By continuing you agree to eChinacities's Privacy Policy .
Sign up with Google
Sign up with Facebook
Q: How long do you think you'll stay here?
I am coming close to my second year in China, and I am not sure how long I want to stay. I love China, but I have some concerns that I can't help but think about.
Mainly I am concerned about building up my pension in my home country, living somewhere where I am able to buy property and a car, and I am also a bit concerned about the pollution levels...
Technically you could save up for retirement in China. I am,since my wife is Chinese, my children will be half Chinese, I will always have a tie to China, thus I actually have a retirement fund both here and home.
Now, buying property. Sure it's nice to own stuff, just not poorly constructed Chinese apartment blocks who are on a 70 year land lease.... If the property bubble burst, I'd be interested in buying, but at present prices, I'd rather have a nice big garden with apple trees and a big one story house for less than what an apartment costs here in China.
As to how long I'll stay. The duration of my stay is open ended. We once in a while talk about moving back, but I am not pushing it as long as my wifes grandparents are stil around. They are nice to hang with once in a while.
I'm close to 6 years in Asia, 4 years in China. If everything goes smoothly, I'm out of here at the end of the winter to come. It's time for us to have kids, I'm worried about the education, the social environment, the pollution level and my mental health. I can be happy in China, but maximum 2 months a year ^^ I can bring my job with me.
For my retirement, I save on my own, out of national welfare, because that's more convenient in my case, I feel grown-up enough to manage my money on the long-term by myself. I keep contributing to (and benefiting from) my national health-care however.
I want lots of Chinese to go to Canada then make Canada part of China. We will then make ecanadacities. You can go there.
TedDBayer:
I've been dreaming of ways to import Chinese women, they seem to screen good looking ones out. I think we should let 40 million women in, weight restrictions apply
My girlfriend wants me to stay here with her for maximum of 5 years before we move back to the US. But I really want to move back to the US as soon as possible. She wants to be here for 5 years because she want to achieve her dream in China which is to have a successful business. I keep tell her that she can do the same in the US, but she would not listen to me. I really hate China because the pay is so low, the food is so toxic, the environment is so dirty, and the people's manner is not up to my expectation. I am here not because I can not make a living in the US anymore. I am here because of my girlfriend. I just hope one day she can realize this earlier so that we can go back to the US sooner.
Stiggs:
So let's say she achieves her dream and builds the successful business, what then? Do you think she'll want to leave the business to go to the states?
Redguard:
haha stiggs is right. She will never leave. YOU will never leave. haha
ChineseAmerican:
Her business is kind hard to explain. She can open up several stores without managing them herself. Then she just need to take a percentage of the profit at the end. Still though, I think she can make more money in the US. If she still insists on staying in China after these years, then I am leaving.
ScotsAlan:
You should consider yourself lucky ChineseAmerican 
.
Your GF wants you and not your passport. You have a good girl there 
Me and my business partner agreed to do 5 years together, He plans to retire in 4-5 years, as he is already super rich, and doesn't really want to work anymore, but he wants to help me. Right now I only plan on staying here another year or so after he retires, and then hiring someone else to manage them and the teacher(s ) while I'm gone. So I'm looking at another 6 years here. I'll be 30, and while to me that seems kind of old (no offense to anyone 30 or older), I know 30 is still semi-young, so it's ok.
While I don't hate China, some things could be better. But I have found ways of managing. And keeping myself occupied. Actually today I was thinking about going back to get my masters, and then Ph.D. I have a lot of time on my hands so I figured I might as well diversify and put some eggs in multiple baskets.
Realistically until we're forced to leave or asked to leave.
ScotsAlan:
Same here. Nothing really for me to go back to.
I have started from scratch too many times. I really don't want to do it again. This packing your life into a single suitcase gets a bit tiresome.
ironman510:
Same here, the last thing I'll do is buy a house for the kids in the U.S, if we're asked or forced to leave well at least a house will be ready. And I'll go out to the open road because truck driving will offer the most jobs by 2020 and I paid my college loan in 1 year because of truck driving in the west part of the U.S, god I miss it. It's not a bad job if you like traveling.
3 years ago I packed my bags and flew to Guangzhou thinking it was just a one year stint. There was nothing to look back to so I came. As with ScotsAlan, I've started from scratch too many times and I don't feel I have anything to go back to. Here, I have lots of freedom in terms of space and opportunities. Many people think that Singapore is a good place to be. Yes if you are a multi millionaire, you will have a very secure life, nothing to worry about. Good schools, safe place etc. but it's too sterile. In China, you've got to put up with a lot of nasty things but after weighing the opportunities, I think China is still the place to be if you want to make something out of your life. For many, China is a stopover, a place to get away for a while to ponder over what to do next. But I am here to stay. Perhaps the laws may change and they may want foreigners out of ten country, but it's unlikely and if it happens I won't live to see it anyway. So, no, I won't go back.
Hotwater:
Spot on comment! I feel the same way except in my case I see nothing in the UK to drag me back there. Guangzhou is now home.
I'm not sure!
Maybe, I'll get abducted by Jay Leno, and housed somewhere close to Cuba and Cali.
Staying. 
manasyt:
Well, indefinitely...We are ok here...and we wouldn't be in my home country...so that's that. 
Planning to leave in two to three years as that is the usual wait to bring over a wife...
My teaching salary is pretty much capped out for DongBei unless I want illegal work or little kids...I have NO interest in having children here...bad air, bad food, no school, etc...
