Westerners living in China?

Question

I would like the opinion of some westerners living in China. I would like to spend some time living in China, either as an English teacher or just perfecting my Chinese as I believe the best way to learn a language is to be around fluent speakers. What is it like for a westerner to live in China? How are we seen? Are there any prejudices if so please give me an example? How is the day to day life of a westerner living in China different from the locals? And any other information would be appreciated thank you or should I say Xie Xie ^_^.

Yes, thank you Shanghai does seem like a great city. I've been wondering about 'shanghaineses' I know officially the language is standard mandarin but apparently this dialect is part of daily life, how different is it from standard mandarin?

Answer 1

Hello, I am an American living here in Guangzhou China now for seven years. I am assuming the Chinese you've learned is Putonghua? Well, if perfecting your Chinese is a top priority, you had better choose to live in Beijing. That being said, however, I really love Guangzhou (GZ). It's a bustling city without the cram of Shanghai, in that way GZ is like Chicago. It's busy enough that people tend to mind their own business, like NYC. It's leap-frogging the states in technology and the construction is unbelievably paced.
The people, though, are why I stay. The cantonese are practical, no nonsense, hard-working and driven. I am a teacher and so have known a growing number of students every year, some for more than half their lives. Should you be interested in Teaching you can look up minibees on asiaexpat.com job board.

Ok to some of your questions. I obviously like it here. I have an IKEA, a Carrefoure, hagen daz, pizza hut, and a host of new Italian restaurants that have popped up in the last two years. That stuff is similarly priced to the states. How you can really amaze yourself, is by living as native as you can. Try three full meals a day on $3 cooked yourself and bought at the open markets. like shopping? ever noticed where all those things on the shelves in the shops in the states are made? ever wonder "where in China?" You simply will not belief the shopping here. We have malls... i'm talking mall of America... sized things called computer cities. nothing but computers... and five of them one after another... each one packed full. clothing cities.... knick-knack cities.... shoe cities... leather goods cities....

How we are seen...? difficult question. on the one hand, like I said earlier, this is a bustling city people are busy with their own things.. on the other, well, foreigner is a very strong word. Even my nephew was trained very early on in his list of first words to know that I am called something different than the rest of the family... and that title is foreigner. It can get uncomfortable.
But, what might be more critical to your survival and ultimate comfort is YOUR ability to deal with what YOU see and YOUR prejudices. Things have changed a lot since I first got here, and I came via Nepal and so had become accustomed to certain differences in daily habits from those in Springfield, Any State, usa. But I was taken back by an awful lot of things happening right on the streets of what otherwise appeared as a modern international city. the famous spitting the newspapers are all talking about, going to the bathroom on the sidewalks, no queueing... (that one still gets me) and, should you decide to teach in a University, the little games of how much will you do for free. Those are pretty much my only gripes, and you know, aside from the queueing, I don't ever see them any more.
Comparing ones life to the locals is another tricky thing. On the whole a teachers salary is about three times what probably about 98% of college grads make. but we do tend to spend a heck of a lot more. but there is a fabulous amount of wealth here. and for the most part of my day, I am the one in older clothes, and without a car and in a smaller apartment and a little too conscious of the price of the meal i have been invited out to.

I could really go on but I hope this little bit helps. I know some people that get together and ***** about things for hours, but one, I imagine thats what they were doing back in the states too, and two, i noticed that they are all from small towns and didn't leave those small towns until they were pretty old and had already formed their opinions on the world. If you read anything anyone says that is disparaging about China, remember to take it with a grain of salt.
good luck. shing yang quai le (happy new year)

Answer 2

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Answer 3

I have lived and worked in Shanghai for 3 years now. China is fascinating and rapidly developing. It is fairly easy to get a job as an English teacher, BUT, if you come on a Tourist Visa, you cannot earn money. To get a Work Visa, you will need an invitation letter from a company here. In major cities, there is no overt prejudice. Most Westerners are considered "rich" even if they are not, so tend to be looked upon as cheap if you don't treat. Most Westerners live in apartments and villas too expensive for the majority of Chinese (since housing is usually included for ex-pats), so the stereotype of wealth is perpetuated. If you want to work, I suggest you come to visit under a Tourist Visa, meet prospective employers, and, if you get a job, leave and return under a Work Visa. In Shanghai, where there are more than a hundred thousand Westerners, you aren't a novelty and won't get a second glance. In some rural areas, where we are fewer, you may get some stares. My girlfriend is from The Philippines and looks "Chinese" - she gets some people upset that she doesn't reply to their questions. Almost everybody today speaks Mandarin, even if they have a local dialect. Shanghaiese is very different from Mandarin (closer to Wu dialects), and some taxi drivers are more fluent in Shanghaiese than Mandarin. Just speak slowly and carefully, get the tonal accent right, and you should have no problems. If you end up down south, Cantonese is common in Guangdong Province and Hong Kong - I find it very hard to understand since there are 7 tones rather than 4.

Answer 4

Not much, they all enjoy using the issue to make a big fuss on China. Come on, dont so-called democracy countries exercise their own yardstick of censorship, and perhaps more serious in some cases. Dont believe? Make up an Arabic name and say some silly things about US/UK, mentioning Uncle Bin and find out how quickly your computer is hacked. Heard from the news the other day that Vancouver has just passed a law giving law enforcement the authority to confisticate any negative slogans about the Winter Olympic inside people's house. China has not been that close yet. Conclusions: The effect of brainwashing is just as strong in the west as in China, the only difference is Chinese people are aware of it but not too many of the westerners do.

Answer 5

My boyfriend now lives in China. He's been there for almost one year and he loves it but it's a whole new world there. I went and lived there for two months with him.
The major issue for me while is was there is I am asain. I was born in America and that was my first trip to Asia. There in China I looked like a Chinese person even though I'm laotian. So people would come up to my boyfriend and I (he's caucasian) and start talking to me but little did they know, I had no idea what they were saying! Luckily my boyfriend had picked up mandrian very quickly and saved me but they all looked at me like I was crazy for now knowing how to speak any Chinese.
Also for him the hardest thing is alway being stared at. We were in a smaller area of China and there would be times where people would just stare like it was nothing. We believed that it was because some of them hardly ever see a white guy. Also to go with this is he's very young. 23 and I am 20. We would go out together and hold hands and they always thought I was a hooker. If you want some more details email me. I'll be happy to answer any questions I can for you. [e-mail]

Answer 6

Hi - great question!!

I have been living in China for over 2 yrs ....of course as an English teacher (why the hell would i come here)
At first i loved it - but know I ABSOLUTELY HATE IT !! I can't wait to get out of here ....i live up north ...which is MUCH different from where most foreigners go ....there is NO etiquette here whatsoever .....they spit and HOARK EVERYWHERE .....sidewalks are filthy , in restaurants, hospitals, ...spit is everywhere , you cant avoid it !
I'm so famous in this city (the only white chick here) , i'm in the newspaper ( i also have my own school) , i've been on TV , had lunches with the mayor and get followed by EVERYONE .....not to mention STARED AT EVERYWHERE I GO !! They are so rude and ignorant here ....the only reason i stay is because i married one (of course he is different) .....but we will escape in the summer ...and go back home to Canada ...to civilization !!
If i could turn back time ...this is the last place on earth i would come !
To all you foreigners out there that want to come here ....don't ....there are much BETTER places in this world !
Good luck to you !

Answer 7

Which city are you planning to stay?. I lived in Shanghai for a year & it was a tremendous experience. They have excellent public transport system & its cheaper than living in the US. Its a little crowded but I felt safe. No problems what so ever. If you can speak Mandarin you will have absolutely no problem as communication is of course important.

Answer 8

I would reccomend Hong Kong, as it used to be a British colony and some people there speak English fluently. You could also probably teach English there more readily than in other parts of China as well. I'm not an expert though :)

Answer 9

If you going to live in China, then live in Shanghai, Beijing, or Canton!

Answer 10

It is a great city! Go to Shanghai!