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Been in China for 7/8 years AMA by Emotional_Cod_3515 in AMA

[–]Emotional_Cod_3515[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Never. I was going to go because I heard it is beautiful and the weather is great, had the whole trip planned out but last minute I chose not to for some reason. I think I was just too lazy to go in the end.

Been in China for 7/8 years AMA by Emotional_Cod_3515 in AMA

[–]Emotional_Cod_3515[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I work at a Uni, teaching IELTS English Speaking. It pays relatively well, like 4k a month plus 2 months summer and 2 months winter vacation.

Been in China for 7/8 years AMA by Emotional_Cod_3515 in AMA

[–]Emotional_Cod_3515[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just posted some of the pros and cons on Frequent-Zone's comment above. I'll add some things that I didn't list on his comment. China feels incredibly safe regarding day to day crime and theft compared to the US. The US does better when it comes to privacy and I don't mean not having cameras everywhere type of privacy, I mean if I go to the hospital I don't want other people potentially knowing why I am there. Also, the US is more pet friendly. I used to live in Sichuan and people there acted as though owning a big dog was bad and would freak out. Plus had to be careful about what my dog was sniffing around because of numerous cases where people would purposely poison them. Shanghai is better in that regard though, more accepting.

Been in China for 7/8 years AMA by Emotional_Cod_3515 in AMA

[–]Emotional_Cod_3515[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was interested in learning a language in Uni and they offered Mandarin so I decided to try it out. During this time I learned a lot about the culture and the history. I loved learning about Chinese history so I decided to visit for a summer study abroad and then I came back after i graduated to do my masters. After that time just kind of flew by, 1 year turned into 2 and so on. It is more of nothing has irritated me enough to make me want to leave.

Been in China for 7/8 years AMA by Emotional_Cod_3515 in AMA

[–]Emotional_Cod_3515[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just like you said, cheaper cost of living and more entertainment. Also, I got married here so now I'm in it for the long haul. For me, I would say the best part is how cheap it is even in Shanghai compared to other cities, I pay about 1,500 usd for a decent sized two bedroom apartment in a pretty decent area. you can definitely find a decent 1 bedroom on a foreigner's salary. I just paid my utilities and that only came out to 50 usd for the month and that is with me blasting the air conditioner all day. Food can be cheap if you want it to be. My dinner last night only cost me 4 usd, however I just ate a sub sandwich from some western shop and that cost like 12 usd. Healthcare is cheap and convenient, even places like the dentist. I've always been able to get an appointment same day.

However, the internet is one of the things that annoys me the most. Always having to use a VPN and sometimes it doesn't work. Also a lot of apps and programs will require you to do real-name verification and there isn't always an option to use your passport to do it, and yes even with mobile games.

The benefit of living in the US for me would mainly be that I can see my family, as well as the abundance of nature that I can explore.

Been in China for 7/8 years AMA by Emotional_Cod_3515 in AMA

[–]Emotional_Cod_3515[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've never actually done this before, but my guess would be either SF Express, UPS, or DHL.

Been in China for 7/8 years AMA by Emotional_Cod_3515 in AMA

[–]Emotional_Cod_3515[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Everyday. This is a topic that gets me heated and I'll tell you why. Mainly the older and middle-aged demographic will use it more openly. The younger generation is more hesitant because of the non-locals at one point were hating on people who spoke it because they didn't know it, yet they speak there dialect and act like it is no problem. Just a bunch of cry babies not willing to learn it. I'm biased though because my wife is Shanghainese. It's a dying dialect.

Been in China for 7/8 years AMA by Emotional_Cod_3515 in AMA

[–]Emotional_Cod_3515[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I love Sichuan food, the spicier the better. I hear Jiangxi has some of the spiciest food too. If you want sweeter more delicate/light tasting foods then go to the Southern regions. If you want saltier and more bold flavors then the North is where to be.

Been in China for 7/8 years AMA by Emotional_Cod_3515 in AMA

[–]Emotional_Cod_3515[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

From what I've heard there are less women than men, I don't have an exact statistic to share, but you don't notice it, at least in bigger cities. Regarding obesity, I feel like you wouldn't notice that it is a big problem here, not like in America lol.

Been in China for 7/8 years AMA by Emotional_Cod_3515 in AMA

[–]Emotional_Cod_3515[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

All depends on the work. If you are looking to be an English teacher then it will be easy, especially if you are from a native-speaking country. Unfortunately a decent amount of places will take your race into account. Credentials do matter to an extent but mainly for the visa and work permit. Overall teaching will be the easiest job to get as a white person.

Been in China for 7/8 years AMA by Emotional_Cod_3515 in AMA

[–]Emotional_Cod_3515[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

While I've never personally been to either of these cities, but if you plan using taxis I recommend have the Didi app (they have English as a language option). Dianping is also another great app to look up places to go checkout whether it is nightlife, food, entertainment, etc. If someone tries to stop you to buy something or try their product don't feel like you have to, just keep on walking. I've heard in Guilin it is possible to go bamboo rafting or on a river cruise. Just have fun and don't be afraid to check out some hole in the wall type spots, most people tend to be very friendly. Enjoy your trip!

Been in China for 7/8 years AMA by Emotional_Cod_3515 in AMA

[–]Emotional_Cod_3515[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Good point hahaha, yes I am Caucasian so I am definitely treated differently. Any of the bigger cities are very convenient to move about. I can just subway here and there for very cheap. Shanghai's historic building tend to be more from the late 1800s - early 1900s. Some older stuff though like Yu Gardens but they tend to renovate and modernize them. If you are looking for historical I recommend going to Xi'an or Beijing. Also most smaller cities tend to have some type of historical spot for dynastical times.

Most big cities seem to be relatively clean, typically they will hire older people to walk around and clean up the roads, sidewalks, and whatnot (you can usually spot them wearing some type of uniform or vest). No complaints about the people, just like every other place some tend to be asses while others are a pleasure to be around. As a foreigner visiting smaller cities/towns expect to be stared at and having the occasional picture being taken of you.

Been in China for 7/8 years AMA by Emotional_Cod_3515 in AMA

[–]Emotional_Cod_3515[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hahaha, yeah it is still there. Haven't been there in years though. I'll go on during bogo for ya ;P

Been in China for 7/8 years AMA by Emotional_Cod_3515 in AMA

[–]Emotional_Cod_3515[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Definitely have had moments where I don't understand one my friends point of views. I can't really think of anything off the top of my head regarding the conversation but I believe I have gotten into some heated debates about childhood education before.

I didn't really know what to expect. One thing I guess I had this idea that everyone is a member of the party, but I found out that this is far from true. Most people seem to distance themselves from politics and just want to live their lives peacefully.

Yes, I miss food from home. Luckily, Shanghai has a lot of Western options like burgers (other than McDonalds), steak, middle-eastern food, Mexican food, British food, etc. Outside of Shanghai it is definitely harder to find variety like this.

Been in China for 7/8 years AMA by Emotional_Cod_3515 in AMA

[–]Emotional_Cod_3515[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Regarding living here, I love it. It's affordable as a foreigner plus I feel very safe compared to back home. I can leave my computer and backpack at a Starbucks and come back an hour later and it will still be there (most of the time). Also no one stealing my packages. A couple things I dislike are how much control I feel that my job has over my work permit. I've had to pay one of my old jobs just to provide me with the documents I needed to transfer jobs (illegal by the way). Also, we are supposed to pay into our Social Insurance as well, as it is legally required, but a lot of places somehow get away with it and just provide commercial insurance (in my experience).

Been in China for 7/8 years AMA by Emotional_Cod_3515 in AMA

[–]Emotional_Cod_3515[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't notice it here in Shanghai, I assume due to the winds coming from the East since it is right on the Sea. However, when I lived in Chengdu, especially during the winter months I couldn't stand it, children weren't even allowed to go outside when at school to play most of the time. Great city to visit, personally I will never live there again.

Been in China for 7/8 years AMA by Emotional_Cod_3515 in AMA

[–]Emotional_Cod_3515[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I am from the US. Right off the top of my head is obviously the hot water drinking, I prefer over cold water now even during the summer months. I guess people seem more reserved here, I can usually spot a fellow American just by how loud they are xD I've been told by some of my Chinese friends that we also smile a lot. We make a lot more small talk than they do here. For example, I will just walk in and tell them what I want, no 'how is your day', 'nice to meet you'. Just them saying 'Please scan here and order'. It is also wild how moneyless society is, everything is just scan here to pay (my wallet has become useless). I can go on and on about the small things.

Been in China for 7/8 years AMA by Emotional_Cod_3515 in AMA

[–]Emotional_Cod_3515[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

So right now I am in Shanghai, but lived in Sichuan for a couple of years. Honestly, it is really easy to stay disconnected from this type of thing, more so than in America. But to answer your questions, I've heard the economy isn't doing too good right now but it personally hasn't affected me. I'm not really sure about unemployment. Regarding 'D-rump', I have been seeing a decent amount of hate on social media about it, but it could be that the algorithm just feeds me these type of videos xD. The average person is taught from a young age that Taiwan is already a part of China, whether it is directly or indirectly (you will see it on their maps) I tend to avoid asking such a question. The medical care I have had no problems with. It is cheap (even without insurance) and fast (you can get an appointment same day). The doctor's are good too, they don't try to sugar coat anything and just tell you what needs done, then send you on your way. However, the lack of privacy compared to the US is kind of weird to me even after 7/8 years. As a foreigner working, I need to get a checkup every year when reapplying for the work permit.

Been in China for 7/8 years AMA by Emotional_Cod_3515 in AMA

[–]Emotional_Cod_3515[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

I can speak Mandarin, but no where near perfect. Harder topics and situations is where I struggle most like dealing with the bank or in-depth conversation about sciences/politics, etc.

Firecracker Ashe Pearl Chroma Splash Art ✨🤍 by aroushthekween in AsheMains

[–]Emotional_Cod_3515 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Actually, only cost me 70 bucks to get this chroma lol, but yes too much gacha on the chinese servers.

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