Pros and cons of living in China

Getting a grip on living in China 

It's old news that I moved from Thailand to China at the beginning of the year.  It's also no secret that I loved Thailand and am grateful to myself for giving me the chance to experience living "a la local" in South East Asia.  Some said I was "so lucky" to be living in Thailand, but there was no luck involved.  I set a goal for myself, set out to achieve that goal, and accomplished that goal.  Luck is something that happens when you win a lottery or a jackpot at a casino - my "luck" was that I worked hard to get there, worked hard while I lived there for 5 years, and then decided to make the move to China.

So, against the "advice" of the "Google gurus",  acquaintances and a few friends, I came to China anyway to behold all the horror that I was supposed to be surrounded by.  I'm still waiting! On the contrary, I've had mostly good experiences here, and the few not so good experiences have not been about the country or the Chinese people.  I've been offered kindness and hospitality, friendship and sincerity, advice and information ...  the list goes on and on.

I came to China with at best no expectations, and at worst very low expectations of what it would be like to live here.  That "don't go there advice" still occupied a small space in my head before I arrived, and once here I was left to wonder "what was all that drivel about?"

I wasn't expecting a "culture shock" coming to China, and in fact the expected "culture shock" when I moved to Thailand didn't happen either.  Yes, things were different, but adapting to a different lifestyle and different norms that a Western society dictates was hardly a shock.  Go with the flow, learn to appreciate and embrace the differences, show respect and earn respect is all it actually takes to be happy in a foreign country. Each and every country has it's flaws, and if one has to consider every "change" to be a shock, then it's probably better to stay within your comfort zone.

Yes, China is different and I don't by any means agree or even like everything about some Chinese habits.  That been said, does anyone actually like everything about any culture at all?  No! would be my guess.  The difference between the nay- sayers and me is that I chose to come to their country, and I'm therefore duty-bound to leave them to their culture, to obey their laws and not to criticize their beliefs and customs.  I'm a guest, and have no delusions that an age-old culture will or should change to suit the whims of the Westerners who continue to cross their own borders to work in China.
Personally, getting a grip on all things Chinese has been a walk in the park, except perhaps that learning Mandarin is a bit of a challenge for me, but I'm trying :-)   Getting a grip on the "expats" however is another story completely.

 Regardless of nationality, I'm appalled at the behavior, negativity, complaints, competition, pity parties, disrespect, prejudice and hate that is openly displayed, not only against the Chinese or China, but also against each other.  When did one nationality become "more superior" to another, and by whose standards?  How do colleagues so easily degrade each other?  Why do the expats fight amongst each other ad nauseum?  Who is to say which religion is the "right" religion or even if any or no religion is of any consequence between one expat and another. The one thing that is too obvious is that the expats - business owners, teachers, back-packer teachers, short-term contract workers and even those who have married Chinese nationals, have nothing good to say about each other or the country they now call home.

It's quite simple really - That is what is wrong with China (and other Asian countries) - The Foreigners, Expats!!

The big question is, why don't they just go back to the Utopia they speak of?

Good to know before you head to China

Lets Chat: What it's like to move to another country

Check out @debzeaton's Tweet: https://twitter.com/debzeaton/status/823757778472701952?s=09

Snorkeling around Koh Chang - Thailand

December 2015 to December 2016

2016 Wrapped up

As 2016 draws to a close, it's my time again to reflect on the past year, to weigh up the good and the bad, and perhaps think about changes (not resolutions) for 2017.  

Without much thought, it's a fact that 2016 was actually quite a crap year and I won't be sorry to say goodbye to it.  Family health problems and issues are probably at the forefront of my negativity as sadly, those are the first memories that come to mind.  Constant concern and my own helplessness to do anything from a distance seems to have been the order of the year.

Compared to previous years, this last working year has been long and hard, with more than the usual workload, politics and ever changing policies, double standards and hidden agendas.  There were days when I tried valiantly to put on my happy face, but within a few hours the scowl was back.  I doubt that I can honestly say I enjoyed one whole day of it. Fighting a losing battle is what it is: colleagues, students, unrealistic demands, power struggles, broken promises, complacency.

The weather, which doesn't usually bother me, has been horrific this year.  Summer went on forever with the highest recorded temperatures in years.  While the mercury showed around 48 degrees, the real feel was well into the 50's and many provinces were struck by drought.  Then followed the rainy season which was also the worst I've experienced in the last 5 years.  Days and days of never-ending storms, and the inevitable floods.

Along with the rainy season came the dreaded bugs (viruses), and hospitals were filled to capacity with people suffering from the worst types of Influenza ( I learnt there are a few), and worst of all the evil Dengue fever, which also sports 4 strains of its own.  Although the "winter" season has now arrived, the Dengue mosquito is still quite active, and people are still being hospitalized regularly.

My granddaughter fell victim to a "mild" strain of Dengue, and was hospitalized for almost a week. She's only 3, but is a strong girl and fought her fevers like a champ.  Earlier in the rainy season she too fell victim to Influenza A which also meant time in the Children's hospital, along with hundreds of other little people.  The Adult hospitals were similarly occupied.

I was sick for 3 months, not able to shake the bronchial laryngitis, tracheal problems of some sort, and pharyngitis.  The sad reality is that while we have health insurance at one particular hospital only, doctors there just have no idea, they don't speak or understand a word of English, and prescribe hot water and bed rest with a couple of paracetamol tabs for pain and fever.  Really?
I finally went to a second hospital and paid a whole lot of money for a doctor who advised me to scrap whatever I'd been given, and gave me meds which got me back on the road to recovery. Money well spent.  

I had a similar experience at the hospital about 2 years ago for suspected bronchitis, and the doctor prescribed eye-drops because my eyes were puffy 😭.  I opted then for self medication which didn't do much good, until I was forced to go to the aforementioned second hospital for a proper diagnosis and medication, by which time I had bronchial pneumonia.   This hospital is not available on our insurance options, and the other choice of hospital which is available is just not an option.

Current situation, despite 10 annual allocated sick days:   Taking time off work - actually being booked off work with a doctor's letter (without a voice, a fever, excruciating pain, broken limbs et al) is met with suspicion and sarcasm, so the rule of thumb is that one just goes to work - rain or shine - to avoid the snide comments, and therefore 100% recovery is impossible.

On the bright side, I did my annual trip to see family in June, and although I hoped to feel energized and excited for the new academic year upon my return, it was not to be.  It's been tough, with less than enthusiastic students, no semester break, and even less enthusiasm for this last semester.

The only other change for good was that I moved down one floor into another apartment.  Add the regular coffee outings with my daughter, and that's how my sanity has remained intact.

If I were doing a list of pros and cons, there is no doubt about where the scales are tipping.

While this may be a boring read for most, it's helped me to put things into perspective.  When I started writing this post, I didn't quite realise how unhappy I've been this last year. Dissatisfied yes, but I honestly thought there was still a semblance of happiness waiting to be written about. I  thought that the good would outweigh the bad, but it's clear I was being optimistic and oh, so wrong.  

I've never been one to settle for doom and gloom, or to live what's left of my life in apparent misery, or just settling for less than I want from life.  There is no doubt that it's time for a change, new challenges, and "fresh eyes" to observe the good in people in new places.  Time to spin the globe,and follow the road - wherever it may take me.