Fuddland
The question on at least one person’s lips is: why did I choose to come to China? And the short answer is: *shrug* why not?
The slightly-longer answer goes something like this. Towards the end of my Ph.D. I was becoming more and more disenchanted with studying maths — I realised I didn’t want to pursue it any further into a life of research, grant proposals and lecturing, and whilst I could and would argue that a life of mathematical study is an entirely worthy pursuit of great benefit to mankind, I realised I wanted to do something that was a little more tangibly rewarding; something that involved more interaction with people, to make a difference in the world. [Please try not to throw up at this point.] The work I did with Crisis Open Christmas further confirmed for me that I wanted to head in this general direction.
After giving this some thought, I decided that the shift from science-based academia to a more humanitarian [for want of a much better word] career was too much of a right-angled turn to take so abruptly, and — after quite coincidentally meeting and talking with a couple of people who had worked in China for extended periods — I started to think that moving here would have many benefits: experiencing an entirely different culture from that which I know; learning a new language [a skill I have never possessed to any satisfactory degree]; teaching and dealing with schoolchildren. When I saw that or were options, I pursued them over living in one of the larger cities such as or to further increase my opportunities to experience the “real” China, rather than anything remotely westernised.
How much this move will help me find a career in the non-profit-organisation sector, only time will tell, and I might find that in a year’s time I’m in no stronger position than when I left, but I’m determined to make the best of it in the meantime.
[However, I really do wish I could find somewhere that sells Jaffa Cakes and Earl Grey tea.]
Comments
felicity | 2006 / 03 / 03 – 15:54
david, email me an address and i’m sure i can send a care package of jaffa cakes and earl grey! you’re doing a sterling job, and i’m sure that i won’t be alone in saying that you’ve more courage than i have in doing this. good luck with learning chinese!
David | 2006 / 03 / 03 – 18:52
Re #1: Hurrah, another recruit for my army of volunteer JC providers. I shall keep you posted if the first battalion fails me. :)
the manly smell | 2006 / 03 / 03 – 21:31
I knew you’d eventually come round to the fact that maths is not that worthwhile. As we’ve discussed before, it’s because it’s just a tool to help proper science like physics ;)
Seriously though, good on you - I couldn’t have done it (too selfish to dedicate my time to helping others and too chicken to up sticks and move to China).
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