Well, my findings from the visit to Yancheng summarise well in my
reply to Yuxia Jiang who organised logistics for me in Yancheng.
"I am now back in London. Long journey. However, I feel that apart
from a few minor teething problems the visit, was an outstanding
success. I have taught in person for the first time overseas, I
heard reports that the students liked my classes (I wish they
were not so afraid to speak, interact and ask questions though!),
and met the person in charge of the cultural exchanges for lunch
last Friday. A few points need to be made, none serious but it
would help on future visits. Firstly, more time to mark papers
would be recommended; I will fill in the feedback form today and
return it. I will also round up the receipts for the insurance
and I think there was one other item too. I assume the next
cultural exchange is in October/November. And I seek to use this
to get my career back up and running post divorce - although it
would seem I am likely to be either teaching remotely from, or
flying in from, Africa for my next classes. For my next big
project is my relocation. Three key points picked up on were:
more time to mark papers (it would make it less error prone), I
should have an itenary in both English and Chinese to avoid
wasting time at airports and stations and I need a translate app
which works in China (Google Translate does not); can you advise
please? My cards also cannot be registered on WeChat as non- Chinese
cards will not register, although this is not an issue with the
cultural exchange it does cause issues. Other than these key points
I think the visit was an outstanding success, and I look forward to
a return in November. I will be returning the feedback form today.
With regards, David"
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And by the way, everyone there addresses me as 'professor' there-
a FAR cry to the total lack of respect for teachers on Preply and,
of course, here in the UK. I am informed that the role of professor
is the highest order in the teaching profession in China. Now, I
wonder how I can retain the title? I am reliably informed that it
would work wonders for my career.
To summarise, the visit was a great success, and any problems were
minor and related to logistics.
So now we know.
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And one last thing. My close friend Ahmed asked me to meet him after
a private job last evening, and he says he will assist me to get to
the Gambia as a stepping stone to get to Burkina Faso. UK citizens do
not need a visa in the first instance (90 days); he can help me get a
visa thereafter. And Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria and Burkina Faso are all
ECOWAS members, whose citizens have freedom of movement without the
need for a visa. And that can mean only one thing: Burkinabe citizens
can visit easily. So, Africa here I come...
The campus library.
Building D, where I was teaching.
There are around 30000 students on campus, many owned these electric mopeds, very popular in China.
The Boau Hotel, where I stayed in Yancheng, in walking distance from the campus.
