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Discussion » Questions » Jobs » If you live/ work in North America, please post one pro and one con to living/ working in China for 6 months. Please.
Benedict Arnold

If you live/ work in North America, please post one pro and one con to living/ working in China for 6 months. Please.

Posted - February 20, 2019
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Responses


  • 46117
    A pro would be to experience people who speak a language foreign to you and think in a foreign manner.


    A con would be to experience people who speak a language foreign to you and think in a foreign manner.


      February 20, 2019 10:59 PM MST
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  • Haha very true. 
      February 21, 2019 4:53 AM MST
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  • 17614
    A friend of mine spent many many years as a college professor in China.  He had wonderful stories and beautiful pictures to share.  He loved the Chinese people.  They loved him.    He died about two years ago while still living over there,  and you cannot imagine how many people, near and far, were affected.  He was starting to plan to return home for his last chapter of life.   It wasn't to be.

    As for your question, just from knowing the man I described above, the pro would be getting to know the Chinese and the con would be dealing with the government.  I heard some stories that would not make you want to go there but it was all connected with his employment and housing, which was part of his employment package. 
      February 21, 2019 12:36 AM MST
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  • Thanks, that‘s Interesting. I think would be hard to adapt to the culture there, but maybe not. 
      February 21, 2019 4:52 AM MST
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  • 1893
    As one who has done it,

    Pro the Expat package

    Con, the Pollution of everything, Air, Water & Food

    If you take the position, keep in mind if you get sick load yourself up with Ibuprofen and get the 1st flight out to Japan or Korea for treatment.
    If you take the position, realize you will be watched 24/7 and you will not have access to the Internet as you know it
    If you take the position, realize you can be arrested and held w/o charges.  If the PRC wants you to disappear, you will disappear and your body will never be found
      February 22, 2019 12:13 PM MST
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  • Yikes! That all sounds terrifying, but thanks for the info. 
      February 23, 2019 6:11 AM MST
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  • 1893
    You are welcome.  It was a fun assignment for a year even with the Pollution and the need for indoor air purifiers.  I was happy the posting ended and was glad to leave. 

    When you get past the fact you are in a dictatorship it is a fascinating place to visit longer than a few days.  Beijing is better than Shanghai - Shanghai better than the rest.  Hong Kong is slowly being absorb into the Mainline PRC and Xi's totalitarian view of China
      February 24, 2019 7:14 AM MST
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  • 53524

      Pro: I'd have an opportunity to learn Mandarin in an immersion setting.

      Con: there are reports of racism and discrimination against black people (I do not know how valid those reports are, but it gives cause for concern).

    ~
      February 28, 2019 4:53 AM MST
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  • Thank you. 
      February 28, 2019 5:17 AM MST
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  • 1893
    Randy there is discrimination against all Wai Lo (foriegners), Blacks are particularly ill treated.  It is a place where there are at least 25-35 million excess males due to aborting female fetuses.  Consequently dating opportunities are non-existant.

    In the North it is Mandarin, the South Cantonese - in between at least a million different dialects
      February 28, 2019 5:55 AM MST
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  • 17614
    I have said that if I wanted to live somewhere other than the USA it might be Austria.  That is based on being there three times and loving it.  Is Austria the place of your birth?
      February 28, 2019 5:57 PM MST
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  • 1893
    No, was born in Wyoming and grew up on a working ranch.  It is a place of my current residence.  I have been an Internationals my whole career, though I still have a residence Stateside. Places of residence since my birth include Hong Kong, Paris, Singapore, NYC, Boston, Minneapolis, Zurich and Vienna.

    If you are familiar with Wien, 19th Bezirk between Krottenbacher & Severinger below Salmansdorfer.  That is where the Doc and myself currently live.  We sold the flat in Paris - we did not want to get caught in the "Wealth Tax".  My oldest daughter graduated Lysee in Paris, My oldest son graduated Lysee in Wien.  Doc is Austrian, I am American we have until the our kids are 21 for them to declare residency etc.

    Vienna is arguably the best place to live, followed by a lot of place in Portugal.  Switzerland can get boring and expensive - just saying

    Now what were you doing in Wien?
      February 28, 2019 7:56 PM MST
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