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Q: Is everyday life more complicated in China?
I recently went home, and as I gradually re-adapted to the N.A. life, it really struck me how simpler things were. It felt like a weight was off my shoulders.
- I didn't have to carry so many papers/passport/cards along with me
- Planning to go anywhere wasn't so much of a hassle
- Calling anywhere to get info was suddenly possible
- Customer service in stores didn't assault me and was cordial
- etc.
Maybe it was the romantic side of coming back home, but everything really, really just felt simpler all of a sudden. Not sure what it is that, to me, seems to make life in China so complicated and stressful...
I think you are right for the most part. except for public transportation. It sucks to live in N.A. without a car.
of course cultural and language barrier do not help ease stress
Yes, of course simply because of governmental regulation and red tape. The worst case scenario for me is simple transactions at the bank that turn into monumental, time consuming nightmares in China. Dealing with immigration issues is another favourite.
but sometimes if you can adapt this new environment ,surely you can live in china happily.one of my foreign friends live in china for a long time and she lives happily.maybe you should change a little of yourself,you will find how wonderful to live in china and gradually you will regard her as your home...
Kaiwen:
But like every other country, there are advantages and disadvantages of living in China. Criticism is not meant to be broad brush. Governmental bureaucracy for sure is one of the bug bears of living in China - for the Chinese also. It's hard to adapt to spending three or four hours in a bank to complete a transaction that could be done in less than one minute using the online facilities of a western bank (or even Hong Kong Bank). Unfortunately, when you run a business as I do, you are locked into certain governmental constraints. They do make my everyday life more complicated!
siyingyuan:
Kaiwen did I hear you right? you have business in China???
I'm a Chinese, and I don't even want to do business in China!!!!!!
It's way TOOOOOO complicated, dealing with Chinese government/bank/licensing/police/picky customers/eating/drinking........
Honestly, I thought life was easier in China. But I think it was honestly just the fact that I worked less hours that made it seem that way. Teaching was disappointing, the language barrier made it difficult to do most things on my own, the staring...it gets to you. I don't know if life here at home is really any easier, but it's more familiar, which makes it feel easier. I know how things work here, and if I don't, I can ask my parents for advice, because they usually know what they're doing. In China, I could never take anything at face value. I ask someone what I need to do something, maybe they forget to tell me something, maybe they don't know what they're doing, then I have to come back. I'd go on a trip, but no one would think to tell me how long we'd be out, how far away it is, or if we're staying overnight. I don't know about other people, but leaving out little details like that can really ruin the experience for me when I find out. I know it's mostly a cultural difference, but I never got over it.
siyingyuan:
I totally understand how you feel. I am Chinese, well I've been living in Canada for 9 years now, I can't go over it either, any more.
My cousin and his family both asked me to go to my cousin's wedding, which in fact they don't even know when yet. I've been asking them to inform me with the wedding date so many times so I can schedule my vocation and budget; well later I just fond out they were just saying it, they didn't mean to invite me. I'm not saying I'm not welcomed at the wedding or anything, they will be more than happy to see me, but since I live so far away, they actually don't expect me to go!!! Here I am putting so much effect to it trying to make things happen because they asked me.
My mom's laughing at me not getting what's their true meaning was. But the truth is, my family and friends back home keeps asking me to guess their true meaning, and I always guess wrong.
Haha, if you don't speak Chinese, my guess would be yes.
They say making money is easier here in China, not only for a foreigner but for the locals as well. For locals,if you wanna find a job, as long as your credentials and experiences are up to the qualification requirement, you will find one,there are always job opportunities here,since it is easy to start a business here.No matter big or small , it is likely for a business to hire extra hands...If you wanna have your own business, you can just practice it and prepare yourself as street vendors,there are so many morning open-air markets, night open-air markets which booth rent is affordable by the start-out level...you try , you learn; you try hard, you will be paid back; you manage things, they will work out, it is not hard to maintain a taking care of oneself situation. Expecting what you can maintain to achieve is making your personal life easier,from this perspective, life can be easy on both an everyday basis and lifelong as well.
For a foreigner, they usually say they can make money easier here than back home, particularly, teaching English, though, there are problems while confronting Chinese cultural,corporate operational, bureau practicing differences ...that get foreigners involved.These differences or problems are the factors that upset foreigners, with an addition of language inconvenience which doesn't help. Some may say this hardness is unbearable, in this sense, everyday life shouldn't be easy; Others say, comparing to the hardship in striving for an opportunity back home for an employment, overcoming the hardness here which can be just overlooking them is not unacceptable. When encountering some special ill moral personal or company practices, which cannot be swallowed, it happens elsewhere other than China, it is not supposed to be easy for one in life.
It all depends on what you expect and are ready for when you are in a foreign country to get a feeling of being comfortable.
Knowing the language is definitely a plus. It makes my life way easier. Yes things can be more of a hassle at times, but the rewards are also extremely sweet.
more complicated?
maybe just complicated different way, then in Your home country? 
much more complicated in china than the us just trying to find a place to park seems to be a challange their was no thought given when they build buildings for cars no planning just make a highrise seems to be the thinking here in the us when you build something their has to be plenty of parking or the zoning commission dosnt allow it .... their seems to be no traffic laws who ever hits the intersection first wins driving at night w/o your lights on allowing people to drive on the wrongside of the road just a lot of issues with driving in china you have to have a swivel on your head no rule of law and thats jist 1 thing
