Feeling the Love (Courtney)

Firstly, an update on where we are at....

Yesterday we had a meeting with the principle and the head of English. We spoke for about an hour, it was very nerve racking but was such a relief to just get it all out in the open. We basically just spoke about how we feel in the district, how it's no longer culture shock etc, the isolation we feel, and the lack of interaction with the other teachers...all of which is affecting our experience. We said we hoped to be released early from our contract. Of course they came back with it's all culture shock, we have experienced that in when we have gone to western countries. Fair point we said, but this is almost 7 months in now, not 2 weeks or a month as they have travelled. Where we live is seriously getting to us, and the thought of being here for another 6 months just to fulfill a time obligation just no longer seems possible.

So as was to be expected, they countered with "We want you to see out the contract." We reiterated again our wishes, so then they came back with "This is not good we will have to speak to the education department." We said that's fine, we are happy to talk with them but we still aren't staying. Then they came back with "we respect your decision". So we got the point across eventually!

The school wants us to teach until November, which we really aren't prepared to do. We realise we have left them in a sticky situation, but it is the start of a new year, and prior to last semester the kids hadn't had foreign teachers before. Not only this but we are teaching new students this semester so there is no impact to their studies if we don't begin to teach. We truly don't see the point in starting to teach, only to disrupt their studies etc when we leave. The school's intention is to get new foreign teachers, so then the kids will have to get used to a new teacher, new teaching method mid term, which we can't see them benefiting from.

So to try and leave with some goodwill, we have decided to give them 4 weeks notice. This will see us through to the National Holiday, which is the same time Marcus' mum is coming to China (which eases a whole lotta guilt we were feeling about that!) This means we will teach for the 4 weeks, then go to Shanghai then return to home.

Return home...it sounds so good! We've absolutely no regrets in coming to China, we've had an amazing experience. But at the same time we have gotten everything out of that experience that we think we can. We've lived in a local area, learnt so much about ourselves teaching and have spent considerable time travelling around the country. Staying for another 6 months isn't going to enhance our experience at this point, it's just seeing us filling in time. By the time we return home we will have been gone for 8 months, which is a long time, and we are both really excited about what home has to hold for us.

Secondly, what a way to feel loved! Nothing like putting up a bit of a blogpost talking about how we want to come home etc to have you all whipped up into a frenzy. In the last couple of days we have gotten emails, texts, skype calls, you name it...all saying the same thing - Come Home. (And an offer of a room at Matt and Abby's incase the school kicked us out!!) These have been wonderful to receive and has helped us to cement our decision and to know we are doing the right thing.

Next stop Melbourne! Well, Shanghai, then Melbourne =)