First Week in China!

This week has been nothing but nonstop go, go, go, gooooooooo, so let me let you a little about it!  My travels to China took forever, like 28.5 hours worth of waiting, flying, waiting, really flying, waiting, flying, and taking bus rides.  It was a tiring event, but am glad that we made it safely to China.

Here's my team!  Kaytie, Me, Emily, Johanna, and Crystal.

After we arrived at our apartment, we had some time to unpack before going to eat dinner with our coordinator.  As I walked into my apartment, I looked out my ginormous window and saw this view...

Yup.  Apartment buildings EVERYWHERE.  This is the thing that surprised me the most about China.  I wasn't expecting 20-30 story high apartments, and the amount of them.  My apartment is nice, and is spacious, and was really blessed to be put in such a place.  Of course, you aren't living in another country until you wake up to one of these on your floor.    

Cockroaches!!!!

The food here is absolutely fantastic.  I haven't tasted anything that I haven't liked, and you get a bowl full of noodles for 5 yuan.  That is less than a dollar my friends.

I didn't get a picture of the food...I was kinda hungry, but got a picture of the menu.  Cool huh?











Our coordinator then showed us around the city, and we were able to ride these really cool cart things where guys used motorized bicycles to pedal us around.  

He wouldn't stop smiling :)

Of course, when the day is done and over, I have to think of the reason why I am here.  I am here to teach, and I have been extremely blessed to have had the opportunity to do so. In China. In an amazing school.  It really is a sight to behold, and these pictures do the place no justice.  It is HUGE, clean, and colorful.  I feel like I am home, only this is probably nicer, the people are probably nicer, but the food is definitely better.  :) 

All of us in the midst of our school supplies.

The front of the school.  Huge apartment buildings surround the school.  

So they have mini toilets here.  Now I have seen my fair share of mini toilets, but mini urinals!??  They are kinda cute.  

One of our classrooms.











I know that by the end of this semester I will be saddened with the thought of going back home, but for now let's rock & roll shall we?  ;)

The oh so very smoggy, humid, and beautiful China.  :)

And I'm Off Again!!

Ya know, I never thought that I would be traveling to China…not when I was 10, not when I was 15, and not even when I was 20!  I still can’t believe that I have been blessed with another amazing opportunity to teach in a foreign country.  This time around I won’t actually be teaching, but I will be mentoring four other lovely ladies, and making sure that things are run as they should be.  I am at ease with the fact that I have to take care of four girls in a country I have never been to, and am also excited I get to help others learn, and to experience a different culture.  I think I should be nervous, but it just hasn't happened yet.   There is some weird nonsense happening in my head!

I will be in the city of Nanlang, Guangdong, China, (Say that ten times fast!) and according to Maplandia, it’s in the southeastern part of China.  It’s really close to the Hong Kong area, and that’s about all I know for now.  I will be there for almost four months, or 115 days exactly, and I fly out the 27^th of August!  Time has flown by I just can’t seem to get a good grip on it.  My flight will be 28 ½ hours, and I have a layover in Seoul, South Korea.  I have learned to keep the details of my trip out of my conversations with my mama because she seems to hyperventilate when I do.  I am thinking she will need more prayers than I do when I leave.  :P 

I have also been trying to learn some Mandarin…but ya know how that goes.  I have about 5 phrases, and know most of my numbers, but hey its progress!!  Well, this is the official start of my journey, and I am taking you all along with me!  Welcome to the new blog!!  J

Sophia B.

Oh, and you should also write to me!  ;)

Bond Language Institute – Sophia Banuelos (Nanlang)

2nd Floor, Bai Hui, Zhong Xin,

Lang Qing Xuan, Bo Ai 5th Rd,

Zhongshan, Guangdong,

528400, China