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Q: Is it only the younger expats who develop a 'holier than thou' attitude?
The superiority complex happens mostly with the younger, fresh off the boat kind of foreigners I've come across (irrespective of what they do here - I've met younger people from embassies behaving like dicks).
With the exception of the odd loudmouthed jerk, most of the 30/40 something expats have usually been well rooted, humble and polite with Chinese (or with China, and their approach to living here).
Was wondering what your experiences have been...
I can think of one woman, 40-something who came here to escape a bad divorce, who would rant and rave about the Chinese, and talked every day about leaving.
The thing is, she never learned even how to count to ten in Chinese, after three years here. She depended on the FAO's office assistant or other foreigners for almost everything, and she had memorized every place in the city with a menu in English or cash register.
So, obviously, she had no clue what was going on around her, and her criticism of China were totally off-base and sometimes bizarre. One day, she declared she hated chinese (by which she meant food), and started eathing nothing but bread and corn. I think the malnutrition made her condition even worse. It was not a pretty sight to see.
Not totally as yours. I do know of a few "older" Ex-Pats who behave like if they were teenagers, with drinking and chasing women as the only objective in their minds and life. And in many ways they behave in a vulgar way, being loudmouth and obnoxious, even if they truly do not realize what their behavior projects.
It's more of their upbringing and atttitude rather than their age.
You could have a nice polite 19 year old chap and a sleazy greasy 50 year old.
I've met all types from all ages from all walks of life in China
If I remember correctly from your past posts you are in Shenzhen...same as me. I find this city is teeming with young mostly American young people who act this way.
Rude, vulgar, drink like frat boys and assume every YCG loves them (young chinese girl), and treat them all like shit.
Because of this there only a few expat bars I hang out in....usually with a more balanced crowd....I avoid Club Viva.
Am I more humble, balanced and considerate because I am in my late 30's or would I be regardless of age? Hard to say.
Hell no... I'm definitely "holier than thou"... and my body isn't all that young.
Different people, different ways...
I knew one expat in his 60's who would angrily scream at the girls who offer "MASSAGEE"if they came within a couple of meters of him...
I dont think its about their age, I think its a common reaction some get when they are just fresh off the boat. In that period, they only see what is different from their culture and dont understand china at all.
It takes time to figure how things tick here. Most of us eventually start to understand it... but there are alway some that refuse to.
