So I suppose some of you (if, in fact, anyone is reading this) are wondering why on earth I’m moving to Beijing. So here’s the story, boring as it may be.
In September 2010 I applied for a volunteer position with an international NGO that works to reduce child mortality and morbidity, improve access to education and promote child rights in developing countries. The position was for the role of ‘Newborn and child survival campaign officer’. (Quick fyi - for the purposes of this blog I will refer to this organisation as SC. I've been told that if I want to keep this blog I have to omit the names of organisations, programs and government departments that I'll be involved with while on assignment in China, however if you're interested I'm sure a quick google search of my descriptions will reveal all)!
The position was advertised through an volunteer program that promotes sustainable development by supporting young Australians to volunteer overseas. (Again, I can't name names but most of you probably know already). Successful applicants to the program are able to go and work for an organisation involved in development work overseas (SC in my case), at no cost to the organisation. Your taxpayer dollars, which fund the program, cover all of the expenses including flights, insurance, medical support and a living allowance. Hopefully it will be enough to get by in Beijing!
In September 2010 I applied for a volunteer position with an international NGO that works to reduce child mortality and morbidity, improve access to education and promote child rights in developing countries. The position was for the role of ‘Newborn and child survival campaign officer’. (Quick fyi - for the purposes of this blog I will refer to this organisation as SC. I've been told that if I want to keep this blog I have to omit the names of organisations, programs and government departments that I'll be involved with while on assignment in China, however if you're interested I'm sure a quick google search of my descriptions will reveal all)!
The position was advertised through an volunteer program that promotes sustainable development by supporting young Australians to volunteer overseas. (Again, I can't name names but most of you probably know already). Successful applicants to the program are able to go and work for an organisation involved in development work overseas (SC in my case), at no cost to the organisation. Your taxpayer dollars, which fund the program, cover all of the expenses including flights, insurance, medical support and a living allowance. Hopefully it will be enough to get by in Beijing!
I applied for the position with SC in early September, interviewed in November and was offered the position in early December. Yikes was that a surprise!! I ummed and ahhed about it for a few days, but in the end it was pretty clear that this was not the kind of opportunity I could turn down. I just couldn't imagine one day saying to anyone "Yeah, I almost moved to China back in 2011, but decided I didn't want to leave my exciting job as a public servant in Canberra". Gives me the creeps just writing that! So I accepted. Quickly.
I don’t leave for Beijing until the 29th April, so for now I’m back in Canberra for a while longer. My preparations for the big move have so far included a medical exam, several trips to the travel doctor for jabs to the arm and a couple of books I came across, including “Lost of Planet China” by J Marteen Troost, and "No Chopsticks Required" by Katrina Beikoff. Both highly recommended if you happen to want do do some reading up on what it's like living or travelling in China.
I guess that’s all for now. Will keep this thing updated as often as I can manage (which might not be all that often...). TTFN.
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