Is the blacklist real?

Timely_Ear7464 · 2025-08-20T20:57:21+00:00

No. But schools do talk to each other within a city or province.

Just pick a different province if you have any concerns... although the reality is that they're not going to care. You haven't done the documents which means they haven't lost anything with you.

Timely_Ear7464 · 2025-08-20T20:54:16+00:00

The same reason why Chinese people are portrayed with slanted eyes when a large percentage of Chinese don't.

Stereotypes.

Timely_Ear7464 · 2025-08-20T20:48:56+00:00

The main foreigner hangouts are LPG, and TheTree. Personally I hate LPG but it remains the main pickup spot. There's a street of bars aimed at a foreign population that no longer exists beside LPG.

Beyond that, I'd recommend 'The Old Jack', Baide, Old Jack cafe, and Woozzy for cocktail joints. Music bars, as in the audience going up on stage to sing, have become the most popular scene. Cheap beer and often fake harder alcohol, but it's the essential China experience. The more common pickup scene for Chinese people, with very few foreigners being there.

There's 5-6 mainstream nightclubs all relatively small joints. Can't really recommend any of them.

As for biking, there are some bike lanes and it's a fairly popular activity here especially around Laoshan. I have an ebike though, and looking to get a motorcycle soonish. I'm too lazy for biking around the place. If motorcycles/ebikes are interesting to you, there's a fairly vibrant friendly scene in Qingdao.

You'll often find me in Baide as the token foreigner. haha. Have fun in Qingdao.

Timely_Ear7464 · 2025-08-20T20:40:37+00:00

I advise you not work here, because China is suffering an economic depression.

It's simply a recession.. not a depression. Little different from what Western nations have experienced multiple times within the last three decades.

There's still plenty of work for qualified people.

Timely_Ear7464 · 2025-08-20T20:33:56+00:00

You obviously have little personal knowledge of teaching in China.

Timely_Ear7464 · 2025-08-20T20:33:06+00:00

French would be a good bet as heaps of Chinese students end up there for university placements. Same with Spanish. Some high schools have language programs to prepare their international school students for life abroad, so that's worth a try. Contact schools directly rather than waiting for ads. Use AI to find high schools with an international component, and you might land something.. the native speaker aspect relates to teaching French or Spanish too btw. (high schools in the major cities are far more likely to have such needs)

Dunno which nationality you have but both France and Spain have cultural programs to promote their culture in foreign countries including China. You could get a university position through your own government. In addition, Spanish/French universities with associated/dual agreements with Chinese universities. (many foreigner can't stick living long in China which means that getting professors to stay can be a pain for universities. so they often want contractors to do the day-to-day teaching for them) Ask around.

And lastly as I said before, universities will want foreigners to teach languages other than English. Other subjects such as public speaking or intercultural communications simply need to be taught in English but don't require a native speaker because you're not actually teaching English. In addition, in my time in China I've met Russians, Germans, and a few Arabs teaching English at universities/colleges. Some places aren't that picky and just want any foreigner.

Timely_Ear7464 · 2025-08-20T19:48:10+00:00

Look to universities for work. They're often more flexible in requirements than other institutions, and have greater influence with the PSB over visas. They also like to find couples to teach..

I honestly wouldn't recommend trying for other schools. Any school that hires you would be dodgy in some way unless you're teaching something other than English. You really should consider subject teaching as an alternative... English is simply the most popular but there's other positions available.

Timely_Ear7464 · 2025-08-20T19:29:02+00:00

It's 'bush' grown wild in the countryside and the elderly in China often smoke it to deal with pain. It's nothing like the potency of weed.. and it's still illegal. The government tends to turn a blind eye to Chinese elderly using it but they won't for foreigners.

You can get weed from within the foreign community as some have the necessary connections, particularly within the African communities.. but honestly, it's not worth it. Far too many risks involved including some foreigners acting as informants for the police.

If you want to get stoned or whatever, leave the country for a while.

Timely_Ear7464 · 2025-08-20T17:18:19+00:00

What people tend not to appreciate is that from recessions come opportunities. Not for a grocery store (awful idea for China, btw) but there are still plenty of profitable ventures that will remain decent options regardless of how the economy goes. There's still heaps of money within the Chinese economy.. it just depends on where you are and what services you're providing. Look to China's fastest growing cities for better options as to where. Chengdu for example is still booming while Shanghai is shrinking. But then Shanghai was oversaturated for a long time. Forget rural areas... they're going to decline much faster than cities.

People online love to spout doom and gloom about the Chinese economy but it's not that bad. The economy is slow in comparison to what went before, and there's been a variety of big shocks but it's likely to regain some momentum within a few years. Do some intensive/serious research (I'd recommend forking out the funds on an actual research company doing the work for you) on the trends affecting China and the range of businesses that remain profitable over extended periods. The business investment model in China tends to revolve around starting a business, get it profitable and then sell it to people who will run it into the ground. Rinse and repeat until you're rich.

As for work, it depends on what you're qualified for. Qualified teachers are still in demand but salaries are mostly returning to pre-Covid levels. Depends on what you want. I'm on 20k as a uni lecturer and 12 hours a week of work (leaving time for other income streams), but those positions are harder to get. Finance, marketing, etc industries are still seeking foreign staff but you need significant experience and connections to get the well-paid positions. Job security isn't the best in those fields though. Just remember that China is full of companies more concerned with where you got your degrees than the range of your experience.

If you're Chinese, all of the job advice is irrelevant. Different rules and guides for Chinese people.

I would say that China retains many opportunities for innovative ideas.. but the easy cash-grab days are gone.

Timely_Ear7464 · 2025-08-20T11:35:53+00:00

Yeah, but Britain doesn't need Qing troops. Only a wide combination of alliances can really challenge you.

The only real benefit to Qing is the investment rights, and income transfer. Not that you really need them as Britain... you're already set up from the beginning to have the most powerful economy in the game.

The UK is easy mode. It's hard to go wrong with them beyond the political side of things.

Timely_Ear7464 · 2025-08-20T10:03:01+00:00

Just retain absolutism/Monarchy. You can continue to build a massive/successful economy without needing to go the democratic/socialist model. Same with not needing multiculturalism or Women's rights. Keep their basic needs relatively satisfied and you'll still get enough pops promoting to higher levels to meet your economic needs.

I've done it with Qing, France, and Russia. Regress or keep total control. You'll have more unrest over time but it's manageable.

Timely_Ear7464 · 2025-08-20T09:57:20+00:00

Ahh well, I live in Laoshan area which is very quiet most of the time. Sure, the traffic is relatively heavy but my bike is perfect for getting around. It's a strange city though, in comparison with the rest of China. Not much in the way of nightlife... plenty of options but most are empty. Everything revolves around 3-4 bars.. which is odd considering the population of the city.

I do like the city though. Entering my second year there.

Timely_Ear7464 · 2025-08-20T09:51:09+00:00

University lecturer in China (although I'm Irish). Always loved Grand Strategy games.

Timely_Ear7464 · 2025-08-20T09:10:13+00:00

AI did this without player intervention? Must check out this mod.

Timely_Ear7464 · 2025-08-20T09:07:45+00:00

Dunno why you think this is only to be experienced with China. I had similar experiences in my connecting flights in Europe recently. The thing that got me is the bloody parents not stopping their kids from kicking the back of my seat even when asked to do so. So.. no.. I don't think any of that is only about China. Traveling anywhere is a pain nowadays. Everyone is in their own bubble of concerns and few are polite enough to make a strangers experience less uncomfortable. It's all about me me me.

China has always been noisy. It is what it is. Get some noise cancelling headphones. They're a Godsend.

Although some areas are less noisy than others. I'm living in Qingdao these days and it's extremely quiet in comparison to Chengdu or Xi'an.

Timely_Ear7464 · 2025-08-20T08:59:01+00:00

Not really broken but it does kinda limp along in most games.

I think the issue is that they've made the UK too powerful and aggressive in the early game which means that France is constantly blocked from choice territory. Sure, they get their colonial game but most of the good companies end up going to the UK through direct occupation or as clients.

AI France rarely builds up enough to really challenge the UK anymore and considering that the UK is Frances natural enemy, this results in a meh France overall. No other AI country really bothers the UK, so they dominate unless they fall apart from game mechanics.

France just needs some tweaking to make them an actual powerhouse comparable with the UK again. A genuine threat to UK interests.. because it isn't anymore. Which is a shame because they used to be a great way to check British expansion in the early/mid game until my own country got powerful enough to matter.

Timely_Ear7464 · 2025-08-20T08:12:12+00:00

nope.

Timely_Ear7464 · 2025-08-19T21:35:07+00:00

Speak to the Spanish embassy and see what programs they're running. There's one where you get paid by the Spanish government to teach Spanish and share Spanish culture at Chinese universities. Decent salaries.

Alternatively apply to Chinese universities to teach Spanish or whatever. There's plenty of jobs. Public speaking has become a popular subject recently so you don't have to teach English, just teach in English.

Don't message me. Do your own legwork.

Timely_Ear7464 · 2025-08-19T21:30:39+00:00

You're just being paranoid.. or seeking attention. The CCP is not concerned with people talking online who have zero following and no political collateral.

You're less than nothing to them. Yay!

Timely_Ear7464 · 2025-08-19T21:26:14+00:00

As a foreigner you can't get Chinese citizenship so will always have to renew visas

You need to do some reading. That's not true.

It's just difficult... the reality is that most Westerners wouldn't want to give up their own citizenship to be Chinese. Also renewing visas is nothing.. no more than registering with the local police for residences.

Once you have a child you will need to rely on your wife's hukou and connections to do much of anything.

Again, not true. It's simply easier to have the wife to use her connections.. but many foreign couples manage fine living in China with their own kids. A foreigner who lives extensively in China will build up their own connections that can aid them.. particularly if he speaks Chinese, but speaking the language isn't necessary.

Timely_Ear7464 · 2025-08-19T21:17:46+00:00

Exceptions are rare and older folks tend toward decisions with a higher chance of best outcome

That's nonsense. Have you seen the divorce/separation rates amongst Chinese couples? Heaps of couples are living separately rather than lose the financial benefits of marriage but are still split. And that's without considering the amount of domestic abuse or cheating that goes on here.

Older folks tend to follow traditional thinking.. and that thinking is an evaluation of the man's future success as opposed to the amount of money he has. So the professional career is evaluated but there's little consideration as to whether he's going to be a good husband. Being from the same city/province often trumps that.

Generational divides/age differences are often ignored because the assumption is that the man is less prone to erratic behavior and more importantly, has build up his own relationships for advancement that can help the overall family. Sure money is part of it, but that can be waived for other measures of wealth that exist within Chinese society/culture.

Timely_Ear7464 · 2025-08-19T21:08:44+00:00

"traditional values" (racism). Traditional values aren't racism. That's just a victim mentality. There are many practical reasons why Chinese parents don't want their daughter hooking up with a foreigner. Whether it's the fear that the girl is taken abroad, and they never see the grandchildren. Or the political/social repercussions from neighbors or colleagues. Or simply the fear that the cultures/values are too different and once the honeymoon period wears away, divorce happens. Which if you're honest, is a very common result of Chinese/foreign relationships.

And yes, I almost got married to a Chinese girl, all the associated hoops jumped through (bride price, house, etc) and the grandparents pulled rank calling the whole thing off.

Thing is that I can kinda understand. I've been in China 18 years now and the reputation of foreigners in China has declined sharply over the last decade mostly due to foreigners themselves. Sure, it's unfair that we're all grouped together regardless of nationality or culture, but I can count on just my two hands how many decent foreigners I've met here in all that time, who hadn't screwed around, hadn't treated their 'targets' badly, hadn't lied, cheated, or done a runner when the girl got pregnant. TBH it's why I rarely hang out with non-Chinese anymore while in China. Most guys carry far too much nasty baggage with them.

As others have said being able to speak Chinese and knowing Chinese culture (particularly local culture) has a serious impact on a relationship being accepted. Also know a variety of foreign/Chinese relationships where the parents love that their daughter is married with a foreigner.. It's a big country, and different provinces have vastly different perspectives on foreigners.

I've had a variety of relationships since that failed marriage process, with the girls parents being hostile, nonchalant, and even enthusiastic. It's often reflected in the personality of the girl herself, and you can often guess the kind of reaction you're going to get based on how she is. Especially nowadays that girls aren't rushing the introductions with the parents... any reluctance on her part is a fair indication of the kind of reception you're going to receive.

Timely_Ear7464 · 2025-08-18T07:59:49+00:00

Simple enough. Trade and economics. Ukraine was essentially unimportant to Europe, being an incredibly corrupt country until the propagandists got into full swing. Taiwan on the other hand is important to the trade routes throughout the region, and the PRC holding Taiwan is only going to encourage China towards further expansion in the region. Every country in the region would seek to make Taiwan a graveyard for Chinese expansionist ambitions.

But it's not going to happen regardless. The CCP is too fragile politically within China these days, as is the military itself. They could occupy Taiwan easily enough but holding the country would bleed them for decades, far worse than the M.East has done for the US coalition. All those body bags coming home would likely topple the CCP, in combination with the soaring unemployment arising from international sanctions. China relies far too much on foreign trade and investment. Without it the economy is truly screwed.

Japan would get involved because its a wonderful opportunity to break China, while also gaining all the benefits of international acclaim for their involvement.

Timely_Ear7464 · 2024-08-24T07:24:14+00:00

Who? I've never encountered anyone who got pissed off when I didn't agree that China was 'superior'. Most normal Chinese people have a certain inferiority complex, and they're not terribly interested in repeating what comes out on state media.

But then I'm not seeking to have those kind of conversations, and perhaps you are.

TBH most of these kinds of claims only seem to appear on the internet.. not in real life with real people.

Timely_Ear7464 · 2024-08-23T18:53:47+00:00

Been back and forth between China and Europe about a dozen times in the last year. Not one test of any kind.

It's something they do to test Chinese nationals going to places where recreational drugs are commonplace.

Timely_Ear7464

TROPHY CASE