Life as a graduate..

Despite the distinct lack of proof on this page that anyone has actually ever read my blog (except Loz, cheers mate!) I have convinced myself that once again it is time to start documenting my goings on.
The visa application is in, I'm preparing to fork out for over priced insurance that I'm 97% sure I'll never need, hoping the doctor won't make me buy malaria tabs and desperately trying to remember all the things that I missed last time I stayed in China. So far I've got oregano and my (p)leather jacket. But preparations are going well, and in a months time I'm going to be embarking on Year in China part two (with a possibility of several sequels). The questions posed by people regarding the trip so far have been pretty similar:
You getting a job? No, I'm studying at university.
Oh, studying what? Eh, Chinese.
Ahhh, well what are you going to do with that? Talk with Chinese people.
Well I'm sure you could always be an English teacher! Suuuure.

It might happen that at some point I need to make some cash and teach English, but if I wanted to do that for a living I certainly wouldn't waste my time studying Chinese for another year. Having received a scholarship from the Confucius Institute I am simply taking up the opportunity to study for free, make some new friends and see a different part of the world. If it had been a scholarhsip to study anywhere else in the world I don't doubt I would have gone there instead. Basically I'm too scared of getting a job I'll probably hate so will try and enjoy myself for a bit first.

Anyway, I made the choice to go to Kunming! I have dreamt of going there since I visited neighbouring Guangxi back in February 2009, unfortunately I ran out of both money and time after I reached Guilin and never made it to the Spring City in the famously stunning Yunnan province. Several close friends have studied at Yunnan Normal University (云南师范大学) and Kunming seems to be a staple of every backpacker's diet in China so I guess I want to see what all the fuss is about!

There is one negative in all of this, anyone who is familiar with the geography of China will know that Yunnan province is at the opposite side of the country to the Liaodong peninsula where my beloved Ayi continues life as normal in Dalian. But don't you worry yourselves my faithful readers, despite the expensive flights (roughly £200 return) and long train journeys (make that an average of 55hours one way) Ayi has promised to visit me in Kunming and I will no doubt be saving all my pennies, or in this case fen, to make the journey North East and see her again.

So here's to another year of new (and old) friends, places, tastes and general mischief. Oh and I'm sure I'll learn a character or three as well, Mum and Dad.