When I was younger I loved Choose Your Own Adventure books. I think the first one I ever read had something to do about frost giants. Or maybe wizards. I never cheated by looking ahead, but I do admit to occasionally using bookmarks to save a known safe point in case I needed to backtrack. If only it were that simple these days…
Our current adventure just got a new plot twist. Just as we were about to settle down here in Zhuhai, we got some new information about Jenny’s English teaching position. Or I should say, we finally got all the information we had originally asked for. And it turns out that this position just simply isn’t going to work for us. So with that option now closed and only a week left before visas, classes and short-term leases all end, we’re now scrambling to make the next move.
This last weekend I was in Hong Kong renewing my own visa. To receive the coveted six month multiple entry business visa, one must first obtain two thirty day single entry business visas. Of course this means several expensive trips to Hong Kong and pricey rushed visas (since expediting the visa is cheaper than staying longer in Hong Kong). So far I had one tourist visa and one business visa. This time around I struck out and rather than getting the business visa I wanted, they gave me a tourist visa. Since I haven’t yet set up a representational office in mainland China, I don’t have a lot of leverage attempting to get a visa on my own. I have some contacts that could help me out, but I’ve been hesitant to play those cards until I really needed them.
In light of these developments, the temptation to simply go back to reside in Hong Kong is becoming irresistible. This weekend Jenny sent out twenty resumes to schools in Hong Kong and we’re already getting some responses. If we can find a position that pays enough to cover the basic expenses of Hong Kong life, we’ll probably move there next week. Or maybe we’ll just take a job with another school in Zhuhai. Who knows?
- Join the rest of the expats in Hong Kong. Turn to page 10.
- Become a migrant worker in China. Turn to page 42.
- Live in a tent on a Thailand beach. Turn to page 17.
- Return to American Suburbia and buy a Hummer. Turn to page 66.
§Commentary
Return to American Suburbia, buy a hummer? Dude, you’re killing me. If you return stateside, give me a call, I’m juggling some new ideas… but I seriously hope you choose the tent in Thailand first.
:)
As much as we’d love to have you all back in the U.S. don’t even think about quitting at the first big hurdle!!! I’m starting to think a tent on a beach isn’t really all that bad….
DANG! I can’t take the suspense anymore! I must know what happens!
(Checks to see if anyone is looking)
(Peeks at page 66)
“You have just finished purchasing your new Hummer. Jenny is soon furious after discovering that your purchase of the vehicle has single-handedly punched a hole in the atmosphere over Ecuador.”
Ewww! That doesn’t look good…
(Peeks at page 42)
“You have migrated to the QingHai province to begin raising messenger pigeons. However, two weeks after arriving, local villagers have pillaged your villa and eaten all of your pigeons. You turn to your last alternative and begin growing rice. Maeli refuses to learn english and is convinced she is Chinese. She demands to be called “MeiLi de ZhongGuo zhi GongZhu.”
*Yikes! Poor Maeli…
I can’t take anymore of this Drama. I’ve gotta know what happnes in the end…*
(Peeks to the back of the book)
“Aaron successfully establishes his software developement company in China and becomes a millionaire (even buying his Best Brother, Tracy, a caastle). Jenny was responsible for training an entire generation of Chinese children English. Maeli learns chinese but is fully aware that she is not a chinese KungFu student and does not have any severe identy crises.”
(Cries for joy… Pretends like he doesn’t know the ending… Begins looking at armor for the castle his brother will inevitably buy for him.)
Fun Times…
Boy, these hurdles we all face. I can identify…I had such a hard time trying to decide what to have for lunch today.
First, Tracy is weird.
Second– yeah that’s actually all I had to say. Love ya much!! Good luck with everything :)