(This post was written for the first time I went to China in fall, 2014.)
Why am I moving to China? That's a good question.
Two days after I submitted my application to ilp I was chatting with a guy in singles ward and I mentioned the possibility of moving to China. When he asked why I was moving there, I responded "Oh, for fun." He gave me a funny look and I quickly laughed and explained there were actually a lot of reasons to move there, but fun was definitely one of them!
From the time I heard about the International Language Program (ilp) to the time I was excepted was exactly eight days. In fact, I considered making my Facebook status "impulse decision of the week: moving to China!" because I moved so fast. I made the choice to apply to the program very quickly, but it was still a decision made with much thought, research, and prayer. Ilp seemed like a great fit and a great adventure, and I felt that I should do it. But for me, the process of applying wasn't so much of praying and receiving confirmation the first or second time I prayed, and applying after getting an answer. Instead, I researched, prayed, called ilp, prayed, talked to my parents, prayed, applied, prayed, got excepted, prayed and then, only after calling and emailing ilp daily with a million questions, talking to my parents about every detail, calling personal mentors seeking advice, and and getting accepted did I get my answer that it was the right thing to do.
I'm not going to China to "find" myself, but I'm sure that will happen along the way. I am also not going just to be a tourist, or purely to be a teacher. I am going for all of those reasons, and one more. Moving to China for four months to teach kids English and tour the country sounds like a great idea. And it is a great idea! But for most people, me included, moving to China is something that would start as a great idea, and end as a great idea. It would never get any further than an idea. Having great ideas that fall through is something that happens to all of us, and that's okay. If every great idea we had had when we were kids worked out, we would have a world disproportionately filled with firefighters, policemen, astronauts, cowboys, trash truck drivers, princesses, and a few hobos. When children grow up, they have great ideas of getting doctorates, become heart surgeons, traveling the world, and retiring young. So why don't we have more doctors, world travelers, and CEOs?
I think when it comes down to it, people are afraid of themselves. Humans have a comfort zone within their own minds that they like to confine themselves in, but they are also dreamers. Going to China is a great idea, a great dream. But moving to China is also scary! China a different country, with a different government, totally different food, and even different toilets. An idea of a leisurely walk down the Great Wall and the reality of an 18 hour train ride are very different things.
So when it comes down to it, I am moving to China to teach children English. I am moving to China to tour and explore. I am moving to China to immerse myself in a culture very different than my own. But almost more importantly, I am moving to China because I wanted to do something that was more than another great idea. I wanted to do something for myself that would benefit others, but give me the opportunity to make my own decisions and that I wanted to do with no presure from anyone else. No one is pressuring me to move to China! This is my choice to have an idea, make a plan of action, and stick with it. I think its great practice for life, and will be a huge time of personal growth.
I am moving to China so I can make an idea a reality, and to serve people to make the world a better place. I'm moving to China to be apart of an amazing and ancient culture. I'm moving to China to travel! And of course, I'm moving to China for fun.
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