In my nearly 30 years of life I’ve experienced many different things, thanks mostly in part to my close family and friends these experiences and people have helped shape the person I am today. Without these experiences I would be just some ‘normal’ person who lives day in and day out the same…but for those of you that know me, I’m nowhere near ‘normal’! Thank goodness for that! :P
As I think about my last almost 6 months living in China, two things come to mind. The first, what a great once in a lifetime experience: here in China there are something’s and some people that I’ll never forget….the second, what in the underworld was I thinking?!
Okay, The Plan: it was supposed to be that I’d like living here and really enjoy the culture, which for the latter I have enjoyed learning the culture but living here is a whole other story. After enjoying it, I would acquire the Chinese language through my CD’s as well as just being absorbed by the language all around me. After such time, I’d get back into the hospitality industry and rule China. Well, maybe not so much, I am a foreigner…haha! I had a plan, I almost always do but now…That plan has changed into a non-plan plan.
One the one hand, it’s been great to see things in a new light, valuable international experience, the chance to meet amazing people, eat some really great food, and generally broaden my own horizons, trying to come to terms with the things that are out of my control as well as venture out into a whole new world to experience and see things that I’ve never seen before and will probably never see again. I will miss most of my students; they’re very cute and pretty funny. I will also miss my endless supply of teaching assistants who continually move on to new things but who also continually check-in to see how I’m doing.
However, this world is one of opposites, like I’ve said before and will probably say again...its Opposite World here. I mean, who drives on the sidewalk and honks at those that are walking on the side walk?! (*cough-Chinese people) So, that’s something I apparently haven’t come to terms with but as soon as I leave will laugh about…haha! Some of the friends I’ve made are amazing, wonderful, funny people who I will definitely keep in touch with. Some others, I will forget but will have made an impact on me none-the-less.
The other hand is full of (…holy crap!), wait…I mean, it’s definitely been an experience with another culture and seeing all of the different things that they do here, but the pollution, dangerous food (H7N9 anyone?!), crazy traffic and a generally maddening boss are the downside to living here. I’ve been sick at least twice with ‘pollution lung’, think about it as smoking about 3-4 packs of cigarettes a day and you can imagine the smoke cough I developed. I know I won’t forget
the peeing in the street or hallway or the classroom, clipping their nails in a restaurant or in the office and the crazy Chinese boss. Seriously…this cracked man thinks that I’ll work from 8am-9pm, 6 days a week for 2 to almost 3 months with no extra pay…but I would get ‘a few days off at the end’…ooOooo, yippee! A ‘few days off’, how exciting…not going to happen…especially when I’ve already worked 13-14 days overtime that is contracted. The communication with him is lacking at best, I talk to him and he talks too but he doesn’t listen to my or anything really, except for the sound of his own voice. And rant over…
Regrettably, I couldn’t make this work. And unfortunately I don’t like the area enough to find another position, the pollution is just one of many downfalls of here, because if I did get another job it would be another year contract and I’m staying here for another year.
So, again...sadly I am leaving China but happily I am returning to the USA! Don’t be mistaken, this was definitely a once in a lifetime experience but regrettably one that I couldn’t complete to the fullest…and I think that disappoints me more than you could know. As of July 1st I will be back on American soil.
To quote Robert Frost:
"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference."
Thank you to my avid readers for being so interested in the journey along with me, all of your in and thanks to my family and friends for being so supportive through this entire experience. This journey will never be forgotten, I take back countless experiences and memories to last a lifetime.
Affectionately,
Patricia
As I think about my last almost 6 months living in China, two things come to mind. The first, what a great once in a lifetime experience: here in China there are something’s and some people that I’ll never forget….the second, what in the underworld was I thinking?!
Okay, The Plan: it was supposed to be that I’d like living here and really enjoy the culture, which for the latter I have enjoyed learning the culture but living here is a whole other story. After enjoying it, I would acquire the Chinese language through my CD’s as well as just being absorbed by the language all around me. After such time, I’d get back into the hospitality industry and rule China. Well, maybe not so much, I am a foreigner…haha! I had a plan, I almost always do but now…That plan has changed into a non-plan plan.
One the one hand, it’s been great to see things in a new light, valuable international experience, the chance to meet amazing people, eat some really great food, and generally broaden my own horizons, trying to come to terms with the things that are out of my control as well as venture out into a whole new world to experience and see things that I’ve never seen before and will probably never see again. I will miss most of my students; they’re very cute and pretty funny. I will also miss my endless supply of teaching assistants who continually move on to new things but who also continually check-in to see how I’m doing.
However, this world is one of opposites, like I’ve said before and will probably say again...its Opposite World here. I mean, who drives on the sidewalk and honks at those that are walking on the side walk?! (*cough-Chinese people) So, that’s something I apparently haven’t come to terms with but as soon as I leave will laugh about…haha! Some of the friends I’ve made are amazing, wonderful, funny people who I will definitely keep in touch with. Some others, I will forget but will have made an impact on me none-the-less.
The other hand is full of (…holy crap!), wait…I mean, it’s definitely been an experience with another culture and seeing all of the different things that they do here, but the pollution, dangerous food (H7N9 anyone?!), crazy traffic and a generally maddening boss are the downside to living here. I’ve been sick at least twice with ‘pollution lung’, think about it as smoking about 3-4 packs of cigarettes a day and you can imagine the smoke cough I developed. I know I won’t forget
the peeing in the street or hallway or the classroom, clipping their nails in a restaurant or in the office and the crazy Chinese boss. Seriously…this cracked man thinks that I’ll work from 8am-9pm, 6 days a week for 2 to almost 3 months with no extra pay…but I would get ‘a few days off at the end’…ooOooo, yippee! A ‘few days off’, how exciting…not going to happen…especially when I’ve already worked 13-14 days overtime that is contracted. The communication with him is lacking at best, I talk to him and he talks too but he doesn’t listen to my or anything really, except for the sound of his own voice. And rant over…
Regrettably, I couldn’t make this work. And unfortunately I don’t like the area enough to find another position, the pollution is just one of many downfalls of here, because if I did get another job it would be another year contract and I’m staying here for another year.
So, again...sadly I am leaving China but happily I am returning to the USA! Don’t be mistaken, this was definitely a once in a lifetime experience but regrettably one that I couldn’t complete to the fullest…and I think that disappoints me more than you could know. As of July 1st I will be back on American soil.
To quote Robert Frost:
"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference."
Thank you to my avid readers for being so interested in the journey along with me, all of your in and thanks to my family and friends for being so supportive through this entire experience. This journey will never be forgotten, I take back countless experiences and memories to last a lifetime.
Affectionately,
Patricia
My last few videos in Wenzhou...
Chinese style of Club dancing...
"People may forget what you said...but they'll never forget how you made them feel!" Thanks to these kids/people for always making my day a good one!