So here I am, questing after a job some 11,000 miles (18,000 km) away, hoping I've chose the best one. I hoped for 3 offers, in order to rightfully secure a properly suited one. Offer 1 : quite readily from EF English First, a quick reply from a brief application and 2 interviews, accepted within the week they gave me; no other offers so soon. Offer 2: about a month or so later, from Beijing Language and Culture Institute, offering a substantially smaller salary and what seemed to be about 20-30 teaching hours/mo. Although I've heard quite great things about working at a university, I almost want to be a bit overworked (post grad/early career motivation I'm sure); but a decline. Then just recently (ab a month ago now) I got a reply to one of the last applications I sent in, to Wall Street Institute; (Wall Street English-China). This truly seemed more of what I was looking for; teaching adults in more of a professional setting... easy transition to either University or Business English that would hopefully come in handy when I settle my life in Europe.
However I am bad at saying no, and now I was required to withdraw my first commitment to EF. I hate going back on my word, and as guilt and personal preference collided, the notification was sent and confirmed. Burning bridges is not one of my specialities and I often try to avoid it at all costs.
So, back to the research which was the intentional topic of this first post (remnant thinking on how I am being a poor model of 'development of a single focus' as I'm teaching in my writing class). Regardless; free write this is. I keep reading all these 'Horror Stories' as they've so been dubbed by my boyfriend who will be traveling to China with me and hasn't done his fair share of the research. Well between reading through the 400-pg online guide by middlekingdomlife.com about all the atrocities to avoid, studying Chinese once a week but not practicing nearly enough, and mentally preparing for this transition and culture while developing my early teaching career has been a full-time gig. It is surely one of those 'never ending' items on the to-do list. Testing the endurance side of motivation. And trying to enjoy the summer which has just begun to appear up in Western New York.
Warnings about housing, respect levels, money, time, apartment searches, food, health, etc. transitions would be enough when moving an hour away much less half a world. But I'm trying not to worry; despite all the warnings. I just hope my brain can hold and respectively recall all important information in the proper time when it is needed.. and that it's not just floating through my brain in some distant abyss labeled 'overwhelmed;' or in a mental storage file labeled 'Sort' much like the one hidden from the desktop of my computer.
Additionally. Getting excited is surely there. There aren't so many 'get excited about China' books out there however. My stack of study vocabulary cards is a few inches high by now and I know about half of them solidly. I wonder what I will miss the most. Or if I'll even care. But for what it's worth, Tim Hortons breakfast sandwiches are truly my American comfort food of choice. But leave WNY, and its already gone.
But now it's just a waiting game. Tie up loose ends; more like health checks and haircuts. And wait for the paperwork. About a month from now it seems. Wish someone could tell me what more specific things I could be doing between now and then. But until next time, and I plan on having many many more next times over the next year (another endurance issue).. I'll be enjoying whatever summer comes my way and keeping the 'don't get overwhelmed' meter to a minimum.