It’s only appropriate to give you, the reader, the back story, as it were, on how I got this China gig.
((As a side note, I am probably going to write much like I talk. Get side tracked at times, maybe some grammar errors, use words erroneously, potentially have something that could be taken wrong and some slang.))
I sold my practice in Westminster, CO in May. During the transitional period with the new doc, I decided to take a chiropractic seminar, partially because it was in Denver (vs going to a different city for the same seminar). Actually, the following weekend was the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival and the seminar in New Orleans. Luckily I didn’t choose that option, because I found out during my month long road trip that the seminar was actually canceled. So back to the Denver based seminar. I studied for a while so that during the neuromechanical innovations seminar (aka Impulse Instrument Adjusting) I could take the two part certification exam. Which I passed, OH YEAH! And am now certified.
During the previous couple months, I was looking for two types of jobs. First, I thought it would be nice to have a J.O.B. and not have the stress of owing my own clinic and be able to take vacation. Job 1: an overly paid job, typically in a hospital setting, where I would help people figure out how to use the healthcare software implemented. I figure I’ve learned several programs for chiropractic, and other programs, so I could pick it up quick. Job 2: I would work for a pharmaceutical company. You know how medicine is researched on humans at some point. Well, the research studies are usually done throughout several places and I would go to these places and make sure the quality and integrity of the work being submitted is accurate. For instance, if a lab value has to be X amount for a person to be submitted into the study and that person failed to meet that criteria and was still allowed… then I would step in and kick um out. Plus submit reports and stuff like that. It had several things I liked: travel, work in a setting with lots of people, get paid well, and be self motivated and driven for work. (I do like the whole work for yourself atmosphere). Needless to say, after submitting resumes and getting lots of rejection it sure seemed like doors were being closed in these areas.
Back to the seminar. The head honcho of the technique I went to certify in was actually there, and he hadn’t been for at least two years. I was asking him on a break if he knew any contacts or if he knew some type of job that I could be qualified to do that doesn’t technically involve me being a business owner. I figured he would have a pulse on what’s out there that my degree would make me uniquely qualified for. Also, told him about how cool it would be to go to Belize or Thailand and do a few adjustments a week/day and be a beach bum bohemian for a few months. In fact, I sent some emails to a guy in Thailand that was going on vacation for a month. He said I could cover his practice. Come to find out Thailand does have some particular laws that would make it hard to get a license and all that. Sounded like I could adjust under the radar and would probably be fine, but um Thailand Prison sounds like a bad life option. So, no I didn’t risk it. Now, the head guy Dr. Chris graciously listened to my story and then offered up his own thoughts. He said, (not a real quote) “You know, I have a guy who can put 50 chiropractors in China like that {snapped finger}.” He did sweeten my interest by thinking that I could save 100 grand in a year. Um yeah that was WAY NOT accurate. Regardless, I emailed Chris and so began the grand inquisition of China.
The more questions I asked the guy in China, the more at ease I became with living in a communist country. Of course, I’m not there yet but I have a positive outlook. Biggest thing, I think, is to manage the expectations. I don’t expect it to be USA nor have the living conditions of the USA. I’m hoping it’s comparable though. The province is Yunnan Province. The first post was about the area. The capital is Kunming and its 90 minutes from where I will be, Yuxi City. Yuxi City is 2.5 million people. Technically I’m 25 minutes west of it by the lakes that I posted a picture map of. (Yunnan is near Thailand and Vietnam) My contact is John and he is an MD PhD and worked at a chiropractic college in the states for a while. Apparently there is not a chiropractic school in China yet but they are wanting chiro’s in the country.
So, I will be working at a central hospital in that area (the tourist part of the city/country) and also living in the hospital sponsored apartments with some of the other doctors. I hear chinese do like western people. Talking to another contact, she made it sound like it/I will be kind of a big deal. Oh the white American Doctor has come to town. (insert horrible chinese voice impression)
Cost of living should be nice… $100 for a fully furnished 2 bedroom apartment…. Not sure exactly what fully means though. Again, keep the expectations low and manageable. It could be high by their standards, which could mean like a lower middle class lifestyle…or it could be worse or it could be that because I’m from America the place could have more than even the local docs because of what I would consider normal.
Who knows. They do provide a translator at work and I have Rosetta Stone. Maybe I can come home and be somewhat fluent.
I’ve got 52 weekends, so I will have to try and plan them wisely.
Lastly, this job satisfies several things I want.
- Work and live abroad
- I get to do chiropractic
- Learn a new language
- Work in a hospital setting
- Be frugal and save money
Personally, I think this opportunity could be huge. Some Veteran Hospitals in America have chiros on staff and within a few years allegedly all the VA’s should have at least one. Once the hospitals realize what some research has already shown, that they can cut cost and amount of surgery by 1/3rd, then main stream private hospitals may want to employ chiros as well.
I’m hoping that with the state run hospital that I will be working at (which is the chiropractic department) in China, I can then take that knowledge and use it for the impending Obamacare stuff.
Who knows, maybe I will be uniquely qualified to manage or be a vice president overseeing a chiro dept in one of those huge multistate hospital chains. WHAT?? WHAATT?? That’s Dr Justin Trosclair VP, DC to you. LOL
If you have any questions, leave a comment and I will answer it.
Thanks for reading.
I think you definitely have the right mindset. Manage expectations (or better yet try not to have any!) I just finished that book by J Maarten Troost and he really paints a picture about what it is like to be a /laowai/ (foreigner) in China. He really loved the western area the most as it was less polluted than the coastal cities and enjoyed the area around Yunnan province. 🙂
God luck!
I commend you for taking this big, exciting step! Living abroad can and almost certainly will change your life – you will expand your perspective and understanding of the world exponentially, and it can only look good on a resume for wherever your future takes you. One suggestion for something to be prepared for – the pollution. Do research before you go and figure out ways to try and keep yourself healthy in a much more polluted environment than that to which you are accustom. My brother-in-law went to China to teach English, originally planned for 2 years, but he had to return home after less than one year because his health had deteriorated significantly and he couldn’t take it. I’m not trying to scare you…just hoping to prepare you for it so you can make every effort to do what you can to fight it. Perhaps you are already well aware of it. I wish you the very best of luck in this very positive and adventurous next stage of your life, Justin!