Though you all have to take my comments with the same grain of salt as any other candidate, because I haven't passed OCS yet either; I would like to say that it shows good character on your part to come away from OCS in your situation and have positive things to say about the experience. Many people would talk a bunch of crap about how their DI was a dick or whatever, and make a bunch of excuses. It was refreshing to see a level-head reaction. It sounds like you found your niche in the Chinese language studies, so good luck with that.
I don't really have anything negative to say, but it might be a stretch to say I have positive things to say about the experience, other than the quality of the people involved. Basically, it sucked and I hated it, but the program is what it is, and it's supposed to suck. The reason I'm not bitter is because I wasn't singled out or treated any differently than the rest of the candidates, so there's no reason why I dropped and others didn't other than my own motivation.
Big balls to be so stoic in admitting something wasn't for you... and then jumping into the "lions den" that is this website to post what few lessons you learned. Good on you, and have fun in China.
Funny you should use the word stoic, because I was actually surprised at how unemotional I was after I DOR'd, even though it was a huge decision and I knew I was giving up a lot. Sure it sucked to have to quit (especially telling my family), but it was so obvious to me that I didn't belong there that the decision was actually much easier than I would have thought it could have been. I made a mistake by going to OCS in the first place instead of going with my other plans, so I don't look at it as a failure but as simply correcting my mistake. If I had been truly determined but just couldn't hack it, it would be a different story.
As for the "lions den" comment, this is just the Internet. If I can deal with the woman at the uniform shop at NS Newport when trying to return my unused items, I can certainly deal with anything this forum can throw at me. :icon_tong