You Are Going Where?

Since our trip last summer to Scandinavia, Nikolai and I have bee looking at living and teaching abroad. We had our eye on Europe, but became interested in China when a UEA graduate school friend of Nikolai’s (Lucien) started to email and instant message us about his recent move to Foshan. We started the application process in October, interviews in November and December and got the final word we both were accepted in early January. Since then, we have spent much of our time preparing for the move and telling close friends, family, coworkers and casual acquaintances about our new adventure.

I guess I really didn’t know what to expect to get as a reaction from people, but I have become increasingly more aware at how differently people have responded to the news. The vast majority of people have been very supportive and expressed their own interest in traveling and living abroad. Many people we have talked to have even told us of their own time living in a different culture and how much of an impact it had on their lives. There have been, however, a few people, mostly casual acquaintances, who have expressed a genuine fear for our safety while in China.

In one particular instance, I was talking with a young TLC camper who had come to camp several times and I have gotten to know a little over the years. When in the conversation another camper asked me about my move to China this camper stated, “Why would you want to go to that country?” I paused for a moment to gather my thoughts and responded, “Why not?”

The conversation evolved into one where he expressed his underlying fear of the country, its policies and its less then stellar humanitarian record. Taking on a more of a teacher role than a tennis instructor role I began to question, or should I say prod, his statements. Being that he was going to be a senior in High School I knew he could handle the discussion.

“I mean, they are communist.” he said.

“ Yeah, they are.” I replied.

“Doesn’t that scare you?”

“Not really. I mean, look at their current policies on business. Some might say they are becoming more capitalists then we are. Hong Kong is a perfect example of them trying it out.”

The conversation went on and on with the topics ranging from what they eat (yes, eating dog did come up in the conversation and yes, we will be in a region where that is a perfectly acceptable part of the culture) the one child law to the difficulty of both the Mandarin and Cantonese languages. Throughout the whole discussion I was amazed at how many questions/fears he actually had. “You know, Jen, I couldn’t do it, but I will pray for you when you are there.” He stated at the end. I simply replied back, “Thanks, you have know idea how much that means to me.”

I know I will have many things in China that will make me uncomfortable, homesick, confused and maybe even angry but I know there will be some incredible positive aspects to our living abroad. A part of me is excited to go as a representative of our American culture. I know that I will now be a part of a minority group and just like here in the US, people tend to judge entire groups based on the actions of a few or even one. Hopefully, Nikolai and I can use this to our advantage and help spread a positive vibe about our country and its people.

The biggest reason, however, that I am going is to become a better person with a bigger worldview. I have gotten way to comfortable and I need to be jolted a little. My entire life I have spent living within the boarders of Minnesota. Now, it is true that I have ventured out and traveled many places. But, as my world traveler husband will tell you (who has lived in both England and Denmark), “Visiting a place and living in a place are NOT the same thing.”