Living in China as An Expat

Being an expat in China is both exciting and taxing. As stunning as China is, it is extremely different from what most people in the West are accustomed to. It's not an awful location to live for a while, but going into your trip to China prepared can help you get the most out of your stay there.

The place you choose to call home as an expat in China has a significant influence on your whole experience.

Where you live and work as an expat in China will have a significant impact on the quality of your overall expat experience. First and foremost, you'll have to decide what's best for you.

Smaller cities or even rural locations will provide completely different experiences than those found in cities like Beijing and Shanghai.

However, this doesn't imply that you'll dislike the smaller scenes, but you should thoroughly investigate each place before signing a contract.

If you can't find a location to teach in China, there are lots of other options.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you to feel like a star.

Seeing a foreigner's face is fascinating for most people in China, which is a rather homogeneous country.

While you'll attract less attention in major cities, you'll still have a decent number of individuals asking to photograph you. Take a picture of yourself by directing the camera towards yourself.

Don't take it personally. All they care about is whether or not they like you.

For some who prefer to spend their days alone, it might be a significant struggle.

Learning the Chinese language might be challenging, but it's always worthwhile to put in the time and effort.

It takes a long time to learn how to communicate fluently in Mandarin Chinese.

Even though you can get by in China without knowing the language, it is strongly recommended that you enroll in Chinese classes to get the most out of your time there. Nowadays, the mobile world provides a wide variety of simple language applications that may help you learn Chinese in a more efficient and effective manner. If you don't know where you're going, you'll always be lost and confused when you're there.

Consider the subject matter before making a decision: respect the traditions and customs of others

As Americans, we take our freedom of expression and other liberties for granted. Most of the time, we don't consider the fact that other nations have their own unique political cultures.

Discussing politics and critiquing the government is a pastime for many Americans. Avoid doing this in China.

Everything should be OK if you don't bring up any touchy subjects.

With food, you may satisfy and challenge your taste receptors at the same time.

If you want to experience authentic Chinese food, you'll have to let go of your preconceived preconceptions about what it is.

Similarities and familiar dishes from your favorite Chinese restaurant back home will emerge over time. Try to be as open-minded as possible when you first arrive, so that you can get the most out of the experience.