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Q: why should I be asked how often do I go back home?
I am not from China where I am expected to return back home every weekend or so, I must plan my journey and spend a lot before I go back home, so why should I always be asked how often do I go back home? do Chinese think going back home is just buying a fast train ticket of 100 or so RMB the way they do when going back home?
I think this question sucks, what do you think?
My guess, and yes I'm stereotyping here: a lot of Chinese people, especially young people, are raised to see family as of the first importance. When they meet someone so far from their own family, they struggle to imagine being so disconnected for a long period of time, and that's why they ask.
I doubt people are trying to be offensive or upset you.
Agree with MissA. Also, just another conversation piece. And I prefer this one much more than how much money do I make.
They ask that question because if you go back regularly, like once a year (I wish), then they will become your friend and ask you to take them with you. Helps with the visa application.
i havent been home since april 2010 and they are always shocked when i tell them i want be going back, i sold everything and put my money in canada, i told my wife we could live in canada but never america again. when they find out i have no children at 50 and parents are dead , they think i must have bad karma. i always tell them if your not happy , its a four letter word "move", but most people dont, they say 80 percent of chinese never leave the province were they are born, not even for travel.
i think it would be strange for me to go home and rent a car at the airport with a china merchants visa card and a chinese drivers license. the look from the counter agent would be a good video moment..
Hulk:
My wife never left Hunan province until I took her traveling all over the place.
What MissA said, but also...
We're foreigners ... we're rich! we can afford to go home every weekend! 
Ok, they think we're rich, and they have no idea just how expensive it is... or a time-consuming PITA!!!
It's one of the few sentence patterns they have mastered.
They always ask me whether I'm going home for Chinese New year. I'm tired of explaining that I'm not Chinese & this holiday means nothing to me. Chinese people cannot imagine that someone dares to ignore Chinese New year.
agj:
But you will happily take the time off though.
And assuming you also took advantage of the European equivalent in December you are double dipping. Don't disrespect something while taking advantage of it.
"What are you doing for Chinese New Year?" is the most absurd question, I really would like to know how they don't understand the problem with it. I mean, they say 'Chinese' right in the question!
Why wouldn't they ask that? They figure you're getting some time off and just curious what you're doing with it. Nothing wrong with that.
I go home every night
chenhan:
haha,do you know what it means in Chinese if you say you go home every night? You wet your bed every night,that's it.
