WHY DID YOU COME HERE?

I'm in the process of answering all 117 emails I received from my students while I was gone.

Today I opened a letter asking me why I chose to teach in Tongliao, and not another bigger more beautiful city. She wrote I was "cute, with big eyes and cute clothes to match," and that she thinks I know how to live life. She was confused on how a so "put-together" woman would choose a small, not-so-great university to teach, when I could work at a better school in a more beautiful city for more money.

Good question.

This student has kept me thinking about his question all day. The best reason I choose Tongliao to be, was because it was the second place I found online, (after South Korea, but Ned didn't want to go there and I was pretty open to whatever) and I got a quick response from the director, and within a week he was asking me to "pledge" that I was going to come. Now, the whole process seems as if I made a random choice without any comparisons to other schools and situations.

I realize that there are a lot of times I make random decisions. This worries me a bit.

Some good reasons why I choose Inner Mongolian University for the Nationalies was because it is a university, not a middle school or high school. It seemed "exotic and unknown" which it is, and truthfully we wanted to go to Mongolia and we thought Inner Mongolia was Mongolia, not China. oooops. oh well. Most of my students are Mongolians and that's good enough.

In retrospect, my decision was rash and unguided, and I hope in the future I will put more thought and type-A planning into such a grand adventure.

The only disappointment I have is that my boss Mr. Zhang is pretty inept at his job. I've had to walk him through the paperwork Ned and I needed to get our Z-visas, and he answers my questions about getting paid, and how? and when? with confusing Ching-lish.

I'm happy with my students though. They are so interested in my lessons and encourage me to work hard and have a good attitude for all that I want in life. They treat me to lunch and teach me phrases of Chinese as well.

I'm happy that Tongliao has no pollution, and that the river is walking distance from our house.

I'm happy with our townhouse, too. I like that it's painted pink, and quiet inside and that I can walk easily wherever I need to go. I like that everything is inexpensive, and that Ned and I are forced into being Chinese: eating Chinese food, having Chinese friends, and learning Chinese.

my student's question of WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO COME HERE?

has made me want to include more research and time involved in making important decisions.

not that I would take any of this sweet, pink townhouse livin' back.