Answers of the Day
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Sep 01,2012
China really is an 'adapt or die' kind of place. It forces you, sometimes brutally, to change yourself and your way of thinking if you want to live here for an extended period. And sometimes those changes are in a completely opposite way to the way we were raised. We have all been there and experienced the feelings you have now. The term we use is BCD (Bad China Day)....
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Aug 30,2012
I do not recommend movies for learning English. Consider this - I'm a native English speaker and half the time I can't quite make out what was said. American films will use a lot of pop-culture or culturally specific 'catch-phrases', far too many films have poor audio quality.
IF you can find a good film like Meet Joe Black (careful dialogue, mostly proper and well-spoken English) then...
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Aug 30,2012
It is probably not the best place to make and save money, but it's not all that bad either.
I can share my figures, but I don't think I'm a representative sample, for a few reasons. I was one half of a couple so all money was joint and shared, there was nothing for us to buy and we were both higher paid than the average for our area....
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Aug 29,2012
I see your problem and I understand what you are saying, I can also see Xpat.John's point which is a valid one. My only point is that in the 'west' we often bemoan how our children are forced to grow up too early, China doesn't have this, yet. So to every upside there is often a downside, or of course vice versa.
Personally for me it would be an issue, but then I...
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Aug 28,2012
If you deliver at a reputable hospital - either a foreign affiliated hospital or at least a "#1 Provincial Hospital" they will have vaccines available. The pediatrician will advise you as to which vaccines are needed and when. There are usually two types available - the local vaccines and imported ones.
My kids have had all the recommended shots (imported) and I feel...
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Aug 27,2012
The 3 big scams I have been hit with repeatedly in China are:
1) The lost girl scam.
You are approached by two decently dressed girls who tell you in broken English. "Hello big brother, we are lost. We came from X (insert other province name here). We are hungry. Can you give us money for food?"
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Aug 26,2012
Pogger: it will depend on your priority. If money was of no importance, and you needed things right away, then follow Ted's advise. But be aware that a 50 pounds' box will cost you from $150 to $200 US dollars to ship. Tracking is good, but registration and insurance is a waste of money, because if a claim is made, because of China will not be paid.
I have one...
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Aug 25,2012
By registering your child as a citizen in China, the child cannot hold citizenship with another country (China does not allow dual-citizenship). By applying for foreign citizenship, the child cannot be registered as a Chinese citizen.
The child who holds a foreign citizenship has their visa through the foreign parent. The visa is automatic (the foreign parent puts the...
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Aug 24,2012
Every one in China, nationals and foreigners too, must inform local Police Station of any changes of address within 24 hours of arrival in city limits, or 72 hours of arrival at countryside. Since you are staying at a hotel, they will do it for you and you have no worries. But if you move out to your friends home, you will have to go and report your new address, and...
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Aug 23,2012
I'm married to a Chinese lady and have been for over 8 years, best thing I ever did and don't regret a single second of it.
However, immediately we were married we went to the UK for nearly 7 years and we grew together without the influence of her parents, who, by the way, were not in the least resentful either of me taking their daughter, or later of me (and her...
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Aug 20,2012
The basic difference between a tourist and a fiance visa could be summed up in who has the burden of proof. In tourist visa, she will have to prove that she has enough money for the trip, a round trip ticket, a steady job here in China, a bank account with funds in the two or three hundred thousand range, maybe even own a home here. if she goes in tour it...
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Aug 19,2012
- Road rage down (because I don't drive here)
- Patience up (because you just have to be patient in China)
- Apathy levels down at the beginning (because there're so many poor people here). Apathy levels are higher now because I'm told that nothing that happens in China is my business, and it's true. So, not my problem.
- Disgust with humanity up (because some people will...
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Aug 17,2012
When going to any massage parlor, KTV or any other place that offers services that are legally frowned upon, it is VERY important to remember that these places would not be open if they didn't have connections with the local police and underground. So before you go all kungfu or release your inner hulk, understand that if you do things will probably get much, much worse.
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Aug 17,2012
I think living in another country changes you in many ways, whether you notice or not. It's gotten easier to be more confident in myself. After all, when people are staring at you all the time, eventually you adjust to that and care less about what they think.
I think I'm more accepting of American culture than I used to be. I thought I didn't fit in at home, but now I...
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Aug 15,2012
As I remember, China Mobile's solution for 3G was that they were forced by the Chinese gov to avoid paying licensing fees to the creators of the technology (western countries). In doing so, basically China created their own 3G standard called TD-SCDMA which works only on phone sold in China and those phones aren't capable of using 3G in other countries and vice-versa.. It's not an...
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Aug 15,2012
In China there are generally, two types of receipts. Normal receipts and Official (Fapiao) receipts. They are pretty much the same with the exception that the Fapiao means that the seller (supposedly) paid the government taxes on the money you gave them.
If you are looking for reimbursement from your employer, the Fapiao (official receipt) is the one you...
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Aug 14,2012
China has a big problem about being first. If you win one major sporting event you are expected to win every time. Two good examples are:
Liu Xiang - Great athlete. Won gold in Athens for the hurdles. But is expected to win every time he runs.
Li Na - Won a tennis grand slam. she hasnt won a grand slam since her win and people are pissed cause she cannot do it...
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Aug 13,2012
Small matter of approximately 1 - 4 million RMB! I do a presentation for those at my school considering UK universities, I pick three subjects and the top three UK universities in each subject. On average a top UK university will cost about:
Tuition costs - 20,000 GBP per annum so 3 yr degree - 60,000
Books and course work ...
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Aug 12,2012
I don't think I fit into any of those categories.
For me, I have been here long enough for the honeymoon phase to be a distant memory. I have a Chinese wife and 2 small kids. While I love a lot of things about my life here, I do realize the many, many problems this country has but get frustrated knowing nothing I do or say will ever change any of it.
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Aug 10,2012
I am like a newbie compared to most of you, only 3.5 years. But it as most of you say. I was intrigued by the differences the first year, and the minor annoyances of being cheated didnt change my perception much, just seems like minor annoyances.
But after the while, and with the consistency of it, as well as my language skills improving, all those things have become much...
