Where 2

After having a third interview for the tech writer position, I decided to stop pursuing it, although the interview went fine and the pay would have been tremendous by local standards. I simply want to try to live some place else in Asia for a while. I’m not convinced Beijing is the best place for me right now. There has definitely been a challenge to adapt here, and in some respects I’d rather not adapt.

We had a 10-course or more buffet to celebrate graduation and after seeing me pick at the food, one of my teachers was giving me looks wondering “why the hell are you in China?” while the other was trying to pile the “delishus-ness” on my plate despite my protests. (A question for my readers, can you make yourself like things you really don’t like? Should you?)

My original intention was just to stay here for three months to learn the language and hopefully be inspired in some manner or another. In that I have succeeded at some rate (not enough to make day to day life too much easier), but some of my motivation has been lost in the process.

I would tell anyone considering trying the same thing to consider other options than a Chinese University, from both the price and effectiveness of teaching perspective. Although 800-1200 USD for twelve weeks of 20-hour classes seems cheap, the class sizes mitigate the effectiveness. If I did it over again I would try a private school. And I will try private schools.

I am planning to leave Beijing at the end of the week, but I haven’t decided where. I’m thinking of spending two more weeks in mainland China and gradually travel closer by train to Hong Kong. After Hong Kong, I’m looking to give Taiwan a try, to see if I want to live there. If I find Shangri-la on my way, I’ll let everybody know the GPS coordinates.