It was a long process, involving much paperwork, authentications, embassies, even a trip to Washington, D.C., a place I had never visited. But after considering the idea in February, deciding a couple of months later, starting interviews and moving out of our townhouse in September, accepting an offer in October, finishing the TEFL certification course in record time (what else did I have to do), and all of the running around to finish my visa/work permit application, I finally set off for California in mid-November.
After some important family visits, and finally receiving my visa in Los Angeles, I flew out for China on November 25th, arriving on the 27th (gotta love that time changeover). Someone from the kindergarten met me at the Hangzhou airport and escorted me to the school where I met my new work family, was shown my apartment, and started to get settled in.
The view from my apartment was dazzling, in a Las Vegas-sort-of-way, at first, and was one of the first photos I took in my new home away from home.