As interesting as rose milk, license plates, and cafes might be (or not!), there are some downsides to living here. Some days those things seem bigger and more oppressing than other days. I knew it would be an adjustment.
Some of the negatives are:
1. insane, dangerous drivers who honk and pass on both sides at 150km per hour
2. isolation (not having a whole network of people and organizations and family to see)
3. not finding any outlet for a degree which took alot of time and money and effort to get
4. high school fees to get quality (we could pay less and get less)
5. stress of Charles's job
6. bureaucratic nightmares
I am trying not to let the top three get me down. Charles is trying not to let 5. get him down. I certainly feel more feelings - like anger at some of the working conditions and low pay for Asians here and sadness when I saw a young girl with trouble walking. I feel sensitive to other people and really good when someone is kind. So I try to remember what my kindness might mean to someone else. Little things mean more somehow, like friendliness and inclusion and generosity, when they are not a given. The idea that you can start again and meet good people is always a lesson to me about how good many people are in the world.
There are lots of good things:
1. We are all together
2. Something is new every day
3. Perfectly pleasant and comfortable home and food
4. The kids like the school and meet nice kids from all over the world
5. Hopefully we can travel more and have more new experiences
6. We can swim alot
None of this is profound or surprising. I just have to remember the good when I am faced with the bad.
Lots of people leave here for many of the reasons above, probably especially the teaching stresses, in a system that is nothing like the West, with little support. I give Charles credit for going forward. So, the fact that he is in the second year now makes him a veteran. I will be creative with the work situation, whatever that is, be grateful to be around for my children, and give it a bit more time. And isolation never defeated me before.
Some of the negatives are:
1. insane, dangerous drivers who honk and pass on both sides at 150km per hour
2. isolation (not having a whole network of people and organizations and family to see)
3. not finding any outlet for a degree which took alot of time and money and effort to get
4. high school fees to get quality (we could pay less and get less)
5. stress of Charles's job
6. bureaucratic nightmares
I am trying not to let the top three get me down. Charles is trying not to let 5. get him down. I certainly feel more feelings - like anger at some of the working conditions and low pay for Asians here and sadness when I saw a young girl with trouble walking. I feel sensitive to other people and really good when someone is kind. So I try to remember what my kindness might mean to someone else. Little things mean more somehow, like friendliness and inclusion and generosity, when they are not a given. The idea that you can start again and meet good people is always a lesson to me about how good many people are in the world.
There are lots of good things:
1. We are all together
2. Something is new every day
3. Perfectly pleasant and comfortable home and food
4. The kids like the school and meet nice kids from all over the world
5. Hopefully we can travel more and have more new experiences
6. We can swim alot
None of this is profound or surprising. I just have to remember the good when I am faced with the bad.
Lots of people leave here for many of the reasons above, probably especially the teaching stresses, in a system that is nothing like the West, with little support. I give Charles credit for going forward. So, the fact that he is in the second year now makes him a veteran. I will be creative with the work situation, whatever that is, be grateful to be around for my children, and give it a bit more time. And isolation never defeated me before.
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