Phil Soos Blog on RealTravel

Nuneaton journal: Life update

Fri, 29 Dec 2006 19:05:16 GMT

Hey guys,

Hope you are all well and have had a great Christmas.

Since it’s the Christmas holiday and I have some time on my hands, I have decided to write you a bit of a life update.

The last time I blogged was at the end of summer, before return to uni.

I have been living in a flat in Fulham with 3 guys from my church. Mike- a PhD physicist who is English and really likes tea, Tosin- A Nigerian who does Christian work with students and really likes talking and eating meat, Toby- Who is of German/American origins and works selling shares, boiler room style. He likes ...

United Kingdom journal: Life update - Christmas 06

Fri, 29 Dec 2006 18:53:08 GMT

A life update

Chudleigh Knighton journal: Back, but not the same!

Mon, 18 Sep 2006 21:09:20 GMT

After a couple of days back in the Midlands, my family (which consists of my dad, mum, sister and myself) went to Devon for 5-day rest and relaxation break. We spent our time swimming, riding horses, sleeping in, eating the local delicacies, playing tennis, taking walks through picturesque towns and woodlands. It was a little different to the bustling cities of China.

In fact, being back is very different; re-adapting has been odd rather than difficult. It still seems strange to me that the streets have so few people on them and I haven't had to push through a crowd since I've been back. ...

Beijing journal: Jinan to Beijing

Mon, 18 Sep 2006 20:57:03 GMT

It had been like awaking for dream, as I said my goodbyes and took the morning train out of Jinan. As much as part of me wished that it could have lasted forever, I knew that, like with so many things that come and go, the memory would be spoilt if I held on too tightly. So I choose to thank God for giving me such an incredible experience and I trust Him for even greater, albeit different, adventures in the future. I don’t know if He will lead me back into Shandong’s smoky capital in the years to come.

Arriving in Beijing at noon, I stepped into a different China to the one which I had ...

Jinan journal: A month in: Opening the Kiwi corner & confused monks

Wed, 30 Aug 2006 05:06:18 GMT

(View the pictures they are the best bit) A month in

I’ve been in China just over a month now, it is almost time to leave wonderland – eight more days in fact. I feel very privileged to have had such an amazing experience out here. I’m definitely going to miss many friends I’ve made here and this big smoggy city. People have started asking me whether I’m ‘looking forward to going home?’ The situation a find myself in is pretty cool, because on one hand the experience has been and continues to be really incredible, on some level it feels like home here, but on the other hand ...

Jinan journal: Time to think

Tue, 29 Aug 2006 04:57:19 GMT

Its been just of three weeks, I’m loving being in China its an experience and a half. However, it hasn’t been a frenzy of activity, I have had plenty of time to think and plenty of food for thought to. I have no telephone ringing and in one week I only have 2 full days of work (Sat and Sunday), 2 full days off (Tuesday and Thursday) and 3 days were I teach classes in the evening. I’ve only recently bought a watch, before that my only time keeping device was my UK mobile phone. Some evenings I would get in around 7ish lie on the sofa and think, by the time I had finished thinking it may ...

Jinan journal: Ghanaian weddings?

Tue, 29 Aug 2006 04:48:16 GMT

Nana and May's Ghanaian Wedding (see 'view more pictures')

Have you heard the one about the Ghanaian couple who got married in Egyptian themed pub in China, with an Irish best man and bride’s maid and a Philippino band? No, neither had I! But I did attend the ceremony and it was anything but run-of-the-mill.

Chinese Names

The teaching job is pretty easy. The emphasis is on the speaking and listening, as most Chinese kids study a lot of reading and writing in their schools. The age groups start from around 4 years old (in classes where the parents sit in and you use big ...

Jinan journal: My first week in Jinan

Tue, 29 Aug 2006 04:32:00 GMT

Ok, I've been in Jinan nine days now. Not really got enough time to write everything I want to say, so this is a fraction of what I'd love to tell you.

The City

Jinan is the Capital of the Shangdong (literally East Mountain, it is famous for springs and Confucious) province, it is the most significant city and the Region it links Shanghai to Beijing. The main urban area is home to around 4 million people.

The Jinan-ese?: Nice people - can-ee speak proper

The people in Shangdong are known for being friendly and my experience would support this. Jinan-ese accent is ...

China journal: Phil's China Trip

Mon, 14 Aug 2006 18:28:47 GMT

Six weeks in China. A journey of discovery...

Beijing journal: A day and a night in Beijing

Tue, 08 Aug 2006 04:53:45 GMT

I landed in Beijing on Saturday afternoon and was picked up by Vivien. The plan was to get the first train to Jinan, but the first ticket I could get was for Sunday morning.

Beijing

Beijing is big and full of people, I don't think I've ever seen streets so packed with people. There is strong Western influence, standing in many of shopping centers you could just as easily be in any other country.