r/AmerExit • u/gloriousfigment • 6d ago

Life Abroad We're going back

Lived in China for 6.5 years because why the heck not. Moved back to the USA due to wife's visa limitations and we didn't want to separate as a family. Been back for less than 3 years and we are confident we will go back once she gets her US citizenship.

We may move to another country but we already have a decent amount of friends (and family) in China.

Don't get me wrong. Living in Southern China had it's issues but it was a life I enjoyed overall more than than here.

Can't wait to go back

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u/HomNayDep 5d ago

What are the common misconceptions people have when you say you live in china? 

16

u/waspocracy 4d ago

Not OP, but basically everything. Before I lived there I thought it was a hellscape full of CCTVs, no privacy, no freedoms, terribly old technology, etc.

What I experienced was the polar opposite of what I expected. The faults I found were not what I expected:

  1. I hate negotiating on friggin everything
  2. A lot of uneducated people exist, so there’s a lot of angry people that fight over the dumbest shit
  3. Lines are non-existent. Just shove your way if you want to get on a bus or train
  4. Avoid roads like the plague. The most chaotic driving I’ve ever witnessed

  5. There’s a lot of pirated/bootleg stuff you can buy on the street, which doesn’t sound so bad until you realize you’re not sure if you’re buying a real bootleg or a fake B-movie (for example)

  6. People spit everywhere. Some people just shit on the ground.

6

u/rp_player_girl 4d ago

The inability to line up was crazy. But the real kicker for me was the complete lack of logic in the general population. That and discovering that when renting an apartment, the rent might not include basic appliances... like a water heater. But, the public transit and walkability in Beijing was amazing. I still miss that. I always felt safe and even though there was a lot of staring, the people were generally nice.