China is not for everyone...
When I came to China my intentions were to gain experience and then move on. I have been here five years now! I really like it here. I talk to others who have lived here for a month or two and all they can talk about is the negative differences between where they came from and where they are now, physically and mentally... They don't seem to be able to leave their country behind. Anyway...

Early every morning, I can go to the park and do Thai Chi with the locals and yes I'm the youngest one there. Or I bring my badminton raquette, and although nobody there speaks English they invite me to play every time. Living here has opened my eyes to the way life could be if we all just slowed down a little. It's like going back in time! Every night the park is packed with peaple young and old. Dancing and playing or sitting and talking. In my country of citizenship the parks are closed after dusk, for our safety. China is not for everyone but for me it changed my life in only good ways. I am sad to be returning home and leaving here.

Courtney, I hope you find what you're looking for. As I stated in a previous email. If you are interested in working in China maybe I can help. My wife and I have been teaching in Xianju, Zhejiang China for the past five years. This small city is in Eastern China, about 5 hours south of Shanghai and an hour from the ocean. I teach grade 10 at the high school and I have offered to help them out by finding a replacement for my job before I leave. We have stayed here for so long because the money is more than we need and the school is very good to us. But most importantly the locals are friendly.

If you are interested in a gainful and rewarding position with an excellent school, please reply. Send me any questions you have and I’ll do my best to answer them all!
darekmitchell@ymail.com