Member-only story
I was so Desperate for Work I Moved to China
And saw Disney’s foray into education
“Hello, hello, hello…
Hi…
How are you?”
It’s 2009 and I’m singing The Hello Song to a group of Chinese parents who all sit and stare at me with bemused smiles. Each of them wears an outfit that looks straight out of an expensive boutique, a few don’t even look off the rack. I’m in a corporate blue polo with the Disney logo stitched over my left breast and a pair of khaki pants straight from the Shanghai fabric market with black mary-janes shoes. I look ready to carry everyone’s golf clubs.
“I’m fine, thank you, thank you…”
I keep a big smile on my face. I need these parents to look at me and think, Wow, this big, blonde, waiguoren has convinced me. I need to put my adorable child in this English program where he can sing this song non-stop in my house all day, just like a real American.
“So good to see you…”
One year earlier, I was unemployed and broke
In 2008, I moved back home after three years abroad with Peace Corps, Madagascar. My return coincided with a horrible recession and jobs were scarce, so I struggled to find any opportunities. Despite the advantage of one year…
