The world is a scary place when you're the only Gen Y with a cautious Protestant work ethic. Though I like to blame everything unnecessarily on the traits of my generation, it's simply too easy to sound like a spoilt brat when you're Gen Y. It's not as if I was lied to but I did think that my life and career was rather on track. All I had to do was go to Uni, from there it was just a latte filled, pinball machines in the office, world-is-your-oyster down hill fight to retirement. No I'm not waking up from the dot-come bubble nightmare 15 years too late, I'd like to imagine at least I was not actually that naïve. I do however feel a bit shocked that my Quarter Life crisis just so happens to hit after one GFC and just before rumours of another one. Like any others my age we are left to enter a tough job market with high expectations. So I graduate with a single burning question; 'How to I get to China?'.

Relatively speaking, the whole life of my degree I was quite focused. Everything I did was to get to China, whether is was volunteering in student organisations, hand picking the right classes, or time I devoted it campus life. When I graduated, however, I realised that the piece of paper in my hand didn't easily become a plane ticket. When you are raised from birth to be told you can be anything you like, the reality of graduation can sometimes be a real cold shower- at least it was for me. I had where I wanted to be, I had where I was, I didn’t know how to get from A to B. The missing link in my dream career.

I know what you're thinking. It does seem obvious. 'China' is a proper noun, not a well formulated plan to spend the rest if my life in happiness and have a positive influence on the world. I think one of the things that give some so much anxiety is the relative success so many people are having around me. People my age have managed to take a chance or two, and without guidance or meditation have managed to piece together something that looks something like a life plan. Risk taking is part of the game, but not with that nagging caution that comes with my Protestant work ethic that only kicks in harder during time of economic strife. After timing my graduation for the end of the GFC only to be faced with a double dip, you can imagine my caution before I fly to China and start 'slumming' it.

So, as I'm sure as many of you have, I've been wondering lately how best to move forward. For a mid twenty professional-to-be what is life like after graduation? Well, lets face it, there is always that option I have taken great effort to ignore, but is teaching English a viable career path? I have my reservations. It is probably the best way to get a foot in the door and make it over to China, plus it's a great way to see the country. For me however, teaching English seems to be that thing people do when they have a gap year, they take time off and earn cash to fund a trip around their host country. I never took it seriously because I never seemed to think they did either.

Lets face it, it's the cultural imperialism of our time (or so they say). The explosion of the English market in China has seen some interesting times. Some would say it's got a bit of a bad reputation, but as I come across more people doing it I find that there is a whole other benefit to it that I probably didn't consider. Being able to live in a country and interact with them everyday is a rare opportunity. Even studying in China over Summer I rarely got to hang out with Chinese people. Mandarin more than any other language needs that, not to pick up language, slang, or buzz words- but to understand the people. So many people tackle Chinese with gusto and bravado, memorise hundreds of words, reciting Pinyin and tones and writing and rewriting Grammar points. This will get you pretty far but the real X Factor to learning Chinese is the cultural context within it is placed. Take Dashan as a perfect example, no Westerner has been able to learn Chinese without immersing themselves in what it means to be Chinese. Rarely though has a foreigner had such a chance.

English teaching may just be another way to delay entering the job market as a real grown-up, but I look forward the the precious insights it can bring. I know it will help me love and understand China and it's people even more, and I just know I will bring with me my enthusiasm to learn language and a sharing of culture that should really be at the heart of why someone teachers English.