Everyone knows that stereotyping is a dangerous game to play and that it can hurt feelings and stir heated debates. Having said that, stereotyping is sometimes great fun, especially if it’s only intended as a light-hearted joke. Here is a by no means complete list of some of the different types of foreigners you will find in China.
1) The hutong sinophile
Hutong Sinophiles are an interesting breed. They are likely to have lived in China for a good few years and are just as likely to stay longer. They came for the love of Chinese culture and stayed here ever since, having found that after studying Chinese they were able to snag a half-pat job position (commonly journalism, media, translation or creative work). Most Hutong Sinophiles consider themselves experts in what constitutes the ‘real’ China.
2) The international school teacher
These educators will be upset if you get them confused with a TEFL teacher who has just graduated from university and is fresh off the plane and without even a TEFL certificate to his or her name. With pay packages and responsibilities similar to those they had back home, these certified teachers are some of the cream of the crop in China’s education system.
3) The expat packager
Many business professionals (investment bankers, consultants, managers) often find themselves inexplicably flung - like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz - all the way over to the China branch of their company. They are often people that were in demand back home and now their skills are even more in demand in China. Some of these people have a love/ hate relationship with China in that they find the work environment difficult from a cultural perspective but they enjoy the financial benefits and luxury lifestyles that their company allowances afford them.
4) The aspiring screen writer
Living in China and taking a teaching job offering a minimum of teaching hours per week is a great choice for young people that are looking to hone their skills in solitary/creative pursuits such as writing, music and art. There are plenty of creative types around town in large Chinese cities as well as aspiring creative types. The aspiring screen writer is most easily spotted around town because of the ubiquitous Macbook that is their writing tool and their preponderance for hanging around in coffee shops, seemingly with a bad case of writers block.
5) The journeyman professional specialist English teacher
There are many mature English teachers in China that worked in a certain field in their home countries and have then come to China to teach specialist English in relation to their field of expertise. Fields that they have worked in include: business, engineering and the medical profession. They are some of the most respected teachers of English as a foreign language. This kind of professional is also the one most likely to go the distance in China and settle down for decades.
6) The international language student
With China’s ever increasing presence on the world stage and its emergence as a super power, learning Chinese language is one of the “in things” in higher education. For this reason, students now come in droves to attend China’s many language universities. These people are commonly young, fresh-faced and excited about China’s fascinating culture, burgeoning economy, growing international scene and 10 kuai drinks offers.
Cool sunglasses
Shorts (anytime of the year, even winter)
Flip flops
“Funny” t-shirt
Polythene bag from Seven Eleven containing Doritos and some cans of Tsingtao beer
Mode of transport: Flip flops/ sandals/ skateboard (they never have to go too far).
7) The accidental- hippie/ traveler expat
Another kind of foreigner found in China is the hippie expat. This type of person found his or her way to China thanks to the mystic winds of fate that blew him/her here. He/she then decided that that it was quite comfortable to eek out a living, and being not so industrious, decided it would be a good place to stay for a while; and then a while longer. And then another while longer….
Related links
The Two Types of Foreigners in China
The Five Stupid Questions Foreigners Ask Chinese
Ten Most Influential Foreigners in China: Philosophy & Arts
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Keywords: foreigner stereotypes China expat types China foreigner types China Different types of foreigners China
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I actually found this to be a good lunchtime read. Nevermind some of the verbal abuse. Echinacities is full of much worse bashing in the comment sections.
Oct 18, 2016 13:07 Report Abuse
I'm not sure what's up Mark's ass, but thanks Erin, this describes me almost perfectly (it's actually my humanoid boyfriend with the falling-apart-shoes, and I know a good place to get tacos). Hellelujah for cheap DVDs, how would we ever survive without them?
Jan 19, 2012 19:03 Report Abuse