By continuing you agree to eChinacities's Privacy Policy .
Sign up with Google
Sign up with Facebook
Q: Why have you chosen to stay in china vs your native land?
I've been here for a year now and can't seem to understand why people stay here for so long. I'm doing it for experience but to stay here and work forever,no thanks. In the states you get benefits for your future.
I've met so many foreigners that have been here for 5+ years. Is there a future here? Specially when you are an "English teacher"??!! Or do people just like being big fish in a small pond?
I would hardly call an English teacher a big fish in a small pond here in China. (I've yet to meet an English teacher driving a Bentley or a Porsche down the shady avenues of Shanghai or BJ...) A lot of people are here to make a living --- something that, lately, is next to impossible in the U.S. or many European countries. (Spain, for example, has about 27% unemployment. About 5 million people.) And it's easy to save money here thanks to the lower cost of living. That said, an English teacher in China, although low on the salary totem pole for expats, but netting 10-20,000 a month, can bank at least 50% of his/her monthly salary with ease. Can't do that in the States or Europe these days.
Because I invested a substantial amount of money in a business a few years ago that I will not be able to get back other than through further cash generation. I am here for the long haul rather than the short.
I'm here until opportunity in the states arises. So far with all the killings, bombing and threats I'd rather stay here for the time being. I was thnking about going back into the military, but the fact is the military has too many problems with rapes and such going on that I don't want to deal with that anymore.....I've always been able to advance my career here.....and I've also got a job offer a partnership once, but I turned that down because I didn't know too much about what the other guy was doing. He was rich so I trusted him I was his tutor and he wanted me to be his 50/50 partner.
Traveler:
It would be very difficult for you to get a visa to go to the United States after being in the Chinese military.
TedDBayer:
50/50 partnership, I'll tell you what the other guy was doing, he was putting you in the bottom entry position of your dreams. I think you should go back to the military Matty, they have that don't ask, don't tell policy now.
TedDBayer:
sorry about that matt, I'm not American, but don't tell matty
Do Tell, Don't Guess works then, in mattys case, no guessing
each person is different. each person reacts to things differently. each person has a different story. some people might be running away from sth at home
mArtiAn:
So what about your story. I mean, you clearly hate this place. Why do you stay? Just interested.
crimochina:
pointing out what is wrong does not mean you hate sth. do you think it is ok for employers to make their staff shave their heads or crawl around on the floor (for no reason other than humiliation)? does that mean you hate china?
you often say negative thing about the uk do you hate the uk?
Traveler:
Exactly, crimo. I belong to a political party in Australia, and every meeting I point out something that is wrong with the party, with policy or with the country in general. Pointing out such problems opens debates and (theoretically) leads to improvement. That doesn't mean I don't love Australia, nor does pointing out China's flaws mean I don't respect China.
I suppose, however, it does display another flaw in China's politics...
Most people don't really "choose" China over their homelands. They just stay here for a few years, get burnt out on it and decide to move home.
mArtiAn:
Not at all, what a ridiculous suggestion! I stayed here a few years, got burnt out on it, and then found I couldn't COME home.
mArtiAn:
Yeh, I was kinda just joking. Truth is, I came, I saw, I got burnt, I learnt, I decided the grass was the same colour either side.
mattsm84:
So its not about China being particularly nice, but rather about England being kind of a shit hole.
Shining_brow:
NO Martian, the grass is MUCH greener over here.... it's painted to ensure it! :p
I can earn a living and then some while studying for a master's.
I love cars and trucks but here I don't need one so I save about $5,000 per year simply not driving a car.
I can have a face-making contest with kids in KFC and no one thinks it's strange.
I recall this question right down to the big fish in a small pond remark being asked a year ago....
crimochina:
this question is asked every few weeks or months by people who are overly sensitive. this is essentially "if you hate china so much why won't you leave?" because if you point out the flaws in something boom! you automatically hate it.
"love your country , do not say anything negative about the ccp."
BecauseI was bored as bol**ks in my native land and now life is interesting again. When I go to the shops I have to struggle to ask for shaving cream.......or moisturiser for masturbatial purposes. It's FUN. I'm not stuck in the same routine. I'm stuck in a NEW routine. Plus I like the girl who works in the local delhi. Just don't tell the wife.
Everyone is different. I did a bike trip and loved it, and I thought I should make a touring company for that. Turns out making a hobby into a business is a naive move many people my age make. But through it all, Ive made contacts that are viable options for good work opportunities. I wouldnt have looked into them if it werent for a very special girl. But I plan to seek those things out because there are opportunities here.
Im not staying forever, we will move to my home country when our kids are ready for school because we all know the system here for education isnt working here.
When you ask this kind of question you are thnking only of you own situation. Sure you are on a gap year and see those that are staying as odd, but you are generalizing too much. Its like my students who think eating McDs is the only food americans eat. Some find good ways to follow their career here.
(also there is a number of selfish people here that are here for reason that the rest abhor and get a bad name for)
mArtiAn:
I heard you on your last point. There's more than plenty a bad apple casting a nasty smell over those who just wish to live here peaceful.
Again, you ask a question that sounds like a wumao. No doubt you will complain about the answers you get for this one as well.
I have yet to find out what a wumao is? As far as I can see the majority of foreigners in China are there because they can find work in their native land. Of these probably 95% are in China teaching English or attempting to.
Traveler:
To find out what a wumao is, read your employment contract. Or Google.
MissA:
They're in China because they can find work at home? Um.... that makes no sense at all.
mattsm84:
I have never understood why Chinese people think this. The salary of an English teacher in China is usually between 6k to 12k yuan a month. You can make about that much working at a gas station. Most people that come here take a pay cut. Don't lie to yourself, most of the English teachers that are here are because its a working vacation.
TedDBayer:
Teachers at home make about $100K, compare that to 60K Y, thats a huge difference. if you can't do the math, about $90K.
