Hohhot Aston

Videos & Web Resources

Watch School Video

"Hothot" on Flickr

"Hohhot" on YouTube

"Hohhot" on Picasa Hohhot City Guide

Teacher Testimonial

From day one I have been and felt warmly welcomed by the people of Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China. Immersed in many cultures, you really get to flavor life through different ways, not just by the vast delicious culnery tastes, but also via the fashion and personal approaches to life. The city certainly shows many signs of a westernised look, but still carries a strong traditional theme of the many mixed local cultures, such as Chinese, Mongolian and the Muslim populations that exist here. As a smaller city compared to places like Beijing and Shanghai, you will find it quieter and less hectic or tourist centred, therefore I think I have seen a little more of the true China.

As this was my first English teaching role, I was understandably a little nervous and concerned to how I would adapt and adjust to the new life. All these feelings were soon removed from my thoughts, initially by the Foreign Manager and then more so on a daily basis by the team of friendly, warm, supportive and hardworking Chinese staff. The only way I can now describe them is that they are now like my family！Not only are they there throughout the working hours, on hand with suggestions, ideas and advice for the lessons, but also outside working hours. At any time, day or night, they seemed so willing to help me, be it for shopping, eating, getting lost somewhere and having to phone them after a night out to give directions to the taxi driver, they always seem to be ready to help! Without this family around me, the transition would have been so difficult, what with the language barrier, cultural differences and the challenge of the new job。In return though，they seem to want nothing back except my friendship，but I intend to repay their kindness over time, any way I can. The depth of my gratitude and many memories will last my lifetime.

As for the teaching, in one word: “fantastic”! I love the job, the kids, the support and environment I am in. The children are nearly always full of life and enthusiasm to learn, the school is bright, colorful and welcoming(massively made so by the frontline staff) Hohhot is well situated with great transport links to allow me to explore more of China in my spare time and has certainly opened my eyes to a whole new way of life。The weather is very easy to explain，as a previous teacher wrote：“Freezing and Boiling”！ In the winter you need many layers of thermals and in the summer，you need many pairs of shorts（dresses for the ladies）。