Why I Moved to China

Let me start by saying, I have never wanted to be a teacher, and I certainly never imagined I’d be one—especially not in China. But here I am, boarding a plane to Chongqing, China to teach English to middle schoolers. So how did I end up here? Well, you need to know a little about me first to answer that.

So how did I end up here?

I grew up in a small town in southern Virginia. You could probably guess that it was predominantly white, with very limited exposure to different cultures. To help paint a picture of what I mean, I had boba and pupusas for the first time when I was in college. (Honestly, I didn’t even know what they were before that.) Suffice it to say, I discovered a lot in college, not just about myself, but about the world as well. I started learning Chinese for fun, which led to me studying abroad in Taiwan and getting bit by the travel bug 🪲. After visiting Taiwan, I had a huge desire to see the rest of the world, meet new people, and learn about all the different cultures. Their traditions, their beliefs, I want to learn as much as I can. I came back from Taiwan determined to make traveling a part of my life after graduation.

However, I needed to find a way to pay for this dream. My major in college was Chinese Literature with a minor in Data Science. I could try and find a remote job in Data Science, but the job market is insane right now, especially for tech jobs. I applied to a few (and got rejected from all of them) before I realized that the chances of me finding a remote job in tech would have been very slim. I also figured I’d have a tough time if my first “big girl” job was entirely online. I would need an in-person job. Then there was my actual major. I considered finding a job related to my Chinese major—after all, I also speak Spanish, which should have worked in my favor. The problem was that my Chinese speaking skills were not at the level I wanted them to be at. There was no way I could find a job using my Chinese at that level. So, since I wanted to travel the world anyway, I thought, why not start in China? I can improve my Chinese and also get to explore a new country. And if I have enough time off, I can even visit neighboring countries!

So my last year of college, I set out to find a way to do just that. I needed to find a job in China. I considered going to graduate school in China. After all, China does offer a lot of scholarships to foreigners, but to be completely honest, I was TIREDDD of school. I was barely turning in assignments and rarely going to class. I didn’t have the motivation or energy to go back to school right after graduating. I do want to get my Master’s just not right now. Plus I don’t know what I want to study yet, so why waste more money to study something I’m not even sure about?

Anyway, I was set on figuring out a way to find a job in China. One day in class, I was checking my email when I saw the subject line: “Skip the 9-5, Find Meaningful Work Abroad.” My interest was immediately piqued. I clicked on it. It was an email from CIEE (a study abroad program) promoting their teach abroad program. One of the countries they offered was China, and I was immediately sold. It’s a great way for me to immerse myself in the language, explore more of the world, and fund my travels at the same time. That’s how I ended up applying for the program.

It wasn’t an easy decision, though. My parents wanted me to get my Master’s and stay closer to home, and the more I heard my classmates talk about their jobs in New York or D.C., the more pressure I felt to do something similar. On top of that, I had my own fears—being alone in not just a new city, but a new country, far away from all my family and friends. It was intimidating. But despite all of that, deep down, I knew I wouldn’t have been happy if I stayed. I would have always wondered, ‘What if I had gone?’ ’How would I and my life be different?’ There was a big part of me that wanted to go and explore and experience something new. And while I’m still young, with few responsibilities, this was my best chance to do it. If I didn’t do this now, I would’ve regretted it so much more.

So, here I am—doing it. I don’t know what to expect. I’ve never taught before, and to be honest, I’m really nervous. I know I’m going to have moments where I feel lonely and miserable and rethinking my decisions. I may struggle with the different culture and the language barrier. But, it doesn’t matter, it’s all part of the experience. I’m doing something I truly wanted to do. Whether this year turns out to be amazing or full of challenges, at least I’ll know I have lived it fully, on my own terms.