Moving to China 迁往中国

Moving to China 迁往中国

The Bund, Shanghai

If you had told me five years ago that I would spend my twenties living in China 中国, I would not have believed you. The other side of the world and away from my family for long periods of time? Somewhere I had never travelled to before nor knew very much about? It seemed unlikely. Whilst studying for a degree in politics and international relations, I envisioned my future taking a political career route. I have always wanted to travel but with consideration of proximity to home and possible job paths. Perhaps an international organisation or public relations or policy analysis. Yet, as my graduation neared, I slowly but surely grew to understand that this was not what I wanted to do. And so, like clockwork, an interesting opportunity fell into my lap.

Teaching English in China 在中国教英语

Ever considered teaching English as a second language abroad? Many English speakers around the world have turned this opportunity into both a career and a means of travelling the world. It was something I never considered but certainly something that intrigued me. Having never travelled to Asia 亚洲 before, I was extremely interested. Thailand 泰国, Vietnam 越南, Japan日本, South Korea 韩国, and Indonesia 印度尼西亚. But, what about China 中国? In my mind, China 中国 was a distant and relatively unknown country to me. With surface-level knowledge of tourist attractions, food and culture, my understanding did not go much further than this. So, with a job offer on the horizon and the potential to relocate to China 中国 becoming ever closer, I began my research.

Xingping, Guilin, Guangxi

Job Prospects 工作前景

Job offers for foreigners in China 中国 typically focus on the larger tier one or tier two cities. Shanghai 上海, Beijing 北京, Guangzhou 广州, Chengdu 成都, Shenzhen 深圳, to name a few. My job would be in Shanghai 上海, which appeared to be an extremely attractive place for ex-pats to live. In 2018, there were around 600,000 foreigners living in China 中国. Around 8% of these were fellow Brits. My research found that China 中国 was a prime location for relocating expatriates. With high salaries, low costs of living and competitive job packages, it seemed like a great option. Take a job in a new country with Asia on my doorstep and a new culture to be learned? Travel to new places on my weekends whilst pursuing my passion for photography? Speak a new language and visit places beyond my wildest dreams? Slowly but surely, I was warming to the idea of leaving the familiarity and comfort of Scotland 苏格兰 for China 中国.

With this, I made the jump. I signed my contract and officially decided to make the move to Shanghai 上海 for a year. I embarked on a long and rather complex process of visas, embassy appointments, medical checks and other pre-departure requirements. After five months of preparation and with everything finalised, my moving date arrived.

Suzhou, Jiangsu

October 24th 2018 / 2018年10月24日

Without a doubt, I was extremely nervous. Leaving behind a boyfriend, family and the path I thought my future would take was understandably nerve-wracking. With a new job, city and country on the horizon, I felt overwhelmed and unsure about whether I had made the right decision. Sometimes, I could not quite process the thought: I am moving to China. I am moving to China. I am moving to China. Was this real life? With my visa documents ready, vaccine courses completed and guidebooks stored away in my luggage, I was ready. So, I left Scotland 苏格兰 and flew to Shanghai 上海 to begin my new life.

Adjusting to Shanghai 适应上海的生活

At first, the adjustment was demanding. It was difficult far beyond the expected jet lag and exhaustion. Firstly, I became sick far more easily. Calibrating my body to air pollution and new food was not as simple as I expected. I vividly remember constantly having a cough, heavy chest or swollen lymph nodes as I forgot to wear a mask on several occasions. This resulted in a lot of eye-opening local hospital trips and confusion as to why my body was reacting like this. After four years of university without a single doctor’s appointment, this was quite a shock. Secondly, the fast-paced nature of Shanghai 上海 was far beyond anything I had experienced back in Scotland 苏格兰 and the busyness overwhelmed me. Picture 26 million people in a city, all of whom have a purpose and place to be. Metro cars stuffed beyond imagination and intersections so busy that you could not for a second take your eyes off the road. Supermarkets at peak hours meant people pushing you to get vegetables and often queuing for a long time to check out. Coming from the quiet and peaceful countryside in Scotland 苏格兰, the contrast could not have been more stark. Even my university city of Glasgow 格拉斯哥 came nowhere near. With a new city, new work environment, new culture and new home, everything changed. I missed my friends. I missed my family. I missed home comforts. I missed the familiar life I know. Thirdly, back then, I had no understanding of Mandarin and relied solely on an unreliable, often inaccurate translating app to complete simple tasks. I never realised how much I took simple, unassisted communication for granted. I could not access my usual social media sites and reliance on a VPN was frustrating at times. Yet, despite these initial difficulties, I slowly began to fall in love with this country and culture.

There was also something contagious about the fast-paced, illuminating nature of Shanghai 上海. City lights, soaring skyscrapers, traditional touches and millions of people co-existing together. The city never sleeps and there is something for everyone. I could not stop admiring the stark contrast between modern and traditional parts of the city and grew to be intrigued by everything around me. From people selling food on the streets to ladies dancing in the park to the constant stream of aeroplanes flying overhead. The language, the people, the food, the architecture, the traditions. Everywhere I went, I found something new that excited me. Whether it was exploring Buddhist temples at the heart of downtown or gazing up at soaring skyscrapers, it was a completely different world to me. I took Chinese classes, made an effort to explore the city and travelled on the weekends. And I was addicted. Shanghai 上海 became my new beloved home.

Where Am I Now? 我现在在哪里？

Slowly but surely, one year in Shanghai 上海 has turned into four with more on the horizon. Moving here at 22, my entire adult life post-graduation has been in China 中国 . I do not know a “normal” life outside of the one I have built here. Going back to Scotland 苏格兰 would undoubtedly be a huge shock for me. Reverse culture shock. In China 中国, I know how to do mundane daily tasks such as paying my bills or fixing my drains or making a doctor’s appointment. At home, I am weirdly (and confusingly) unsure of these things. It sounds stupid but it is my reality. I am unfamiliar with getting a mortgage or buying a house or expected salaries. These seemingly “adult” things are not to my knowledge. My adult understandings are solely in China 中国 and I have learned everything whilst establishing a new life for myself abroad. All that being said, it has also been far more complex than simply relocating, travelling and enjoying every second. Since being here, I have only visited my family twice in four years. I have experienced the loss of my close grandfather and childhood dog. I have gone through breakups, life struggles, mental health problems and other losses. I missed my brother’s graduation, my auntie and uncle’s wedding and important family occasions. But, all of this has happened here. In Shanghai 上海. This is my happy place and I got through all of these things due to the circumstances I have built here. With amazing friends, a comfortable home and an incredible support system, this was possible. I never thought I would adjust as I have but now, going back to my home country would be an even harder adjustment.

While I have wondered if staying here is the right thing, my heart knows it is. I am lucky enough to be surrounded by a family that supports me wholeheartedly in every decision I make. There is no pressure to rush home, start a career or buy a home. Happiness is always the most important. For my first year here, I had the constant voice in the back of my head telling me: ‘this will sadly be over soon. Enjoy it while you can.’ This thought truly upset and disappointed me. I did not want it to be over soon. I wanted to stay here and continue my life as it was. I dreamed about travelling, exploring and learning about new cultures. Spending my weekends on a beach in Thailand 泰国, walking around Harajuku in Tokyo 东京or hiking Victoria Peak in Hong Kong 香港. Was I willing to give all this up to pursue a “normal” life at home? Absolutely not. So, I pushed that voice away. I decided that my life will be here or somewhere else abroad. Perhaps it’s not the traditional path many would take, but it is the one that is right for me. And, it has led me to start this blog and pursue my passions. With this, I simply couldn’t be happier. I have learned Chinese, travelled extensively and established myself as who I am today. With a love for photography and travel, China 中国 is the best location for me at this time in my life.

So, do I plan to stay in China?

Absolutely. If not China 中国, another country abroad. I do not have any concrete plans to move back to the UK for good. I am unsure where my future will take me but all will fall into place in time, this I do not doubt.

Sunrise at The Bund, Shanghai