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Posts: 1911

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Q: How did your families & friends handle your decision to move to China?

I haven't told my mom and aunt yet that I am moving to China for 6 months. My aunt will suck the excitement out of it by googling every single horror story she can find and tell me it's a bad place. My mom will make me feel guilty, I think. I was thinking of waiting to tell them like.. the day before i go. (Maybe I'll tell them in March or April. Or June.) My brothers know, and all my friends. I've gotten mixed reviews from them, but overall they are excited for me. What kind of responses did you get from family and friends?

12 years 19 weeks ago in  Family & Kids - Chengdu

 
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I think my mom's response was "Stay out of trouble.  Stay in touch.  Don't embarrass the Chinese."

But then again she's worked international quality for my entire life.... so she's already trained the rest of the family on the idea of being in countries like China, I just had to get them over the idea that I wouldn't be in the State more than maybe a week or two each year.

HugAPanda:

I believe you wouldn't do anything to embarrass the Chinese or the Westerners. Except when you are wearing the purple ass chaps with the sequins, or your forever lazy ;)

12 years 19 weeks ago
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12 years 19 weeks ago
 
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haha.  My mothers response was, "Where will you go to the bathroom over there?  Don't you know that they don't have toilets?"

My mother isn't the most worldly person.  :)

HugAPanda:

LMAO! I'm positive that topic will come up. Especially when my aunt does her own research on China. I became very ill in May and spent 32 days in the hospital, 5 surgeries, and I'm still working on my leg strength. The squat toilets are going to be a major issue with them. Probably more so than my mouth and getting thrown in jail!

12 years 19 weeks ago
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Yikes! When I told MY family that I was moving here, they were actually happy and excited about it.....surprise

HugAPanda:

I'm jealous!

12 years 19 weeks ago
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The first time I came here was only for studying.....despite I have to quit my job, my family was quite supportive in my decision. I think the main reason was that they knew I would sooner or later come back home.....what I did after two years of study.
The second time I left my country, my family was less supportive because I had a very good job in Switzerland. But my wife (at that time she was only my girlfriend) couldn't manage to renew her resident permit and she didn't want to keep studying....so she went back to China. Well, my choice (which wasn't that much of a choice) was either to break up after 4 years together or follow her to China. So I quit again my job and followed my girlfriend to China. My family could understand the reason, but I believe they thought there should have been another way to solve the situation.
However, I never had friends or relatives saying any bad or good things about China. It was just "Big careful". Their concern was much more family-related (that I won't see them that much).
Now, I am desperately longing to go back to Switzerland and leave behind me this country.

HugAPanda:

Would your wife be able to go now that you are married? Or are you hoping to leave her behind?

12 years 19 weeks ago
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my mom "what the hell is in china? why not australia, alaska or any ANOTHER place in the world? "
me "I'm going to see whats there..."

my dad: "are there black people in china?"
me: "yes daddy"
my dad: "oh really, thats nice. well you won't stick out too much then*, so have fun. Be careful"

neither of my parents have gone anywhere outside of the Americas...they are strangely curious how I will handle things

*i stick out like a sore thumb Smile

HugAPanda:

eh.. don't call it a sore thumb.. think of it as part of your uniqueness... your beauty :) and if they give you any crap.. kick em in the beans! :)

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My parents, family and friends were excited for me. They knew I have wanted to go to Asia for a long time, that it is my dream. My mother even told me that if I didn't go, I would regret it. So I've only ever had support about it.

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I have worked in many countries in the logistics industry. CHINA is the buzzword in the global economy hence my family is aware and supportive of my penchant for exploring new frontiers and challenges. 

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My folks thought I was retarded. I think they're right in many ways. But, in alot of other ways they aren't. My old man was going on about how I should "Pay off my student loans before I do something like that."

Sadly, Dad, despite being a successful business owner isn't too worldly sometimes. I have been here 2.5 years and have saved 4 times the money I could have at home. 

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My aunt used to travel everywhere. Well.. everywhere "safe."  My mom has been to Bermuda on a cruise and Niagra Falls... the adventure in that was that it was on the Canadian side (It's only an hour and a half away by car). She is not worldly, or techno-savvy. Cordless phones irritate her. She'd be happy living with the amish churning butter. But we are very close. Whenever I go anywhere... her final words to me are usually along the lines of.. don't get kidnapped, or killed... or thrown in jail.

China is either going to give her a heart attack or she will surprise me and be excited for me because 1. she knows China has always been on my wish list, and 2. I've been through a lot of crap, including almost dying (5 life saving surgeries, 32 days in the hospital being the most recent). Which is why I'm thinking she's gonna flip out. And why I've decided I HAVE to do China. Maybe I'll tell her after the new year. I hate keeping secrets.   

GuilinRaf:

WOW! Then you definitely know better than most just how fragile life can be and thus not put off for too long what one wishes to do! I wish you the best and i hope that your mom pleasantly surprises you!!!

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HugAPanda:

Thanks Guilin, I hope she does too.

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My whole family was quite excited for me, except my mother.
Everyday I get a new email with a link to an article of something horrible happening in China....so I can relate....I think she searches for stuff to be scared about, but I usually ignore it.  And also the usuall stuff..."don't drink the milk, stay out of trouble, don't talk politics (lol my favorite), Chinese girls only want your money and a ticket to Canada, don't take the trains...etc...etc."

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