I have been reading a lot over the last few years about simple living and minimalism. There are many articles out there with some brilliant voices to make you think. Basically, these are the points that have stuck with me:

• Our actions follow our heart. The simple questions are What do you believe? What do you value? I’ve worked like crazy over a bunch of my life. The money and what I have learned has been great. What if there is something else? Is the pursuit of more money worth it? What if I juggled less, had less stress, and maybe more freedom for what matters. I have always been an environmentalist even when I was 7 and sent a letter to Jimmy Carter about our use of plastic (at that time plastic was replacing glass).  Am I really practicing what I preach? I have made mini steps along the way (composting, buying less packaged materials, using less, paying by bag for garbage colllection which guarantees you will start thinking about what you throw away.)
• Each step leads to the next one. It is easy to be paralyzed with what is next. After my divorce that was big on my mind. What if the step I was about to take is the wrong one? What if I really screw this up? I remember my family Dr. at the time telling me this gem. It really doesn’t matter if it is the right or wrong step. What is important is that it is a step. That step may not lead where you think it is going, but standing still is not an option for a real future. As I was cleaning out my Google Drive recently, I came across a document I wrote after my separation. I answered how I was part of what happened, my fears, my dreams, etc. Travel and extending myself was front and center in the document. I had forgotten about it.
• To make a change you need a change in mindset first. What do I need to let go of? Change is hard without the mindset and putting your goals first. Changing your mind and then changing your practice will result in not wanting to go back to what was. Anyone who just starts making a change without the change in mindset first find that it is difficult to continue the change. This article (again from No Sidebar) that I just read this morning sums it up: each step is designed to lead to a specific goal and by doing so it changes me and leads me towards another path. What can I now do, now that I have less to divert my attention?
• The more stuff you have, the less you remember what you have.
• If you were to leave right now, what would you bring with you?

One person I read is Coutney Carver from Be More With Less. Her post on A Toast to the Tiny Steps is what I try to tell people all the time when they tell me: “I can’t exercise like you” or “I can’t do what you do in the  morning”. I couldn’t either when I started. But I had a goal and I worked until it became routine. Each big change in our life is a series of tiny steps that get us there. Being consistent and even scheduling the little steps until they become a habit can help with meeting the little goals. Just being motivated or getting a reward doesn’t work in the long run. Setting an intention: What you want to do, when/what time you will do it. Without a plan, life gets in the way. I am not a pro, not like my daughter and her boxing, but I am intentional and have a plan.

Where am I now? The end goal is to experience a different culture(s). Now that the background documents are done, I have now sent for my work visa. I also purchased the tickets for my children to visit me over Christmas and applied for their visas too!

Another goal that I have had is to live more lightly. Over the years I have bought less (I have had a few setbacks there though) and sold a bunch of belongings. In the process I have felt lighter and unconstrained. As I start deciding what I really need to pack and take with me, I’m torn deciding how much is enough. Do I really need all my clothes (what do I still hold on to that is not necessary? What household goods do I really need when I am given a furnished apartment? There are many gadgets that I have right now still that can be accomplished more simply with a tool I would already have. Since I have a list of the contents of the apartment, I am looking still to bring as little as possible.)

There have been many articles through the years, most notably from Joshua Becker who has also introduced me to other voices such as No sidebar. This recent post, summarizes what I have felt through this process.

I’m really looking at starting over later with as little as possible and my move to that has been shaped by reading several articles. A recent one: I had the picture perfect, unhappy life speaks volumes of what life was like before my divorce. Not 100% what she wrote but close. I owe it to myself to see beyond material things and focus on using and acquiring less. Who knows where those steps will lead me…

Note: my intention was to blog this process along the way, but this all happened very quickly…

The dream…

I had often thought about living internationally. Actually have thought about it for a very long time, even as a child. It could be the books that I read, the thought that there was something else out there beyond what I know… As I did not take the leap once I finished college, this thought took a back seat as I had marriage, children, and a career. I know people who teach internationally and had been talking about it over the last few years. Fast forward to today, and an early retirement incentive from my current district has made it easier to be able to travel for a few years then have group health insurance to get me to Medicare.

Considerations…

I did not come to my decision lightly. After all, I have my family and though I don’t see some members very often, I do see them at holidays and that will obviously change. I also have my daughter and son who I love more than anything else. The fact that they are very supportive and encouraging in my dream has made this easier, though I am sure we will have moments of happiness and sadness in the future. I will fly them out once a year to visit and of course I will be home for a month in the summer. I also have dogs which I also love as children. The older chihuahua, Bruzer, had congestive heart failure that compromised his living. Ending his suffering was one of the hardest things I had to do. The setter, Maggie, has actually been adopted from the family buying my house. Nina, the younger chihuahua, is still with me but will go to a good home with my brother and sister-in-law. Not all of that was worked out when I made my decision.

How did I get here?

I joined Search Associates and entered all the required information. It is one of the services that International schools use to find interviewees. The site performs all the background checks and makes sure that all sources and items are vetted (not only the applicants but the schools themselves). Once my information was approved and I paid the fee, I was able to search job opportunities and connect with the schools. I crafted specific cover letters after researching each of the schools through their websites. I submitted approx. 20 emails with my cover letter and the resume. Within days, I had two job interviews. A second interview was scheduled the next day (from my actual first choice school) and within a week of being approved on the site, i received a job offer teaching IB Biology and Integrated Science at the American International School of Guanghzou, China. I was actually scheduled for a job fair which has been described as speed dating for teachers (to find their school match, obviously!) I accepted the job and was glad that I did not have to go to the fair! I actually received two more interview requests, but I liked this school. I am super excited as I have already been in contact with many of the staff at the school. The school has helped immensely with this process.

From there, it has been one task after another signing the appropriate forms and emailing back, and starting the work visa process. Each country is different, but most require a duplicate diploma be printed and authenticated and notarized by the official at the university as well as the Secretary of State of the state the degree was conferred. Clearances also must be authenticated and notarized by officials and the Secretary of State. Then, all of those forms must be authenticated by the Chinese consulate that oversees those states. Passport type photos of a specific size, health check with specific requirements, and contract forms all must be sent to China once everything comes back. Mostly it required working to be sure forms were completed correctly, sending them off by mail and waiting for them to come back for the next step, sending them off, waiting… You know, lather, rinse, repeat…

All of my paperwork is now in China and my work permit is in process. I will receive a work letter by my employer and I will use this to obtain my work visa from the Chinese Consulate in New York. Once I enter China, my work visa will be turned into a residency visa which must be renewed each year.

My house…

I listed my house as I thought it could take time to sell. Not really. It is a nice house and I should not be surprised. I had an offer on my house in 5 days and a contract within another week. On top of that, the buyer’s house sold just as quick. So within 6 weeks, I have moved out of my house. What is funny is that I have moved in with my daughter across the street for the next 4 months until I leave the country! Here is the last afternoon I was at my house. Over the 6 weeks, I sold my furniture. All that was left is what the buyer was taking. In the last few weeks I lived with my bed and a blow up mattress as a couch! It has worked out perfectly as I would rather sell the house early than worry about selling it when I am overseas. As a bonus, I get to spend more time with one of my children and less house to maintain to visit the other one.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

What I have learned…

It helps to just admit that all of the things that I had was just STUFF. Letting it go is actually not very difficult. Over the past few years, I have made a conscious decision to buy less and get rid of many of my possessions. It has actually been very freeing, my house had been calm and uncluttered, and it made my decision and actual moving much easier. My goal was to be able to move wherever and whenever I want.

My new digs…

I moved everything over to my daughters house in stages, packing up items along the way and moving them over into the room. I have actually looked at Project 333 to have less clothes in my wardrobe. Though I have a hard time going down to a wardrobe that small, I have actually used many of the principles to cultivate a better wardrobe with items that go together with multiple pieces. However, when I sat in the room with all I brought with me, I realized that I still have too much.

Now that I have the list of what is in my apartment in China (free apartment from my school – I just pay the utilities), I can take the items from my house that I know I will use. This has really opened my eyes to determining what I really need and items that are truly unnecessary. Some may be good for convenience, but there is a cost to convenience. I now need to decide if an item I have is worth taking with my halfway around the world!

I have since removed some items from what I have. Some items (like the fan), are not coming with me but items I will use for the next 4 months. I expect that I will need to buy items as I need them, but will make a conscious decision to only buy what is needed. Clothes and shoes I need to be more deliberate to pack, as it is difficult to find US sizes in China (especially if you are tall, have curves, and big feet). Check, check, and check….