Arriving in the ancient town of Tunxi was literally a breath of fresh air! Backpacking in China can be tough at times. Beijing and Shanghai are massive, polluted cities with around 20 million people each. Tunxi, on the other hand, is much smaller, with a population of less than 100,000—it actually felt like there was no one around.
Situated at the junction of the Heng and Xin’an Rivers, we chose to visit this charming town before heading to the Historical Village of Hongcun, a World Heritage Site. As budget backpackers, Tunxi was a fantastic destination. The old town is breathtaking, with its classic Chinese architecture and cobblestoned streets. Although many streets are filled with souvenir shops and crowded with Chinese day-trippers, we managed to find some quiet side alleys where the locals were just going about their daily lives. We enjoyed delicious Hui cuisine, wandered the streets, bought souvenirs for family back home, and took peaceful walks along the river. It was nice to finally relax.
During our 3.5 weeks in China, we had a lot on our minds. Our 1.5-year journey was sadly coming to an end, and we needed to figure out what was next for us. We knew we wanted to keep traveling, but we weren’t sure how to make that sustainable. Our heads were swimming with ideas:
Should we go back to Canada, earn a good salary, and save for another trip? Should we dip into our savings and keep traveling? Should we buy a guesthouse—and if so, where? Or should we do what society expects: build a career, buy a house, get married, and have children, which didn’t sound as appealing to us?
After volunteering in Hsipaw, Myanmar, we were seriously considering becoming ESL teachers. We saw an “English Teacher Wanted” ad at one of the hostels and decided to pursue it. Even though we didn’t have a CELTA, TESOL, or a university degree, the school that posted the ad was very interested in us and offered us the job. This motivated us to start sending out our resumes to other potential schools.
We sent out our details on a Saturday and by Monday, our email inbox was full and the phone was ringing non-stop. Although the contracts didn’t quite fit what we were looking for, it was clear how easy it was to get an English teaching job in China.
As our time in China was ending, it seemed like we might have to go back to Canada and take up 9-5 jobs. But then, after two days in Tunxi, we got a call from an agent offering a contract that intrigued us. We were skeptical, of course, but after some careful research, it seemed like a legitimate offer, so we accepted it.
Our lives quickly shifted from potentially returning home to work soon to visiting home briefly before moving to China for a year. It was a huge relief to have a clearer picture of our near future. Even though we loved traveling through China, the constant worries, stress, and uncertainties in the back of our minds were now lifting. We could both breathe easier and look forward to what was coming next. We were excited to visit home but definitely didn’t relish the thought of working in Canada for another year or more. We needed to travel—it’s what we love!
The night we signed the contract, we went out for celebratory beers and a nice meal. We had been busy communicating with the agent and school, so we needed access to a computer, printer, and scanner to finalize everything. Unfortunately, we didn’t make it to Hongcun, but that was fine—we had a lot on our minds. Plus, since we’d be living in China, we could visit anytime. After five life-changing days in Tunxi, we packed our backpacks and headed to the bus station, making our way back to Shanghai.