Moving On (Up)

Moving on (up)

Well, my dear reader(s) this is one them posts you rarely get, that’s actually about my life. The sort of post I feel that I should be writing but never do.

So the headline, in case you’ve not heard, is that I’m leaving Hangzhou and moving to Prague. Why? Well, as you know I have one super amazingly good reason and a bunch of smaller ones. Overall it’s the right thing to do and the right time professional, personally and it terms of my development and my life’s journey.

In a way I feel like I’ve grown up here in Hangzhou. I guess you grow and learn a lot in any 6 (almost) year period of your life but changing countries makes it really easy to identify what you’ve learned and how you’ve grown in a particular place. I’ve been here for the last 6 (almost) years so looking at life from this moment in time they are the most important years. It also, as I’m 30, works out to be half my adult life, more than half my professional life (if somewhat artificially measured from graduation) and one fifth of my life as a whole. That’s significant.

Changing jobs* and countries at the same gives an unusually obvious sense of the end of one era and the begining of another. I’ve learned more generally, and specifically more about myself, in the last 12 months than in any period I can recall. I find myself excited by the many possibilities that are in front of me for all aspects of my life. Whatever happens from this point, this is going to be one of the best decisions I made because it is time to move on to new challenges and the next stage of the journey.

* I don’t have one, if you’re reading this and also happen to be in the process of recruiting an IT support / project manager in Prague, then we should talk.

I’ve been asked some interesting and some strange questions as I’ve talked to many people about ‘the plan’ so I thought I’d try answer some of these as a way to sign off on my time in Hangzhou.

Will I miss Hangzhou? Gosh yes. Hugely. What will I miss? First and foremost the people. I’ve been so lucky to meet the most amazing people here over the years. It’s a transitory place, people have come and gone over the years which has just made it all the more interesting, you have this fluid group of people that slowly changes over time. It’s an international group so I’ve been exposed to different langauges and cultures, not just Chinese, though that’s been a huge part of it, but also people from all around the world. More than anything the lifestyle makes it possible to connect with people that I just think is much easier than in home country and home culture. Most people you meet are actively looking for possibilities to grow their circle of contacts if not their circle of friends. I can’t stress enough that the most amazing thing about my time here is the people I’ve enjoyed it with both colleagues and friends. You are all amazing and you know who you are.

One final thing that is specific to Hangzhou and has been such a huge part of my time here is the brilliant contrast you have of large cosmopolitan city with a lovely lake (14km around) with landscaped gardens around it and bordered by the wonderful hills dotted with tea fields. I shall very much miss my Tuesday night runs by the lake and weekends of hiking and running in the mountains.

How have I changed? Like I said, you change in six years anyway but I think that my time in Hangzhou has certainly changed me in different ways compared to having spent the last 6 years in the UK. I’ve traveled way more than I think I would have ever done. I’ve been forced to challenge assumptions about the world, about the way to live one’s life and the way to relate to other people in a way that is a unique product of the things I’ve done and the people I’ve met. Oh and apparently I now have a funny accent and use funny words, so I’m told.

Has it been a waste? This question took me by surprise. Is time spent here a waste now I’ve decided to leave? Certainly not. I’ve got so much out of the experience, learned so much and had soo much fun that, absolutely not. I’ve also got a great group of friends. I speak serviceable Chinese and something tells me that’s going to be useful again at some point in the future. As Gandalf says, “Even the very wise cannot see all ends.” I am also applying the lessons I’ve learned in acquiring my second language to dramatically improve my effectiveness in acquiring my third. Czech study has begun in earnest. I’ve also got some great experience of working and living in a multi-cultural / multi lingual environment and it’s hard not to see those as skills that are directly relevant to my immediate future :).

I’ve learned so much, made so many great friends, been inspired and challenged by so much that I’ve seen and done and heard.

And we’ve had lots of fun.