Some Things Work Out

Last night was the night I’ve been waiting for, and I didn’t think it was going to happen. Reading my blog for the past year you might think that good things fall into my lap a lot, and for the past year, they kind of have. But I’ve got 23 years of experience to the contrary before that, so I’m not quite used to things working out yet. (Whoa, is this what happens when you set your mind to something and work hard?! Mind blown.)

Let me back up a tad.

There was the job in Guangzhou which I told you about (in this post) and then there was a possibility of a job in Beijing, (which I first properly told about here) which (I mentioned here) wasn’t going to work out. Well, at the beginning of this week I ended up interviewing for that job anyway – not sure how that happened, but I’ll take it – and it looked good. It was my first time negotiating a salary, and I wasn’t good at it. We settled at something less than what I know I should be working for.

So then I was supposed to wait to hear back officially if I was getting an offer, and I was supposed to send some documents including my passport and degree and such. When I sent the email I was in an odd place in my head, so I did something a little rash (in retrospect). I told them I was still interested in the job, but emphasized that I had a competing offer, and that I’d work for them, but only for the salary I’d already quoted and been denied.

I woke up yesterday morning regretting that email, and crossing my fingers that they’d still decide to give me an offer, even a low-ball offer.

They didn’t get back to me until late last night (which is morning for them – I guess they had to sleep on it). And they formally extended an offer with not only the salary I’d asked for but also a relatively sweet package which includes free housing, free food on days I work, health insurance, full holiday pay, and half pay for summer vacations. I literally couldn’t ask for anything more. I will also be a classroom teacher, teaching multiple subjects in English, rather than just teaching English to a lot of varied level classes. AND I don’t leave until February which means that I may have a chance to take a quick visit back to MI to see family before I go!

Okie dokie, I like it.

So to celebrate, I may have opened a bottle of champagne that I’ve literally been saving for this exact occasion… However, before I get too excited, I’m going to wait for the contract to be sent to me for signing, and I’ve got to get my butt in gear with finishing up my visa process.

This is going to be the adventure of a lifetime!