28 September, 2017

The Difference a Year Makes

Happy Anniversary to me! 


We have officially been living in China for one year, as of yesterday. 

I meant to post yesterday, but I spent the day in a recording studio 2 hours away, making videos for an online class teaching rhymes and crafts to little kids - making English fun and practical, and not just textbook knowledge. It's a pretty sweet gig; I won't lie. What a difference a year makes!
My view from the makeup room

I've learned to look at these projects from a totally new perspective:

I'm just the on-air talent.
I'm the trained monkey.

I have little say in the script or the crafts, except for the fact that I'm the one doing them. But it was kind of fun stepping back from my typical helpful "let me get that" attitude. You do your thing. I'll do mine.

No more teaching for me, not even drama. I wrote a Christmas play for a private facility, but the jury is out on how involved I'll be with that. What a difference a year makes.

Mandarin homework
We are learning the language - almost 200 characters so far, plus words made up of them, plus spoken words and sentences that we haven't learned characters for yet. Well, we've been taught that many, but how many I actually know is debatable. Anyway, it's a start.

We are stable enough to order in food and pay for it. I am looking to Ikea for ways to increase our limited amount of space in the apartment.


We're definitely in a better place than when we first arrived, and it is fall again: The Golden Season in Beijing. That means all the giant-sized fruits that were available when we arrived are coming back.

Life is just life now. We know where to find things we need, and if we are freezing before the heat gets turned on in November (like last year) we can at least afford to buy another blanket!

Things are still often unpredictable. We found a great place for reflexology foot massages, but half the time I go there, they are closed! I cannot figure out their hours. And the way holidays work here throws Brett off almost monthly.

On the whole, things are better than a year ago. Still, for me, the jury is out on this as a potential long-term home. 

6 comments:

  1. Hard to believe a whole year has gone by. It sounds like you are beginning to adjust to your new home. I will be happy to continue to read about your adventures!

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    1. Just in time for it to potentially change! Within the year we will probably be in a different apartment, if not a different city.

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  2. We are definitely in a much better place this year than we were last year. Winter doesn't concern me this time.

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    1. I am in a better place spiritually, for sure. I'm still not sold on this.

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  3. Wow, happy anniversary, you trained monkey! ...Wait, that sounded less kind than I intended.

    That does sound like a really fun experience, though. Even if you are just 'the talent'.

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    Replies
    1. It's hard to get used to. I've done all the theatre jobs there are, and it's hard not to step in and prepare things, and just let everyone do everything around me!

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I enjoy a good debate. Feel free to shake things up. Tell me I'm wrong. Ask me why I have such a weird opinion. ...or, just laugh and tell how this relates to you and your life.