[zhte415]

Developing is problem solving. You mention you don't have a cool project you're dying to build, so when learning, re-invent the wheel a little bit (a lot of learning development is done like this) and reinvent a wheel. A blogging engine, a framework for whatever.

I'd be apprehensive on undertaking previously undertaken work on places like odesk/freelancer as the problems solved there are often carbon copies of what a freelance developer has done before. It's not a learning platform, it is a platform for frustration and complaint from you're customer you've promised something to.

Why not try Udacity? They have some great introductory stuff, suitably technical, and if you need a tutor running into a problem, post on odesk etc for a Skype tutor for an hour. You will get a reply.

I don't know where you're moving to, but as being 'money orientated' you'll may find far greater financial reward not pursuing programming but pursuing business and cultural differences and using fluency in what's possible in IT (i.e. both a cultural and technical project manager) for financial gain.