(michael venske's tumblr)

An eighth grader’s #Chinese #Adidas. When I asked if the...

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:26:18 -0400

An eighth grader’s #Chinese #Adidas. When I asked if the shoes help him run faster he said, “I fly.” (at School)

#icecream in #China (at Home)

Tue, 21 May 2013 09:41:46 -0400

#icecream in #China (at Home)

Goodbye, fountain. #China (at Pedestrian Street)

Tue, 21 May 2013 09:39:34 -0400

Goodbye, fountain. #China (at Pedestrian Street)

Hi Michael! How's it going? I just wanted to ask you what it's like teaching in China? I've heard so many different stories, some great, some disastrous. What's your story been like? Lena

Tue, 14 May 2013 10:23:31 -0400

Traveling abroad to teach in China was my first time out of the United States. I sorta imagined I’d be teaching in a hut and that it’d really suck. I thought coming to China would be an adventure and that teaching in a hut would just be a sucky part of that story.

Luckily, there’s no hut in my story.

I’ve been teaching in China for 9 months and I’ve really enjoyed my time. The boarding school I work at is fantastic. My living accommodations and salary are respectable. The work is challenging and fulfilling.

The city I live in, Zibo, has a population of around 4 million souls. This is considered small compared to other metropolitan areas in China. Still though 4 million ain’t small, but despite that there aren’t a bunch of skyscrapers, concerts, amusement parks. Which is okay because the people make the place great. In my time here I’ve only had three occurrences of people being jerks (and let’s give them the benefit of the doubt and just say I deserved it).

In speaking to the other expats teaching or studying in Zibo I know not everyone’s experience in China is awesome. Granted, we all have bad days, but I think a lot of what you get has to do with what you put into it. There are certain societal things that just are what they are. From how Chinese people view education to driving manual transmissions there’s bound to be something that gets under your skin while living in China.

Because I came to China so last minute I didn’t study any Chinese or learn about this or that. Everything I’ve learned as been in the moment as it was needed. Aside from my expectation of teaching in a hut, I really haven’t had any and that’s helped me most.

It’s been a humbling experience. One I’m entirely grateful for being asked to be apart of. I’m glad I’m here. Two thumbs up. The Chinese people I’ve met have taken me in as one of their own. They’ve treated me like family and been the support network I needed in a new part of the world. The expat community as done the same. Without the kindness of the people that surround me I’d be lost. I’m incredibly lucky have so many awesome people in my life!

Lena, thanks for the question! I hope this answer has given you a taste for what my experience has been like thus far.

Dinner with my boss, Chinese “girlfriend,” a...

Tue, 14 May 2013 07:12:14 -0400

Dinner with my boss, Chinese “girlfriend,” a student, and the student’s parents. 6:49PM.

#streetscene #Zibo #China #sunset

Mon, 13 May 2013 11:27:39 -0400

#streetscene #Zibo #China #sunset

Overlooking construction on 步行街, 中国淄博 #China (at Pedestrian...

Mon, 13 May 2013 07:24:13 -0400

Overlooking construction on 步行街, 中国淄博 #China (at Pedestrian Street)

Don’t let the neon fool you. This woman is not a...

Mon, 13 May 2013 07:12:59 -0400

Don’t let the neon fool you. This woman is not a construction worker. #Zibo #China (at Pedestrian Street)

俯瞰步行街, 中国淄博 (Overlooking the pedestrian street, #Zibo, #China)...

Mon, 13 May 2013 07:04:44 -0400

俯瞰步行街, 中国淄博 (Overlooking the pedestrian street, #Zibo, #China) (at 步行街)

At night businesses empty trash onto the street. In the morning...

Sat, 11 May 2013 02:32:57 -0400

At night businesses empty trash onto the street. In the morning its picked through and hauled away. #China (at Pedestrian Street)

A serendipitous discovery at an apropos time #thelittleprince...

Wed, 08 May 2013 22:27:03 -0400

A serendipitous discovery at an apropos time #thelittleprince (at Yes Pub)

Sometimes the staff at restaurants will take your picture if...

Mon, 06 May 2013 13:37:12 -0400

Sometimes the staff at restaurants will take your picture if you’re a #foreigner in #China (at BBQ Restaurant (across from Yiwu))

Another beautiful day in #China (at Home)

Sat, 04 May 2013 23:09:19 -0400

Another beautiful day in #China (at Home)

#Bacon is like candy for adults. It’s fitting then that RT...

Fri, 03 May 2013 10:41:12 -0400

#Bacon is like candy for adults. It’s fitting then that RT Mart is offering a complimentary candy dish with every purchase! (at 大润发超市 RT-Mart)

Sports Day (at School)

Fri, 03 May 2013 08:53:25 -0400

Sports Day (at School)

autumn-again: cosmopanther: Woman takes a photo of herself...

Thu, 02 May 2013 01:53:52 -0400

autumn-again:

cosmopanther:

Woman takes a photo of herself every day for a year, chronicling the affects of an abusive relationship.

Bruises, as they appear and fade, the escalation in violence, her eyes. It’s so terribly terribly sad.

Tuesday evening (at Canadian Dave’s)

Wed, 01 May 2013 13:58:03 -0400

Tuesday evening (at Canadian Dave’s)

I found this through the TEFL tag, and am looking to take a TEFL course, possibly with the intention of teaching in China. Would you mind telling me what course you took for TEFL certification, and whether or not you were pleased with the course?

Wed, 01 May 2013 04:52:49 -0400

Unfortunately I don’t have anything helpful to tell you. The school I’m working at didn’t require a TEFL certification. Good luck on your quest!

photojojo: In Le Petit Prince, Matej Peljhan captures the...

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 04:53:04 -0400

photojojo:

In Le Petit Prince, Matej Peljhan captures the imagination of a 12 year old boy with muscular dystrophy though the magic of photography. Instead of using Photoshop, Matej created the illusion of flying by angling his shots from above while using a simple white sheet as a backdrop.

Boy With Muscular Dystrophy Learns to Fly Through Photography

via Daily Mail

Typical night out…

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 11:19:46 -0400

Typical night out…

(michael venske's tumblr)

An eighth grader’s #Chinese #Adidas. When I asked if the...

#icecream in #China (at Home)

Goodbye, fountain. #China (at Pedestrian Street)

Hi Michael! How's it going? I just wanted to ask you what it's like teaching in China? I've heard so many different stories, some great, some disastrous. What's your story been like? Lena

Dinner with my boss, Chinese “girlfriend,” a...

#streetscene #Zibo #China #sunset

Overlooking construction on 步行街, 中国淄博 #China (at Pedestrian...

Don’t let the neon fool you. This woman is not a...

俯瞰 步行街, 中国淄博 (Overlooking the pedestrian street, #Zibo, #China)...

At night businesses empty trash onto the street. In the morning...

A serendipitous discovery at an apropos time #thelittleprince...

Sometimes the staff at restaurants will take your picture if...

Another beautiful day in #China (at Home)

#Bacon is like candy for adults. It’s fitting then that RT...

Sports Day (at School)

autumn-again: cosmopanther: Woman takes a photo of herself...

Tuesday evening (at Canadian Dave’s)

I found this through the TEFL tag, and am looking to take a TEFL course, possibly with the intention of teaching in China. Would you mind telling me what course you took for TEFL certification, and whether or not you were pleased with the course?

photojojo: In Le Petit Prince, Matej Peljhan captures the...

Typical night out…

俯瞰步行街, 中国淄博 (Overlooking the pedestrian street, #Zibo, #China)...