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Q: If you could go back and choose another destination than China, would you?
Personally, I wouldn't because I have learned and built up so much from my time in China.
As I mentioned commonly, yes... China itself can be an extreme test on the patience BUT at least it does give us
a decent amount of free time and pretty much removes all financial worries so that you have enough time to figure yourself out.
If I didn't go to China, I think I would have tried Thailand, South Korea or Taiwan.
I would have gone to Australia back then but times were different and I wasn't ready to let go what I had back home. When I decided to stay on in China it was because I had nothing else to lose back home. Basically there wasn't anything back home to stay on so, China it was and I haven't looked back since. Perhaps I fit in here easier than most people because I am of Chinese decent and I speak the language plus a few of their dialects. You are right that it gives me more time and financial independence. Maybe deep in my heart I should've taken this route earlier. There were times I felt like going back but each time I remembered that there isn't anything worthwhile for me to go back to. I like the lifestyle here, the chaos, etc. Guess I'll be here for a while.
its a very complicated situation...
If you are getting a lot of troubles but also a lot of money...I dont think any sensible person will go to another place where he is trouble free and also money free...
I would like to stay in China if I am satisfied financially. But hell...they need native speakers
It was Nanjing or the mountains of Afghanistan. As much as I loved running around with a machine gun, I'm oretty sure I made the right decision..
Taiwan for sure.
When I first came to asia and was searching for a job. It was between a place in taipei, and wuhan. I had never been to asia before other than the beaches of thailand. So it didnt really make any difference to me.
Man, I couldnt have fucked up a 50/50 pick any worse if I was in Vegas.
Oh well, it led me to here and now, so I guess I am happy with it. But I did go to taipei last year and holy hell did I pick wrong.
Still time, still time
Yes very much so. I have travelled extensively 42 countries. 7 years in China is way to long. However I'm not too old to start a new, I still have my home in York UK and a 2nd in Perigueux France only reason being is my other half refuses to relocate. Far better more relaxing countries than China, for the foreigner there is little to offer, too much bureaucracy, to many restrictions, paper pushing and filthy air, beside China is not a cheap place to reside. In China you are always a foreigner.
Robk:
Very true. You can never really make China a home.
Great stop-over point... and it has its positive aspects but it can never really feel like home. Not for foreigners that appear different.
Figuring yourself out doesn't only require time. It also requires health, peace, and a mind. Can China give you all that?
Absolutely. I would have done JETS in Japan. I kick myself for choosing China whenever I think about it. I am planning my escape next year, but I feel that even the last two years that I have spent in this shot hole country have trapped me in so many ways. Even with the language-I've invested so much time and effort into learning it, and I feel that would be wasted if I did not continue to do so. Still, what would I so with those skills? I never want to live on china again, and I definitely so not want to so business with them!.
Robk:
Yeah, I invested a lot into the language as well. I think up to the point of general conversation is enough. No point going any further like up to a business/technical level why?
Because it doesn't matter. Chinese never mean what they say and are always vague anyway... even if you can speak it at that level they try to confuse you on purpose anyway lol.
Learn Chinese enough to help you with life in China but don't invest too much into it unless you love it. English is here to stay and will only continue to grow.
'Go back' = I'm OK, but I'm looking at Russia now.
However, their laws are similar to Japan, Taiwan, S. Korea and others, where only Native English passport holder can get legal teaching job, what makes me 'illegal' with my book.
Probably, I'll try Spain, Portugal or Italy as next.
Robk:
I think I would give Russia a miss until the conflict thing blows over.
icnif77:
Not Ukraine, Russia! I got overexited last August, when following US ability to 'stop' the world to get hands on 'Up-yours'.
yes. I left a good life in Isan to come here, which was dumb, but perhaps unavoidable (leave me alone about the 'wheel'). If I had it to do over again I would have gone to Myanmar or Laos, perhaps Cambodia.
In my experience chiner is boring/dry compared to SE Asia.
Robk:
I agree that the "mystery" of China dries up after a year or so and other SE countries are far more interesting.
They still have their culture and they are MUCH happier to have tourists and foreigners visiting their country. That's why I will be investing in the Philippines for a second residence. It just felt much nicer to walk around and not be gawked at, whispered about and people were very polite.
Yes, sir. Yes, ma'am... not kan kan, shi yi ge wai guo ren! LAO WAI!
diverdude1:
ah.... good ol' Phil. My gal and I dream of owning a small Hostel/Cafe somewhere on Palawan (even though she says Bohol sometimes).
Yes, I would choose another country for sure. Some place like Thailand would be cool from a night life point of view. This country is far too conservative, and just plain boring.
TedDBayer:
The curfews over but Thailand may still have problems to come. You haven't learned where to have fun in China, to be honest I'd like to try rural next time tho.
timjames:
Don't try the country Ted, the stupidity here is so thick, it's horrible. Do what you want, but I just wanted to warn you, it's lame,boring, and frustrating. You have been warned.
Yes, we were torn between China, Japan and Korea. Should have stuck it out a little longer where we were and held out for Japan (which was the most expensive option upfront). MrA would have coped much better in Japan.
I'm still trying to figure out if there is a better place, despite some negatives I was always very happy in China. I didn't see enough of Thailand, don't see it as a place to be right now, Philippines has better weather, most people are nice, more English spoken, women can be so much nicer than Chinese women, but the slums, have to live in a gated community, pick pockets are gross especially with kids. I compared notes with someone here, we both got robbed big time. Maybe the grass seems better some place else. Aren't we all looking for a paradise that costs next to nothing to live in, you get what you pay for.