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Q: What is life like for a foreigner living in rural China?
I might try staying in a more rural setting next visit to China. The one thing I noticed last time is that half the city seemed to know what I was up to and where I lived. In a rural area guess I'd really have to keep my nose clean. I still can't speak Chinese, maybe a rural immersion will help with that. An stories about living in a rural area? Ever see any poisonous snakes or are they all in wine bottles now?
You will Love it
Once they get to know who you are
you will be their Foreigner
They will not try to rip you off as much
and you can get your own back through their children.
If you are really in the mood for revenge teach them Soft Kitty
Seriously it would be a great move for somebody with a
even look on life and is not there to preach
do it mate, its the best experience i had, they will treat you much better, you can find a job at a local school prob as a volunteer and if the local head master likes you im sure he he will help you with a visa, accommodation food and prob treat you to other things, much more peaceful.
you will prob have to get used to super slow internet and sometimes you will get power cuts, but after a few weeks in you wont care about that,
you dont really need to speak much chinese in the village they will use some really simple chinese, they are friendly wont rip you off, you will be a local star, i myself worked in a few villages and loved it the food is way better in the village, next year i will take a few months off and head to the village again
I lived in semi rural area last year in Jixian, Tianjin. I loved it.
People do take care of you, because you are their laoshi laowai, you work with their kids, and the kids, they are talking about you at home.
I had somebody, who always supplied me with hong cha. In the Bank, I had friend who would always take me in, skipping regular cue. I got 5 digit number at Headmaster's friend, Leader of the Mobile Company, for cheaper calls to UK and EU.
At the open Market, farmers always gave an extra item to my bag, after I already pay for it, because I probably had their kid in the Class. Butchers knew, I like to eat 'meeeee' and 'muuuuu' over 'hrhrhrhrhrhr'.
At the Supermarket, I would always enter at the exit doors, 'cause I am laowai. There was Chinese girl standing in front of the exit door, and telling everybody in Chinese: 'These are exit doors! Please, enter at the other doors!'
When she was telling me about the wrong doors, I would reply: Zhi bu dao!
She almost collapse!
'Zhi bu dao' is slang of the City. Apparently, only Jixian residents in whole China say: 'Zhi bu dao'!
She was expecting, I will say: 'Bu zhi dao' at best, like every laowai.
Surprisingly for the small city, I was busy with teaching, too. September semester, I worked at 2 Kindergartens, local Tourist Agency, 2 private students in my home, beside my regular 16 classes at Middle School, all together more than 35 hours per week.
I don't have 'snake' story from that city, however I have few 'snakes' from Shanghai and Beijing.
Small city suits me much better than big one. Next, I am heading to the Sun. Dalian, hopefully.
