CANADIANS, Andrew Walton and Christy Melanson, wanted to make a change in their lives. So they decided to have a break from college and come to China to teach and travel.

They also wanted to make some money from teaching to pay students' loans back home.The thing that most impresses Andrew in China is the landscaping in big cities such as Shenzhen, where flower gardens and trees line the streets.

In May, he and Christy went to Guilin, in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, a trip that changed Christy's view of China."I thought China had a lot of history without so much natural beauty. But Guilin is as beautiful as Canada," Christy said.

Both of them prefer the countryside and faraway villages where they believe they can find the "real" China. "People in the countryside seem to be happier, even though they have little money," Christy said.

Both think Shenzhen is a rat race with people striving to make more money. People don't stare at him in Canada."Here I get stared at 20 times a day on the streets. Although I don't feel comfortable, I'm getting used to it," Andrew said.

Andrew is hoping to do carpentry or be a policeman one day back in Canada. Christy is plannning to finish her studies in art and education and become an elementary school teacher. ¡¡
 

Editor: Weiwei