I spent years on "Walkabout" around the world and you will love it.  Bali is amazing.  Just travel and let your instincts take you where it wants.  Good luck in China.

Gary

Great story.  I was about to this myself back in 2001 and 9/11 hit and I ended up joing the fire department in Washington DC.  Getting ready to finally start my new adventure again.  Except this time I will have my military/fire department pension with me to supplement the pay. 

I feel the same way you do (and I am 42) so you should be so proud of your decision.  You are going to learn so much.  How was the internship in China?

Cheers,

Gary

Have you had your interview yet?  just had mine, now its getting real. :)

you'll totally rock the Chinese =) If you need/wish for any basics, survival phrases or things to impress cute guys haha, let me know ;-)

I really love your take on spirituality and the connections we make, unexpectedly and in these infathomable ways, with people in life. I agree with that as well. I think that's why I'm so allured and fascinated with different language and culture - it is just phenomenal to learn about so many different people in this varigated world!

Wishing you all the best as you prepare for your journey in 中國.

祝你好運 !!!! ( Good luck! zhu-ni, hao-yuen! )

=) I agree. Life is so interesting, the way it can bring people together in these unpredictable ways. Do you feel sometimes, that you meet the people in your life for a reason? That it is not purely coincidental?

I'm quite disillusioned by many people around me at the moment. Most people where I live (ironically enough, Washington DC where it's fairly diverse) don't seem to care or understand the value of travel and experiencing different culture which is tragic!

Chinese is by far the easiest language, well one of them. There are no verb tenses really, and it's a logographic language so you don't worry about spelling. Of course, learning the characters at first can be challenging but when you get more into it, you start to see patterns and its really not that bad!

So, how long will you teach in China, and do you know where you will be?

Lovely to hear from you =) Oh, you'll have a great time in China, I am sure of it! I taught in Taiwan abt two years ago, and though it's a different country (actually, you know I am not sure - seems like things keep changing, one minute they are independent the next minute, they're part of PRC) Anyhow, the language is beautiful and if you can learn to recognize some hanzi before or while you are there, it will enrich your experience! Make sure you try pearl milk tea. It's my favourite drink ever, I am sure now they make it with coffee too hehe.

Yeah, it would be awesome to meet you if we get jobs teaching in south America!

Hey! Yes, it looks like there will only be a few of us lol. I followed the August Interns and there was only a handful of Americans. I'm from Iowa, more precisely, the Quad Cities. What about you?