Deciding to move to another country is a huge decision. It’s a big deal even when the country is someplace like Germany or France, or even Australia – places where there are more similarities in language and culture – and it is an even bigger deal when that country is China.

Photo: Mr Michael Phams

What to expect?
Perhaps it is easier to answer the reverse – what not to expect! Don’t expect the China from the movies: the China of silk robes, mystics sitting on mountains, kung fu fighters and dog-eaters (which isn’t to say you still can’t find dog on some restaurant menus). Don’t expect either to find “Red China”: the China of Mao suits and Little Red Books, of Soviet style bread-lines, of model workers and visible communist ideals. Neither of these Chinas much exist anymore, except in the imagination and in the movies. What you should expect is modernism and development, people who are used to a standard of living similar, if not exactly the same as what you are used to back home. Chinese people drive cars, have refrigerators, vacation in Paris, read Twilight, watch Avatar and play World of Warcraft. Most foreigners contemplating a move to a Chinese city (the countryside is something else entirely) can assume that they will be moving to a modern country where people’s daily lives are not too terribly far removed from the lives of anyone else in any other developed nation.

However, this does not mean that you can expect life in China to mirror your life at home. China is in many ways still a developing country, and as such, certain aspects of life here are not as streamlined as they are back home, and there is a lot of red tape and bureaucracy involved in daily life. This can seem especially true for foreigners who must, for example, register their presence with the local police station upon arriving in China and who are subject to restricting laws regarding business or home ownership.

You will also find that certain things that you would expect back home are either unavailable or very (sometimes prohibitively, depending on how much you make) expensive in China – in particular, Western food, a car of your own, top notch healthcare, clean air, and English language reading material. Usually the lack of this “stuff” is not a big deal as there are other things that China does have which makes up for what it lacks, but it helps to know ahead of time that the aforementioned items will be less accessible than you may be used to.

Language and cultural differences can also affect an expat’s ability to enjoy life here. While most Chinese people have studied English in primary and high school, not many are conversational in English to the point where you could communicate comfortably. Going to the bank or the post office can take twice as long as it normally would and be twice as frustrating when you have to do it all in a foreign language.

How to prepare?

Learn some Chinese
First and foremost, considering the language barrier, learning Chinese, even if it is just a bit of basic survival Chinese, is the best thing you can do to prepare yourself for life in China. The life of a foreigner who is fluent in Chinese is radically different from that of a foreigner who speaks no Chinese at all, and even a basic ability in Chinese can really go a long ways towards making your life in China more enjoyable. Imagine being unable to go to the bank or the doctor without a Chinese-speaking escort, or being unable to say hello to your neighbor when you bump into them on the street. While living in China you’re in the perfect setting to learn the language, so give yourself a head start by learning a bit before you go.

Read up
You can also educate yourself about China by doing some reading about China. When I first came to China as an exchange student many years ago we were required to read Wild Swans and China Wakes. My father recommends Lost in Planet China to everyone he meets. River Town, The Good Women of China, and The Search for Modern China are all good preparatory reading for anyone considering a move to China. Also, look for some bloggers who are documenting their lives in China as well as expat discussion boards and mailing lists where you can ask questions about specific concerns you might have. The main thing is that you want to arrive in China, or anywhere, with a bit of knowledge about the place, the people, the history and the culture. Being able to put any difficulties into perspective will serve you well.

Get covered
Practically speaking, there are certain things you should research before you decide to leave. If your company does not provide health insurance (most English teachers, for example, might have some basic health coverage, but do not have comprehensive insurance provided by their schools) then you need to look into either travelers insurance or expat insurance in order to make sure that you are covered in the case of a catastrophic illness or accident. There are many different providers and many different levels of coverage, so it is best to really research and find a policy that suits your needs.

School
Also, if you are moving as a family, consider what sort of schooling will be available for your children. Local schools and their much more pricey counterparts, international schools, are usually an option in most big cities, but there may be factors, like placement testing or wait lists that need to be considered before going.

Though the language and culture barriers can be frustrating, China is still a relatively easy place to live as a foreigner – especially if you’re a Caucasian whose native language is English. The relative strength of foreign currency, the safety, and the kindness and patience of most Chinese people help to lessen the difficulties and protect you from danger or major financial loss due to an uninformed mistake. China is an amazing place to live and proper research, coupled with patience, will go a long way to making your stay a rewarding one.

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Related Links

Moving to China: How to Settle In and Start Work
Forget English Teaching: Other Jobs for Expats
Culture Shock: Rules and Tools

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