Los Angeles, November 2, 2010

Fortunately, I'm not standing outside your door, contemplating whether to wake you up. And say good-bye. (!)

But as many of you know, I am about to depart on my latest adventure – a trip to Southern China where I hope to pursue my passion for teaching English. After many months of thinking about it, weeks of planning, and about an hour-and-a-half reserved for packing, I'll be leaving this Thursday, Nov. 4th for Hong Kong. My eventual destination: Shenzhen, China.

Shenzhen (GuanWei's hometown – pronounced 'shun-jun') is located in Southern China, immediately north of Hong Kong. It's become the 4th largest city in China (after Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou, and way ahead of trifling Hong Kong) with a teeming population of 9 million people. Without giving you all a history lesson, it was only 30 years ago that the city was a small fishing village. Now it has skyscrapers shaped like spaceships! Only in China.

I'll be staying with GuanWei's #5 sister – the one closest in age to him. Her name is Wong Ha (yes, funny. but they're rolling on the floor when they hear my name!). Married with a teenage girl, Wong Ha will be graciously accepting me into her family for what will probably be a month or so. (I'm already ahead of you, and know what you're thinking. But warnings are of no use – she doesn't speak English!)

My preparations have opened my eyes to the small miracles we now take for granted. Take telecommunications. With my Skype number, my folks will be able to dial my local LA number and reach me literally half-way around the world – from their living room – on their cell phone – for pennies a minute. Am I the only one amazed by this? Come on, most of you can remember rotary phones and when long-distance meant Chicago. Calling China these days? Awesome.

From many of you, I've had the obvious questions of 'Why' and 'Wherefore'. To which I reply 'Why not' and 'Where-fore-not...' (?) As many of you know, this will be my 2nd adventure-of-a-lifetime, the first being a teaching stint in Kasukabe, Japan back in the early 90's. So, I suppose there's still a little bit of wanderlust in me …. OK, well just a little bit. It's mostly the money. Why lie? As a private tutor for much of the past couple of years, most of my clients (all of them?) have been Chinese, and (how shall I put this?) … oh yes, rich. Yes, I am definitely following the money.

The ads are all over the internet, and the opportunities await. I've even been reading a book by an ex-pat called 'Struggling in the U.S.? Move to China!' (I think he needs to be a little more direct in his title...). But it's true, there are myriad opportunities for those enterprising few who don't mind not being able to speak or understand the local language, who aren't fazed by restaurant menus written in indecipherable characters, who will stand out in a crowd at 5'8”, who don't mind eating food that was alive a minute ago, and who thrive in 95° weather... with 95% humidity. I've found my new home!

And when I talk about money, I'm talkin' real money. Thousands a month. (OK, you have to divide by 6.8.) But still, for someone who's typically needed until 5:00 pm. on the 31st to earn enough to pay his mortgage, the allure of 10,000 a month is breathtaking. Kidding aside, experienced English teachers are a valued commodity in the Far East. (me... a commodity!) And with a little discipline, the costs of housing, food, transportation, and the basics are very reasonable. At least they seem to be from here! Will be filling you in soon enough.

And speaking of soon, it'll be a couple of short days 'til I depart. As I do, I'm thinking of all those I'll be leaving behind. My family & friends who've sustained me thru these many years. My Pasadena pals whom I've known through the Tournament and the Jaycees, my friends in the Chorus from whom I now quit for the second time (!), my Monrovia 'family', my Chinese friends and clients who it seems I met only yesterday …

You've all been so gracious during these last few days & weeks as my departure has approached. It sure has been 'fulfilling' in more ways than one. For those of you not knowing where you'll find your next meal, a hint: just let your friends know you're relocating to China. You'll have free dinners for a month! I've never known how much my friends have been so glad to see me go! … and, seek my fortune. All those toasts to 'better times ahead'! I'm sure you were thinking of... me?!

But seriously, there are a special few who I must mention because they deserve the most thanks and gratitude. – To my Mother and Father who I know hated to see me go, but were supportive and loving as I made my decision. Even with this second time going so far away, they have always been so. To my sisters, Bunny and Sandy, who were shouting 'Go!' even before I told them where I was headed (!). And to my partner and friend GuanWei, who has been by my side always – even while I was away from his. Without his love, support, encouragement and not-so-gentle 'push', I would still be wandering, and wondering what I wanted to do when I grew up.

It is from you all that I get my strength – to explore new and unfamiliar places, to challenge myself, to expand my abilities, to excite others in learning the language and ways of the West, and to do better than I have ….

It's with these memories of you that I leave my home once again, and try to find my 'corner of the sky'.

I'll continue this new experiment in blogging next from points far east. I hope to give you a sample of the new and off-beat things I find and encounter. Hopefully it will be informative, somewhat enlightening, and occasionally amusing. Do I hear 2 out of 3?

Next stop: Shenzhen, China. I can't wait!

Skip

 

Address:   c/o Wong Jiating

                 Ting Hai Hua Yuen, 1 Dong 13C

                 NanShan, Shenzhen, China (no postal code)

Skype:      626-593-5255 (15 hours ahead, PDT; 16 hours ahead, PST)