I am really excited about the adventure my husband and I are about to embark on but of course I have a tiny “first world” American voice whispering to me of comforts I’m going to give up moving to China for a year teaching English. I was reading a love letter in a book called Matthew from my father that comforted me.
Let me premise I have visited Asia for an extended time so I have an idea of the living conditions.
“Why are you anxious about clothing?” I had two suitcases plus a backpack I was allowed to bring. It was what my tiny frame could handle carrying on my own. It amazes me that I was able to fit all my summer and winter clothes, plus (trying as much as I could) a year supply of toiletries and a few yummy American travel foods. [I will post on my traveling packing list when I’m all settled down.] Am I anxious about my clothing? No, but I’m hoping I won’t get too tired of my small selection of a wardrobe too quickly. But again let me preface this is a first world problem and I will get over it. This simplicity of life will be healthy for me.
How would you fare living outside of a backpack for a year? What essentials would you have to pack?
This tiny voice haunts me most on this, “What shall we eat?” Ew….this one will be a biggy for me. I love and am pampered with the abundant choices America has to offer in food. Just the past few years I have discovered really good (Cartel) coffee, coconut ice cream, homemade guacamole, lightly salted homemade popcorn, gluten free spaghetti, (the wonders of) cauliflower and gluten free chocolate chip cookie mix (from Sprouts). This past month I also stumbled upon an incredible green juice called the Green Giant and Rice Almond crackers (gluten free) at Whole Foods. PTL that I will have access to cauliflower in China. I am told China has the more diversity in food then America. This may be true but if I want a certain food it will only appear if I make it homemade. Yep, that includes marinara or salsa. This past year I have been cooking more homestyle primal meals. This China move just means either I can’t be picky or lazy days will be far-in-between. Again, there are no worries on food but another adjustment of growth on my part. No pain no gain, right?
“What shall we drink?” In China the water isn’t the safest to drink. All I know is that the water coming out of the facets are not safe, not even the locals drink it. In China you either heat your water or buy water in jugs/water bottles. This question might sound minute but the safety of water will actually have to be on my radar. Locally in AZ my husband and I drank and washed our food in the tap. In China I will have to take a lifestyle change and wash foods with bottled water. This lifestyle change reminds me of a few days in my childhood when the city water got contaminated from bird poop. All water facets were to not be used and the bottle water was on high demand. Again, another life change but as I am writing this post I am realizing I’m more curious to see how these new modifications pan out.
This book evokes other questions I really don’t know the answers to: “What does our apartment look like? A year with no car, how does that look? A place with four seasons and a real winter, wow…how will I cope? (remember I grew up in Arizona) What appliances does our kitchen and bathroom offer? What will my grocery shopping experiences be like? Who will my husband and I befriend? How will Skyping friends and family look on a regular basis look?”
My mind spins with all these questions and excitements: I will be living by the ocean. I will be seeing German architecture on a daily basis. I will have my own classroom of many students of various ages. I am stoke to meet my co-workers and pupils. I am excited to live simple and less distracted. I am thrilled to learn another language. I will be living in the capital of tea; so more high quality teas!
With discomfort comes growth and I am sure excited about growing.
Readers, if you were moving to a foreign country what American comforts in clothing, food, drinks or whatever would you miss? How would you see yourself in those areas growing?
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