“When someone makes a decision, he is really diving into a strong current that will carry him to places he had never dreamed of when he first made the decision.” – The Alchemist by Paolo Coehlo

Having committed myself to another semester of studying Mandarin up at Tsinghua comes with a lot of caveats. Foremost of which is, being willing to work and study at the same time.

I was lucky enough to be able to avoid such an arrangement when I first arrived in Beijing. My savings allowed me a somewhat carefree lifestyle as a full-time student. No need to work and earn. Now, however, I realize that not having an income can be unsettling.

This week gave me a preview of what life was going to be like as a “working student.” Continue reading “A Sneak Preview of Struggles” →