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Living and working in China

Ruben has been studying at Yunnan University in Kunming since August, as part of his studies sinology. First, to improve his Chinese, but he teaches much more than that. He learned some Chinese quote in this article. Ruben: "It is an incredibly enriching experience that I will carry with me for the rest of my life." I recommend it to everyone. ".

Ruben (21): "I follow some language courses with other foreign students (grammar, writing, reading, listening and speaking). However, studying is not the only thing that I do here. Last month I gave five weeks of English lessons at a primary school in the countryside. This was accompanied by Stepping Stones, a non-profit organization from Shanghai that sends volunteers to schools to teach English. The organization is committed to good and equal education for children from different backgrounds.

In the journal

It was the first time I stood in front of the classroom, and I learned masses of it. How to be creative for example. A class with 60 students buoys is not apparent. Game elements helped to make the lesson exciting and to make sure they got the learning material to master faster. Moreover, fixed routines with which I started the experience and ended as well. In the end, the children were very enthusiastic and motivated to learn English.

While I was there taught my colleague asked me if I saw it interview a friend of hers. I saw an interview for the local newspaper though, so said yes. Great was my surprise when a camera crew arrived a few days later. They followed me a whole afternoon, and the report came in the local journal. It was quite strange to see myself on television, but also a lovely reminder of my time as a teacher!

Large and diverse

China is a large and diverse country. When you are traveling, you notice that there are many differences between the north, east, south, and west. Not only regarding landscape-from mountain ranges across desert areas to idyllic beaches-but also regarding people and culture.

The food culture, for example, varies significantly from region to region. In Sichuan and Hunan provinces they eat a lot of hot dishes, while in the south they have a much more neutral kitchen. There are also 56 ethnic groups in China, each with their specific traditional costumes, rituals... Furthermore, the difference between the city and the countryside is enormous. In Shanghai, you are surrounded by skyscrapers, while the country is still quite primitive. This diversity is very fascinating.

Freedom and Responsibility

The first weeks were adjusting. You will find yourself in a new environment where you know no one and where everything, in the beginning, is still strange. That's getting used. However, I made friends quickly. Moreover, enjoyed stepping by step to discover my world. It helped Kunming to be a charming city to live. Just big enough. I live in a student house at the university. My room and bathroom are not very luxurious, but that doesn't bother me.

What I do if I do not study? I speak with friends, discover new places in the city and do chores: washing, shopping, arranging administrative things... I have much freedom, but also much responsibility. Here everything comes to my shoulders. Then you only realize how easy your life is in Belgium, where mum and dad take care of everything.

Snutten and spitting

By getting in touch with another culture, I am more consciously beginning to think about my own culture. In China, for example, you regularly see people spewing in public. We Belgians find this weird and dirty. On the other hand, we use fabric handkerchiefs that we put back in our pocket or handbag after use. This is what the Chinese look like, it teaches me not to judge too quickly about people and to bring their habits and respect for each other's differences.

Some things annoy me occasionally. It at times chaotic traffic for example. There is much to be said, but in contrast with Belgium, this rarely has an aggressive meaning. It's instead to let you know: "Beware, I'm there!". Moreover, I also don't like the exaggerated attention I sometimes get, just because I'm a foreigner.

Later

My year in China has so far been a great experience. Of course, there are times when I would have preferred to be at home with friends and family. With Christmas for example. However, all in all, I feel very well here. Moreover, what is the future? When I return to Belgium in July I have to study for one more year and then we see. "

An Expat Taxonomy

While hanging out with some of Lianyungang's expats last week, it dawned on me that the foreign population in any Chinese city is relatively easy to pigeonhole. I'm sure that everyone here decided to come to China for highly personal reasons, but I'm finding it exceptionally easy these days to recognize the "type" of the foreigner a certain person is. Here, then, are a few of the major species of the "China expat" genus:

The China Snob- This type of foreigner has been living in China for quite a while and keeps a wide berth from the fresh arrivals. They tend to cultivate only Chinese friends, eat in "authentic" Chinese restaurants, and devote countless hours perfecting their tones and grasp of excellent grammatical points. They usually react in horror and indignation of a guest wears shoes in their house or if a Chinese person attempts to reply to them in English.

The Dirty Old Man- These guys are everywhere. Having burned through a couple of marriages or having struck merely out with love in life, these men tend to be moderately affluent middle-aged gentlemen who seek nothing more than nubile, submissive Oriental female(s). Most are pretty harmless, and aside from a lucky few most end up resorting to China's vast network of brothels for satisfaction.

The Barfly- These expats know only three things- their work, their home, and their bar. The bar is their sanctuary from the madness of China, but unlike most of the others who keep their visits occasional, the barflies cannot survive unless aided by an alcoholic fog. Their knowledge of the Chinese language is limited to vocabulary associated with beer, waitresses, and cigarettes. They have mastered a wide variety of Chinese drinking games, and have a massive backlog of drinking-related anecdotes that they share whether anyone is listening or not. When a bar shuts down or relocates, the barfly endures severe withdrawal symptoms until a suitable replacement can be found.

The Misanthrope- This species of the foreigner has, for whatever reason, turned sour on China. Their speech is littered with complaints about every little aspect of Chinese life, from the apparent annoyances like spitting to obscure ones like the lack of indoor carpeting. Most retreat into a bit of cocoon, limiting their public appearances to trips to McDonalds and KFC or one of the expat bars. Their only Chinese friends, if any, are fluent in English because the misanthrope will make no effort to learn the local language.

The Vagabonds- Vagabonds have an endless thirst for travel and view their host city as merely a base from which to explore China. They tend to keep a rather low profile during the "off hours," working hard and saving their money for the next big trip. Vagabonds tend only to stay a year or two in China before moving on to their next adventure, having accumulated little bit good memories and many photographs.

The Lost Generationalists- These characters are usually in their early to mid-20s and have found themselves stuck in limbo between college and a "real job." Unlike the misanthropes, lost generation a lists tend to travel a lot, but unlike the vagabonds, they cultivate roots into their particular home base. The lost generation alists tend to be quite social and keep regular touch with a group of like-minded expats. Nearly all are teaching English, though few see themselves doing this for the rest of their lives. Most lost generation a lists come to China planning to stay a year but usually, end up staying longer.

I'm a lost generation a list, as are most of my friends here. I do know, however, at least one person in Fuzhou that fits neatly into one of the groups above. Nearly all of them are good people, despite my caustic commentary, and it's been exciting meeting foreigners whose perspective, to say the least, differs widely from mine. I suspect foreigners in other Chinese cities will recognize these types and could perhaps add a few of their own.