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Sign up with Google Sign up with FacebookQ: What keeps you here in China?
Yeah, many of us complain and we complain on the daily. For some of us, we have the option to go home and probably live a decent life... some don't have that option and are in a bad situation and need to ride things out.
Some people are hiding from something back home and then you got your nut bags, criminals and drifters.
For those that have been in China for a few years or more... what keeps you going here?
1) Is it your family here in China?
2) Is it the career you are building up?
3) Is it the easy living?
4) Is it chasing all the Chinese girls?
5) Is it because China is a nut bag place and you feel like home?
For me it would be 1 and 5 with a dose 3. How about you?
I hung my hat on a nail, but I cant remember where the nail is.
ScotsAlan:
Dont know. It was on a Chinese nail hamered into a Chinese wall.
I hung my hat on a nail, but I cant remember where the nail is.
ScotsAlan:
Dont know. It was on a Chinese nail hamered into a Chinese wall.
Women riding scooters in minis&heelers.
However, what bothers me are Chinese women wearing shorts and nylon 'see through' long socks.
I'm convinced, designer who 'invented' shorts on female body should get some kind of Nobel price, buTT......why are they wearing shorts with nylons in China?
mostly 5. dose of 3 too.
I'm kinda putting my Nobel Prize vote on either those jeans that look like they are shrunk wrapped onto the girls,,, or those 'pants' that look like something for a gymnast... like they are spray-painted on! wow,,, that was a helluva good idea! course, I'd say my daughter would have to get used to the concept of NO in about a hundred languages.
but I'd also back u up on voting for 'girl shorts'... damn smart fella there!
I originally came here with the intention of fulfilling a single one year contract and then exploring the country. I met my girlfriend near the end of that one year stint and I've since been here for three years.
Many days I can't decide whether I actually like the country or not. I certainly don't like its government or the bread and circuses mentality of a lot of the people here, but to be honest, I think they treat me quite nicely.
I love my Chinese family very much. They know I love their daughter and that I take good care of her. The problem for us is that she's a student and what she's studying is just a waste of time. If she comes back to New Zealand with me, I can support her while she studies nursing or something like that. She won't have a fulfilling career in China, just as I don't.
My job features no career development or training and the children are so loud and badly raised by their families that I've started to wear ear plugs to class. It works well because no-one hear just speaks, rather they all shout at each other all of the time.
I am qualified to teach English and history in high school, but since I've been here I've been put off teaching and I'm looking to get into accounting. The reason for this is it seems interesting and stimulating, but the greatest appeal such a job has is the silence of an accounting firm.
Silence to me is the most treasured asset. I can save a lot of money here, but I sacrifice too much to make that worthwhile. The things that I want: open access to information, conversations with stimulating people, and peace and tranquility aren't here.
I don't like being negative all the time, but I've been working hard on counting my blessings and I know I'm not stuck here forever.
On the whole, I've been treated quite well and I've done all I can to have a positive impact. When I finally do leave I won't be looking back on my experiences here as a waste of time, if I hadn't come here, I'd have never met my girlfriend and I now appreciate the things I took for granted as a citizen of a western country MUCH more.
Karenm:
I enjoyed reading what you have written and i found it interesting. I have moved to China recently with my husband and was looking at teaching but i must say i have been put off from what i read
laowaigentleman:
Thanks. I read a post this morning which said that Chinese business English students are a lot more respectful. I'd treat that with a lot of scepticism, but I'd be willing to try teaching that if there's more chance of them listening.
The average Chinese English lesson is very simple points repeated over and over again. Ten plus years and most of them are barely functional in English at all, let alone fluent. I met a boy whose family were paying his Chinese English teacher to tutor him for the gaokao, he spent two hours pouring over multi-choice test questions, memorizing the answers.
In the evening I went to dinner with his family and I asked him if he'd had a nice Saturday and got a ting bu dong in response. He later scored 75% in the senior one final English exam.
This is the professional environment you'll be wading into if you choose to go into teaching here.
The main perk is you won't have to do many office hours, but I guarantee you'll get no satisfaction out of any teaching job you try in this country because they simply don't want to learn. A diploma to them is a cudgel which they can use to beat other people over the head. Nothing more.
Good luck though
a. 2005-2008 -> 4)
b. 2008-2015 -> 1)
c. 2005-2015 -> 2)
Girlfriend. Leaving next year though. Woo fucking hoo!
#3. I'm a lazy person. It's easy to get by here. This is a good place to be if you're a loner.
Money and holidays and..... well just money.
The people too. They have become much more of my family than anyone back home- not counting my parents and sibling of course but I also see them fairly often. Other than the mentioned 3 I dont miss anyone from back home, its been too many years. But I would really miss the people here. We have spent every day together for nearly 8 years.
This is my home now and if im going they are coming with me.
food
no one has said to me 'what are you doing on my land?'
countryside, nature
ebikes and motorcycles
no highway patrol in my mirror
fascinating new things to see everyday
my gf
interesting locals
interesting foreigners
knock off clothing and merchandise
buying things at wholesale markets
able to buy things cant buy in western countries
fast trains, cheap airfare
girl watching...(dont tell my gf)
and much much more
What is keeping me in China?
Well, of course money.
Otherwise, I don't stay in this miserable country for a second.
Canada wouldn't won't let my wife into the country. that is how my life in China began. 6+ years later it is the best thing Canada has ever done for me.
I LIKE IT HERE
once in a while escape to a more English language speaking place is not real expensive.
amazing place seldom a dull moment good or bad... now how do I get medical insurance at a Chinese rate?
35,000 Canadian Dollars a year in savings for 22 hours a week tax free
. Impossible in Canada to do that.