The Start of Something New

It all began several years ago.

No, more than that.

More.

Ok, bit less.

Now a little to the left...perfect.

I can remember being interested in TEFL when I was in high school and first found out that it was a thing people did.  That was twelve years ago now, and a long and bumpy road through various lives, homes, states, and jobs means that only now is the time really right.

But damnit, the time IS right.  And now, a few thousand dollars in paperwork, certification courses, travel, and more paperwork, I'm finally entertaining job offers and evaluating where I want to go.

Being a creature of the cold, even living in my current state where the summers get to high 90's makes me sad panda.  So I'm aiming my sights at northern China, where the pay is hot and the climate isn't.  As of writing this, I've already received a job offer in Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.  The capitol of the northernmost province, Harbin is best known for the International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, which you owe it to yourself to google (someday this blog will have full links and more conveniences, but just starting out, I'm keeping the bar low - nowhere to go but up, baby!).  Harbin has a record high temperature (between 1961 and 2000) of ~100 F, which isn't unheard of as a normal summer day where I live now; summer days seem to hover in the 70-80 range.  The record low in the same period is -36 F, with typical temps in winter of 0 to -5.
Sounds fantastic.

Harbin also has the distinction of being one of the regions of China with the most pure dialect of Mandarin, as well as some of the most effective and affordable Mandarin schools, making it an excellent place to learn the language.

I have three other interviews pending; two scheduled with English First in Changchun and Dalian, and one with Aston English, a nation-wide school organization.  The latter, I'm waiting to hear which locations might have openings.

Dalian and Changchun are in the nearby Liaoning and Jilin provinces, respectively. Dalian is on the ocean (like Darmok and Jalad) not far from North Korea, and is well known for its rich history and influences of Russian and Japanese architecture and culture.  I don't know a lot about Changchun, but a quick summary paragraph on Wikipedia says it's one of the main hubs of the Chinese auto industry.

China is currently among the best markets for TEFL teachers, as it is undergoing a huge expansion in the language; as anyone knows, mastery of English is vital to having a strong presence on the world stage.  I don't say that with arrogance or even pride; we can blame the British Empire for that as much as the US.  China offers some of the highest pay rates, as well as the best benefits, of most TEFL regions, with South Korea and Taiwan being slightly better (case by case, of course).

The downside is that the Chinese bureaucracy is also among the less maneuverable in the region, with Japan likely giving it a run for its money.  The process for acquiring a legal work visa for China (called a Z Visa) is pretty involved and requires a three-step authentication of four separate documents for English teachers at most reputable schools.

Still.  While I can't explain why, China has always drawn me.  China and Japan both, but I have the impression that a lot of the Japan draw is the way they've sold their culture to the West, and a sort of secondhand familiarity feeling that results.

Whatever happens, this is definitely the start of something new in my life.  And I'm glad to have you along vicariously for the journey!

-L