If you are coming to live in China for the first time, you are in for an interesting adventure. There is much more than just cultural differences to adjust to. As an obvious foreigner, you are a well treated novelty of the Chinese people. Everywhere you go; from the local shops and markets to the tourist attractions, you will be regarded with varying degrees of curiosity. Chinese English speakers will seize the opportunity to exercise or practice their English with you. It's a challenge to keep in mind that you've not earned this attention by anything other than their isolation from the diversity which you represent, and the humble disposition that is considered polite and proper for them to adopt.
To achieve the most positive experience it's necessary for you to maintain an open mind, trying especially hard not to pass judgement on any local behaviour, because for the most part, you have formulated such opinions based on your previous cultural environment, which no longer applies. The next requirement is to accept the pace of change. China is going through a historically unprecedented rate of development, which shows itself in many surprising areas. Forward long-term planning is in a much shorter time span. Multi-tasking is not as prevalent as a result that information gathering, subsequent decision making and implementation is just too urgent to allow for the amount of preplanning and organizing you are accustomed to. Voicemail and other time management tools are not largely used as a result and time consuming processes such as consensus decision making are frequently sacrificed in lieu of expediency.
Living well in China is very inexpensive by any western measurement. Foreign teachers earn far more than their Chinese colleagues and are able to partake in a lifestyle not possible back home while at the same time save money. How much you save is determined more by how much you chose to spend and not by how much you need to spend for daily living.
China is home to thousands of years of human history and at the same time is making history in its current re-emergence as a dominant world entity. It's an exciting place to be from any perspective and you will live an adventure here no matter whether you chose for it to be positive, negative, or somewhere in between. Through the many supportive methods and procedures we have developed over our six years in the education industry, EMW China will support your efforts for a positive adventure while you experience the wonders of China . If you're interested, apply. It could change your life!
- Clifford Yeats