Side Projects

The expat community out here is well-known for having is(are?) well known for having its(their?) finger in many pies. Most folks out here keep up with a regular day job, and have side projects ranging from importing gourmet food from Australia, to running sites like yours truly started one random weekend evening. While this isn't a monetary game yet, the concept is fun, laid-back, and gives locals an opportunity to waste time on the internet with Shenzhen relevant inside jokes.
Beijing is next, followed by Shanghai, and then if it hits, we take it stateside. Random? Quite. Interesting? Probably not to a lot of folks, but that's not really the point. Though making money is a point, and that's where some of my other time is being spent. It looks like this American may have to bite the bullet and get into teaching English like so many post undergrad students who go abroad do. While I don't see it growing permanent or even long term legs, it will support the next few months, and allow me to get some much needed classroom experience that will in fact be essential to where some of our future plans are taking us. Mum is the word right now, and in no way is the South China Learning Institute vanishing or being pushed aside. We currently have one Anemoi partner back in the states on the Eastern seaboard to keep in touch with schools as they gear up for their 2009/2010 season begins.

Like anything that develops on the ground, plans shift. The original college prep business still sounds good, but we lack the connections to build us into a profitable company, and we are not here to step on toes and alienate ourselves from fellow Americans abroad. The next 2 months are going to be very interesting, and will, for better or worse, dictate the next year or two of our lives.

Serious stuff right? You have to keep it light, in fact, we recently discovered the joys of bowling at a significantly reduced cost to its American counterpart (and oddly enough everything at the alley is made in the US). Open mic nights have proven interesting to say the least, but there is talk of getting a small group of lads together for some good ol a cappella.

On a side note, the VPN is great, but I've now caught up with all current cartoon series (Family Guy, South Park, American Dad) Any suggestions out there besides Dexter and Mad Men?