My Dream Job

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Last week, I taught a class on jobs. I ellicted from my students descriptions of their "dream jobs". They had to come up with particularls (such as CEO, Lawyer), and general charactaristics of an ideal job. All four of my classes came up with similar lists- they wanted jobs that were creative, high-paying, involved travel, were helpful to the community, exciting, and allowed them to excercize authority over others.

After they came up with these lists, I asked them to guess what my dream job would be. After two seconds of pondering, a few shouted out "teacher". My students are quickly picking up on my (perfectly serious) sense of humor. As an English teacher, I do get to travel, I am helpful to the global community, I am allowed to excercize my creativity, I am payed very well, and most importantly (as I told them, shaking my fist), I have tremendous power over my students.

I had my first proper pay day last week. They take 10 yuan out for taxes out of a total of 5,000 monthly (not to mention free accomidation). Man does it feel good to hold all those Maos! I'm getting help opening up a bank account on Saturday, and I should be able to get a card that works overseas. Wait until the renmimbi appreciates against the dollar- I'll predict here, in the eternalness of the internet, a 50% appreciation over the next 6.5 years. However, even in dollar terms I am getting paid a better hourly wage than I ever have before in my life- if I don't count particularly successful busking sessions.

I was Fidel Castro again for Halloween. About a third of the Chinese recognized the outfit. At one point, however, when I was buying some street food, a local asked his friend when he saw me Ta shi Yindu ren? . I was overjoyed (although I did correct them). Still pulling the Jedi Mind Trick, and I don't even wear my lungi.

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