Once the teaching day is over (and its usually a very short working day) teachers will find themselves with plenty of time on their hands.  This can and will be filled in a variety of ways.  The first is through site seeing and exploring the teacher's new home and neighbors.  Walking down the street the local Chinese people will stare and call out to foreign teachers in both curiosity and delight.  Many will want the teachers to try the food they are selling or show how their children can say “hello" and “how are you?" in English.  Others will want to take pictures with their cell phones to send to friends and a few with language training will want to practice their English with their new American teacher friends.  Being a teacher is a very honorable occupation, and teachers will find even the locals will treat them with a lot of respect and awe.  When students see their teachers out of class, the older ones will want to buy them a drink and ask questions about living in America, and the younger children will grab the teacher's hand and want introduce them to their parents and friends.  It is both exciting and exhausting being a teacher in a small Chinese town.

As a young, educated foreigner, teachers will find many doors open to them in China.  English teachers are seen as the future to the West, and many Chinese people will want to be their friend to learn about America and other Western Countries and, in all honestly, to improve their social status among friends.  Foreign teachers should not take these acquaintances lightly as they can also benefit them and their time in China.  Seeing China with a local is a great way to see parts of the country inaccessible to foreigners. (As always, teachers should exercise caution when getting into the car with a “new” friend).  The nightlife in major cities such as Beijing or Shanghai is thriving.  Going out with Chinese friends usually entails buying a bottle of alcohol and mixers and sharing it with a group of five to ten people.  (Remember it is not acceptable for women to be publicly drunk in China and many times the person pouring the drinks will give less to women, its not to be rude, it's more as a preventative safety measure).  Even in smaller towns and villages, teachers should feel free to join an invitation to have a drink if some of the locals wave them over as they pass by.  Even without speaking the language, English teachers will be able to make friends in their new town to help ease the transition to China.

The second way teachers will spend their time out of class is by accepting some of the many invitations by Chinese colleagues and students to visit their homes and meet their families.  In the Chinese culture, family and education are very highly valued. Parents will want to know how their child is doing in class, and sometimes, even ask why they are not the best student in class.  (However, most times the students inviting teachers to their homes are some of the best students).  While visiting a Chinese home please remember to bring a small token of thanks (such as a small bottle of wine or dumplings) but not a clock, as the word for clock and death are very similar and most Chinese will take this as a bad omen.  Teachers should also remember not to stick chopsticks straight up in a bowl of rice, as this is very bad manners and possibly offensive to the Chinese family.  Most times excuses will have to be made to leave at the end of the night because Chinese hospitality will never end unless the teacher has to go and say, correct some papers or prepare lesson plans.  Chinese co-workers will be a great source of information of good spots to eat and drink and towns to visit.  Foreign teachers shouldn't be afraid to ask their co-workers questions during lunch or tea break.

Being of the perfect age to marry in China, young foreign teachers may find themselves in the position as an educator and as an American very appealing to Chinese members of the opposite sex.  Many times university-aged students will ask their English teachers to join them for a cup of tea after class or to go to hear one of the famous Chinese operas.  While these trips can be a very fun and rewarding experience, teachers need to remember to define their role as a teacher first and a friend second very early on.  It's also a good idea for young teachers to stay with a group of students rather than one or two favorites.  This protects both the teacher and student from unnecessary rumors and relationships.  There are many cultural differences between American and Chinese societies.  Before going to China, it's a good idea to purchase a book on this matter such as “Culture Shock China," to help explain the reasons for many of the Chinese actions.  The advice in these types of books will save foreign teachers from a lot of embarrassment and misunderstanding once they move to China.

The third way foreign teachers spend their time out of class is by learning Chinese. Many schools will find language tutors free of charge for their teachers.  It's a great idea to learn the language while immersed in the local Chinese culture and people. Many teachers find that the few Chinese people who are skeptical of foreigners will become friendlier when they hear foreigners trying to form their mouths around the word for rice.  For some foreigners the idea of one-on-one classes isn't appealing, and foreign teachers that prefer group lessons are encouraged to do so.  Most group Chinese lessons can be had rather inexpensively, and it's a great way to meet other expats in China.  Others who do not want or cannot pay for lessons often find having a language partner an easy and cheap way to learn Chinese.  The best way to find a language partner is by looking online and in local cafes and Internet shops for posting from college students who want to learn English and are willing to teach Chinese at the same time.  There are usually a plethora of opportunities.

The fourth and most exciting way English teachers will spend their time out of class is by traveling around China.  Many schools will plan special trips to the Great Wall or the Terracotta Warriors for their teachers.  If no trips are planned, teachers always have the option to go alone or join a tour group.  The Chinese Culture Club is a great resource for English speaking expats to join a group tour or take a class about Chinese culture, art or medicine.  China is a huge country, so it's important that foreign teachers don't miss out on all it has to offer by succumbing to the language barrier.  It's always a good idea for foreign teachers to have a fellow Chinese teacher or administrator to accompany them to the travel agency to buy plane or train tickets.  Or better yet, many foreigners choose to research some reputable English speaking travel agencies online before they come to China.  Many times trips cannot be planned online as easily in China as they are in America.  The Chinese students will also be a wealth of information on where to travel and what to see.  Many times teachers ask their class the best place to go in China and find themselves with 20 papers from students at the end of class listing the best vacation spots.  China is generally a very safe place for travelers and expats, but it doesn't hurt to get the local perspective on the town before embarking on a new adventure.

Remember, foreign teachers will always be the honored guest at whatever event they are invited to attend—at school or outside events.  Teachers are asked to respect the Chinese culture and people while still having a good time; after all, that's why foreign teachers come to China.