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Posts: 618

Governor

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Q: Are you running away from something, or running towards something?

Had an expat friend say that all expats are either running away from something, or running towards something.

As for myself, I am consciously doing both. Running away from a couple of problems back home (family BS + general dislike of the political atmosphere and overall gestalt in home country) but also running towards something, as am working a decent job that is close to the field I want to be in and that is giving me a better idea where my "niche" in the field is. The goal is to be self-employed and self-sufficient monetarily but have to develop professionally in the meantime.

 

And yourself?

9 years 39 weeks ago in  General  - China

 
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Posts: 860

Shifu

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Sounds like you have a plan

 

i was running away from a god awful career. Running towards a chance to learn a new language and culture. I hope china is the new land of opportunity. I'm teaching esl, it's not a bad gig but hopefully there is something better. I think it's a job with a short shelf life.

 

Good luck to you 

sam239:

I think it's a steady job, can be counted on for the rest of our lifespan most likely. There's a sentiment against it in some of the Asian countries but it's de facto the world language so nationalistic people can whine all the want, they still need it (or at least a small percentage of their population to be fluent in it) to be internationally successful. I've met a few people who've built interesting careers out of it in various ways (check out Richard Graham from Genki English), but mostly seems like a reliable but dead-end gig. Good luck back to you.  

9 years 39 weeks ago
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9 years 39 weeks ago
 
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Emperor

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Nope. Everything was really great back home, and the plan of going elsewhere has not been made (gotta go home soon and get proper food though) 

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9 years 39 weeks ago
 
Posts: 21

Governor

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Been here 2 years and initially I'd say for reasons of both, running away from the employment situation and mundane life in search for something different and interesting. Coming to an area with very little english speakers and home comforts then landing a job with even less english speakers is a challenege but thats exactly why I came. Never had an interest in learning european languages during school but working hard to develop my Chinese... Like most things, you get out what you put in and no intention of going back home so now I feel im running towards something instead of running away from anything.

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9 years 39 weeks ago
 
Posts: 2878

Shifu

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I came in 2009 to get my career started, which I successfully did by 2010. So I guess I was running towards perceived future comfort and stability and away from living at home and worrying about the political climate.

 

I'll be honest I was never crazy about China at all; but I have a good job here. Been sending out some feelers for doing something similar/moving forward in the US but no bites yet. For all the

 

I mainly just miss the social/dating options in the US. There's nothing China can do to compete with that!

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9 years 39 weeks ago
 
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I'm just ambling along, going nowhere in particular. Just trying to enjoy the journey.

 

Running? Me?  Nah. No way....... I would spill my beer if I tried running wink

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9 years 39 weeks ago
 
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Emperor

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It's too vague. Can mean anything. Might be true for me, but I won't play.

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9 years 39 weeks ago
 
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Governor

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I came here to learn more about China and learn Chinese becuse I squandered my inital chance of learning a 4th language. Now I fould a job which fits me perfectly and that would be hard to find back home so I'm running towards some stuff it seems.

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9 years 39 weeks ago
 
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Governor

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Once it was both of them! After so long time away from my home country, it doesn't matter anymore. Time has erased already, the reasons I've left my country. When it comes to pursuing some dreams I once had, the true is that you take what is possible, not what you want. Adjusting and readjusting to a reality that is on a change on and on. At least, at this point of life and experience, I learnt to know myself. I wouldn't have gone this far, had I stayed in my country. From this point of view almost everything is a win.

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9 years 39 weeks ago
 
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I am running toward wider horizons, I am from Germany and before living in China I studied in Canada, then having a serious interest in Asian cultures I lived in Japan and South-Korea, my next stop might be somewhere in South-East Asia (Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, ...), all of this while enjoying life and not running after money. But who knows, in 10 or 15 years I could be anywhere from Africa to Eastern Europe, from South America to the tiny Pacific Nations, from the Middle East to the Caribbeans. Anywhere but back home. The boring sedentary life is my nemesis, living in the same place or country all my life is my nightmare.

royceH:

Goodonyermate.

 

9 years 39 weeks ago
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9 years 39 weeks ago
 
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Emperor

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Running away from boredom, running toward adventures, the unexpected, luck... I went in Asia for that. Now, I want a nice cosy home to raise my kids, a garden to grow some if my food, wilderness to run or walk with my wife.

andy74rc:

Very same here.....

9 years 39 weeks ago
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9 years 39 weeks ago
 
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Governor

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Run for troubles is as run forward to troubles. Face them, and stop running, you coward... Life is already hard on his own, don't make it harder by making stupid decisions, and not learning anything from them.

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9 years 39 weeks ago
 
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Isn't everyone trying to forget something while trying to get what they want. Interests and life goals change. Were you thinking of sexual reassignment surgery?

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9 years 39 weeks ago
 
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I was running away from something when I first came to China ... now I am running towards my personal goals and hitting check points as I go. 

 

 

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9 years 39 weeks ago
 
Posts: 928

Shifu

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I came to a strikingly similar revelation the other day too. "We are all either expats, or we're not." take this idea, and let's analyze it in the bottom sentence as well. It get's trickier. Laughing out loud

"In China... those expats may or may not be running away from something"

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9 years 39 weeks ago
 
Posts: 298

Governor

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Again...if your not happy here, just go home. Your asking questions that doubt why your here. Comparing yourself to other 'expats'.

 

If you dont like what you see, go home.

 

People are here for 1000 reasons. Trying to boil it down to coming or going is too simple.

sam239:

Oh great, another "if you don't like it here, go home" poster. A common feature of nearly expat website I've been on. I consider it my birth-right to live where I choose on this planet (greedy gov'ts get in the way of this somewhat) and anywhere I stand is a free-speech zone, so better get used to the criticism Mr_Chinaman.

9 years 39 weeks ago
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TedDBayer:

What if you don't like home?

9 years 39 weeks ago
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9 years 39 weeks ago
 
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Governor

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Considering I am from Ukraine - I am a refugee now. Came here for some career related reasons. And found myself running away from the war and crazy Russians. 

 

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9 years 39 weeks ago
 
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Governor

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Considering I am from Ukraine - I am a refugee now. Came here for some career related reasons. And found myself running from the war and crazy Russians. 

 

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9 years 39 weeks ago
 
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Governor

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This is all part of some metanarrative or something like that

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9 years 38 weeks ago
 
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