by Kat | Jun 6, 2020 | China, Living Abroad, Living In China, Moving Abroad, Moving to China |
Many people ask:
“How Can I Move Abroad? ”
There are different reasons why people want to live in a foreign country. It mostly depends on life goals. Some people decide to take a gap year and go abroad. For them, this is an opportunity to experience different cultures and gain as much experience before they tackle the world of student debt, getting a stable job, and settling.
Others just want to move overseas and take it as an opportunity to earn more and improve their financial situation.
There are many opportunities and different ways to move abroad. Some people are just lucky to get a job offer and move overseas, or a scholarship to study abroad. Some even marry a significant other from a foreign country. If you are not one of those people don’t despair, because there are plenty of opportunities for moving abroad.
Among those who dream to move abroad, there is a large number of them who might be curious to know what’s it like to move to China.
I always wanted to have the chance to live abroad, and for me getting a scholarship from one of the famous universities in Beijing to study the Chinese language was a dream come true. By the way, if you think this was luck, it wasn’t. Read my story of Why I Moved to China.
Study Abroad
Study abroad is at the top of my list of recommended ways to move abroad. No matter at what stage of life you are at, you can always choose to take a break and sign up for a semester abroad. If you have set aside a small amount of money and you would like to experience living abroad just for a period of time but without the long-term commitment that signing a work contract entails, why not choose to sign up for a semester at a language university? This is a great way to start and see if moving abroad is for you.
I have been living in China for 12 years. Throughout these years, I’ve been a student, an English teacher, I’ve worked for a corporation, and have started my own business. In my mind, nothing helps expats deal with cultural differences better than starting out as a student. It’s also a lot of fun!
The benefits to this in China at least, are numerous. For starters, your university would take care of all the visa hassles. You’d have better options at choosing insurance, and accommodation on campus. With Chinese culture being one of the toughest ones in the world to integrate into, you would have friends from different countries with whom you can explore and share your China experience.
Confucius Institutes
Even better, the Chinese government gives out scholarships to students all over the world, that’s how I got here. As Chinese has a reputation for being one of the hardest languages to learn, I am sure there isn’t that much competition as there would be for studying one of the more popular languages. Recently numerous Confucius Institutes have mushroomed in many countries. I am sure just by visiting or writing to them you can inform yourself about opportunities in the near future.
Teaching English
Are you’re still in debt from college years or other circumstances and are looking for a well-paying job? Moving abroad to teach English gives you the chance to put some money aside.
At the same time, you can experience life in a different culture and have the opportunity to travel.
If you are in this situation then moving to China to teach English can be a great opportunity.
Those with a degree in education, arts, or sciences have the opportunity to apply for teaching positions with some of the International schools in China.
Even if this is not the case for you, if you are a native speaker or speak fairly good English, there are always schools and agencies looking to hire foreign English teachers.
If you want to move to China to teach English, you need to watch out for scammers though.
You have to be careful and do your research carefully before choosing your school or agent. There have been many scammers. Research carefully and reach out to expat communities to help you verify. One of the ways to find teaching and other jobs in Beijing as well as other parts of China is to check this awesome website.
Work Abroad
This is one of the most common ways that people move abroad. This used to be the best and most widely open option for most since China was looking to attract foreigners. Nowadays, however, the game has changed. It’s becoming competitive.
There have been many Chinese returnees from the world’s renowned universities who cost less to hire. Also, they speak Chinese. China is still looking to attract foreign talent but only in the major focus areas, such as bio-medics, technology, and agriculture.
If you have graduated from one of the prestigious universities or hold some awards, you may be eligible for a five-year hassle free visa.
Internship in China
Getting an Internship in China is a great way to start your career. Also, it is a perfect opportunity to get a taste for how working and living in China would look like. Business trips are almost an inevitable part of the working in China experience. If you are just starting out and have the energy and willingness to travel to multiple cities throughout the week, then this can be a great way to work and travel.
Start a Business In China
This is obviously not the easiest way to move abroad. In other countries, it is unlikely to start business talks as soon as you meet some locals. However, in China, it’s not so unlikely, provided you’ve done your research well. When it comes to starting a business In China as a foreigner, you have to be aware that the government encourages partnerships between locals and foreigners. It is exceedingly rare to see a foreigner in complete control of a company in China.
If you are a digital nomad China might sound like a good option to move abroad. Please note though that internet censorship here might cause a lot of troubles and delays with your work. A good VPN is a must before coming to China.
Even if you have a reliable VPN, be prepared to deal with slow service during important political meetings in Beijing, these can often affect VPN functionality.
Read Next:
Living In China As a Foreigner: The Pros and Cons
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by Kat | Jun 1, 2020 | China, Expat Life, Living In China, Moving Abroad, Moving to China |
Moving abroad is certainly not one of the easiest decisions to make in life. The idea of living abroad sounds enticing to many, but no one wants to be in a situation where they thought they arrived in “dreamland” only to find that it’s not what they imagined and soon board the plane back home.
Moving to a foreign country is a risky move, but with a little bit of forethought all that risk can certainly be avoided.
The “Should I Be Moving Abroad” Question
Start by listing the reasons for moving to another country and be as honest with yourself as you can be in the process. Knowing ourselves and our expectations helps to get an idea of what to expect and to minimize the risk of making a bad decision when moving abroad.
Dealing with Change
In my opinion, one of the most important factors to consider before moving abroad is your tolerance for dealing with change and ambiguity.
Moving to a foreign country means leaving a comfort zone. Those that do so commit to changing and adapting their lifestyles, developing new habits, and eschewing old habits.
For example, if you’re used to driving to get everyday errands and shopping done, can you see yourself being comfortable if you couldn’t? In places like China, driving to the nearest grocery can get you stuck in an hour-long traffic jam, and even if you get there in a timely fashion parking is still at a premium. Most people bike or walk everyone and carry all their shopping bags themselves. It’s important to realize that you’re not only leaving your country, you might also be leaving some of your conveniences too.
Can You Stand Loneliness?
You’ve planned this move abroad for so long. You arrive in the country of your dreams, you spend every weekend visiting famous tourist sights, and are so excited to tell your friends and family about it. After that initial “touristy stage” in expat life passes, the struggle to “lay down your roots” and find your new identity begins. This is when the blues start to kick in.
Making friends in a foreign country can take some time. In the meantime are you going to be comfortable without your support network when the going gets tough?
Most expats go through this stage. It’s an uneasy one, but with some effort from your side it can be short lived. That’s why being comfortable with loneliness, starting new hobbies, or reaching out to others and try to make new friends are very important skills when starting a new life in a foreign country.
Moving Abroad and Dealing with Cultural Differences
Every country has cultural differences that you will find to be different from your own. Even if you’re going to the next country over you’re bound to find some fundamental differences. How things get expressed and done in another part of the world may dazzle you, make you uncomfortable, or leave you in a state of abject shock.
Related Reads:
Cultural Differences Between China and The West Explained Through Comics
10 Types of People Unique to Modern Chinese Culture
The Role of Women in China: Past & Present
If you’ve never been abroad before, or haven’t been heavily exposed to another culture before deciding to move, it is important to set your attitude before you arrive. If you don’t make the active choice to adapt to your host country, you may find yourself stuck in hopeless efforts to change the locals to your ways. Doing so will only bring about a lot of frustration for yourself and those around you.
Language
Learning a new language can be extremely difficult and time-consuming. In my opinion, the willingness to learn or at least make an attempt at learning your host country’s language is a total game-changer that will radically upgrade your expat lifestyle. Being able to speak a foreign language can help diminish the feeling of being a total outsider. It can be especially rewarding in certain situations such as bargaining in the host language where you end up with much better deals for your buck.
Food
For certain countries, food IS culture. This is especially true in Asian countries which tend to have distinct, heavily spiced, and flavored cuisines that can challenge the western palate. You can choose to avoid the local food and cook at home, but eating foreign food while out or ordering it in will drain your wallet.
As someone who comes from the Balkans, I recognise that our very delicious, meat based cuisine is radically different cuisines such as the Chinese. Many of my friends back home are completely averse to trying Asian cuisine. It took me almost ten years to try certain local dishes, but I feel like a new world of food has opened for me. I am proud to say that during this time of Corona quarantine we’ve been cooking different cuisines every day.
Related Reads:
Chinese Breakfast Foods for People Who Love Variety
Communication
If you come from an assertive culture where you can express your opinion directly, you may find that doing so might not resonate well with people in your host country. Learning to tone down the way we express ourselves by adopting local speaking habits can save a lot of headaches down the road.
Are You Moving Abroad or Looking for an Escape?
Are you thinking of moving abroad because you are really ready for a new adventure in your life or are you just looking for an escape to a country that you imagine as a place where the sun is always shining and the air smells like warm root beer?
Have you and your partner had some ongoing problems but hope that experiencing a new life in a new country will create a new relationship?
If you are in one of these situations, then you need a reality check, quick!
Moving abroad only magnifies what’s already in us, both the positive and the negative. All these years as expat I’ve witnessed many cases of people who become depressed, some who got divorced, and the root of the cause was they were trying to find an escape to existing problem by moving abroad, which only intensified the problem.
Your Personal Values vs. the Values of the Host Country
Countries, like people, have values. Before deciding on moving abroad it’s a good idea to double-check whether that country’s values match yours. Those cultural values are the values, assumptions, and beliefs that help to shape any given culture. Having prior knowledge and insight into the foundation of the culture itself and the identity of the people is an important factor to consider before moving to another country. It can help or hinder our ability to integrate within society.
As an individual, you can’t change a whole society, but having an understanding of how these value systems influence people’s behavior can help you learn whether you would be a good fit there and help to avoid unnecessary frustrations.
The most common clash of values happens when people from societies that highly value Individualism move to countries whose societies highly value Collectivism. This is the struggle of many western expats in China and the other way around.
While we heavily emphasize the value the “I” and independent thought, when Chinese people express their opinion they often tend to avoid saying the “I”; to which an English teacher would immediately respond by correcting them for omitting the Subject from the sentence structure.
The Concept of Private Space
Another example of what comes from the obvious clash between value systems is the westerners’ value of private space and time over group shared space and group activities in Collective societies. When you take the metro in China for example you are going to struggle with finding private space and keeping a distance from others. Furthermore, spending the extra time on group activities with extended family members in Collectivist societies can be of a real challenge for the mixed couples out there.
In conclusion, while moving to any country is not without its pros and cons, it is important to research well. If the pros outweigh the cons then that’s a sign that you are thinking in the right direction and that moving abroad might be the change you’ve been looking for in your life.
Read Next:
Living In China As a Foreigner: The Pros and Cons
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by Kat | May 22, 2020 | China, Chinese Culture, Expat Life, Living Abroad, Living In China, Moving Abroad, Moving to China |
Living in China can be a positive life-changing experience for some, and a life-changing nightmare for others. Most will tell you that there isn’t an “in-between”. China is a country with a dynamic rhythm of life. It vibrates with opportunities, though the cultural differences can make living in China for foreigners extremely challenging.
Many expats think that the pros of living in China outweigh the cons. As an expat who has spent 12 years living in China, I’d strongly suggest to anybody who has the intention of staying in China even short term to consider whether moving to China is the right move for you.
Before you’ve made the costly mistake of boarding that long flight to China only to find out that moving abroad wasn’t what you expected, it’s better to think about your decision. Bring to the table both the positive and the negatives, and be brutally honest with yourself about what aspect of the culture are you OK and NOT OK with.
1. When Living In China You Don’t Need to Tip
(In Fact, It’s Forbidden)
“Ti-Ping” might be a city in China, but “tipping” definitely isn’t among the local customs. Americans especially can breathe a sigh of relief when going out to any eatery.
Tips aren’t expected, and in many cases are frowned upon. I have seen numerous instances of Chinese servers going out of their way to return tips offered to them.
2. Living In China Is Dynamic
Everything in China, especially in places like Beijing, runs at break-neck speed. It’s what I love about living in China. There are always people on the streets, restaurants don’t close until late at night, and everything is open on weekends.
Being a secular society with a large population, closing anything on a weekend in China would constitute a huge loss of business. Weekends are days for outings and shopping for most people here. Retail workers get their days off during the week.
I grew so accustomed to this. Last time I went shopping back home, I was entirely confused to find that everything was closed on Sunday.
3. A Mecca for Technology
For those whose exposure to China is solely through Western media and film, it’s easy to fall into the misconception that China is composed entirely of scenic backwater villages filled with farmers and saintly Kung Fu masters.
My parents fell into this group. When they first came to visit me in China they told me they didn’t bring many of their fancy clothes because they thought China was still a place where people go to work by bikes and rickshaws. Instead, they were met with skyscrapers, metro lines, big and expensive cars, robot waiters, and people running around in suits with the latest smartphones.
It wasn’t always like this though. About five years ago the government started to place incentives on tech start-ups. Cities like Beijing might have been behind the West a decade or so ago. Ever since the tech surge they’ve begun to look like something out of Blade Runner.
4. Cashless Society
Cashless society is a direct result of the tech-boom in China.
At this point, just about everything can be paid for using a phone. Most of the time it’s as simple as scanning a QR code, after that it’s a question of typing in a passcode, scanning a fingerprint, or allowing a few seconds for facial recognition. We’re usually shocked by all the lost time that comes with cash transactions when we go to western countries.
Though we know that the convenience we experience in China can’t be replicated by most other countries. Ironically, the thing that makes China an e-commerce powerhouse is Communism.
Since every bank in China is at least partly owned by the state. It is easier for China to consolidate its online infrastructure to accommodate e-commerce payments.
Whereas in the west, most banking institutions are private entities and do not have the same incentives to cooperate on a single online payment platform.
5. WeChat: The App of Life Convenience
Living in China is impossible without WeChat.
Most payments are made online, through WeChat. Let me tell you something about the word “convenience”. I thought I knew what it meant before I showed up in China, but WeChat redefines it. Our daily life and work are navigated from a single app called WeChat. It’s so convenient that you can’t imagine living in China without using WeChat.
Unlike Facebook, it’s a closed circle app. This means you can only interact with people who really know you.
WeChat has its own cloud payment system that is attached to your bank card so you can withdraw and charge money into it anytime.
Through WeChat you can navigate all aspects of daily life, such as paying and getting paid, split bills with others, do utilities, mobile top-up, book train/plane tickets, get a taxi, order in food, book a hotel, get movie tickets, rent an apartment, etc.
Recently the payment function of the app was made available for tourists as well. Now visitors can link WeChat Pay to their credit cards, and use for payments when traveling in China.
“Is It Safe?” You Might Ask . . .
While in the US you have so many banks and each of them functions independently, banks in China are all interconnected and under the central government rule. It’s not that there aren’t scammers in China, but this system of payment has proved very safe so far.
6. E-commerce Is Everywhere
WeChat is just the proverbial tip of the China e-commerce iceberg. There are many other apps in China that make life more convenient. These include:
Alipay: Like WeChat but they don’t charge you a commission when you want to withdraw money to your bank account.
Taobao: The largest online shopping platform, similar to Amazon, just light years ahead.
DiDi: China’s most famous app for taxis, it’s similar to Uber. You get to choose between a variety of cars available, spanning from carpool to luxury and all very decently priced.
Mobike: The concept of shared bikes is native to China. Just scan the code on a nearby bike and you don’t need to walk or drive to the closest grocery. They are available everywhere.
Eleme and Meituan: These are the two biggest food delivery companies. While they only delivered food in the past, now you can order fresh groceries, your favorite snacks from the supermarkets, and even medicine from the pharmacy.
7. Business Opportunities
The boom of technology has brought about many opportunities for entrepreneurs in China.
If you’ve learned some of the language, gained some insight into Chinese culture, and most importantly made some friendships with the locals, there are quite a few opportunities to consider for starting a business in China. There are quite a few fields to explore if you are someone who wants to set up a small business in China without too big of an investment and too much risk.
Some of the niches that are experiencing growing demand right now and suitable for foreigners include: Education (English teaching for kids/adults, Business English Training), Creative Industries (particularly design), Trade Agencies, etc.
8. Living in China Is a Foodie’s Paradise
Nothing epitomizes Chinese culture quite like it’s food.
When living in China, eating seems to be constantly on everyone’s mind. Every day like clockwork the country all but shuts down during breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Is it any wonder though when there is such a variety to choose from? There are EIGHT distinct cuisines across China and each region has its own special dishes that it prides itself on.
Living in China made me realize how bland and boring the cuisine of my home country was. Some of the oldest unbroken cooking traditions of the world can be found here and most dishes are worth trying at least once. Chinese food culture is a special topic.
Read my post on Chinese Breakfast Foods for People Who Love Variety to learn more about Chinese food.
One of our favorite things to do with our expat friends is going out for hot pot; in fact, we have a WeChat group dedicated to it.
9. Travel Opportunities
Most people think of the major cities like Shanghai or Beijing when they think of China. These cities certainly get more exposure on the news, but they’re not unlike any other major cities you might come across in other countries.
If you really want the “China Experience” though, it’s best to strike out into the rest of the country and visit some of the other provinces off the beaten track. Each is packed with unique cultural experiences and places to visit.
During my first year of living in China as a student, I used the winter vacation to go backpacking around China. I visited 10 places in 45 days and it was the most amazing experience I’ve had in my life. I was never the same person after that.
That was 12 years ago and it may have been cheaper then, but if you avoid the major places it’s still not very expensive to see some amazing sights.
10. Living in China is Safe
China is a relatively safe place. I spent part of my backpacking trip alone and I felt safe the whole time, no matter where I was. Even in Beijing, it is completely safe for a girl alone at night to go out and walk on the streets.
It helps that Beijing, being the dynamic city it is has people out at almost all hours. Even past midnight, you can still find people queuing up to get a table at their favorite restaurants.
11. Living in China as a Foreigner: There’s an Upside
Being the “other” in any given society can be an unpleasant experience, and living in China as a foreigner at times is no exception. After 12 years in the country, I can vouch for the fact that being a foreigner in China does come with some package benefits though.
There are special terms for foreigners in Chinese, the most prevalent of which is “Laowai” which means “The Old Foreigner”. It’s not well received among expats in China, though I suppose it is better than “Yang Guizi” which means “Devil from Across the Sea”.
While some of the locals consider us naïve and try to take advantage of or scam us, there is an attitude among most Chinese to help and be nice to foreigners.
During my backpacking trip across China, my friend and I, then tired of Chinese food and wanting a change, tried looking for an Italian restaurant recommended in the “The Lonely Planet” guidebook. When we couldn’t find it we went to the police station to ask for directions. They didn’t know where it was either and thought the restaurant might have closed. What happened next completely surprised us. He took us to another very good Italian restaurant… in his squad car. Talk about serve and protect!
On another occasion, during the same trip my friend and I became separated while climbing down from a mountain. Again I turned to the local police for assistance. Not only did they help me find her, but they invited us for coffee and tea in the police station afterwards. While chatting with us they commented that China is quite safe and they didn’t have much work to do.
As if to prove a point, the next evening they invited us to join them and their colleagues at KTV. It’s not everywhere you can get lost and wind up partying with the police.
The Cons of Living in China as a Foreigner
For all the positives listed above, you’d be forgiven to think that there’s nothing to complain about. Rest assured that should you come here, you’ll find plenty to whine about. Complaining is a favorite past-time for any member of our species. China is no exception when it comes to finding things to kvetch about. So here are some downsides to take into consideration before deciding if you want to come to China.
1. Only Change is Constant
My husband and I went on a business trip for a week once. When we got back to Beijing all our favorite back-alley haunts had been closed down. Every Hutong (that’s an alleyway) restaurant and bar had been ordered to close. Not only were our dining out options halved, but our local bar changed ownership (for the better in this case), and construction had begun on a new metro station near our house.
China is in a constant state of flux.
If you come from anywhere but a major international city, you’re liable to be taken aback by it. Those from smaller areas may be accustomed to a certain consistency of life. The town doesn’t change much over the course of decades, and people generally stay in the same positions until retirement.
Not so in China.
With over a billion people, most of whom live within only a scant one-third of the country’s area, every resource has become a commodity. Jobs, living situations, business locations, and product availability can all change at a moment’s notice. We once got a call from our landlord telling us that he was selling the apartment we were renting. We only had about a few weeks to find a new place to live. It’s unfair but it often happens here.
One thing I’ve learned while living in China as an expat is to become more flexible and be more open to change.
The constant challenges that come with living in China have made me better prepared for the future. I’ve come to realize that the things I often take for granted are not as permanent as I originally thought.
2. You Need to Learn Some Chinese
If you want to feel like you know what’s going on and you are actually living your life here, you’d better try to learn some Chinese. It will make your life significantly easier.
We all know Chinese is not the easiest language on Earth. Every syllable has four possible tones, which means that one word can be pronounced in four different ways and have at least four different meanings. This has been the hardest part of learning Chinese.
Even though I’ve been here for ages, I still feel like I haven’t quite mastered the tones yet.
3. The Rising Costs of Living in China
I’ve mentioned that the cost of living in China is relatively low. The only thing that has gotten expensive over the years, in fact, doubled since I first came here, is the cost of the rent. If you live in one of the big cities, you are going to pay lot in rent.
If you are not among the lucky ones who got their rent covered by an employer and you end up in one of the bigger cities you might want to consider renting a bit further out.
The good thing about big cities, especially Beijing, is that the metro system has broad coverage. No matter where you live you’ll be able to get to where you’re going in about 45 minutes. This is often just as much if not less time as driving considering all the traffic jams.
4. No Lamp Beside This Golden Door
China Is Not an Immigration Country
Many people that move abroad may decide to naturalize in their host country. Well, you can put those hopes and dreams aside if you come to China.
I have been living in China for 12 years and I am still on a work visa. Green cards exist but even if you satisfy all the conditions, there is no guarantee that you will get one. There is hope for a green card, but these are generally given out to people that are outstanding in their field.
The last rumor I heard of one being given out was to James Watson. You know, half of the legendary scientific team famous for positing the double-helix model of DNA.
China recently changed their Visa system.
It’s now based on a score that you get after assessing your skills and qualifications. They now group foreigners into A, B, and C categories. A being the Nobel Prize Winners and C for foreigners without a University degree. This means that most of us fall into the B category.
This makes it relatively easy to get a visa as long as you can overcome the struggle with the paperwork. The application process is done online. But when you go to submit the papers you realize that robots have checked your applications. For any errors, you’ll need to go back and forth until your application is accepted.
5. Internet Censorship
Internet Censorship is a real issue if you spend a lot of time on Social Media and you live in China.
Google, Facebook, Youtube, Instagram, Pinterest, and many other sites are inaccessible in China without a VPN. Not any VPN will do however, you get what you pay for. Free VPNs don’t work long. We’ve been using Astrill all these years. At the time of writing a yearly subscription to Astrill costs us $120.
It should also be noted that VPN services often falter while government meetings are being held.
Censorship policy carries over to posting as well.
Anything that reflects poorly on China, the Party, or any other Chinese leader be they current or historical, is grounds for censorship. As an example, we used to follow a very funny WeChat account. In one of their posts they talked about Chinese guys’ hairstyles and jokingly used a photo of one of the previous Chinese presidents.
Sadly that was the end of their business, and they were just starting to boom with close to a million reads.
Even in WeChat groups we aren’t allowed to talk about sensitive political issues, social issues, or spread any kind of gossip. Doing so puts admin of the group at risk for being held responsible and they might even go to jail.
6. No Sense of Personal Space
The everyday dynamic in big cities in China can be a little overwhelming and cause anxiety for many people. Especially during rush hours. There are constant traffic jams, noise, and crowds of people.
When you are in a public space or on mass transit, there is usually no sense of personal space. As foreigners, we often feel our private space is invaded. But then you’ve got to remind yourself that this is a country with a population of 1.4 billion people. There isn’t always enough space and resources to be equally shared with everyone.
7. Needling Questions and Brutal Honesty
“You’ve gotten fat!” is a declaration capable of ruining friendships.
Which is great, because it’s just one of the many uncouth comments you can expect from the locals when engaged in off-hand conversations.
Others include “What’s your relationship status?” and “How much do you make?”. to them it’s a way to express concern. It’s a way to show that they care about you. For us, it’s conversation territory best left untrod if you want to maintain good terms with one another.
Go figure!
8. Fair-Weather Friendships
Making friends with the locals, and more importantly, maintaining those friendships can be a difficult chore in China. While we meet a lot of people here and do business with them, that relationship is over the moment business dies down. It doesn’t matter how close you were during that time.
Related Reads:
Cultural Differences Between China and The West Explained Through Comics
10 Types of People Unique to Modern Chinese Culture
The Role of Women in China: Past & Present
After that stage, we only maintain a “WeChat” relationship. We see each other’s posts and click like, but it’s just a WeChat friendship, nothing more than that. Despite attempts, there really is no rekindling that friendship once it has fizzled out.
9. The Concept of “Gua Hao”: Hurry Up and Wait
My biggest nightmare in China is when I have to go to the hospital and to the bank. It is because there will always be hundreds of people in front of me and I have to wait for ages.
The worst is when you go to the hospital. You have to get there at 6 a.m. in order to get a number for the more experienced doctors. If you arrive late you will be at the mercy of chance, and you’ll still need to wait.
10. Like a Fish out of Air
Most people might have put this first, but it’s such a well-known issue that I saved it for last. Pollution in China is a major issue. On heavily polluted days in winter we have to wear masks. The situation is a little better in the big cities, especially in Beijing.
Since Beijing is the center of government, they do their best to keep the air relatively “OK”, especially during international political meetings. Then they close all the factories near Beijing and the surrounding provinces so they can guard themselves against negative attention from western media.
I seem to recall sometime around 2017, an English reporter arrived to do a story on one of the party meetings. Seeing the closed factories in China he commented that he was not very positive about the growth of the Chinese economy. Little did he know that they purposefully closed the factories so that reporters wouldn’t be able to take pictures of the normal pollution.
China can be an amazing place to experience.
Like anywhere else though, there are things to love and things that might just rub you the wrong way in all the wrong places. Hopefully, this article has helped to level some of your expectations before you decide whether or not to visit this magnificent country.
Read Next:
9 Things I Wish I Knew Before Moving To China
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by Kat | May 16, 2020 | China, Chinese Culture, Expat Life, Living Abroad, Living In China, Moving Abroad, Moving to China |
Many dream of moving to China. Some seek out the experience, others an escape. Being an expat can be a worthwhile experience but it’s important not to fall victim to the ‘grass is greener’ fallacy.
Moving to China comes at the price of “unlearning” the old in order to make room for the new. Flexibility is required in order to make the most of expat life and integrate into a foreign culture.
Prior research and preparation for moving abroad, as well as a person’s ability to remain flexible in the face of cultural differences, will dictate how much one enjoys their experience abroad.
1. You Might Regret Moving to China
Having been an expat in China for 12 years I’ve noticed that you can break most expats into two groups. Those that try to change the culture, and those that try to change themselves. Some cultures can be more jarring than others.
For Westerners, China is one such culture. Most foreigners that move to China either fall in love with it or wind up hating everything about it. Those that fall into the latter group usually try to impose Western values and culture on their new home only to quickly realize that they are fighting a losing battle. When it comes to moving to China I can say from experience that younger expats are generally more flexible. Such was my story. Perhaps I was incredibly naive when I first arrived in China but I loved it. Moving abroad early in adulthood meant that I could arrive in a foreign country with little more than a suitcase and thoughts of new experience and grand adventure. Now that twelve years have passed my perspective has changed.
2. Moving to China Is The Point of No Return
Unsurprisingly, being an expat is a life-changing experience. Whether you hated your experience and moved back after a few months or loved it and spent a decade there, you will never be the same person you were before you arrived.
My own experience has been a life-changing one …
Towards the beginning everything was hard. I was forced to either let go of my small-town mentality or flounder in a sea of change.
Where I grew up people tend to judge others who deviate from the norm. When you live in a big city like Beijing you get to meet people from everywhere, from all walks of life. Meeting so many different people opened my mind and helped me become more accepting. Being able to step out of my comfort zone also opened the door for opportunities.
Things don’t change much in Macedonia, and when they do it usually happens slowly. By contrast, if I leave Beijing for so much as a week I usually return to find at least one new building or establishment in my neighborhood.
China’s rapid development means numerous opportunities for anyone that can stay flexible and keep up with the uncertainty brought about by constant change.
Places like Beijing are no place for those without ambition or a drive for success. Everyone here vies for a position. Whenever I go back to Macedonia for a while I feel like I’m swimming in a pond. After staying so long in Beijing however, I’ve gotten a taste for swimming in the ocean… with the sharks.
3. It Opens The Door For New Opportunities
When moving abroad you’re bound to find some opportunity. Being a foreigner often means bringing unique skills and perspectives to your host country. If you’re fortunate enough to move to a place undergoing economic development, these opportunities will be more plentiful.
Such was my case when I moved to China.
Since the SARS outbreak in 2003, China’s e-commerce sector has been booming. This period of growth has given rise to many industry giants such as Alibaba, and has created millions of jobs for the country. I was also bitten by the e-business bug. Not long after meeting my husband and I started a small online cartoon studio. Our product pulled directly from our experiences. We created a cartoon expat character named Mort, an expat in China like ourselves.
Unlike ourselves, Mort was a Grim Reaper that worked for an afterlife travel agency. Mort was very well received in China, despite cultural clashes. We were brought on National TV a few times and even gained some support from the Government for our project.
We have since gone on to create other online opportunities for ourselves.
4. Moving to China Will Change Your Values
Perhaps it was China or perhaps it was just me growing up, maybe it was the combination, but my time here has definitely shifted my values. When I arrived I wasn’t very frugal and took every opportunity to travel. At one point I backpacked across the country 45 days straight all by myself.
After some time here however, my values began to shift. I felt the need to own a business. Now my adventures are in business. I spend most of my time working, just like the majority of people in Beijing.
5. The Expat Blues Can Be a Real Struggle
For any expat taking their visa a year a time, it’s not uncommon to eventually fall into the expat blues. Sure everything can be fun at first, you get to meet lots of people, try local food, take a few language lessons, visit all the famous tourist places recommended by whatever app, and even travel from time to time.
You can’t be a tourist forever though and at some point, you’re liable to get homesick. This is particularly typical for expats living in Asia. In most of these countries, you’ll never be considered a local no matter how long you’ve lived there or how well you speak the language.
Chinese is one of those languages that no matter how hard you try, your pronunciation will always give you away. In my case when I get calls from advertisers, they always ask me whether I am from Hong Kong, Xinjiang, or Japan!
It’s not uncommon even in large cities like Beijing to be stared at on the streets, and it’s even more common to hear comments about the “laowai” (foreigner). Outside of major cities, or at tourist spots in major cities one is liable to have locals ask to take a picture with you. That’s if they’re being kind and considerate, others will just snap a few pics without permission.
Getting out of this funk either means getting out of the country, or getting invested.
Set yourself on a mission, reach out to expat communities in your area, or devote yourself to a special relationship. After a while, the feeling should pass and you may find new reasons to stay in the process.
6. At Home You Might Feel Like a Tourist
Remember that part about how you’re going to be forever changed? Once you do make it back home, get ready to feel like a foreigner some more.
Such was my case when I decided to move back home after only a year in China. I began to regret my decision as soon as I got to the airport for my connection back home. What followed was months of depression. Thankfully, I got a second chance and went back to China as soon as I could.
Ever since that first trip back I’ve noticed a growing gap and each time I return I feel more like a tourist.
Many of my friends have had their first or second child by now and we don’t have many chances to meet up when I’m in town. When we do, there’s not much to discuss. Our lives have simply grown too far apart.
It doesn’t help that since moving to China I’ve almost exclusively spoken either Chinese or English. Now, something as simple as going to a bank back home is a hassle. Last time I tried to get some paperwork done back home one of the Albanian workers commented that my level of Macedonian was the same as his. I didn’t know whether I should laugh or cry.
I speak three languages but none of them feels like my mother tongue.
7. Friendship Is (as rare as) Magic
To be fair, it really depends on where you end up.
If the culture of the country you’re moving to has a values system that is similar to the one you’re used to you’re likely to fit right in once you bridge that language gap. On the other hand, if the culture you move to is wildly different from your own you may find yourself struggling.
It’s easy of course to fit in with other expats. Though in most cases, you’ll find yourself victim to the ‘revolving door’ that constantly cycles expats in and out. To further complicate things, these friendships are often predicated on the bond of “I’m a foreigner, you’re a foreigner.”
Expats in China face yet another difficulty.
In Chinese culture, best friends are made from elementary school through university. After that they slowly close the door to new friendships. So all friendships with them tend to be temporary. It’s very easy to become friends, but it’s also very easy for them to forget about you.
After a point, they tend to have a very different concept of friendship from Westerners.
Related Reads:
Cultural Differences Between China and The West Explained Through Comics
10 Types of People Unique to Modern Chinese Culture
The Role of Women in China: Past & Present
In Chinese culture “friendship” equals favors, “Friendship is I do something for you and you do something for me.” That is literally a quote from my former employer. This makes it so that “friendship” is measured in this way and it’s very awkward to say NO to a “friend”.
8. Moving to China Will Force You to Become a “Tech-Whiz”
Being the “world’s factory” for the last few decades has put China in a unique position technology-wise.
Many of the devices available in China now far outpace what’s available in the west. It’s enough to make even a technological erudite feel like a tech-wiz.
There are apps for anything, and any bill or purchase can be paid for with the tap of a screen. Which means the downside is that it becomes far too easy to spend money.
This has transformed my concept of saving money. Instead, China has made me constantly thinking of ways to earn money. Now I don’t have to worry about spending it.
9. Bureaucracy Killed the Radio Star
One issue you may run into when living abroad is that you’ll find some forms of entertainment may be closed to you. Such was the case for me with moving to China.
Prior to coming here one of my favorite activities was attending concerts. Europe has a good number of concerts and music festivals, and my friends and I would make a point to go to as many as we could.
In order to play a show in China, all foreign acts need to submit their set lists along with lyrics prior to being allowed to perform in the country. Some performers are outright banned for acts or statements that run contrary to the party line.
Local musicians are censored from the outset. So much that underground music scenes tend to rise and die out quickly in China.
There’s still enjoyment to be had, but most of that for me now derives from going out to eat and finding new restaurants to experience.
Read Next:
Living In China As a Foreigner: The Pros and Cons
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by Kat | May 4, 2020 | China, Expat Life, Growth, Living Abroad, Living In China, Moving to China, Navigating COVID-19 |
The Year of The Rat: Expat Life In China Under Lockdown
I have been an expat in China for the past 12 years. Ever since I got a cat, my partner and I have spent every Chinese New Year at our home in Beijing in order to take care of her. Most of our expat friends that might cat-sit are gone during the holidays. The 2-3 weeks of Spring Festival have usually been a time for us to relax, learn something new, and perhaps land on some creative business ideas.
This year though, the Year of The Rat was carrying a plague. Ironically, the sign of the rat symbolizes resilience. The COVID-19 outbreak in the city of Wuhan not only put this city under complete lockdown but the whole world as well.
As one could imagine, expat life in China has taken a turn this year.
We expats who happened to be in China weren’t spared from the lockdown or the strict measures that followed.
It’s still uncertain when this year will feel like it’s actually begun. Though quarantine has officially ended for many of us in China, it is too early to say if expat life in China will get back to normal soon.
The world has entered uncharted waters. Contrary to our initial expectations, this might last for a while. So we’d better brace ourselves and learn to build resilience during COVID-19.
Expat Life In China Under Lockdown: How It Felt to be Quarantined in China
The last time I remember going out for work was January 20th. Soon after that everyone was ordered to quarantine themselves in their apartments. In our community, all the gates were closed except for the west gate. Guards posted outside the gate used laser thermometers to measure the temperature of anyone entering the community.
We also had to show special cards that were issued to each resident in the community. Aside from workers, nonresidents weren’t permitted entry. For example, our maid was allowed to enter, but our foreign friend who came to give us masks was denied entrance. The guards assumed that expats in China only go to their friends’ places to party, and parties were now forbidden.
Apps became available to monitor the daily increase in the numbers of the infected as well as their general location. Masks were hard to find at the beginning of the outbreak, but fortunately, we had some for use on polluted days in China.
We spent the Chinese New Year at home. Valentine’s Day soon followed and was spent in the same fashion.
Our days in lockdown were mainly spent checking the news, working, cooking, and online shopping. Waiting for the delivery person’s call was a chance to go out to the gate and pick our parcel or take away food. On any normal day, they would deliver it straight to our home.
The Three Things That Made Expat Life In China Under Lockdown Easier Than In The West:
Being able to order in food and groceries, do online shopping, and work from home made life in quarantine much more bearable.
1. Groceries & Food Delivery
Expat life in China under lockdown and extended time in quarantine wouldn’t have been possible without the two delivery platforms Meituan, Eleme, and their drivers. Their nationwide networks of over 700,000 drivers played an important role in helping people meet daily needs while confined at home. These people risked their lives during the virus outbreak. At times it was through unfavorable weather conditions to deliver food, groceries, and even medicines to those in need. As such, they were the real exemplars of resilience during Covid-19.
Read the story of Gao ZhiXiao, a delivery driver, and how he helped an old, sick woman left alone during these hard times.
Restaurants were not allowing customers entry during the quarantine. Though they remained open for take away orders through the Meituan and Ele.me apps. Many provided an option for delivery without a point of contact with the delivery person. Some food packages contained a written notice with the chef’s, service person’s, and delivery rider’s exact temperature at the time of handling to reassure us of our safety.
Because of their efforts, we didn’t have to go out for a prolonged period of time and increase our potential exposure to the virus. In turn, we helped them stay in business in this critical time.
Even “Haidilao”, favorite hot pot place of many expats was offering delivery service.
We were able to enjoy hot pot in all its deliciousness at home. This really made expat life in China under lockdown much easier to bear. Literally nothing was missing, except for the guy who does the noodle dance at the restaurant.
Just Imagine all this at home
Except for the noodle dance ….
2. Online Shopping
Thanks to Taobao, toilet paper and other daily necessities were no concern for expats in China during the lockdown. A child brand of corporate giant Alibaba, Taobao has over 600 million users. As such it is the biggest and most convenient online shopping platform in China.
Launched in 2003 during the SARS pandemic, Taobao was born from an emergency. The platform helped millions of people get their daily necessities without risking their lives by going to the shops. This time, during the CoVid19 pandemic, Taobao once again found itself in a familiar situation.
Taobao deliveries usually pause for about two weeks every year during the Chinese New Year. Despite the viral outbreak coinciding with the end of the holiday this year, it didn’t take too long for Taobao to resume work. As soon as they could ensure their employees’ safety, it was back to business as usual.
Taobao prices are significantly cheaper than its western counterpart, Amazon.com.
Low delivery cost and intuitive user interface design make Taobao light years ahead of its competitor.
Even though the Taobao APP is mainly in Chinese, I don’t find this to be an obstacle to my shopping experience as a foreigner. I love the image search feature. Language can sometimes be an obstacle. But just by uploading a photo of a product similar to what one is looking to buy usually gives a satisfying search result. It is so convenient and easy to use that it has become something of an addiction for me.
In times of pandemic, for us expats in China, Taobao has been the go-to for literally everything. From cooking ingredients, masks, disinfectants, to online entertainment, Taobao has helped many adapt smoothly throughout the lengthy quarantine. Even throughout the outbreak, we have been able to receive our parcels in 3-4 days.
3. Working From Home and the Beginnings of an Online Business
At the beginning, we thought that after the initial 14 days of quarantine we would be able to resume work. We all hoped that 14 days wouldn’t affect much. Fourteen days soon became 21, and then continued being pushed back. It was time to take off our rosy glasses and come up with an alternative plan to resume business.
We work in education, using creative gaming as a means to teach kids soft skills. Fortunately, it didn’t take too much to adapt to a new operating mode. By hosting on Zoom and being able to find instantly downloadable digital versions of work-related resources on Taobao, we were able to continue our workshops online.
Now kids were staying at home and parents were looking to engage them in a variety of classes.
Since Zoom is globally available, it made it possible for kids on different continents to sign up for our courses. We saw an upward spike in new enrollments. Introducing new features and resources made the online workshops quite interactive. Also, parents were very happy with what this class was doing for their child’s learning.
Again, those wouldn’t have been possible without the existence of online shopping and the availability of digital resources.
Expat Life In China Under Lockdown: Building Resilience During COVID-19
After all this time in quarantine, we are proud that we acted so quickly. We found new ways to do old things, adjusted, and showed resilience in the process. Many businesses were forced to close down during these hard times. Though for some, this pandemic was a cloud with a silver lining that presented an opportunity for those who acted on it.
We’ve realized the importance of having a “laptop business”, and the need to be flexible and act quickly. Whether it’s because of globalization or deadly pandemic, sooner or later everyone will be forced to reinvent their business models. Those who don’t respond to this call will be doomed.
Related Reads:
10 New Hobbies to Try from Home During Pandemic
How To Practice the Hygge Lifestyle During Pandemic
How to Stay Motivated In The Post Pandemic Future
The New Normal: Getting Life In Order After Lockdown
How to Make a Relationship Work When Life Gets in the Way
Expat Life In China After The Lockdown
Now after 3 months since the outbreak, many of my friends have been asking if life is back to normal. And I know that everyone expects to hear the “yes”. Life somehow doesn’t feel normal yet, and I doubt that it will this year.
We do go out, but we always wear masks. Whenever we attempt to enter any venue, we always have to fill in our personal info, present out health codes, and have our temperatures taken. We do put down our masks while eating in a restaurant. Though we always have doubts about whether it’s the right thing to be doing at this time and if someone with Covid-19 is lurking around.
Where Did You Happen to be During the Lockdown, and How Was Your Expat Life Affected During the COVID-19?
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