AnIdealPositionLifeisgood.MycareerinelementaryeducationinCanadaisnowjustafondmemory.IthinkbackonthemanyyearsofserviceandIrecallthemanyclassedItaught,thedifferentschoolsIworkedat,thecountlessstaffmeetingsIattendedandthemanycommitteesIservedon.IestimatethatthenumberoffacultymembersIworkedwithovertheyearsisinthehundredsandwelloverathousandstudentshavecalledmeteacher.IsitanywonderthatIcansaythatIalwaysfeltcomfortablewalkinginschoolcorridors?SometimesIworkedwithstudentsattheintermediatelevel.InCanada,studentsatthatlevelareyouthintheirpreteen(青春期前的)yearsaswellasteenagers.WhenIdecidedtoretire,Iknewthatthefirststepintheprocedurewastowritealettertomyemployer,aschoolboard,toresignmyposition.Ipostponedmailingtheletter.Iwasreluctanttoaddthepostagetotheletter,knowingthatonceImailedit,thedecisioncouldnotbereversed.BecauseIwasaveteranteacherofmanyyears,Iwouldbeeligibletoreceiveapension.Icalculatedthattherevenue(收入)Iwouldreceiveeachmonthwouldbesufficienttosustainmycurrentlifestyle.IfIwassmartaboutmyspendinghabits,Imightevenhaveasurplusofmoney.Icertainlywouldnotneedtopincheverypenny.Iknewthemoneywouldnotcometomeintheformofacheck.Instead,itwouldbedepositeddirectlyintomybankaccount.IcouldwithdrawcashfrommyinvestmentsifIneededtosupplementmyincome,mycreditratingwouldallowmetobeeligibleforaloanwhensomeunforeseen(預料不到的)financialcrisisarose.Iknew,therefore,thattherewasnoreasontopanic,asmyfuturewassecureevenifinflationincreasedorarecessionoccurred.Ineithercasemyincomewouldonlybeminusafewdollars,afractionofthetotalamount.Idecidedtotaketheplunge,butwaitedanotherfortnightbeforeImailedtheletter.Ievenpausedbriefly(簡短的,暫時的)withtheletterpartwayintothemailslot(投信口,狹縫)beforeIthrusttheletterintothemailbox.Iknewthatthesimpleactofmailingthatletterwouldaltermylife.Ilookedforcluestodeterminehowstrikingthechangesinmydailylifewouldbe.HowwouldIspendmytime?InspiteofhavingmanylongyearlyvacationswhenIcouldpursueotherinterests,Ihadnotbotheredtomakeanearnestefforttoconfinemyactivitiestooneparticularhobby.WouldIfindlifeasaretireeboring?Whatnewadventuresmightawaitme?WouldIusemytimetovolunteeratahospitalormaybeworkforalocalcharity?MaybeIwouldapplyformembershipinagolfleague.MaybeIwoulddonate(捐贈)mytimeandworkwiththeBetterBusinessBureau.InightdecidetoenterlocalpoliticsandrunforapositionontowncouncilorIcouldrunforthepositionofDeputyMayorofmytown,ormaybeevenconsidersubmittingmynametobeacandidateinanelectionformemberofparliament(國會).IwouldneedtocampaignandthenwaittoseeifpeoplewouldvoteformeonElectionDayatthepolls.Inspiteofthefactthatthepossibilitiesallhadmerit,IhadtoadmitthatIonlyhadasuperficialinterestinpursuinganyofthem.Infact,Iwasindifferenttomostoftheoptions.DidIthinktheymightinterferewithothercommitments(義務,委托)ormeanIwouldhavetocancelotherappointments?OrwasIjusttooattachedtotheideaofteaching,feelingthatitformedpartofmyidentity?Iexaminedmyemotionsaboutthenewdirectionmylifewouldtake.Wouldretirementaddanewdimensiontomylifeandmultiplymyfeelingofsatisfactionorwouldtheworldapprehension(理解,領悟)bemoreapplicable?DidIfeelguiltyaboutnotbeinggainfully(有利益的)employedwhenIwasqualifiedandcapable?Asacertified(被證明的)teacher,didIfeelobligatedtoworkinthefieldofeducation?DidIfeelentitledtosleepinlateeachday,orwouldthatbothermyconscience?WouldIsimplygrowoldgracefullyorwouldfeelthatridiculous?MyinstinctstoldmethatalthoughIwouldfeelgratefulformygoodhealth,curiosityaboutothercountriesandlifestyleswouldovertakethedesiretospendmytimewithseniorcitizens,playingboardgames,suchaschessallday.Wouldn’tIratherlearnaboutotherculturesandatthesametimebeanambassadorformyowncountry?IbegantoinquireaboutopportunitiesandwheneverIsearchedtheinternetforjobs,Ialwaysseemedbedrawnlikeamagnettothecategoryofteaching.ItdidnottakelongbeforeIfoundthattherewerecountlesspositionsavailableinmanycountries.AmidthelistingsIidentifiedseveralthatwereforteachingpositionsinChina.IdecidedthatIwouldcommunicatewithsomeofthepeopleofferingthesepositions.Isente-mailsandmadephonecallstoseveralprospective(可能的,未來的)employers.ThefeedbackthatIgotfrommostofthemwasthattheyexpectedmetobringalltheresourcesnecessary.HowcouldIpackenoughinmybaggagetoprovidewhatwasneeded?Iwasinclinedtolookforasituationwherebookswereprovided.Iwantedtosignacontractforonlyonesemesterbutfoundthatmostpositionswereforoneortwoyears.Icouldsympathizewiththeamountofpaperworkneededtoarrangeforapersontoacceptoneofthosepositionsandrealizedthatitwaswiserforpeopletospendayearortwoinonelocation.Iattendedseminarsbycompaniestryingtorecruitteachers.Ifoundseveralcompaniesthatcapturedmyinterest.Ibegantoreviewmyoptions.Iaskedspecificquestionsaboutthepositionswithcompaniesthatsincerelyinterestedme.IinquiredabouthowmanysuitcasesIwouldbeallowedtobringandwhatthelivingaccommodationswouldbe.ItwasrefreshingtorealizethattherewasabigdemandforpeoplewhocouldteachEnglish.Severalpositionsseemedsuperiorintheirbenefitsandtheysparkedmyinterestevenmore.Iespeciallywantedtoteachstudentsatthesecondaryorhighschoollevelratherthanmiddleschool.IcouldhardlybelievethatIwascontemplating(盤算,思量)dongthisatthisageofmylife.AttimesIfeltthatitwasaradicalideabutIalsorealizedthatIhadalwayshadthedesiretohavethiskindofexperiencebutcircumstancesneverseemedquiteright.Nowtheywere.Idecidedtoproceed.Imadeanoralagreementwithacompany.Ireadtheirwrittencontracts,clausebyclause;tobesurenothinghadbeenomittedfromtheoralagreement.Inspiteofwantingtheclauseaboutstayingtwoyearstobedeleted,Isignedthelegalcontractafterafewminorchangesweremadeandinitialedinthemargin.Thereweremanydetailstoconsider.AfterchoosingthecompanythatIwantedtoworkfor,Istillhadtotakealongtimelookatmycircumstances.IdecidedthatIwouldsellmycar,putmypersonalbelongingsinstorageandrentmyhouse.Alotoftimeandeffortwasrequiredtomakeallthearrangements.Idecidedtotackle(解決)oneaspectatatime.ThefirstthingItargetedwastosellmycar.Asamatterofprinciple,Ifeltthatthevalueofthecarwoulddepreciate(貶值,跌價)overthetimeIwasoutofthecountry.Thesensiblestrategywastosellit.Fortunately,myniecewantedtobuythecar.Imadealistofthingstotakewithme.Iwasadvisedtotakeauxiliarylight.Ipackedbattery-operatedflashlightstobeusedtocaseofpowerfailure.IincludedawaterproofjacketincaseIneededtowalktoschoolintherain.Ineededtosortmybelongings.Ihadtodecidewhattosaveandwhattopitchout.Forexample,IdecidedInolongerneededmytypewriter,asIonlyusedmycomputerforwordprocessingnow,soIdecidedtogiveitaway.Imademanylistsanddevelopedacoldasawaytocataloguemypossessions.AsIpackeditemsincardboardboxes,Imadealistregardingthecontentsontheoutsideofeachbox.Ipackeddishesintowelstoprotectthem.ManytimesIhadtoundoaboxbecauseIforgottolistthecontents.WhenIfinallysnappedthelidofaboxshut,Isealeditwithtransparenttapeandcheckedtobesurethatitwouldnotloosen.Ialsoincludedanothertag,whichgaveeachboxanumberbecauseallcardboardboxeslookidentical.Iwascarefulnottoabbreviate(縮寫)thenamesofitemsinthelistslestthatwouldmisleadmeastothecontents.Icontinuedwiththismethod,whichalsocreatedanindexofitems.Itseemedtherationalwaytocoordinateandorganizethings.IremarkedmanytimesduringthisphaseofmypreparationsthatIhadnotrealizedIhadsomuchgear.AttimesIhadtolaughatmyself.Myactivitiesseemedliketheywouldmakeagoodscriptforacomedy.MaybeIshouldwriteaplayaboutwhatIwasdoingandcopyrightit.Itcertainlywouldbegoodforafewscenesonasoapopera.OnthespurofthemomentIdecidedtoloanmysofaandmyrugtomyniecewhowasmovingtoalargerhome.Thatwouldmeanafewlessthingstoputintostorage.Ifulfilledmyobligationtoprovideproofofgoodhealth.Ihadachestx-raytaken.Ihadacompletephysicalexamination.Ihaddentalcheckup.BecausemyhealthreportsallindicatedIwasinexcellenthealth,allofthehealthcareprofessionalsIvisitedencouragedmetopursuemyadventure.Irenewedmypassport,myproofofidentityasaCanadiancitizen.IknewthatonceIarrivedinChinaIwouldalsoberegisteredwiththeCanadianEmbassy.Myfamily’sreactionwhenItoldthemaboutmyplanswasasexpected.Althoughtheysanctionedmyideaandsupportedmetheendeavor(努力,盡力),theyweresadtothinkthatIwouldbehalfwayacrosstheworldforsuchalongtime.Thefrownonmygrandson’sfacetoldmethatthesituationwouldbeespeciallydifficultforhimandthathemightfeelneglectedbyme.AlthoughIcouldscarcelyarguewiththecommentsofmyfamilyabouttheirfeelings,fortheirsakeItalkedaboutthetimeawayfromhomeasifitwasjustafewshortdays.Iwouldbebackinghomebeforetheyknewit.TheysuggestedthatIcomebackafteroneyearforthesummerandthenreturnforthesecondyear.Iagreedtothisplan.Fiveyearsago,wouldIhavethoughtthatthiswasintherealmofpossibility?IdoubtthatIwouldhave.ButhereIaminChina,inmysecondyearoflivinginthisamazinglyprogressivecivilization,andIcanhonestlysaythatIhaveneveronceregrettedmydecisiontoteachinChina.ImustalsoadmitthatIhavelearnedfarmorefrommystudentsthantheyhavelearnedfromme.Iadmiretheirthirstforknowledgeandtheyseemtothriveonchallenges.Theyneverseentemptedtotakeashortcut,alwaysworkinghardandgivingasupremeeffort.TheirtolerancefortheirEnglishteacher’slackoffamiliaritywithChinesecustomshasbeenappreciated.Theyalwaysarepositiveintheirattitudestowardmeandhavehelpedmewhenevertheycould.Attimestheyhaveinsistedondoingthingsformethatwascapableofdoingmyself.Ithasbecomeahabittosurrendertotheirwishestoassist.Onestudentinparticularalwaystakesonthejobofcarryingmypackages,sayingthatitishispleasuretobemyporter.WhenIstartedtoplanthisadventureIhadonlyavagueideaofwhatthecountryofchinawouldbelike.Icouldrecognizetheirflagbutwasnotevenfamiliarwiththeirnationalanthem(國歌).MycomprehensionofthecustomsofthecountrywasverylimitedIfeltalmostashamedathowlittleIknew.Ididnotknowiftheyusedthemetricortheimperial(英制的)systemofmeasurement.WouldIbuyfluidssuchasmilkandsodainquartsorliters?WouldIneedtolearntheChinesewordforgramorforinch?IndeedIhadneverheardtheword‘jin’before.IknewlittleaboutthefoodIwouldbeeating.Woulddairyproductssuchasskimmilkandcheeseandyoghurt(酸酪)beavailable?WouldIeatonlyriceandnoodlesorwouldthevarietyoffoodsbeendless?MaybeIwouldbeenjoyingarackofleanporkribsasadelicioustreat.IwasunawarethatthereweresomanydialectsintheChineselanguage.IhadnoideahowIwouldcommunicatebutwhenIarrivedinchina,IsoonfoundmyselfhavingalimiteddialoguewithChinesepeople.TheywouldtrytospeakafewwordsofEnglishandIwouldattemptafewwordsinChinese.However,Iresortedtosignlanguagemorethanwords.HowmuchIhavelearned!Ithasbeenawonderful,rewardingexperienceandtheonecommentthatcomestomymindis“Iwouldn’thavemisseditfortheworld!”理想職業(yè)生活是美好的。在加拿大教小學的職業(yè)生涯，如今成了美好的回憶?；仡櫠嗄甑墓ぷ?，我想起了我教的許多班級，我工作過的多所學校，我出席過的數(shù)不清的教職員工會議，以及我參與服務的眾多委員會。我估計，這些年來，和我一起工作過的同事有好幾百人了，而有一千多名學生叫過我老師。我要是說我走在學校走廊上總是覺得很愉快，沒什么奇怪吧？有時，我的工作是教中年級的學生。在加拿大，這個階段的學生和十幾歲的青少年都是青春期前的孩子。當我決定退休的時候，我知道辦手續(xù)的第一步是寫一封信給我的老板，即學校董事會，要求辭去我的工作。我推遲了寄信。我不太愿意把郵票貼到信封上，因為我知道一旦把信寄出，這個決定就不能更改了。因為我是工作多年的老教師，我有資格領取一份退休金。我算出我每月領到的退休金足夠維持我現(xiàn)在的生活方式。如果在花錢時精打細算，我甚至可能還有剩余。當然，我不需要去節(jié)省每個便士。這些錢不會以一張支票的形式發(fā)到我手上，而是直接存入到我的銀行賬戶。如果我需要補貼收入，可以撤回一些投資換成現(xiàn)金。而且，我的信用等級使我有資格在出現(xiàn)無法預料的財政危機時得到銀行貸款。因此，我知道沒有理由驚惶失措，即使是通貨膨脹或者出現(xiàn)經濟衰退，我的將來也是有保障的。不論出現(xiàn)哪種情況，我的收入只不過是減少這些錢，那只是總數(shù)中的一小部分而已。我決定冒險一試，但我又等了兩個星期才把信發(fā)出去。甚至在信已經部分插入投信口時，還猶豫了一會兒才把它推進郵筒。我知道寄出這封信的這一簡單舉動將改變我的生活。我在尋找一些線索，以便決定如何就會日常生活的改變。我該如何消磨時光？盡管有了很多一年一次的假期，可以讓我追求其他的興趣愛好，我還是想盡力把我的活動放在追求一個特別的愛好上。我會厭煩退休人員的生活嗎？會有什么新的冒險生活在等著我嗎？我會利用我的時間在一所醫(yī)院或者本地的一家慈善機構做自愿服務者嗎？也許我會申請成為一個高爾夫球協(xié)會的會員。也許我會把時間貢獻出來為商業(yè)扶助局工作。我可以決定進入本地的政界，競選市議會議員的位置，或者可以競選一下本市的副市長，甚至可以考慮讓自己成為國會議員選舉中的一位候選人。我需要參加競選活動，然后，等著看是否有人會在選舉日到投票處把票投給我。盡管這些可能的選擇都是有益的，我必須承認我對它們之中的任何一個都沒有多大興趣。事實上，我對其中的大多數(shù)選擇都不動心。是否因為我認為它們可能干擾我決定要做的其他事情，或者意味著我將不得不取消其他的約會呢？還是我對教書的想法太執(zhí)著，覺得那已經成為我自身的一部分？我在心里仔細衡量著我的新生活究竟要走向何方。是退休給我的生活帶來一種全新的方式，使我倍感稱心呢，還是（走出去與人）溝通交流更切實可行？當我夠資格有能力但沒被高薪聘用時，我會覺得慚愧嗎？作為一個有執(zhí)業(yè)資格的教師，我是覺得有義務在教育領域里工作嗎？我覺得有資格每天睡懶覺呢，還是那樣會使我良心不安？我是這樣悠閑地衰老下去呢，還是會覺得那樣很可笑？我本能地告訴我，盡管我覺得身體很健康，應該保持，但對其他國家和其他生活方式的好奇心，超過了希望把時間花在與老人們整天玩像國際象棋這樣的棋盤游戲上。難道我不能學習其他文化，同時做一名我自己國家文化的使者嗎？我開始尋找機會，每當我搜索互聯(lián)網尋找工作時，我總是像一塊磁石一樣被吸引到教學目錄上。沒過多久，我就發(fā)現(xiàn)在許多國家可以得到數(shù)不盡的工作。在這些目錄表中，我挑選了幾個在中國的教書工作。我決定與提供這些工作的人聯(lián)系。我給幾個有希望雇用我的雇主發(fā)電子郵件，打電話。他們中的大部分回答說，他們希望我?guī)纤斜匦璧馁Y料。我怎樣才能在我的行李中裝上足夠的東西以備所需呢？我傾向于找一個能提供書籍的地方。我只想簽一個學期的合同，但發(fā)現(xiàn)大多數(shù)的職位是一年或二年。我可以理解，要安排一個人擔任其中一個職位，要做的工作量相當大，并認識到受聘人員在一個地方呆一年或兩年是更明智的。我參加了想招聘老師的公司的討論會。我發(fā)現(xiàn)了幾個我感興趣的公司。我開始核實我的選擇。我向真正對我感興趣的公司問了幾個特定的有關職位方面的問題。我詢問我可以帶多少個手提箱，食宿條件如何。了解到對教英語的人有這么大的需求，真是令人振奮不已。有幾個職位在待遇方面好像不錯，這更加激發(fā)了我的興趣。我特別想教的是高中而不是初中。我?guī)缀醪幌嘈旁谖乙簧械倪@個階段還希望做這件事。有時，我覺得這是一個過激的想法，但是我也知道我一直有想獲得這種經歷的欲望，只是環(huán)境從來沒有這么合適?，F(xiàn)在是時候了。我決定堅持下去。我與一家公司達成了一個口頭協(xié)議。然后我一條一條地讀了他們的書面合同，確信沒有從口頭協(xié)議中漏掉什么。盡管很想刪掉關于工作二年的那一條，但在做了一些較小的變動后，我簽署了法律合同并在頁邊簽字。還有很多細節(jié)要考慮。在選定了我要去工作的公司后，我還花了很長時間認真地考慮我現(xiàn)在的狀況。我決定賣掉我的汽車，把我的個人財產保存好，并把我的房子租出去。做好所有這些安排要花許多時間和精力。我決定一件一件來處理。我要做的第一件事是賣掉我的汽車。事實上，我覺得在我出國這段時間里汽車會貶值，明智的辦法就是賣掉它。