I’m finally realizing that I have been in China just shy of two months, and it’s been nearly a month since I’ve posted. I didn’t mean to be so irregular (but I’ve been eating a lot of street food, so I guess that happens) (jokes), but it’s been a long second month with a lot of ups and downs.
After graduating from college – and not having a stable job in early fall – I realized that having a daily commitment keeps me sane. As much as I wondered in awe about workaholics when I was a student, now I see how that could be a thing. I started going into the SAA office regularly the week after Shenyang. My work didn’t really change from when I was a remote intern doing translations in the evenings on my couch in Grand Rapids, but I was going to the office every day, talking with coworkers, sitting in on meetings, and getting lunch in a group. I like the content of my work – although sometimes I struggle still with the Chinese words – and I feel like I’m learning a lot at the same time, so it’s very rewarding.
I’ve gotten to know my flatmates, and I’ve met new ones and signed on an apartment. I’ve learned a lot of random facts – particularly about space, Australia, and Germany – while sitting around the dining room table with an astrophysicist, a mathematician, an engineer, and a Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor. We’ve had some pretty good food (and whiskey) at the same time. We had a beautiful brunch a few weekends ago, and I even baked a cherry pie to celebrate Pi Day. I will miss these people and this apartment – I love that it’s two floors, I’ve really been spoiled – but I think I have a good setup for the next year. I signed on a lease with two guys, one fresh off the boat from the great state of California, the other a seasoned Brit-turned-Beijinger. We took a risk on an apartment that was only about 80% finished when we first saw it, and since has been somewhat cleaned and fully furnished. We got the keys last night and are working out kinks this weekend (such as the key card that makes it possible to enter the stairwell and the fact that one shower has no water), and I’ve made two incredibly frustrating trips to IKEA and still need more necessities.
I have been tutoring as much as the families will have me, both because it’s fun and to earn cash. I head to Alice’s house from SAA and we immediately eat dinner. Always delicious and healthy, several dishes plus soup and a yogurt drink (so good!) or fruit after dinner. We work on homework and play a crossword game or read out loud. My goal is to get her to speak more, and more clearly. I think we’re making progress. I’ve also stayed the night at her house a couple of times, and then spent the day with her mom, hanging out at the mall. We got Korean Barbecue a few weeks ago – best day ever. So much food. She also helped me open up a Chinese bank account. I feel somewhat like I’ve been adopted by a Chinese family and I love it.
The biggest downside that’s been haunting me for the past month in Beijing has been trying to keep finances in order as I wait for the second leg of the agritech job to come together. The initial somewhat-of-a-plan had been to teach English just to have a steady income, and then SAA had offered this partnership-job with the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science… which will be a fantastic experience and great resume builder. I’ve been waiting mega-patiently for nearly two months for it to come together and it’s made finances very tight, especially putting down money on the new place and paying rent for the sublet. It’s been very stressful. The added stress, awful pollution last week, and long days the past few weeks led to a pretty crappy cold and a rough weekend.
BUT Monday morning dawned bright and sunny, the sky has been blue all week (it was too good to last), and it was so warm that I didn’t even need to wear a coat; work remains fun and new friends are being made, my new bed is squishy and big and I’m so excited to buy a comforter, AND most excitingly, the job with CAAS finally came together. Things are looking bright in spite of still tight finances for the next month, because that’s not everything. I start on Monday! I’m looking forward to earning a regular paycheck and having a real idea of what to expect for the next year or so, rather than being in limbo.
I’ve got a few weekend trips in the works, some just within Beijing and some a bit more exciting. Stay tuned!