1. Introduction

In the fall of 2002 I decided the next chapter of my life would be written somewhere in Asia. At the time of this decision I was teaching Marine Biology on Catalina Island (near Southern California) and was ready for a change. I am 24, and was 23 then, so moving about and making changes of this nature are relatively easy. The hardest part, in my opinion, is making the initial decision. 

The next step was to decide which country to live in. I knew the best chance I had for securing a job and place to live was by teaching English, a job for which there is no shortage of opportunities in Asia. It did not take long for me to settle on China over Japan and South Korea, the two other countries with the most teaching jobs. 

I chose China because no other country in Asia, and perhaps the world, can compare to it in terms of future global economic, social, political, and environmental impact. With a land mass roughly equal to that of the United States and 1.3 billion people living therein, China is truly a giant. This, coupled with the colossal changes it is in the midst of, particularly economically, made it a country I had to see and experience first-hand. 

In the minds of many American's, particularly young Americans, China is shrouded in an air of mystery. For so many years it was a country closed to the outside world during the Mao-era, yet one of great interest due to its ancient culture, its traditions, philosophies, cuisine, and kung fu, among other reasons. As China continues to change and grow, I
believe it will occupy a place more at the forefront of the American consciousness. I knew it would be a great advantage for me to have first-hand knowledge of China, and would be a learning experience unlike any other. 

Before I began looking for an English teaching job (and there are literally thousands here), I had to first choose a region or province. I had made up my mind I did not want to live in a large city like Beijing or Shanghai, and instead wanted to find an area with as little Western influence as possible. 

After a good deal of research I settled on Sichuan as my ideal location to live, for its rich history, diverse environment, and strategic location (close to Tibet and Southeast Asia). 

The very next day, after making my decision, I stumbled on an advertisement for a teaching job at the Luzhou Medical College, which is in Eastern Sichuan. A few emails and faxes later and I had a job. I would be teaching Medical students, ages 18-32, would be given an apartment, and my salary would be 3000 yuan a month. Very good considering I didn't have a TEFL certificate or any previous experience teaching English, which is a testament to the high demand in China for English teachers. I left my home inw Oregon on February 11th and have been in Luzhou, Sichuan, ever since. 

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