China says I'm too old to work here, so a new chapter opens for me

The view from my flat, which I will remember fondly

I realized today that, when I signed up with Steemit 17 days ago, I never really posted an introduction tagged "introduceyourself." Yeah, I was that new, and didn't even RTFM. So, I am correcting that oversight now.

Yesterday I was told that the Chinese university where I have worked for the last eight, almost nine years, cannot renew my contract for the coming school year. It's not their choice, or mine, but a consequence of the government's newly enforced regulations on foreign workers.

At 61, I am too old to work in China, it seems.

It used to be that only the big cities enforced this rule, which seemed to be largely ignored in the rest of China for the sake of expedience. But since Xi Jinping took over as president, it seems every rule and regulation is strictly enforced everywhere, making life difficult for just about everyone.

I came here in 2008 after a long career as a high school physics teacher. I wanted to start a new chapter in my life, and experience once again what it was like to live abroad. (I worked for a year in Pretoria, South Africa, 17 years ago.) Although I came thinking I could always leave after a year if things went poorly, I soon realized I was having more fun teaching English in China than I had teaching physics. And that's saying a lot, because I really enjoyed teaching physics!

What made the difference was the warmth and respect I received from the people here. Western Hunan is still rarely visited by tourists. It's one of the little known parts of China, and Jishou is an even more remote place within Hunan. Getting here takes some effort, but once you settle in and appreciate the warm people (and summers!), the relatively clean air (it's often dusty in dry weather), and the green mountains, the place grows on you.

A teacher's eye view

My students are largely from rural communities in Hunan, but quite a few come from more distant parts of China. Most are the first in their families to attend college, and the weight of that responsibility gives them a certain kind of work ethic we Westerners often lack as students. For the majority, I am their first foreign teacher, even the first foreign person they have had a chance to meet and talk to. So, that means I've had the added responsibility of representing not just the USA, but foreigners in general.

It's been a challenge. I started teaching English as a Foreign Language (EFL) with no formal preparation. No CELTA, no TEFL, no TESOL certification. China didn't require them in 2008, and largely still doesn't. No one here gave me an ounce of direction. I was handed textbooks and given free rein to run the classes as I liked. My first year was, in my opinion, pretty mediocre. It wasn't a total disaster, but looking back I realize what I did wrong (and right) and what I could have done better.

Ironically, I was considering next year to be my last in China. I could leave after 10 years and make it kind of an anniversary departure. But that decision has been made for me, and the next four weeks will be spent saying hurried goodbyes, packing up my belongings, and yes -- even giving my final exams about two weeks early. The hardest part will be saying goodbye to my students, who don't know yet that I must leave by the end of the month. Since none of them use Steemit, AFAIK, I won't be spilling the beans writing about it here. Had I posted this on my blog, word would soon get around and I think some people's feelings would be hurt that I didn't tell them face to face first.

On the other hand, word spreads fast on the Internet. So we'll see how long the post remains a secret in China.

I got a new classroom last fall. Now I have to leave it behind.

Since I haven't done any planning for a new job, I have to confess I am anxious about the next few months. Will I be able to find a suitable position? Where will it be? Will I enjoy it as much as my earlier teaching posts? This is the only the second time I have been faced with being potentially unemployed since I graduated college eons ago, and I have to say I really don't enjoy the sensation.

In any event, I had already planned to enjoy my summer holiday, so I will see my family a little earlier than expected. I have enough money to live on while I hunt for a new post, as long as my kids are willing to house me. Maybe I can multiply those funds with cryptocurrencies and blogging. I've done OK so far just casually doing both. Maybe I won't need a job and can make enough to semi-retire somewhere.

As they say, as one door closes, another opens. I intend to remain positive and look to the future with open eyes and an open heart. I will try to blog about that journey here, and I hope you will follow me. Should be an interesting ride.