Initially, I lived in central China, in Chengdu. It was so much pleasure, people are very friendly and they have great cool and relaxed attitude to life. Food is just delicious (if you like very spicy one). Then I moved to coastal cities, people were very much more westernized, very career oriented, and not so friendly sometimes. And in 2020, when COVID cases were high, many people believed that in this phase the foreigners brought the COVID cases. Some people were just putting mask when they saw me. Also, in these coastal westernized cities, people are much less friendly, because many westerners are coming only for drinking, parties, taking drugs and make sex wit Chinese girls. They also do not respect Chinese culture and customs. Chinese people call them “white trash” in extreme cases. This sometimes makes the western people to look bad in cities like Shanghai. You feel it and you are not feeling welcome. Also, I worked that time in not quite satisfying job. Also, you are not feeling as full grade citizen, since someone needs to help you when you go to bank or do affairs like that. Also, in recent years, it is very hard to make a bank transfer from China to another country. It takes days (literally) since they scan your incomes and tax history. All these small things added up, life there was not so satisfying as in the beginning, so I decided to come back. I tried hard to learn the language or even to make driving license. But you need to learn the language maybe 10 years to be able to handle complicated office affair in bank or bureau of public security. I think in recent years, China is closing a bit for foreigners. Many foreigners left China like me in 2020. Maybe if I stayed in Chengdu, I would stay longer. Sichuan is one of the most beautiful places on Earth, and have great people. I also love Hainan (i think this island is even visa free). The food of China is mind blowing, if you are open to it, and they have excellent trains. I love their attitude to nature, and that cities are usually green and full of flowers and trees. Fuck, I miss China.
3.5 years? Wow. So why did you return rather than settling in the PRC?
Initially, I lived in central China, in Chengdu. It was so much pleasure, people are very friendly and they have great cool and relaxed attitude to life. Food is just delicious (if you like very spicy one). Then I moved to coastal cities, people were very much more westernized, very career oriented, and not so friendly sometimes. And in 2020, when COVID cases were high, many people believed that in this phase the foreigners brought the COVID cases. Some people were just putting mask when they saw me. Also, in these coastal westernized cities, people are much less friendly, because many westerners are coming only for drinking, parties, taking drugs and make sex wit Chinese girls. They also do not respect Chinese culture and customs. Chinese people call them “white trash” in extreme cases. This sometimes makes the western people to look bad in cities like Shanghai. You feel it and you are not feeling welcome. Also, I worked that time in not quite satisfying job. Also, you are not feeling as full grade citizen, since someone needs to help you when you go to bank or do affairs like that. Also, in recent years, it is very hard to make a bank transfer from China to another country. It takes days (literally) since they scan your incomes and tax history. All these small things added up, life there was not so satisfying as in the beginning, so I decided to come back. I tried hard to learn the language or even to make driving license. But you need to learn the language maybe 10 years to be able to handle complicated office affair in bank or bureau of public security. I think in recent years, China is closing a bit for foreigners. Many foreigners left China like me in 2020. Maybe if I stayed in Chengdu, I would stay longer. Sichuan is one of the most beautiful places on Earth, and have great people. I also love Hainan (i think this island is even visa free). The food of China is mind blowing, if you are open to it, and they have excellent trains. I love their attitude to nature, and that cities are usually green and full of flowers and trees. Fuck, I miss China.