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Q: Do you notice a trend of various foreigners in your city?
Before I left the city where I resided (and will soon return for a while)...
There was a MASSIVE amount of Americans/Canadians leaving. The local ESL market could care less because they brought in the Polish. I didn't know why (as the Polish can have very strong accents) until I heard of the economical situation in Poland. Teaching in China can be and usually is much more lucrative.
The Chinese ESL employers love it because they get their white face (labeled "European") and pay them a fraction of the price. Nothing against anyone trying to make a buck, but just wondering if any of you have noticed these kinds of trends or changes in your city. Is there people predominately from one nation more than any other?
Has the Brexit event and China calling for more emphasis on native English speakers with proper teaching qualifications changed the scene in your city?
I've noticed this too. When I first arrived in Shanghai there was a lot of French, German, and Australians (don't know what it's like now). I was surprised that there were very few fellow Brits for me to hang out with. Then I went to Chengdu where the expat scene is dominated by Brits. Now I'm in Wuhan which has more universities and students than any other city on earth. This attracts a lot of Indians and people from assorted African countries who study here.
I've often wondered why this is. In Wuhan it can be explained, but why should British people be attracted to Chengdu and not Shanghai? Of course there are many Brits in Shanghai and French and Germans in Chengdu, but this was the overall impression I got. Also this is not so much teachers as I don't hang out with many, but rather business professionals etc..
RandomGuy:
Native ESL teachers and professional expats alike are leaving BJ/SH/GZ/SZ because tier-2 cities are the best places to live in China today.
In Guangzhou today there will be Westerners in the newer parts of the city (Liede), but all the older parts (Taojin) are flooded with Africans and Middle Easterners, with the occasional lone Westerner, these places used to be full of Westerners some 10 years ago, but they have been deserted since then. The areas are getting old and falling apart, there are funny smells in the streets and overall the standard/quality of living in these areas is much lower than in the newer parts of the city or any tier-2, and way more expensive than tier-2 for that matter.
Tier-1 used to dominate back 10 years ago when tier-2 were industrial mess holes, but today tier-1 cities are overcrowded, way too expensive and mostly dirtier than tier-2.
Tier-2 cities are cheap while offering 98% of all the services and conveniences of tier-1 cities. As for the lacking advantages of tier-1, no Viet-Cajun fusion restaurant? Who cares?
Tier-2 cities developed in the last 5-10 years, the infrastructure, the buildings, the malls, the apartments are all newer, cleaner and more modern than in tier-1 cities.
I'm in a tier-2, have been for over 6 years and I would never consider moving to tier-1.
I've noticed this too. When I first arrived in Shanghai there was a lot of French, German, and Australians (don't know what it's like now). I was surprised that there were very few fellow Brits for me to hang out with. Then I went to Chengdu where the expat scene is dominated by Brits. Now I'm in Wuhan which has more universities and students than any other city on earth. This attracts a lot of Indians and people from assorted African countries who study here.
I've often wondered why this is. In Wuhan it can be explained, but why should British people be attracted to Chengdu and not Shanghai? Of course there are many Brits in Shanghai and French and Germans in Chengdu, but this was the overall impression I got. Also this is not so much teachers as I don't hang out with many, but rather business professionals etc..
RandomGuy:
Native ESL teachers and professional expats alike are leaving BJ/SH/GZ/SZ because tier-2 cities are the best places to live in China today.
In Guangzhou today there will be Westerners in the newer parts of the city (Liede), but all the older parts (Taojin) are flooded with Africans and Middle Easterners, with the occasional lone Westerner, these places used to be full of Westerners some 10 years ago, but they have been deserted since then. The areas are getting old and falling apart, there are funny smells in the streets and overall the standard/quality of living in these areas is much lower than in the newer parts of the city or any tier-2, and way more expensive than tier-2 for that matter.
Tier-1 used to dominate back 10 years ago when tier-2 were industrial mess holes, but today tier-1 cities are overcrowded, way too expensive and mostly dirtier than tier-2.
Tier-2 cities are cheap while offering 98% of all the services and conveniences of tier-1 cities. As for the lacking advantages of tier-1, no Viet-Cajun fusion restaurant? Who cares?
Tier-2 cities developed in the last 5-10 years, the infrastructure, the buildings, the malls, the apartments are all newer, cleaner and more modern than in tier-1 cities.
I'm in a tier-2, have been for over 6 years and I would never consider moving to tier-1.
Haven't met any Polish yet in Shenzhen, still meeting floods of people from Ireland or France. Seems like the trend of Americans or British have started to leave. Rarely see new blood.
ironman510:
Never seen a check in Shenzhen yet, at least at my Wall Street branch in Futian
I don't interact with people outside of work, so I didn't notice.
Exactly. Shanghai, Suzhou, Nanjing, Beijing, Ningbo, Hangzhou, Chongqing, Shenzhen ... there are more and more studyding and working in China now.
Hangzhou seems fairly eclectic. Although, there are a LOT of students from Africa and the Middle East. A lot of Aussies, yanks, kiwis, Brits, etc etc. I've even met a couple from South America (Colombia, Argentina, etc).
