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Lifers: The Motivations of the Long Term Expat
By Mark Turner, www.eChinacities.com RepostMany people are perplexed by the long term foreigner in China and their motivations for staying in China a period of many years. The complex reasons behind the seeming inability of some to leave China are best understood after having spent a little while in the country. Here we peer into the mind and motivations of the long term expat in China: what keeps them here, what are the advantages of sticking it out, what on earth are they thinking?
Photo: Jakob Montrasio
Western people are on the receiving end of a lot of benefits as residents of China. There are a lot of opportunities to do things that you would never accidentally walk into in another country. In China, as a foreigner, it’s quite possible to come across work opportunities just walking down the street or being sat in a restaurant. Jobs seem to virtually drop from out of the sky. One is unlikely to find work as an investment banker through such channels; however there are definitely opportunities in China to earn a decent living, which are just not available back home, particularly in these times of economic hardship and apocalyptic financial gloom.
The one catch of this situation is that many of the jobs – English teaching, voice over work, acting, etc. – focus mainly on the person’s ability to be his or her own skin color and to be proficient in his native tongue, (not such a difficult task, most would say) rather than on what they bring to the table in terms of skill or experience.
Along with employment opportunities there is the financial advantage of comparatively low living costs. People that may have struggled to rent an apartment the size of a shoebox in a big city in their home country are able to rent comfortable apartments, eat out whenever they feel like it and even have an ayi to clear up after them, wash their clothes, and generally take care of them .
In addition to the concrete benefits of living in China, such as money and housing, there are also other aspects of living in China that appeal to some expats. Due to the relatively closed nature of China, foreigners are still on the fringes of society, rarely taking any role other than "observer". Being an observer rather than taking an active role is quite suited to the personalities of some expats, particularly those drawn to China. Some take this passivity to extremes, making little effort to learn the language and just relying on basics, grunting and hand gestures.
For many, it is a quite relaxing to be totally unaware of the conversations going on around them. Indeed, in my first year in China, with next to no language ability, I imagined Chinese people around me to be constantly dispensing pearls of ancient Chinese philosophical wisdom. Much to my dismay, when I learnt some more Chinese, that bubble burst and I came to realize that, unsurprisingly (in hindsight), monotonous conversations about which brand of snack food is best or which celebrity is dating which celebrity are just as rife in China as they are back home.
Fortunately, my disappointment at realizing that Chinese people are not the mysterious mythical creatures they are sometimes portrayed to be in pop culture and literature was outweighed by my new found satisfaction in learning to speak Chinese and read Chinese characters. This is another one of those factors that keeps people in China: once they begin the arduous but often rewarding task of learning Chinese, they feel that they cannot possibly leave until they have mastered it. Chinese being notoriously difficult to learn, this means that many who plan to be short term residents end up staying much longer than expected
Most people having been in China for any amount of time are familiar with the phrase "bad china day", which is ubiquitous in conversations amongst foreigners. The many challenges that people face as an expat in China add to a person’s sense of achievement when they overcome them. Living in China is a unique experience and full of highs and lows – it may be delightful, it may be maddening, but it’s never boring – for many this is a great draw and often one of the driving motivations behind their decision to stay in China for a number of years.
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Nice writing Mark and it does echo my own "present" sentiments. Some days are good, even great and some others leave me struggling. I am a newcomer (barely 1 year of China Life) but China does grow on you. It makes an impression, leaves traces in your guts, mind, eyes and brain. Human nature at its best and worse. Everything is possible and also for most, mostly impossible. To have or not to have, to be someone or not to be anyone, do or die trying is the silent motto for the great majority. China is indeed a very inspiring, enlightning, humbling, live changing experience for anyone with the backbone, adaptability to survive, learn and possibly strive.
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i'm a filipino living and working in China and i've got more than a couple of bad experiences here especially when i moved from Shandong to Liaoning. i got good ones too but most of them happened in shandong. it's a very nice place and so i don't wonder why they call it friendly Shandong. being an asian foreigner in China isn't as easy as it is being a western foreigner but like what you said the sense of achievement after overcoming the difficulties is a great thing. being able to acquire a third language is also one of the things that keeps me here. i feel ecstatic whenever chinese locals would be able to understand me when i talk using their language eventhough i am aware i suck at tones.
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Hi, The very basic understanding of Chinese culture is not properly understood by foreigners regardless of Western or Asian background. The essential understanding is when in China, do what the Chinese does. Foreigners always tried to educate Chinese in their own foreign manner which is rather difficult for Chinese to understand and experience. Taking a very common example, trying to teach Chinese to speak English in foreign accent. Trying to understand a Chinese air steward announcer announcing through the PA regarding aircraft safety is a very good example.
There are many more examples to give and foreigners have no proper Chinese understanding and are failing to teach Chinese English in the proper Chinese manner.
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I don't think its western pedagogical practices that result in the stewardesses being unintelligible. I really don't.
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what the f are you talking about? foreigners should do as chinese people do? i should lie cheat a scam everyone i meet? i should drop my pants and go no 2 in the middle of a a crowded side walk ? i should spit and urinate on the floor in a mall or bus? i should walk past someone injured or dieing on the street?
the rest of what you said teach english in a foreign accent?? we should teach english in a chinese accent??? no one makes an issue of accents other than chinese. ignorance truly is the seed of racism. you make no sense what so ever.
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Lawrence, foreigners try to educate Chinese because Chinese need educating. Compared to other Asian countries, such as Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines, China is light years behind. Basic practices such as service, manners and hygiene are virtually non existent here. Behaviours which may have been common two hundred years ago, such as spitting etc. are totally unacceptable today. The fact is, if China wants to move forward and be taken seriously it needs to lift its game. China can still progress and keep its culture, so please don't use this as an excuse.
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Have you ever lived in Malaysia or the Phillipines? I bet that if you lived there for any length of time, you would find that you hated a lot of stuff they do too, and would keep telling them how backward they are and how much educating they need.
And if you only went there for a brief holiday, that doesn't count.
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Shiiiiaaat jixiang, you just have to play devil's advocate every time, don't you? Are you really going to try to convince us that Chinese society has developed as fast as the technology? I don't have to dig far to find the highest quality of technology being used by the lowest quality of people in the lowest quality way. I have lived all over the globe and while I might find some things a little strange and backward I've never felt the urge to bitchslap some sense into people like I do here. And I don't think Malaysians feel they're entitled and destined to take over the planet. Is it elitist or colonialist to just expect common courtesy and a little common sense? Bozo is right. And you know it.
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I've spent lots of time in SE Asia, and there is something to what you say. No country is perfect and any person in a new coutry will have issues to confront.
BUT...the region generally is quite different from China. Malaysia and Singapore, particularly, are full of well educated, sophisticated people who command the respect of the long term expats. It would be a brave or stupid person who would call your standard Singaporean, or peninsular Malaysian backwards! Can't say for the Philippines, its still on the bucket list.
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Is this the same Malaysia where all ethnic Malays are considered to be Muslims by law and are obliged to follow the decision of Sharia courts on various issues, and are not allowed to change their religion by these same courts? How open, tollerant and progressive. Malaysia also has lower literacy rates than China according to the UN, talking about education and sophistication. And the Chinese and Indian minorities accuse the Malays of discriminating against them.
But of course there is an elite which speaks good English and is "Westernized", making expats feel more at home, and they don't even spit on the ground, so then all is good and well.
I am sure Malaysia has a lot of good points which China doesn't have by the way. But I am sure that China has its good points as well.
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Sure, that's a valid point. But I think you're comparing apples and oranges. It seems like you always need to explain the Chinese point of view as if we (westerners) are incapable of thinking objectively on our own. I think most of the people
are able to look at both sides of the coin before they decide their stance based on their own personal experiences. Personally, every positive and negative feeling I have toward China and Chinese has been justly deserved. I doubt if anybody arrived in this country more optimistic or with more goodwill towards Chinese than me. As a youth, I was certain I would only be going to China as a soldier and I still find it amazing to just be here. But personal experience has certainly eroded my positive outlook of this country. It's quite disappointing actually. I think alot of foreigners here have also become jaded in the same way. And it goes way deeper spitting and other minor annoyances.
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As long as the stewardess is hot and freindly, who cares if she is unintelligible?:-P
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You've never seen people do that in your own country? Where were you at 'Spring Break'?
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Have you ever lived in Malaysia or the Phillipines? I bet that if you lived there for any length of time, you would find that you hated a lot of stuff they do too, and would keep telling them how backward they are and how much educating they need.
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the rest of what you said teach english in a foreign accent?? we should teach english in a chinese accent??? no one makes an issue of accents other than chinese. ignorance truly is the seed of racism. you make no sense what so ever.
(cheapcoolshoes.com)
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Article is crap, learn to write.
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The next time I am "being sat" in a restaurant, and someone offers me a job while "sat" in a restaurant, I'll remember this ecstatically anal inducing article.
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CAN'T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG?
Did Rodney King write this drivel?
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It's a simple equation. It's the women. They are georgeous. If you love women especially oriental ones, than China is a living heaven.
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Totally irrelevant...this sheds no light on the motivations of a lifer. It mostly seems to complain about foreigners who don't learn Chinese. Guess what: tons of Chinese people move to other countries and never bother to learn the language, either. Shut up about it already.
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Thank you for the article Mark. I'm sure many don't care if we are on the fringes of society as we are given a lot here and most of all the experience. We are all trying to give something back to China too. And we do that in our own individual way and sometimes it mightn't suit everybody. That would be part of the motivation for going anywhere. The trouble for many of us foreigners in China can be other foreigners. And foreigner playing off another foreinger with Chinese is fair game to many unfortunately. This often links to right back home. In fact they might have a fully laid out plan for you before you ever set foot in China? So sometimes here if you are a foreigner be careful of other foreigners . I've read
Michele Soranzo success story today in the, 'Shanghai Daily'. He left didn't succeed in China first time but did came back many years later and did very well, good luck to him. His motto is 'Fortitude vincimus'(By endurance we conquer) or 'you zhu zhe shi jing cheng'. As regards the Chinese they are interesting. like all nationalities. Do we believe we are entlted to our opinion whatever anybody thinks? I think we do. So are they entilted to theirs and they are world leaders. But no matter how far you drop you must have your point of view otherwise you might as well not be in China or anywhere else for that matter. This doesn't mean you can't agree and change as we all change a bit in China and with travel. Xie Xie and hada hada hope to learn more of the lingo but thats it for the moment...and I can' get into my email..
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Yes, I agree with you Owen, there are a lot of really devious foreigners here. They crawl to the Chinese Bosses to get what they want and stick the knife into other foreigners in the process. They cheat and lie, plagiarise and big note themselves. One thing I can say is that they will fall on their own sword as they think, they are untouchable. Remember if you do illegal things like; ladies of the night and drugs...be careful
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You put it very strongly Alex but at least there hasn't been any violence, TG. I understand what Lawence said and agree China is enough of a challenge without illegal drugs. As for the other issue there can be a very thin line. Whether you are into the commandments or not, many believe there can be more damage done by bearing false witness against your neighbour? But its just an opinion, good luck!
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The Motivations of the Long Term Expat...
You said:
Employment opportunities.
Cost of living
inactive role in society
New Language
Never boring
My survey said:
YELLOW FEVER
BACK
