My life changed forever when I decided to go to China. I went from just living a normal everyday life to looking forward to the adventure of a lifetime. Some would say that it's crazy to want to leave the comfort of a secure lifestyle for adventure in an uncertain world, but I say that if you live in a secure lifestyle you probably aren't really living and when you are too old to do anything about it, that is when you will realize it. Read more…

So, it's time for the world cup again and all the world is watching as 32 teams vie for one of the most prestigous titles ever. I must admit that for three years I am not a soccer fan, but when the world cup rolls around I find myself loosing myself in the excitement. I don't know what it is about this particular tournament but I find myself literally quaking with the energy that is being giving off by the crowd watching the games. Sometimes I wish I could take the month off just to watch all of the games but I must be realistic. Read more…

We all deal with self-doubt and other inner struggles in our day to day lives, and of course I am no exception to this. I find myself struggling now to keep my focus and fear completely screwing things up. I fear that I will not be able to adjust in China. I fear that I am not good enough to teach English. I fear that I am once again making a bad decision. It is when I have these thoughts that I catch myself remembering that I am not alone in this. I have received all the moral support I could ask for from not only the staff at CLM, but also from you, the readers of my blogs. It has been your advice and support that helps me focus when doubt threatens to consume my aspirations for my future. Read more…

Ever since Jack Black immortalized the smart mouthed Po in Kung-fu panda I’ve been compared to this character. I’ve even had my closest friends call me the Kung-fu Panda. Now, some would be offended by this, but I see it as a compliment. Why would I be happy about being called a fat furry animal? Well to be honest, I am a fat furry animal, and I’ve been called worse things that are nowhere near as cute as a panda. It also helps that panda’s are a national treasure in China. Read more…

It seems that the firestorm of controversy has been ignited and everyone is scrambling to be heard on their idea of what a game player is and what should be done about these fiends of the internet. So what better way to get involved in the discussion than by blogging about the subject also. First of all I would like to say that both sides of this story have great points. Not every guy guilty of one or more of the red flag behaviors is a bad person, but it just goes to show that a few bad apples can ruin it for everyone. It seems as if where ever I go I am hearing the horror stories of girls who have encountered some jackass who thinks he’s Antonio Bandaras and has to have sex with as many girls as he possibly can because he could become impotent at any moment. Read more…

I suppose I am the endless optimist in the mist of the realists. I don’t know why, but I have always looked on the bright side of dark situations and can always see the positive nature of even the worst events. Maybe, this is a very bad flaw to have and I should let go of this shiny happy attitude. I feel however, that this attitude is what has allowed me to succeed in life and to achieve all that is opening up before me now. It has been my ability to adapt to the negative changes around me. My father once told me an ancient Chinese proverb, “He who bends with the wind shall weather the storm, but he who stands like a wall will surely crumble.” I never did find out if this is a true Chinese proverb but it seemed like good advice and I still follow it to this day. Read more…

So how does one decide on which city to live in China? Is there a magic formula that can give you the square root of your happy place, or do you just blindfold yourself and use the map of China dartboard routine? I’d like to think that is a medium between those extremes, but from all of the people I have spoken to both in China and here in the U.S. there is no true way to find a perfect place for you in China. Its trial and error really, and from what most have said there are many errors with the trials. You could, of course, be smart and simply take a vacation to China to see that beautiful Chinese girl you’ve been talking to. That way you can see all the splendor of China for yourself or run like hell if need be. That’s the smart way. Then there is my way, which is to fly by the seat of my pants into this whole thing. I can hear you people reading this already grumbling about me being wreckless and probably a few other choice words about my intelligence, but I assure you this is not nearly as crazy as it sounds nor am I as unprepared as most would think. Read more…

A co-worker asked me a question the other day that gave me an idea for this blog. He asked me “Why in the world would you want to go to China and teach?” I think answering this question for you guys will probably make more sense than it did for this Neanderthal. First of all, Teaching has been a dream of mine ever since I was in High-school. There was something about the way a teacher can touch your life and make you work towards bettering your life that just felt right to me. Of course I realize that you’ll never get rich being a teacher, but the personal rewards are far greater than just the pay. Read more…

Lately, as I perused the forum and blogs, I noticed that there are quite a few guys on the website who have some harsh words for the ideal of filial duty. They warn others to be careful of the trap that a Chinese woman’s family entails. Though I think many have forgotten that at one point in our own western history that taking care of and respecting our elders was once a high virtue and not scoffed at the way it is today. The thing I have read the most is how her family will try to control all aspects of your life. There is no consideration that perhaps they do have the best interest of their family in mind, and that includes you if you have married her. We seemed too distracted with our own independence to think of what the true union of a man and a woman really stands for. Read more…

8000 miles, that is all that separates me from my goal of reaching mainland China. It kinda makes me envious of the Mongolian hordes; all they had to do to get to China is go over the Great Wall. I have to cut through the red tape of two countries like a ninja secretary, and all the while balancing my life on the tightrope that I call a budget. Read more…