Why do you wanna live in China? (Because I love China)

Why do you wanna live in China?  (Because I love China)
hadleyj09 Jan 08, 2014 03:25

FIRST: SHOUT OUTS TO EVERYONE WHO GAVE ME SUPPORT


So recently.......very, very recently,
I was asked, "Joel, why the hell are you in China?"

I was like, "what do you mean?"

He talked about how racism in China, and that if he was me, he would not be able to handle it.

All I said was that no matter what, in every country I will always face racism, and people who don't like me because of who I am and what I have. 

The reasons I came to China was:

1. All my friends from China are cool, and amazing. They have helped me out so much, and they gave me the confidence and assurance that I would be okay, and I am

2. I came here to follow my dream and to be successful. I have a dream that I want to make a reality. To do that, I had to get out of America and come to China. China is the land of opportunity, and a great place to live.

3. I came to China to better myself as a person. I am young and dumb compared to what I will become one day. Being in China has, is, and will continuously teach me how to be independent, street smart, and how to network.

4. I have so many Chinese friends who have seen me for more than just my skin color, for more than just the way I talk, and for more  than the way I dress. They have seen "me" because they have took the time to know me, and not judge me off of preconceptions that are not even true about me.



A big part of why I am, and why I will continue to stay here is because I know that there are many good people in China and around the world who I will meet in China. They will not only befriend me, but be able to teach me about themselves, their culture, and their lives. They wil also be able to teach me about myself, what my social strengths and weaknesses are, and how I can improve myself in order to make myself a better individual.


THIS IS WHY I CAME TO CHINA

THIS IS WHY I AM LIVING IN CHINA

THIS IS WHY I WILL CONTINUE TO STAY IN CHINA


A few friends have already given me the confidence to live and succeed here. That confidence is not going anywhere.

Be who you are, and do what YOU want to do.

One Love  One Blood

Tags:General Relationships Teaching & Learning Travel Language & Culture Expat Rants & Advice Expat Tales Lifestyle

54 Comments

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Guest858516

No matter where you are in the world and no matter what race you are racism is something that people cant escape. America may try to make laws and policies to try to promote less racism but it is allways there. In China most of the time some people might have a misunderstanding of some races. This is just because not untill recently it was uncommon to meet thoes kinds of foreign people in China.

Jun 04, 2014 23:54 Report Abuse

hadleyj09

Hold on everyone, yes people of color, non-whites, (I guess that the new term for it?) have a better way of handling racism in China. It's not a big deal. Where in America there are actual groups formed to KILL people of color whereas in China, people just talk, and people of color just laugh. On the other hand, with my experience, many of my white friend (or non colored friends.............) seemed so shocked and don't know how to deal with it. It's kind of funny in a way, where I can say, your turn my friend. I laugh because no matter what, if you are white, you will ALWAYS get the better end of the deal.

May 15, 2014 08:18 Report Abuse

hadleyj09

Can everyone please refrain from calling others out of their name based on their opinions. If you like what someone said, cool, If you didn't, voice your opinion in a civilized manner. If you can't do that then you should not be posting here.

May 15, 2014 07:28 Report Abuse

hadleyj09

This was posted a while ago, and a few months late, I still feel like China is a great place to work and live. Thanks for the comments everyone. Not really worried about the grammar as long as you got the point of what was being written. I plan to live here for many years to come, and I see the vast amount of opportunity for a great life to be had here.

May 15, 2014 07:25 Report Abuse

christopherdann

This is a topic which is close to my heart... Best wishes! Where can I find the contact details for questions? <a href="http://watchridealongonline2014.tumblr.com/">watch Ride Along online</a>

Mar 11, 2014 13:39 Report Abuse

MyChina01

You see what I mean, Joel? I knew all the nut cases would come out of the woodwork and try to say I'm the crazy one. That's why yours is the first article I've posted on in several years, because I won't waste my time with people trying to justify their own inequities and ignorance by claiming someone with a valid point and legitimate argument is the one who's crazy. That's my biggest advice to you, is don't get drawn into their miserable lives. Enjoy China. It's a beautiful country, with great people, and a fantastic future. Good luck in all your endeavors!

Feb 18, 2014 23:48 Report Abuse

coineineagh

You knew people would call you crazy... and knowing is half the battle.

Mar 16, 2014 11:55 Report Abuse

chad

I've been in Shanghai for 2 years now, I'm still in what the other bloggers called "Honeymoon phase" but I think there are wrong or maybe I'm an exception because my friends and colleagues bring me in their inner circles.Believe in urself and be professional in ur job then everything will be alright.

Feb 18, 2014 09:54 Report Abuse

chad

Stop running inside a bag! Read the blog again then when you get my pt you can reply

Feb 19, 2014 10:51 Report Abuse

coineineagh

I think the correct term would be endurance rather than strength. I'm perfectly willing to admit that black people have a lot more experience dealing with discrimination, so a white guy's bar of what constitutes an offense may be lower. Maybe since China is our first real experience with old-fashioned bigotry, that we react to it more easily. But I doubt that chad or MyChina01 have a realistic view of how white people behave within China, and are probably drawing way too much meaning from all the China-rants here on this site.

Feb 21, 2014 14:52 Report Abuse

Robk

I never said I wanted to be "Chinese" but I would like to have the option just as they would in Canada. The whole point is that Chinese directly or indirectly make you FEEL like you are always here temporarily when it may look like a more permanent situation... sort of stuck in Limbo... which is why most foreigners can never REALLY settle down here and feel comfortable. So maybe the OP felt good because he is making friends and feeling accepted but he really isn't... and it will take time but he will learn that. That's what I mean.

Feb 21, 2014 16:25 Report Abuse

expatlife26

If i was applying for a job in the US, i might cop to my 1 term as an ESL teacher just to add a little color to my resume, but more as part of the story of how I went to China and found something in my field, though I would never admit to it if applying for a job within China, where it's considered a stigma in the professional job market. By itself if you want to work in Education in some other capacity in the future, it can be good but the less time the better. 1 year can be explained as getting some background on international education etc. 5 years makes you look rutted and unambitious. Fact is nobody in HR cares if you're an interesting adventurous person...they wanna see you have skills. If you wanted to work at a kindergarten in the US or something, working at a kindergarten here is relevant. Otherwise you should be trying to get into the recruitment field immediately upon arrival and ankle your ESL job ASAP.

Feb 17, 2014 13:39 Report Abuse

GuestBob

Five years might look rutted but it's handy if you want to do a longitudinal study of undergraduate language learners. That's the kind of thing that ensures your time in China is useful and looks good on a CV. I used to do consultancy work for private colleges in the UK, including recruitment, and the fact is that language schools in Britain really don't look down their noses at people who have experience in China - like anything else from overseas, all you need is solid context of professional progression which the people in your target market can relate to and it's fine. Alot of people don't seem to bother with that though and drift from job to job for a few years and then try to get back in to their home labour market having taken what appears to be a lengthy break from a solid career progression path. Apropros of my comments above it has taken me a couple years to find a decent spot, but now that I have I'm thinking about a three year contract so I can finish my MA TESOL (which I've started already) and possibly do a research degree. Again, it's only going to benefit you if you're keen on a career in teaching though, if you're not then a "dip in dip out" approach is good, but a "don't dip at all" is probably better.

Feb 17, 2014 16:59 Report Abuse

leod85

Yeah, I'm just maybe exiting this "honeymoon phase," I'm on about year 2.5 by now without going back but will for the first time this year. I have an MEd and teach ESL but my girlfriend is also a foreign teacher so our life is very good for China. But no matter how much I like life here, especially after having moved to Shanghai from a third-tier city, the air really gets to me and now I need to take medication for breathing problems, so I feel like I need to have a plan in the future for getting out of here. I'm thinking maybe teach French or ESL at public school in the US or do second-language acquisition research or try to become professor of applied linguistics, haven't really decided. Anyway, my point is it's great to enjoy life here but most likely you need to plan for further down the road and gain valuable assets and skills or at least get a decent education then stay here for a bit then move on, unless you have some solid plan for staying here like learning Chinese, marrying Chinese girl,have a business connection, etc. Being here will take it's toll I believe. I have met so many idiots stuck in the hazy dazy comfort foreigners get here which I really don't understand, I mean i.e. to be almost 40 and have been teaching esl for 8 years and still unmarried no kids chasing tail, to me it just seems unideal, but to each their own I guess.

Feb 15, 2014 23:47 Report Abuse

coineineagh

Learn a useful skill, practice and train yourself, and once you're good enough at it, you can make the switch to full-time freelancing. It's the best way to go. I'm currently looking at web design and programming, perhaps even SEO in the future. ESL is completely useless on a resume once you leave China, so don't get stuck in a rut! China will punish you for complacency, and you need to pull at that rudder early if you don't want to get stranded.

Feb 16, 2014 09:56 Report Abuse

GuestBob

EFL experience in China isn't useless if you want to be a pre-sessional EAP tutor. EFL experience in China isn't useless if you want to work in International Student Recruitment. EFL experience in China isn't useless if you want to work in specialist educational language support in places like London. EFL experience in China isn't useless, unless you don't want to work in education - then it becomes useless.

Feb 17, 2014 12:12 Report Abuse

coineineagh

So, you're gonna explain to your future employer how singing, dancing, playing games and teaching colours to 3-year-olds gave you the experiences you need to teach English for Academic Purposes, recruit students, and give specialist language education? Because that's what most foreign teachers end up doing in China; that's where the salary is best. My freelance proofreading and internship in university look better on my CV than all the time I've done entertaining performances for schools here in China.

Feb 17, 2014 13:08 Report Abuse

GuestBob

No I won't have to explain myself on those terms because I don't do that and I'd never do that. Again though, why would you work in a kindie if you don't want to have a career in early years education? Sure, experience doesn't readily transfer to unrelated areas but it's your problem if you're not working in your chosen teaching area, not China's. There's plenty of jobs out there for all kind of teachers and at all kinds of levels. Some are better paid than others, some have longer hours than others, some are in places which are less attractive that others, but that's life anywhere and everywhere. I will admit though that finding a good job, like a really good job, can be a bit difficult in China - but contrary to received opinion they do exist.

Feb 17, 2014 16:46 Report Abuse

chad

For once you said sth interesting.

Feb 19, 2014 10:48 Report Abuse

MyChina01

Good for you, Joel! I also love China immensely, and I have no intention of ever returning to the US, ever. Not for anything more than a vacation, anyway. I have built a life here, I love the culture, the history, and basically everything about China. Does it have problems? Of course it does, as does every country. The secret is to stop trying to compare China with your home country because if you do, you will always be disappointed. This is NOT the US (or England, or Canada, or wherever), so stop making comparisons. The biggest piece of advice I can give you, Joel, is to stop listening to the negative, often racist remarks that idiots leave on this website in their comments. Your blog is the first one I've read in over two years, and it certainly was refreshing to see. The racists who post comments on this website, I have come to believe, are probably white people who never had to deal with racism at home, and then they come here, are discriminated against, and they don't know how to deal with it. So they bash China every chance they get. Don't listen to such narrow-minded, pigheaded people like that. Don't let anyone or anything take away your happiness you found here. The only question that remains about such people is; "If you hate China so much, then what are you still doing here?" but, of course, they can not or will not answer. So good for you, Joel. I wish you all the luck in the world, and I hope you continue to find your happiness here. I certainly have. Now watch how people respond to my post and prove my point!

Feb 12, 2014 22:05 Report Abuse

coineineagh

Impressive how many mental barriers, hypocritical generalizations and reasoning errors people like you make to justify validating your world views. Now anyone whop has bad things to say about China is a racist? Snap out of it! http://space.echinacities.com/112751/blog/spacenodedetail/1661

Feb 13, 2014 11:06 Report Abuse

MyChina01

I never in my post said anyone who has bad things to say about China is a racist. I said 'often' racist remarks. And I don't need to justify my world views, I think the facts speak for themselves. Oh! And thanks for proving my principal point!

Feb 14, 2014 10:08 Report Abuse

coineineagh

You're an idiot. You claim to know how much people have had to deal with racism based on their skin colour only. Had it occurred to you that some people may have to face discrimination due to their non-white partner? The whole reason I'm in China is because my home country won't let my wife in. To disprove your point, I'd have to elaborate on a lot of personal things I don't wish to discuss, and I won't be provoked into divulging personal info. I can't demonstrate how you're an idiot, but take my word for it. Also, keep your "thanks-for-proving-my-point" weasel words to yourself.

Feb 14, 2014 11:31 Report Abuse

MyChina01

And you're a moron. It is a well established fact, proven by numerous University studies, that non-white people have to deal with racism MUCH more than their white counterparts, so yes, I do feel people of color like myself have a much better ability to deal with discrimination when confronted with it. Perhaps it is this subconscious realization on your part that makes you jump to so many conclusions about my post after just a glance, instead of trying to read it and understand it, but your inability to grasp the fundamental gist of what I was trying to say has led to your immature, neanderthal, and uneducated response by resorting to something as feeble as calling people names, because that is all someone of your stature can do. Again, thank you for proving my point on an even grander scale.

Feb 14, 2014 20:25 Report Abuse

coineineagh

dude, i can't see your race or skin colour over the internet. until you just mentioned your race, i thought you were a white sinophile dissing other white folk for being oversensitive. now it turns out your comments were generalizations about another race (not culture; race) - what's that called again? you just demonstrated your own idiocy once more. impressive how you could turn a positive blog into hate ranting so fast. your happy veneer peels off remarkably quickly. have a good one!

Feb 14, 2014 23:47 Report Abuse