* When I was a student, I had a fascination with Vietnam, so I learned the language, and did travels & internships there.
* My studies completed, I was free of any commitment. I went to Vietnam because I longed for it. It was a very happy time, but the income was really low and it became a problem. I had to accept to be stuck in Vietnam or move on. Decided to move on, but I wanted to stay in Asia.

* Did a post-doc in China, because I was proposed to do so with a nice fund. It went well and it allowed me to save some money.
* Once the post-doc completed , I went back to Vietnam. After a difficult search, I found a job. The income was good but the job turned out not to be what it was supposed to be. I got tired of it, and found no alternatives in Vietnam. I still felt like staying in Asia. Went back to China, got a position in a university.

I majored in Chinese, and at some point I wanted to check out if the place was as maddening as the "society" section of news suggested.

Turned out it was.

When I get bored of it I still have Taiwan/Hong Kong or anywhere in the world left. Kudos to dozens of generations of Chinese leaders making that place a massive departure spot everyone wants to leave for centuries. I'll never be unemployed.

I was asked to come to China for 3 weeks to conduct some training by a colleague who was consulting at a new research lab that had just completed construction but had not yet opened. I had never been to China and really did not know what to expect. I took 3 weeks vacation and came figuring it as a paid semi vacation. After a week I was called into the COO's office for a meeting where I was offered a full time position which I declined. After returning to the US and my job the COO called me every few weeks to persuade me. After a couple of months the offer was to good to refuse, that was 5 years ago. While everyday isn't perfect, I really have little to complain about. I am paid well, respected by my staff and the senior management at HQ, I have increased responsibility, and make a difference to my company and the advancement of the medical field in China by training the next generation of scientist.

I had visited 34 countries but never lived long term in one. I banged out emails all over the world and the first response I got was from a company in China. Thinks I - "China? Why not!". (2008)

I have had enough now. Time to go.

I came to learn the language, get work experience that I wouldn't be able to in my own country and then stayed because of the people I met and because I think that once I leave I won't come back. So want to make sure I'm ready to go before I do. 

I forgot.

Met my wife back home, had to lose the culture gap by getting to know her country. 

I have been coming since 2005 to do project work in a UK company. Met a woman, got married 4 years ago, but I was still doing project work so I would maybe be here for 4 months one year, then two weeks the next.

Changed jobs in the UK,same company, got a secondment to China for 2 years and was made redundant a few months later.

Got another job with Chinese contract in the same company.

I wanted to be with my wife. But I wanted to be with her here. She wanted me here too. She wants her family and her husband.

I was just lucky .

If it all goes pear shaped it won't be because of my relationship with my wife, it will be because of my work.  When that happens I will pull out all the stops to stay here.

I should also add that my job was moved here because of greedy bankers looking for low cost labour.  They had not counted on a foreigner willing to be low cost to be here. That concept is beyond their 5 star comprehension 

My ambition is to be happy and contented. Not rich and powerful.

I came because of my wife. I didnt leave because of the baby. Wondering if and how I'll ever get back.

Education + my girlfriend, now wife.

I really enjoyed China.

I was sent here 2 years ago by my company to commission SAP and to get the production processes right. Contract ended one year ago and I opened a retail chain store (4 shops) selling ladies' fashion wear. Before long my partner's wife, son, mother, father etc wanted a part of the business because it was doing ok. I sold my half of the shares to him and got out. Then I languished for 2 months in my apartment sending out hundreds of applications for a teaching job. Finally got one here in Chongqing as a teacher administrator and teaching Economics  about 10 hours a week. It's my third year here and still swinging. God knows when I'll settle down but I'm sure someone will come along a knock the lights out of me. 

I wanted to know what "smog" is.

With so many Chinese coming to my country, I thought I'd get even.

11% of Canadians are Asian, 40% of that are Chinese. There are 19,000 Canadians in China. I'm here to make up for the 5.49% difference. That means that 1 Ted has to make up for 934000 Chinese. It's a tough job but someone has to do it.

Ask myself that question every day.  

Ask myself that question every day.  

Education, work, my wife, and To find out who I truly am , and to discover more of my potential.

Good q and one that is answered or asked enough. I came here finish my masters by working on a forestry project. Also my best friend from Vancouver was a chinese dude and I had studied a lot of Chinese so...As to why I've been here, well the travel, the lifestyle, the culture, and especially for me the hutongs and old parts of Beijing. My gf is Spanish though so maybe Barcelona is in my future.

Got divorced, went broke and thought why the hell not.  Been here four years and the unaccountable lifestyle suits me down to the ground.

But I know it can't go on forever.  One day I'll wake up and be disgusted in myself for wasting so many years.

How many times has this question been asked?