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Post by Jollyjunklass on Nov 24, 2006 11:32:23 GMT 7
hEY GUYS,
I am contemplating, is this actually real life or is just some sort of ONE LONG VACATION? What do you all feel?
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Post by Lotus Eater on Nov 24, 2006 11:43:44 GMT 7
Sounds like you're happy JJL!
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Post by con's fly is open on Nov 24, 2006 12:00:06 GMT 7
Depends. For y'all lucky ones, who've sewn up their obligations back home, raised their kids to the point you can kick them out and let them fly, and set out for a new life here, it pretty much is a vacation. A working vacation, but still... For those of us who haven't had a family but want to, and have postponed responsibilities and the work that goes with it: not so much. Me, I'm working. In September, broke from visiting home, I needed money to live, in October I needed money to move, and now in November I need money to overhaul my teeth. ;D December: money for suits from Hong Kong. January: money for travelling. February: more teeth. ;D March to June: money to visit home. Then I'll get back, broke, and need money to live. Repeat cycle. Mind, I'll have straight white teeth and some suits, a cool apartment and a heavier resume. And I'll be 39 and a half.
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nolefan
Barfly
Quod me nutrit, me destruit!
Posts: 686
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Post by nolefan on Nov 24, 2006 12:41:12 GMT 7
I think it is as real as you perceive it. You live, work, love, eat, drink, sleep and go through the same motions as most people in one way or another. why wouldn't be real?
In my case, it's more real than my previous "life" in USAnia where it felt like i was just zombiying through 6 days a week and vegetating through the 7th day
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Crippler
Barfly
Beware the conspiracy!
Posts: 345
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Post by Crippler on Nov 24, 2006 16:08:24 GMT 7
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Post by Lone Traveller on Nov 24, 2006 16:30:09 GMT 7
I'm with you Crippler! I'm having too much fun - so leave me alone!
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Post by Lotus Eater on Nov 24, 2006 18:07:36 GMT 7
Whether it's real or not, I'm happy living it!
Today I had 6 hours of classes - 4 (hours, 2 classes) x 4th years, 2 x post-grads. Then from 4pm until now (7pm) I had debating practice with mixed under- and post-grads (topic: Censorship is evil). All of the classes were a ball - one 4th year class ended up being here because the windows panes in the classroom were missing and it's COLD, so the whole class squished crowded into my apartment and we had a great lesson. The post-grad lit class had yet another total stranger come in and audit - I thought it was an unexpected visit by one of the Beijing inspectors, and had a major groan to myself because I had planned this class to be on visual poetry, so collected some really fun examples of it. But it turns out he was just another English teacher wanting to see what I did. Debating practice is also in my apartment.
Getting dressed now to go out to dinner at one of my favourite restaurants with a bunch of friends.
It's a rugged life!
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Post by Vegemite on Nov 24, 2006 19:57:45 GMT 7
I'm with all of you...life here is so much better.
But I do mirror 'Con's Fly is Open' - money, money...although not such a strain here, it still is always in the back of my mind. But, just like him I'll return home next year with better teeth, a good suit (but maybe not exactly the same style as Con's) and the urge to return and repeat the whole thing - sans child this time.
Life just seems so much easier here. But I think it did in the other countries I've been to, too. When you're squatting in a place for a while, when you're an outsider looking in, I think all the petty details of life are subsumed by the bigger picture.
I would love to stay here for years...
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Crippler
Barfly
Beware the conspiracy!
Posts: 345
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Post by Crippler on Nov 24, 2006 20:53:12 GMT 7
I solved the money problem, I am staying!
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Post by Lotus Eater on Nov 25, 2006 3:27:24 GMT 7
I too am staying as long as I can. I have 'some' money at home that will hopefully look after me when I can no longer look after myself totally - another 40+ years down the track. So... at dinner tonight, because the people at the restauarant know me, the laoboan sent over a few bottles of free beer to our table, the friends with him sang us a couple of special songs and danced for us. The laoban came over to talk to us, so I used the little Tibetan I have (it was a Tibetan restaurant) - he was gobsmacked - so invited us upstairs to see the miniature Tibetan temple he has constructed on the 2nd floor with 11 ( ??) Sakyamuni relics. Then because he and I chatted some more, he invited us to see the workroom where more statues are being carved - really interesting!! From there we went to my favourite bar - where despite being packed as, we managed to score front row seats - and my favourite gutiar players played and sang my favourite song, and danced with me to another band afterwards. From there we went to a very flash nightclub - and most areas were closing down, but they let us into one area, and the floor manager came over, started dancing with me, and in the end we exchanged cards for more dancing time together. This is such a tough life!!!!!!!!!!!! And it's 4:26am!!
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Post by Jollyjunklass on Nov 25, 2006 5:00:45 GMT 7
gobsmacked
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Post by Jollyjunklass on Nov 25, 2006 5:03:47 GMT 7
Funnypost,Con-soundslikeme
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Post by cheekygal on Nov 25, 2006 20:20:02 GMT 7
Con sounds like a lot of us. This month my income has THE BIGGEST number (I don't mean to brag, but the number makes me THAT happy) I ever had throughout 5 years in China - finally all my years of hardship pay off!. What a lovely birthday present! But: - rent - maid - little debt (very small - needed to buy something, couldn't wait till salary) - money for mom's birthday and for sister who just had a baby (big amount) - birthday party I throw myself - Qingdao trip on the 2nd - attending a Charity ball - bills So... all together more than a half will vanish. I will still have considerable amount but of course we all wish we had more and more and more. This month I will finally be able to save which I haven't done in a while. Normally my savings go on travels and when mom comes to visit (Hey, ANYTHING for the family!)
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Eagle's Nest
Barfly
A self-portrait ... note that there is a mess of confusion in the swirling mists of "self"
Posts: 283
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Post by Eagle's Nest on Nov 26, 2006 6:32:05 GMT 7
Yep! Definitely a vacation, one that someone else pays for. LOL
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Post by Becster79 on Nov 27, 2006 19:15:58 GMT 7
I've never been able to fit into normal society....or at least what is perceived to be 'normal society' ie. married, 1.5 kids, home with picket fence etc....ever since I was a little girl I knew I would be different to others. I've tried many jobs back home in Oz but just not cut out for it. It wasn't until I actually saw a segment on a national brekkie show 'Sunrise' (I miss Mel & Kochie ) in 2004 about people living & working overseas that I wondered whether that was for me. I was lucky in that I got a NICE tax return that year that enabled me to jump on a plane here the end of that year ;D. I've loved it so much, I don't think this is a holiday at all. This is my life, my work, my (new) home. Okay, it comes with a heavy cost- I will probably never marry and experience having a family of my own, only get to see my family & friends once a year, don't have the material things people normally have at home. But I have never been as happy as I am now. I plan on continuing this for as long as someone will have me as a teacher. I'm so committed to this I will be beginning a Masters of Applied Linguistics early next year (through UNE in Oz, also got my undergrad degree there) while working, hopefully this will help get better positions even further on than China in the future. So yeah, for me, this is as real as it gets .
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Post by Lotus Eater on Nov 27, 2006 19:39:44 GMT 7
Go for it Becs. I spent a looong time doing the 'expected' stuff back home. And now the freedom to do this - to finally follow the dreams I've had of living overseas since I was tiny - is sheer magic. I expect to be here in one way shape or form for a long time.
I often say 'throw away' lines that seem to come true alarmingly often - and one of them I said a few years back, before I started this process was "I can see myself getting lost in the depths of China" - and the longer I am here the more likely it becomes.
Another one my children have heard from the time they were tiny is "If you want me to babysit, you'll have to find me at the bottom of the Himalayas" - and I've been there, and intend on going back!
I figure this place fits the chaotic process of my mind, much better tahn the orderly world I come from.
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Post by cheekygal on Nov 27, 2006 20:29:09 GMT 7
Becs, never say never! When you least expect it - things will start happening in the most wonderful ways! Who ever though you'd be in China? I know I DEFINITELY never wanted to live in China. Look where I am for the past 5 years, going on 6th!
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Post by Becster79 on Nov 27, 2006 21:33:39 GMT 7
Cheekygal, I was the same, I didn't want to come to China, I actually had my heart set on South Korea (chasing the money!) but was talked into coming here....haven't looked back! Never say never? I'm assuming you're talking about the guy thing? I'm SO over that , I was actually engaged to someone 6 years ago (heck I feel so old saying that!) but my priorities have seriously changed since then!
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Post by mich on Nov 28, 2006 12:12:15 GMT 7
I have the same problem here as I do at home.
I put budget into plan. I work out how much money I'm going to take home and then SOMETHING ALWAYS COMES UP!!!!!!
ARGH!!! It drives me insane!!!!
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Post by cheekygal on Nov 28, 2006 13:31:39 GMT 7
Becs, I actually got married someone 8 years ago and divorced 2,5 years after. As messy as it was- I have my hopes high and believe in good things I just stopped rushing things happening - whatever you do, it won't happen until it is time for it ;D
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Da Dan
Barfly
the weather is here............ wish You were beautiful
Posts: 105
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Post by Da Dan on Nov 29, 2006 8:10:46 GMT 7
all these years I was under the impression that life Is a vacation
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Post by Dajiang on Nov 29, 2006 14:43:22 GMT 7
Right on.
I used to ask myself this question back 'home', and still do silently when I look at how my friends and family carry on over there.
I know Im not gonna be here forever, but whatever the next step will be I'll make sure it'll be more interesting if anything.
Life here is for real. No holiday, though maybe I'm avoiding the responsibilities that others may think I have...
Related? Here's a little poem that I always find very uplifting:
"Choose Life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family. Choose a m'kaying big television. Choose washing machines, cars, compact disc players and electrical tin openers. Choose good health, low cholesterol, and dental insurance. Choose fixed interest mortage repayments. Choose a starter home. Choose your friends. Choose leisurewear and matching luggage. Choose a three-piece suite on hire purchase in a range of m'kaying fabrics. Choose DIY and wondering who the m'kay you are on a Sunday morning. Choose sitting on that couch watching mind-numbing, spirit-crushing game shows, stuffing m'kaying junk food into your mouth. Choose rotting away at the end of it all, pishing your last in a miserable home, nothing more than an embarrassment to the selfish, m'kayed up brats you spawned to replace yourself. Choose your future. Choose life."
John Hodge - Trainspotting
DJ
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Eagle's Nest
Barfly
A self-portrait ... note that there is a mess of confusion in the swirling mists of "self"
Posts: 283
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Post by Eagle's Nest on Nov 30, 2006 5:56:16 GMT 7
Definitely it is a holiday. But, it is work! It is life! It is real! What this is teaching me is that I love doing something new, something that has me keep my eyes wide open with a camera at hand. Likely this means I will not stay in China more than two years as there are so many places yet to experience and I know that I don't have enough years left to experience them all.
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Ruth
SuperDuperMegaBarfly
God's provisions are strategically placed along the path of your obedience.
Posts: 3,915
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Post by Ruth on Nov 30, 2006 6:23:50 GMT 7
Go for it, Eagle.
As for me - this is my life now. Where will it lead me next? God knows, but I sure don't. Enjoying it tremendously, though.
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