour later, we were still driving around the city; my taxi driver was lost. He asked me for the directions again and made a series of phone calls. Finally, he made a left turn down a small street and stopped in front of a five story building with a small sign that announced the name of my hotel. He asked me for 200 RMB. When I offered him a twenty-dollar-bill, he accepted.

My hotel had not prepared the room that I had reserved. Instead they gave me a 80 RMB discount and put me in a dorm style room. I was too tired to care. The private bathroom and television wouldn’t be of much use to me until the next day. I wearily carried my bags to the small room and sat down on one of the long beds in the room. I was exhausted but incredibly excited to have arrived at my destination. It did not take long for me to turn off the lights and fall into a deep sleep.

Those first few days in Beijing were incredibly invigorating and also challenging. I had no contacts in the city; it was just me. My Chinese was limited but I was able to communicate when I had to, using hand motions and some of the simple words that I had learned in my home country. A friendly tourist agency provided me with a map and I spent hours exploring Beijing. On the second day that I was there, I found myself standing in Tiananmen Square, the world’s largest public square. I also took tours of the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, various temples in the area, and Beijing Hutong. These experiences provided me with a positing impression of China’s capital and largest city.

If you are on your way to China to teach and you have to spend a few days alone in a city, there is really nothing to fear. Of course there are some extra challenges to face, but you can learn a lot about Chinese culture as a solo traveler. Having to make your own way and find places on your own is a terrific way to introduce yourself to the culture. As long as you have the address of your hotel, you can take off walking anywhere, and if you get lost, simply hop in a taxi.

The Chinese people are incredibly friendly and helpful. Anytime I have ever asked for directions, I have never come away empty handed. Granted, sometimes those directions have been wrong, but at least people want to help. Do not be afraid to ask if you need something. Communicating is the key to success as a lone traveler.

Now, some years later, I look back fondly on that exciting first night in Beijing. Of course since then, I have had other ‘first nights’ in various countries but there was something special about those early days in Beijing. China is truly a unique and beautiful country.