May 9, 2007

Adventures in Retirement

After a lifetime of adventurous jobs which included teaching in Samoa, managing a dude ranch, and the craziest of all-working for local government-my friend Zelda was not about to sit on her couch and waste away. In fact, she retired from her bureaucratic job on a Friday and on Monday was on a plane to China to teach business to second year university students.

As a retirement gift, the office chipped in and gave Zelda a bank card with some cash on it -"for bail money," we joked. It wasn't that far-fetched. Zelda, a no-nonsense woman with a knack for being outspoken, was venturing into a Communist country to interact with students who had never known freedom of speech. She had been warned that a party "observer" would be present in her class. We could see her being hauled off to prison for daring to utter the words "Tiananmen Square."

We needn't have worried. She had done her homework and knew which subjects were verboten in China. Besides, the university had hired Zelda and other Westerners in order to prepare their students to finish their education abroad. Consequently, they were expected to introduce Western teaching methods to students who were used to listening to the teacher read from the textbook in class. Most of them were stymied when Zelda asked them for their opinions on a topic.

The living conditions were challenging as well. Used to the clean air and safe water we enjoy in California, Zelda had to adjust to pollution, litter, squat toilets, and a populace that was being trained not to spit on the street, in anticipation of the world descending on Beijing for the 2008 Summer Olympics. On the plus side, lunch could be had for 50 cents and the locals were charming.

Her three-month China adventure was the kick-start of a "retirement" which is full of exploration. When she returned, she began teaching English as a Second Lauguage (ESL) to Chinese students, managing the Firehouse Gallery in Palo Alto, and even working at See's for the holiday season. I would bet the house that she was the first PhD they had ever hired as a seasonal salesperson. She did it for a lark, because she likes See's candy and she likes making people happy with free samples. She omitted her advanced degrees from her application so as not to blow her chance to wear the white uniform with the big black bow.

This winter, she put her other jobs on hold to return to China. Despite her friends' prediction that she would be arrested for being outspoken, Zelda's Chinese university community loved her and begged her to come back and teach. They sent her a flowery e-mail, professing their esteem and the warm welcome awaiting her "forever" in their country. Who could resist?

Back from her second stint, she is now recruiting for other retirees who want the experience of teaching in China. Her university is looking for candidates with a Masters (at least) and expertise in the areas of finance, accounting, management or ESL. Among the perks are hardworking and motivated students, ten-cent bus rides, beautiful scenery, and immersion in a culture unknown to most Americans. You'll also learn to appreciate democracy, a free press, and water you can drink from the tap.

Do you have the right stuff? Get off the couch and e-mail Zelda at teachchina@hotmail.com. An adventure is waiting.