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Home > I want to quit my job and go live in China.

I want to quit my job and go live in China.

August 6th, 2009 at 08:19 pm

I have been dreaming of taking a year off and doing it ever since college.

Now, upon coming back from China, my dreams are awaken again. They are back stronger than ever.

It would be nice to have a student life again, to become fluent in Mandarin, to live in China for a while...

The only complication is that both DH and I have nice jobs that we like. It is hard to quit. And a year is a long time for the employer.
It is scary to just leave ones life here and one's career.

But I am seriously thinking about it. I want that option to be available. So I am making a budget for that year and going into the "super-charged" savings mode.

I will try to aim for next March - spring semester. Fall one, a year from now, at the very latest.

Whether we actually do it or not, I want the money to be there so that we really have that option.

6 Responses to “I want to quit my job and go live in China.”

  1. Analise Says:
    1249603993

    What a wonderful dream to have... and this is the time in your life that it could be accomplished easier than when you have children or are so settled in your job that it's more complicated to take time off. Can you keep your job by taking a leave of absence? Will your dh go with you?

  2. NJDebbie Says:
    1249604794

    Mandarin is said to be the language of the future and I agree with Analise that if you can make it happen you should go for it. Good luck and let us know if you do.

  3. whitestripe Says:
    1249626613

    Smile i had a feeling you might be thinking something like that, which is a bit odd i know. does your DH like this idea also? is he up for taking a year off too? if you can do it, i would do it, if i were you. a cushy job that you do day in day out, year after year, versus an entire year of experiences and learning ? sometimes you need to push yourself into doing scary things, especially when it's not the 'safe' option.

    i'm interested in hearing all about you striving toward your goal.

  4. Broken Arrow Says:
    1249655100

    Interesting! Why China?

  5. Nika Says:
    1249657454

    BA, because I already have some foundation in Mandarin.
    I have studied in China for 1 semester when I was in college and now my employer is giving 3 hours a week of free language classes.

    So I would not be starting to learn from 0.

    Also, it is cheap and reasonably safe for a developing country. I don't think I could afford to study French in France for a year. Living in China for a year is much cheaper. And application of the language - more people speak Mandarin than say Vietnamese or Thai(also cheap countries)

  6. Jerry Says:
    1249677249

    We packed up last year to go live in SE Europe, and it has lead into one of the best things we have done. We are learning the language, experiencing a culture, and we have the added insurance of our daughter (age 4) seeing the world and its history through a whole new lens for a few years. I recommend it! Jobs come and go, life experiences need to be created. It takes courage, but if you are prepared it can be a great thing. (Stressful at times, but great nonetheless!).
    Jerry

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