Bum No More

It's now time to reveal what my mysterious job is all about. I'm teaching English to the Chinese National Shooting Team. Yes, the top Chinese athletes in the field. Yes, some are Olympians. Yes, some have even won gold medals in the past Olympics. Although you can shoot me if I can remember who has won what. I can't even get their names straight at this point. Oh no, please don't shoot me, I just remembered how good they are at shooting...

I'll start living with them on Tuesday although I've already taught them for two nights. I felt that I needed more time to pack my stuff and once again, tie loose ends, before I isolate myself from the rest of civilization. I am, of course, exaggerating. But living with them means living in a training camp of about two hours from downtown Beijing. There isn't even any bus that directly goes there from downtown so I have to finish all that I need to do before I get into voluntary hermitdom.

I am actually under a non-profit organization that provides teachers to national teams, called Chinese Athletes Educational Foundation. As most national athletes never had the chance to a proper education, the foundation aims to provide them with some of what they missed. Thus, I have a job.

I am given complete control on the curriculum. I do, however, have to send daily reports to my boss for the first two weeks. I think she's a little afraid that I might slack off since there won't be anyone to watch my every move. I said, no problem. I'll be having those shooters talking in English in no time.

The main perk of this job is the travelling opportunities. I get to accompany the team to competitions all over China... and all over the world! Aside from that, I could also tell you what a three-time Olympic gold medalist had for breakfast... In fact I could even describe how it tastes like because I'll be eating the same meals! :p