Denise Helmers, Author at Journey Of A Thousand Miles

Working in China

November 18, 2016

“It’s like Forrest Gump said, ‘Life is like a box of chocolates.’ Your career is like a box of chocolates – you never know what you’re going to get. But everything you get is going to teach you something along the way and make you the person you are today. That’s the exciting part – it’s an ...

Living in China

Dining in China

November 8, 2016

As soon as Pat and I decided to go to China many people started sharing their experiences with us. That the food was great was a common thread and they were right! Everything was wonderful, even when we didn’t know what we were ordering and just pointed to the menu! For breakfast we bought eggs, yogurt, bread, and peanut butter to eat ...

Living in China

Living in Zhengzhou

October 27, 2016

Zhengzhou is a city that is in a state of flux. The Chinese government has designated Zhengzhou as the transportation hub of the country. Consequently old neighborhoods of street markets and street vendors are being torn down to be replaced by tall apartment buildings and shopping centers. It seemed that every block had banks, cell phone ...

Thailand

The King of Thailand has died

October 19, 2016

Thailand is a lovely country. Tropical, warm, humid, with wonderful, kind people. Where we are staying, near the Night Market, life has a consistent flow. At 8:00 tourists get on their buses, vans, or red trucks to visit the elephants or waterfalls. The coffee shops open with free Wi Fi and slowly fill up with commuters, digital nomads, or ...

Touring Asia

Leaving Zhengzhou

October 12, 2016

It truly has been a journey of a thousand miles, as I am writing this post from Thailand! I apologize for not writing as much as I hoped but I am ready for a fresh start. My position with Best International Schools did not work out. I was hired to implement an American Curriculum. I (and Best) didn’t realize how much of a transition there ...

Living in China

We made it to China!

August 14, 2016

We are in China! It has been a long time since my last post. Pat and I finished our trip to see Chris, Anna and Evie in San Diego. We visited deserts, the Grand Canyon, Santa Fe, Oklahoma City, and paralleled parts of Route 66. It was a great trip. Chris and Anna took us mountain climbing, to the ocean, Torrey Pines, food trucks and ...

Preparing For China

So many things to do….

July 19, 2016

Since my last post I hired five teachers for our team at Hanghai and Headstart Elementary Schools in China, finished up the year at P. H. Miller, (bittersweet with lots of tears), helped Pat get our Visas, cleaned our home office so Tim can move in, prepared for our China party and squeezed in weekend trips to see the boys and the rest of our ...

Preparing For China

The First Step

May 11, 2016

The First Step Welcome to this American educator’s adventures in China. Hello everybody! Thank you for your interest on this new adventure that Pat and I are starting. All of our family, especially our sons, have been super supportive and excited for us! Why China? I was reading a blog on the Illinois Principal’s Association and ...