Hello my name is Emanuel Ruiz and I currently live and work in Shanghai in China.\u00a0 As most teachers in America know, budget cuts and test results can take the passion out of the teaching profession. I felt overworked and unappreciated.\u00a0 The lack of job security loomed over me and I was expected to work over 40 hours a week with no compensation.\u00a0 Finding new employment was a struggle because the US job market was and has been in decline.<\/p>\n
I worked so much, but still felt like it was impossible to save money. Every time I turned around the school budgets were being cut and our yearly raises were in jeopardy. I realized that teachers were not respected in the US and I was no longer fulfilled being an educator in America. I was told to look into Teaching Nomad and the teaching vacancies in<\/a> China. It has been the best decision I have ever made. I have been in Shanghai for two years now and I haven\u2019t looked back. Living in China has been a great learning experience and it has opened my eyes to a whole other world of opportunities.<\/p>\n Although I did not know anything about China, the Teaching Nomad website guided me and got me in contact with a friendly recruiter, whom I still keep in contact with. I asked about finding a job in Beijing,<\/a> or a job in Shanghai<\/a>. We went through a number of different job openings until we found a contract that was in my favor and that I was comfortable with. I chose a children\u2019s school in Shanghai and I signed a one-year contract. I took a risk and stepped out of my comfort zone. I bought my ticket to China and have been on the ride of my life for the last two years.\u00a0 It sounds bizarre, but it was the best decision for me. I have had nothing but good experiences and I continue to grow here as a person on a daily basis.<\/p>\n I have been a teacher with my school for about two years and I continue to feel content. I feel appreciated and management makes sure that we foreign teachers are always happy.\u00a0 My students love learning English and I have learned so much from them. I realized now how stressed I used to be back home and how much better teaching is here. The cost of living is reasonable, so much so that I am able to save money and live more comfortably than in the States. I am able to travel, go out with friends, and buy most things I want without wondering if I will have enough money left over to last me the rest of the month. Most importantly, I feel appreciated as an educator and respected for what I do in a country that values education. I am in a world where what I do is new and exciting.<\/p>\n The great thing about Shanghai is that western luxuries are available throughout the city.\u00a0 When I am missing food from home, I can go to an American bar or restaurant. I can walk down the street and meet people from all over the world. There are so many doors here just waiting for the right person to open.<\/p>\n Shanghai is my new home and I don\u2019t know if I will ever leave. I have fallen in love with the people, the language and the food. This place has everything. I can travel the world just by visiting different parts of the city. China has so much to offer and I am surrounded by beautiful places that are just a short flight away. I have visited so many Asian cities, islands like Thailand, The Philippines, India, and I have no desire to slow down.<\/p>\n I remember now why I got into teaching and I actually enjoy going to work. I love the Chinese kids and they love that they get the opportunity to lean from a foreigner. Living and working abroad is fulfilling and an experience that has changed me forever, for the better. Give it a year, life is short and a year goes by so fast. No matter what happens, it will be the experience of a lifetime. It continues to be for me.<\/p>\n Written by Emanuel Ruiz<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Hello my name is Emanuel Ruiz and I currently live and work in Shanghai in China. As most teachers in America know, budget cuts and test results can take the passion out of the teaching profession. I felt overworked and unappreciated. The lack of job security loomed over me and I was expected to work over 40 hours a week with no compensation. Finding new employment was a struggle because the US job market was and has been in decline.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6775,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":""},"categories":[43],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n