Would You Just Get Up & Fly Away?

[YS2003]

If I were you, I would take that opportunity up. I did those things in the past and I did not regret them one bit. As my most recent move, before the financial crisis, I ditched the USA in a heartbeat for better financial situation for myself. Asia is where the actions are and for the next few decades at least.

 

[HappyDude20]

Really? $1200 isn't much. You said they provide living only if you are outside of Beijing? What's the cost of living there? Here in the states $1200 won't do much for you, but living in another country? That just seems low to me but then again, I have no knowledge of expenses, cost of living, etc. outside of the country.

Well, the currency exchange rate in china is pretty good.. Back in 2007 it was 7.15 RMB for every dollar. Today it's at like 6.56. Not bad...meaning my dollar will stretch a long way...though in japan the US dollar is weaker.

Essentially, in china, as long as I'm careful with my money while still enjoying some stuff I'll come out ahead with more money than with what I came in with..


...as a side note, I think I might do it and go abroad..

 

[125037]

Well, the currency exchange rate in china is pretty good.. Back in 2007 it was 7.15 RMB for every dollar. Today it's at like 6.56. Not bad...meaning my dollar will stretch a long way...though in japan the US dollar is weaker.

Essentially, in china, as long as I'm careful with my money while still enjoying some stuff I'll come out ahead with more money than with what I came in with..


...as a side note, I think I might do it and go abroad..

Then do it! Best of luck!

 

[HappyDude20]

Though the program in Beijing is ready to accommodate me, I can't help but feel intrigued about Japan.

Leaving to Beijing in 2 days means I'll have to cancel my dentist appt. and rush to the chinese consulate to grab my Visa, along with quick goodbyes.
Not saying this is a bad thing, just that it would be rushed.

I'd love to find something for Japan, though it's definitely tougher....but I think would be 10x's more fun.

I don't know!!!

 

[Love]

Do it man. Say g'bye and go.

 

[iJohnHenry]

Do it man. Say g'bye and go.

Is he still here?

 

[Love]

Oh... uh, well, maybe he's gone now. Have a safe flight, I suppose?

 

[HappyDude20]

So as it turns out, i'm currently in China.

My buddy and I began our trip in Beijing for 2 days, where we then took a 3 hour train ride south to a city called XingTai, in the HeBei area where we're currently at an internet cafe. The WiFi is slow, though overall the entire trip is very exciting.

I'm wanting to upload photos however I can't even send photos to family as of yet.

So far i've only been able to facetime with my dad, while Skyping with other family members. We'll be in a hotel for the next 3 days, then be moving into a big nice house, as provided by the school we'll be teaching at. Other foreigners are here and it turns out the program has been very accommodating. Some of us have gotten free items such as broadbands cards and others even full wardrobes.

I just wanted to rehash this post to state that I actually went ahead and came abroad. My return flight is mid-May, in time for my birthday and more than enough time to enjoy the summer.

 

[Abstract]

Very nice. My oldest friend has been an English teacher in Guangzhou for ~3 years now! Mind you, I forget because I was living in Australia when he moved and didn't see him leave, and when I was at home in Canada, he was living in China. I visited him in China, though. Anyway, he loves it there. He says that as a foreign English teacher, he can earn around $20000/year if he really wanted to. That's enough to live quite comfortably. Unfortunately, he's also taking uni by correspondence, so he's not working full-time.

My other friend (from Australia) has been working in Tokyo as an English teacher for 2 years now, and I don't think he ever wants to leave. I know his company closed down, but he must have got a job somewhere else, because he's still there. That, or he learned Japanese quickly, and is now using his Masters degree and working a proper job.


I was just in Japan last week. Great place. However, you'll have fun in China.

 

[HappyDude20]

Just a quick update for those who may either seem to care, or simply kill time reading Macrumors Threads (As I used to do...)

Sitting here in this cafe internet bar, super nice, in Xingtai...where my best friend and a new roommate have travelled 3 miles by taxi simply to get some (slow) wifi.

Gmail logs on only after repeated attempts and sending emails is painfully slow. We can't really send photos to loved ones back home; though our coordinator is saying we'll have WiFi at the house we're staying at by the end of the week. fortunately we're not the only ones complaining about wifi. There was even talk about adding on ethernet port in the living room and everyone having to share...but obviously we raised our voices then. Aside, all of our iPod Touches don't play nice with ethernet.

There's not McDonalds within 100 miles it seems, as we definitely know there isn't one in this town; meaning no McDonalds for 2 months. There's a KFC, but yuck. We've been eating dove and donkey, of which the dove tastes like a burnt car tire, but the donkey didn't taste half bad; think beef jerkey.

We've completely immersed ourselves into the culture, knowing its only temporary, though my buddy and i are already planning our first meal back home: In & Out, double double cheeseburger, animal style caveman fries...listening to randy newman's I Love L.A.

We're teaching at a high school and truth be told the living is quite easy. About 3-6 40 minute class sessions a day. This time around, i'm really glad we have our own kitchen, seeing as we're eager to experiment cooking for the next two months.

The only thing though is the wifi situation.

But aside, just wanted to say thanks to those who've followed this thread and perhaps any others in the past. MacRumors has definitely been one of my most visited sites back in the states; simply killing time reading threads in the iPod, iPad, MBP, ATV2, Pics, Marketplace and Community sections. I say this cause if I had a fast connection here i'd most likely be typing away, but rather am on the other side of the planet, seeing hundreds of bikes roll past and locals saying hello.

Thanks to all in the thread who nudged a bit to undertake such an intense experience. It's paying off already.

 

[MusicEnthusiast]

Pretty cool opportunity you get to experience, especially with a friend. The chances you and your bud wanting to do the same thing at the same time isn't very high (well, my friends are all doing different things, so that's why I think so).

Do you plan on getting an international drivers license to drive in China, by chance? If so, it would be cool to know how that works. However, maybe like in Japan, public transportation is the easiest way to go. So it might be similar in China.

Also, are you managing without a cell phone while living over there? I know Skype is free to other skype users and all, so I was wondering how that works for ya. Granted, I'm asking these type of questions because I might find myself working in Japan as soon as I graduate college (which will be in 2013) and I wanna know what to expect.

Hope you're having a great time!

 

[HappyDude20]

Pretty cool opportunity you get to experience, especially with a friend. The chances you and your bud wanting to do the same thing at the same time isn't very high (well, my friends are all doing different things, so that's why I think so).

Do you plan on getting an international drivers license to drive in China, by chance? If so, it would be cool to know how that works. However, maybe like in Japan, public transportation is the easiest way to go. So it might be similar in China.

Also, are you managing without a cell phone while living over there? I know Skype is free to other skype users and all, so I was wondering how that works for ya. Granted, I'm asking these type of questions because I might find myself working in Japan as soon as I graduate college (which will be in 2013) and I wanna know what to expect.

Hope you're having a great time!

Many nights and mornings I still can't believe my best friend and I are both here. We've discussed how much we already miss home, seeing as we're 2 months away from landing back in California; however we've also been flummoxed over how quickly time is going. . We've been in China for almost a month! Its going by incredibly fast, with everyday discovering something new; whether it be the people, a location or the culture..including the array of foods, to the point where we're both now proactively wanting to cherish these moments knowing we'll miss this experience in say a year or two.

I could get a drivers license, but the way they drive here is too extreme for my tastes. The signs and markings on the floors can be considered more like guidelines, seeing as all drivers do whatever they can to beat the traffic. At best I was considering a moped bike..they cost about $300 for a brand new one and get you around town...quicker than a car during rush hour...though slower the rest of the time. Bicycles themselves cost about $40...but as of now am getting used to Taxis and Buses. Bus rides are 6 cents, while Taxis are about $2 each way (into town, a 5 mile ride).

The program i'm with has provided me with a cell phone and SIM card. Considering the location of this town, deep in China, I only need to keep in contact with a few people, including my best friend, some roommates from this house i'm living in, and the chinese people coordinating our trip..oh, and also 4-5 Canadians and Americans we ran into last week and had dinner with. The Canadians we ran into have been in this city for 2 years, and they told us its rare to see foreigners in these parts...to the tune of a foreigner or two every 4-6 months.

I've been using Skype to call people back home..I left the states with about $8 worth of Skype credit and am now down to $6. I only call my grandma and aunt with Skype...or any others for fun, but the majority of my calls are placed using FaceTime, as I got my sister and both parents iPhones before leaving to China.

I started out without a cell phone, telling the program i'm with to not provide one for me, thinking i wouldn't need one...but then meeting locals (cute girls) and thinking about wanting to avoid getting lost by myself in this city, I forced myself to get one...i.e., have the company provide one for me.