My First Six Months in Guangzhou, China with English 1

I arrived in Guangzhou, China, at the end of June 2018. Before—and even after—arriving, those I spoke to for advice about this bold new adventure in my life told me that the first four months or so would be challenging. They said that if I stuck it out, it would be worth it in the end.

Six months later, I’m truly grateful to everyone who was honest with me, because their words are what kept me going as I climbed the mountain of this new experience. Now, I find myself happily at the top of that mountain, looking out over a vast expanse that calls to me with all the possibilities that lie ahead.

I love summer and much prefer the heat to the cold, so arriving at the peak of Guangzhou’s hot and humid season was genuinely exciting. The day after I arrived, we began orientation, training, and searching for apartments. Within two weeks, I had found a flat, completed my training, and started at my designated school—just as the summer course began.

As someone completely new to teaching, I was incredibly grateful for the strong support and guidance from the staff at my school. Although I sometimes felt overwhelmed, I dedicated all my time and energy to learning this new skill of teaching and lesson planning.

The days were long, but I was proud of the effort I made. I learnt so much in those first two months before the summer course came to an end. It wasn’t easy, but I’m truly thankful I put in the work early on—it helped me become familiar with everything in a remarkably short space of time.

My apartment is in a place called Panyu, which is in the south of the city. It’s not as crowded as the city centre. I have a lovely flat that overlooks a theme park, with a wonderful view of trees and greenery. I can also hear the happy sounds of people enjoying their time at the park.

Home is a beautiful and peaceful twenty-minute walk from my school, along a road lined with palm trees. Now that the weather has cooled down, I really enjoy walking to work each day.

Besides the challenge of learning the new skill of teaching, I also found it difficult to adjust to life in a new country where I didn’t speak the language. I remember the first time I went to a supermarket—I was so overwhelmed that I wandered around in a state of panic and confusion. Everything seemed unfamiliar, and I ended up walking out without buying a single thing.

A week later, needing groceries, I decided to give it another try. That time was much better—less confusion, less panic—and I managed to complete my shop. It was then that I realised living in China would be far more challenging than living in an English-speaking foreign country. I understood that it would take time and a lot of trial and error to find what worked for me and what made me feel comfortable.

This realisation helped me stop disliking everything that felt unfamiliar and instead embrace the process of experimenting. I understood that it would take longer for me to settle in, but if I stayed open to the experience, it could be an enjoyable journey. And that’s exactly what I chose to do.

As soon as the summer course ended and we entered September, I had to put my nose to the grindstone in a different way—this time to complete the final requirements for my postgraduate degree, with my final submission due in October. Although all I wanted was a break, I persevered. I stayed focused and successfully submitted all my work in October, marking the end of my first four months in China.

With more free time and the pressure finally off, I began to establish a comfortable rhythm both at work and at home. I also started going out more and exploring Guangzhou, which has been great fun.

The advice I was given proved true in my case, and I’m so glad I pushed through those difficult early months. Now, I’m genuinely enjoying life in China and looking forward to all the adventures still to come!