Comments on: First Love http://drunkenass.com/china/archive/2006/05/26/first-love/ a man adrift Fri, 10 Sep 2010 02:10:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: shanghai ultra http://drunkenass.com/china/archive/2006/05/26/first-love/#comment-1146 Mon, 05 Jun 2006 03:44:46 +0000 http://drunkenass.com/china/archive/2006/05/26/first-love/#comment-1146 That was a moving story and one very much from the heart. It's the most natural thing in the world to want to know the reasons for rejection, but in this case, it seems unlikely you will ever find out, for many reasons. The biggest of which is the cultural factor. I have lived in China for two years, and consider myself the kind of foreigner who makes an effort to get to know and respect local culture. Two years isn't a long time, but its long enough to know that the Chinese have a very different way of communicating with people, especially when the news to be broken is bad. So, I suggest you draw a line under Santai, and look at it as a 'tranistional' place where you got your life back on track and helped move on from whatever hurt you back home. Nice though Santai was, were you really going to stay there permanently? I dont think you were, so now is as good a time to move on as any. Everybody has their personal demons and we all go through tough phases in life. I spent three years living in a dull, dead-end town in England getting experience working for a newspaper. I looked upon that as something I had to do, but when I asked myself Why Did You Resign? In January 2005, the answer was purely that I needed to take time out and enjoy life and travel after three solid years dedicated to career-building at the expense of living in an exciting location and having a social life. So I left the UK and travelled to China, but then ended up going all over SE Asia and travelling for 5 months. Even when I got to Shanghai, I didnt hurry to get a job, and out of my first 6 months in the city, I only worked for half of that time. Someone left a comment on my blog, on a story when i was feeling guilty for doing nothing for months at a time, that these periods were like long, deep sleeps to recover from pervious toil and strife. And that really struck a chord for me, because it made me realise that I had not wasted 3 months doing nothing, I was just taking the time to move on to a new phase in life at my own pace. I hope you can see some similarities with your situation, when you read this. For purely selfish reasons I hope you stay in China, and I think there is a future for you in software instruction in the Big bad 'Hai, but whatever you decide to do, you have my very best wishes. S.U. That was a moving story and one very much from the heart. It’s the most natural thing in the world to want to know the reasons for rejection, but in this case, it seems unlikely you will ever find out, for many reasons. The biggest of which is the cultural factor. I have lived in China for two years, and consider myself the kind of foreigner who makes an effort to get to know and respect local culture. Two years isn’t a long time, but its long enough to know that the Chinese have a very different way of communicating with people, especially when the news to be broken is bad. So, I suggest you draw a line under Santai, and look at it as a ‘tranistional’ place where you got your life back on track and helped move on from whatever hurt you back home. Nice though Santai was, were you really going to stay there permanently? I dont think you were, so now is as good a time to move on as any.

Everybody has their personal demons and we all go through tough phases in life. I spent three years living in a dull, dead-end town in England getting experience working for a newspaper. I looked upon that as something I had to do, but when I asked myself Why Did You Resign? In January 2005, the answer was purely that I needed to take time out and enjoy life and travel after three solid years dedicated to career-building at the expense of living in an exciting location and having a social life. So I left the UK and travelled to China, but then ended up going all over SE Asia and travelling for 5 months. Even when I got to Shanghai, I didnt hurry to get a job, and out of my first 6 months in the city, I only worked for half of that time. Someone left a comment on my blog, on a story when i was feeling guilty for doing nothing for months at a time, that these periods were like long, deep sleeps to recover from pervious toil and strife. And that really struck a chord for me, because it made me realise that I had not wasted 3 months doing nothing, I was just taking the time to move on to a new phase in life at my own pace. I hope you can see some similarities with your situation, when you read this.

For purely selfish reasons I hope you stay in China, and I think there is a future for you in software instruction in the Big bad ‘Hai, but whatever you decide to do, you have my very best wishes.

S.U.

]]> by: Evan http://drunkenass.com/china/archive/2006/05/26/first-love/#comment-1103 Wed, 31 May 2006 03:48:19 +0000 http://drunkenass.com/china/archive/2006/05/26/first-love/#comment-1103 Wow, you're finally moving on from Santai! When I think of the school Jon and I worked for it reminds me of how lucky you were to find such a great place. But that's not to say that you couldn't find somewhere else that's just as good or better. Do you think you'll follow up on Ethiopia now? I remember you considering that back when you were first offered the second year on your contract. Whatever you choose, however, I wish you the very best of luck. - Evan Wow, you’re finally moving on from Santai! When I think of the school Jon and I worked for it reminds me of how lucky you were to find such a great place. But that’s not to say that you couldn’t find somewhere else that’s just as good or better.

Do you think you’ll follow up on Ethiopia now? I remember you considering that back when you were first offered the second year on your contract.

Whatever you choose, however, I wish you the very best of luck.

- Evan

]]> by: Elly http://drunkenass.com/china/archive/2006/05/26/first-love/#comment-1074 Sat, 27 May 2006 07:59:19 +0000 http://drunkenass.com/china/archive/2006/05/26/first-love/#comment-1074 It's hard to leave a place you've called home for such a long time. I also undertand you feeling of no awareness of where the wind will blow to next. But no matter what the next corner brings, i am sure everything will be fine, and you life will be awesome. It’s hard to leave a place you’ve called home for such a long time. I also undertand you feeling of no awareness of where the wind will blow to next. But no matter what the next corner brings, i am sure everything will be fine, and you life will be awesome.

]]> by: Max http://drunkenass.com/china/archive/2006/05/26/first-love/#comment-1059 Fri, 26 May 2006 10:34:54 +0000 http://drunkenass.com/china/archive/2006/05/26/first-love/#comment-1059 Man, that was a great story. I am having the same feelings about my situation now. I've been at my school for four years now (no 'regulations' preventing me from doing so) but I am wondering if I should move on. Good luck to you. Man, that was a great story. I am having the same feelings about my situation now. I’ve been at my school for four years now (no ‘regulations’ preventing me from doing so) but I am wondering if I should move on. Good luck to you.

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