These days, there are a multitude of jobs to choose from: doctor, teacher, clown, plumber, and the list goes on. But wait a minute … What if you find yourself dreading to be like everyone else – stuck in the office and making documents for important meetings? Well, don’t worry! Fortunately, there are some special jobs that remain obscure, but have spared many people’s lives from becoming a mundane routine!

1. Odor Tester
This man does exactly what his title implies and is sometimes asked to put his nose into clients’ armpits to judge effectiveness of a deodorant! So, to be qualified as an odor tester, you cannot just have a sensitive nose, but have a strong stomach to match.

2. Hair Boiler
Hair in this case does not mean human hair. These groups of people are asked to boil animal hairs in water until they curl up for later use. They not only have to stir and inspect the “soup” of animal hair, but may have to work in post-processing too.

3. Professional Whistler
This lucky guy simply whistles tunes to earn money. He adds the pleasant music to movies, TV, and radio commercials. A professional whistler can also play a variety of music genres with an extensive repertoire. If you want to be a professional whistler, practice whistling every day from now on!

4. Pet Food Tester
Yes! It is hard to believe, but many pet food companies actually do use human testers to taste their products. Pet food testers have specially trained their palate so that they know exactly what dogs and cats like to eat. They say that once you are used to it, pet food tastes as delicious as chocolate and cake.

5. Dice Inspector
They work in a gambling house, but do not gamble themselves. Instead, they inspect the participants and aim to detect any flaws in the die that would give unfair advantages or disadvantages when gambling. Impeccable eyesight is required for this job.

6. Organ Procurers
This job is not as scary as it sounds. In fact, their work is crucial for patients waiting for transplants. Organ procurers seek out donors and put them in contact with the right patients, forging a connection that saves lives. Without them, patients’ surgery would be much slower and inefficient.

7. Gumologist
This is one of the rarest, but most sought-after, jobs in the world. Gumologists are paid for developing the best stick of chewing gum for gum companies. However, chewing gum is not enough to succeed in this job; gumologists should also be able to deal with all the chemicals inside gum. Food chemist Jessee Keifer of Cadbury Schweppes is one of the only gumologists in the world.

8. Gross Stunt Tester
When watching reality TV shows such as Fear Factor, you may be shocked to see what trials participants are faced with. They eat insects, put their hands inside a shark’s mouth, and partake in other “gross” activities just to win a prize. More surprisingly still, is the fact that gross stunt testers have to undergo the same trials to ensure participants’ safety and health prior to these shows.

9. Hand Model
Some of the renowned hand models earn even more money than normal fashion models. You can be one of these models only if you have attractive hands and nails. Unlike full-on actors, you don’t have to worry about invasion of privacy, paparazzi, or gaining weight. It sounds like a dream job come true!

10. Professional Sleeper
It’s hard to believe that money can come into your pocket while you’re asleep! This may sound fascinating to people who have a hard time getting out of bed every morning, or to those of us who are generally lazy. Serving medical purposes, professional sleepers help scientists to solve the mystery of disorders such as insomnia.

About UNIT-E
UNIT-E was founded in the spring of 2010 with the aim of establishing a non-profit, student-run magazine for international students in Beijing. Staffed by current students from a range of international schools, the magazine provides an amalgam of cultural tidbits, fragments of Beijing student life, and a broad spectrum of unique perspectives from a diverse group of young adults.

Photo by CammiRose via Flickr

1. Cooking
Who wouldn’t want to spend three hours a week learning how to make pancakes or the perfect marinated chicken kebab? As a subject, we would find this to be an appetizing way to learn how to eat healthier whist gaining new (and safe!) skills with a cleaver.

2. Film
Whether interested in directing, editing, or producing, students who want to make it in Hollywood would benefit from such a subject at a high school level. A stimulating, thought-provoking and idea-brewing art in its own right, studying film is probably one of the most challenging but fun subjects you could take.

3. Event Planning
If you want to break out into the social scene, and be known as the person who throws the best parties, this is the course for you. This would enable you to gain a couple of skills that would benefit you for the rest of your life.

4. Personal Style
A useful subject if you are into fashion and presenting yourself as a chic professional. First impressions are always important, and can even set the tone for an entire interview. This skill will definitely become of use when you’re looking for a job, so pay attention!

5. Conversation
Hours on end of just discussing whatever you please would be the ideal way to replace subjects such as chemistry. Rather than discussing chemical equations, you discuss life or major world events. During this class, intelligent conversation would flow, promoting eloquence and articulateness.

6. Dispute
Whether it’s how to get out of one, how to win one, or how to stand up for yourself, this is another subject you would use later on in life. More so if you want to become a lawyer, a media personality or a diplomat but this is an essential skill, everyone needs to be able to win an argument, walk away from one and above all, everyone should learn how to stand up for what they believe in.

7. Wittiness
Even if it’s coming up with a snappy comeback in less than three seconds, or writing a hilarious article, wittiness is a skill that will always come into use. Broadening ones’ views of pop culture references would also aid one to participate in a multitude of witty conversations.

8. Thriftiness
We all have those days where we’re strapped for cash but are not sure what to do about it, but those days are over. By learning how to have the time of our lives on less that RMB 10, students in this course will help deflect any negative stigmas of penny pinching

9. Extreme Sports
Who wouldn’t want to drive at 230mp/h for three hours a week? Or bungee jump from a building in San Francisco? Or windsurf in all the oceans? If you’re craving some adrenaline that isn’t from a can, this is the class for you.

10. Trampolining
Not quite an extreme sport, but still worthy of this list. This is one activity that this writer feels should get a mention of its own.

Admit it: reading this list has broadened the options for what classes should be offered and taken. This list only contains ten of the numerous possibilities that exist. Make sure to create your own, and enjoy this food for thought.

About UNIT-E
UNIT-E was founded in the spring of 2010 with the aim of establishing a non-profit, student-run magazine for international students in Beijing. Staffed by current students from a range of international schools, the magazine provides an amalgam of cultural tidbits, fragments of Beijing student life, and a broad spectrum of unique perspectives from a diverse group of young adults.

UNIT-E: What aspects of Latin music do you find most fascinating or appealing?
Mr. Luis Aguilar: The lively rhythm and the catchy lyrics that come with Latin music often generate a sense of joy and excitement when people listen to it. It’s fascinating that how this form of music puts a lot of emphasis on expressing emotion [more sporadically]rather than [in a stricter more conventional form].

UNIT-E: What methods do you use to teach Latin music to children and the public?
Mr. Luis Aguilar: My methods for children and adults are very similar, and the only difference is that many adults think that they don’t’ have musical or paying ability. But [the reality is that]most [adults]do, we must need to find the right instrument.

By comparison, children don’t know limitations. Everything is new and they want to try it, and so I focus on teaching them how to get a feel for the music first, and once they’ve “internalized” the music, I then proceed to determine which instrument is the most suitable for them to play, once they have an instrument that they like, I concentrate on improvising exercises that require them to have to come up with different ideas and rhythms every time the play. The more they know their instrument and how to play it, the more they understand and create the music. Latin music is about that: feeling.

UNIT-E: What type of atmosphere of Latin music or culture do you think exists in Beijing?
Mr. Luis Aguilar: Beijing has a lot of places that promote the Latin culture like restaurants, dancing clubs, and festivals. Chinese people are keen on learning about Latin culture because it is very similar to theirs. The two share many similarities, such as the emphasis placed on spending time with friends and family around the table, dedicating time for the members of the family on the weekends, etc. The food, music and language [of the Latin culture], including spicy Mexican food, Latin dance, like Salsa or Rumba, the Spanish language, and its songs and soap operas, are other aspects that attract a lot of people in Beijing towards learning about it and getting a first-hand experience.

UNIT-E: In the time that you have stayed in Beijing, do you feel as if this atmosphere has changed in any way?
Mr. Luis Aguilar: Yes, I do. The change has mainly been in the number of people who have expressed interest in learning the Spanish language, a number that has grown enormously. These people range from students at the main universities in Beijing to people who study the language out of curiosity and just as a side hobby.

Since Spanish is the second most spoken language around the world, the Mexican, Spanish, and Cuban embassies [in Beijing]frequently organize events, such as dinners and film festivals that aim to promote Latin culture in Beijing. The other thing I’ve notice is that back in 2006 there were only 2 Mexican restaurants in Beijing, now there are more than 11!

UNIT-E: What do you think are the best ways to enhance awareness of and appreciation of Latin music and culture?
Mr. Luis Aguilar: Fortunately, interest in and appreciation for Latin music and culture has spread not only in China but around the world due to its inherent “warmness” and promotion of a “happy spirit.” All this is thanks to modern Latin music, which has been around since the 1940’s and includes rhythms such as the Mambo, Rumba, Bossa Nova, Flamenco, Tango, Salsa, and Reggaeton. Many popular Latin artists, like Santana, Enrique Iglesias, Ricky Martin, and Shakira have also raised awareness of its [unique characteristics]. So the best way to promote Latin culture is through the language and the music! In Beijing there are also many clubs that have Salsa lessons and many gyms that offer Latin dance class.

As for myself, I not only participate in Latin music festivals in Beijing but also focus on promoting it through my music lessons at BIBA, where I have been given the opportunity to include this teaching as part of the daily music lessons. BIBA, as with all schools, wishes to provide the best education for its students, and since appreciation of music is a crucial step in enhancing the learning awareness of kids, teaching them about Latin music can truly help to improve children’s cultural awareness and also bring out their artistic and creative sides.  

Amanda Song is a student at the International School of Beijing (ISB).

Nicole Ng is UNIT-e’s Head of Service. She can be contacted at nicoleng@unit-emagazine.org

About UNIT-E
UNIT-E was founded in the spring of 2010 with the aim of establishing a non-profit, student-run magazine for international students in Beijing. Staffed by current students from a range of international schools, the magazine provides an amalgam of cultural tidbits, fragments of Beijing student life, and a broad spectrum of unique perspectives from a diverse group of young adults.