The turning tide

Weather: too cold to venture outside
Temp: -11 - -3 (yes, sub-zero all day long)
Exchange rate: RMB1 = R1,48
Days left in kitty prison: 10
Permanent gloves: It gets so cold here you can buy "permanent" mits to attach to your bike or scooter for winter. Keeps your hands from freezing and breaking off your arms.

Last week and most of this week was not much fun for me. My regular teaching classes came to an end and it looked like I would not teach again for a while. My frantic and persistent efforts to find a "real" job were not paying off. I felt very glum and was starting to despair. A while ago my friend Alex told me to "enjoy being a kept woman", but quite frankly the whole idea just didn't appeal to me. Being a part-time teacher and house wife did not fit with my idea of who I am.

But this week I'm starting to see things a little bit differently. How many people you know have the opportunity to take a couple of months off and simply do nothing? I bet not that many. So instead of seeing this time as a burden, I've starting looking at it as an opportunity to recharge, do some stuff I usually don't get round to doing (like knitting and sewing - once I find sewing machine) and to enjoy it while it lasts. I did go an see an employment agency yesterday and Tina Wu who interviewed me was quite blunt. The chances of me finding a job, in my field, and in the financial services industry in China are slim to none. The world financial crisis has impacted financial services in particular coupled with a digital marketer who cannot speak Chinese and have no local experience and I'm left with very limited choices. Also, this time of year is the worst time to apply as everything is winding down towards the Chinese New Year at the end of January. So for now, I'm going to be thankful for this time and enjoy every second of it. My teaching schedule has also filled up and I will probably start learning Mandarin full time next year.