Back to Beijing for teacher
Kirsty Peffers has been teaching her students remotely for the past few months but is looking forward to finally seeing them face to face in Beijing again.
Peffers, who hails from Timaru, came back to New Zealand for what was intended to be a short visit in February, but Covid-19 scuppered her return plans, until now.
During her time back, she has been in Timaru, Christchurch, Waimate, Auckland and Whanganui, as friends and relatives offer her places to stay.
Peffers will begin her journey back to Beijing today but faces two weeks quarantine in Shanghai before she can resume teaching drama and English at an International Baccalaureate school.
Speaking to Stuff from Whanganui, Peffers said she had spent much of the past few months ‘‘at a bit of a loss’’ and was looking forward to interacting in a proper classroom.
‘‘I’ve been doing the teaching remotely for the past few months, which has its challenges. ‘‘It’s very difficult not having the interaction inside the classroom. I think the students have been struggling too, many of them haven’t handed in their work.
‘‘The first challenge was ensuring the internet worked.’’
Peffers said she had left many things back in Beijing, including her brandnew computer, and she was looking forward to being back there.
‘‘There is so much to do once I get over there. There are so many parts of Beijing I wanted to explore. I want to see the Terracotta Army and I want to see some pandas at the zoo.
‘‘The expat community is also very strong, there are a lot of friends that I miss.
‘‘I’ll be back there until at least June next year, who knows what will happen after that.’’
Peffers had been wary about returning to China initially, but said that now ‘‘every country has Covid’’ she was less concerned.
‘‘The Chinese Government is taking it really seriously, especially in their big cities. Everyone is having to wear masks again.’’
She was mostly looking forward to actual face-to-face contact with the students as mask-wearing meant that some communication had been difficult online, Peffers said.
‘‘I’ve learned lots of new skills in terms of digital technology but it’s not quite the same as actually being there.
‘‘Over the past few months, I’ve had to do everything remotely.
‘‘The school was kind enough to change the timetable, so I can work with the students during our morning.’’