New Start

I don't know why I never really kept up with this but I figured its time to give it another try.  A lot has happened these past few months and I've made many changes in my life.  After having an amazing time in china I decided to leave when all of friends started to return to their home countries.  I had no intention of returning back to NY so I ended up moving to California.  Its been an interesting new start because when you decide to move, especially to a place you don't know anyone you need a few things.  Some of the things I needed but didn't have were an apartment, money, a job, friends, and other things.
 I finally found a job after being here for about a week only problem is the job required a car which would be my luck, so I bought a van for a decent price thinking all my problems would be solved.  Sadly, this thinking didn't last very long when my new van that I bought decided to start overheating.  I guess it serves me right for knowing so little about cars but it left me in a horrible position.  I needed the car for the job and i desperately needed the job so I decided to get it fixed but found out the cost of fixing it would be $1,000.  At this point I almost had an anxiety attack over all of this hitting me at once.  I just kept asking questions to my self like "did I make the right decision to leave China? Should I go back to NY?" I just didn't know what to do.
Thankfully I have a wonderful family who was able to help me out financially so I can get back on my feet.  With there help, I was able to get my car fixed however it took about a week to finish.  During this week, I started training at work which was hell to get to without a car.  I had to take a bus but the only bus that went to my job was from a station that was a half hour walk in the opposite direction.  So everyday for one week I walked a half hour to the bus station then rode the bus for 20 minutes to my job.  I'm sure I made a great impression arriving sweaty and unkempt thanks to the wind and of course they would decide to take employee photos that week.
It was hell, but I was able to complete the week and finally got my car back so for now things are on track.  I still need an Apartment which should come soon and I still need money but hopefully everything will work it self out.  now my only issue is my massive boredom as I still don't know anyone so for the moment I am usually alone.  All I can do is take it day by day and see what happens these next few days.      

Life in China

Life in China has been quite the experience so far.  I never thought I would be able to say I have so many friends from all walks of like and all parts of this great earth we live in.  My group of friends is a very diverse group coming from China of course, Mexico, Ecuador, Columbia, Sweden, Germany, England, right back to the USA.  I believe many of these people will be life long friends as One has already returned home to Liverpool and we have still been talking on a regular basis.  As for my host family, I believe I have made friends with them as well.  My Host sister, a four year old girl named Amy has taken a liking to me right away.  we have so much fun learning English and playing games.  She is picking up on words quickly and can even say some complicated words like air conditioner which she wanted to know the English word for.  We have two English lessons a day and always make it fun with games, and dancing, and singing.

In my free time here in China there is so much to do.  You can go try your luck at the bargaining markets which is always fun for me.  imagine going to a store and asking "How much is this?" and the seller says his price "150!" Then you say "that's to expensive, I will only 30."  Then the seller says "are you crazy! that's too cheap I cant sell it for less then 100." Then you say How about 50?" the seller says no and you say fine then I don't want it and start to walk away but before you know it he's calling you back grabbing your arm saying "wait, wait, 70 is ok!" But you keep walking, "ok, ok, 50.  A very good deal.  This is what you can do for almost anything you want to buy here from clothes to luggage sometimes even food.  I have picked up some great souvenirs for friends and family this way that I hope they will love.  Other fun things to do can include visiting all the touristy  areas or maybe the little known not touristy areas.  For example, I recently joined a Chinese hiking group that will go on a hike at least once a month.  Our first hike was the great wall but not the part of the wall known by all the tourists.  This was an actual hike up the mountain over the ruins of the wall.  This part of the wall has not been rebuilt so it made for a hard but fun Hike.  When we finally arrived to the top, the view was breathtaking and definitely worth the hike.  Standing there, on top of the great wall looking over the horizon was an amazing experience.  I was on top of one of the great wonders of the world and how many people can say that?  It really makes you appreciate life and live it to the fullest.  We all sat down and had a picnic on top of the wall before starting our climb down the wall.  I plan to do more hikes with this group and will hopefully get to see many more spectacular places in doing so.  I feel as though I get to be a free spirit here and go wherever my life takes me and its an amazing feeling. 

Introduction

          Please bare with me for this is my first post and I have never done this before.  For this first post I just wanted to start by introducing myself and what this is going to be about.  Hello, My name is Anthony or Tony, hence the name of the blog... I am 22 years old and come from the wonderful city of Amsterdam, that's New York, not Holland.  But might as well be, seems you can get drugs there just as easily.  Anyway I was living my life working at a great job where I was loved by all except the management...and staff...and I was having a wonderful time being overworked and under paid.  At the same time, I was attending school full time working on getting my bachelor's degree in a field that not too many people care about although they should, that's right Social Work.  I was getting close to the end of my student life and had a full out panic attack of what was to come next.  The plan at this point was to continue working at my job and suffer through it so I could pay off my school loans but then I had a crazy idea. 
          I knew in my heart I didn't want to live in my small city for the rest of my life and I wanted to see what else was out there for me.  I started looking online for opportunities to leave not only Amsterdam, but the United States altogether.  I came across a site that allows you very easily to travel to China and I thought China? Why Not.  All you have to do is look after a Chinese child, play with them, teach them English, basically act as their big brother or sister and in return you get some pocket money, free housing with the child's family and as well as a sum of money to help pay for your flight home.  Well I applied online and before you know it I was booking my flight to China.  I said goodbye to my family and friends and moved to Beijing to live among the Chinese for 1 year.  And thus begins my crazy tales.  I have already been here for a month and a half and have had so many events take place.  This experience hasn't all been good but its mine to have and its what makes life interesting. For example I have already had some issues with the family I was staying with and am currently with a new family but I think I will save that  story for another time.       
Its been a pleasure sharing my tale with you,
*Tony*
P.S. If you want any information about the program im in and how you can apply leave me a comment and I will get back to you.