Time and Money, Money and Time

Money and time. Two things most people wish they had more of, right? This is probably the only time in my life I won't have to worry about finances or stress about time restraints.

I'm being paid 4000 yuan ($500) per month. It doesn't sound like much; however, my only expenses are food and few necessities from the Trust Mart every week. I eat two meals a day out, which costs me anywhere between $2 (at the noodle restaurant) and $10 (at Pizza Hut). That means I can live like the Duchess of Zhanjiang on no more than $20 per day. I can also purchase DVDs for $2 each, take a 30-minute taxi ride for $4, etc. My salary is paid in cash, which means I haven't withdrawn money from my bank account since August.

Time is another thing I have plenty of. I teach 12 hours each week. Lesson planning takes another four; Chinese lessons and studying perhaps six. The rest of the week I have completely free to go to the gym, read, go out to dinner, write, sleep in, or just lounge around. Although I do get bored every once in a while, such an excess of time really is a luxury that I appreciate very much.