Forums > Living in Kunming > Increased anti-foreigner sentiment?
Restrictions that were never there, that is.
Restrictions that were never there, that is.
@Liumingke1234 there brought another perspective or two to my pondering above, and also anectodal evidence on his own part.
Health hazards are bigger for older people, and while that would remain so in almost any country, many older and more experienced teachers will avoid countries like China (distrust on local health care and language barriers for most) where they may face age discrimination to begin with.
Younger teachers will not want to risk getting involuntarily stuck in foreign countries, or quarantined for weeks on roundtrips both ways.
Add political problems with USA.
Shortage of foreign teachers sounds guaranteed in very near term. Only saviour may be that economy globally goes down, and jobs disappear. China may still have jobs for those who can accept all above challenges.
More generically on topic of foreign teachers "on tour" in China (rather than living here like many of us), do you people working in education think the Covid will take a toll on that?
I mean, will it act as a deterring factor for fear of future pandemic or travel restrictions appearing? People worrying about getting stuck in places they prefer not get stuck in, and staying in home countries?
If there is such thing, will we see a new demand for native speakers being hired regardless of qualifications, or even lowering those qualification requirements by the authorities to answer to that demand?
Google translate is so familiar for foreign tourists coming to China, that blocking it together with other Google products would mean even more foreigners lost here - which, on the topic, would feed more anti-foreigner sentiment.
I don't know how Google's translate service operates technically in China (for example does it communicate with Google's ecosystem elsewhere, or does it censor translate results), but it wouldn't have been a tough sell for Chinese authorities to give it any necessary exception.
@AlPage48:
"information they post about visiting or living here does not match my experience here at all"
Ditto that. Then again they must build their view on the cities and places where majority of the repsective nationals visit, and those are Shanghai etc.
Scams on West Nanjing Road and petty thefts in places are (or have been - haven't been to such in years) a real thing, but nothing that describes life in Kunming for example.
No results found.
Government sues parents to get kids back to school
发布者But what is free?
Is it free, if it is funded by tax payers? Or state-owned tobacco sales?
Most foreigners in China I expect to break above the 4800 RMB monthly income limit, and therefore be interested to know that their tax contributions provide (among other things) education to Chinese youth.
But Chinese not so much. Many do not earn over 3500 RMB a month, and especially not the typical villagers and parents in locales where children drop out of compulsory education.
I argue that however little people earn, they should have to provide even a marginal tax contribution to raise awareness about efficient spending of those contributions.
Then again, that may still not be in best interest of the Chinese state.
China hands out happy city awards, Kunming sad
发布者@bilingualexpat:
Yes, I agree that China is far behind many countries, and when measuring happiness in international level, money starts to play less important role.
China has obvious disadvantages when it comes to civil liberties and democracy for example. People in countries that are arguably better positioned in those aspects, that knowledge alone will make them feel better about their own lives - even if financially they would not fare relatively any better than average Chinese.
But these awards in OP were limited to Chinese cities and I assume to Chinese respondents (by huge proportion anyway).
China hands out happy city awards, Kunming sad
发布者In Chinese context, Chengu has still been boasting GDP growth in the double digits or very close anyway, and while few will admit that money brings happiness, increase in GDP will translate to some degree of hope and positive vibe among the Chinese residents.
In national level, China's double digit days are over, but they were there anyway at some point. Was it ever so for Kunming? (not that I know if it still is)
Government sues parents to get kids back to school
发布者I don't get this part (or I probably do, but disagree wholeheartedly):
"an official at a county-level education bureau in Yunnan told local media in 2014, explaining the local attitudes. "By the time he finishes school, all the good girls would be married, and it'd be hard for him to find a wife.""
Is (was) this "official" saying that if a boy takes his compulsory education to the end and finishes school at 15-or-so old, all good girls are married by then?
Hello?
"No marriage may be contracted before the man has reached 22 years of age and the woman 20 years of age."
Perhaps the schools should have more classes about the laws of China, so at least the future generations wouldn't need to be sued to take their kids to school.
Life in Kunming: Studying Chinese in the Spring City
发布者Well, I for one am closing on 5th full year in Kunming, and can not speak Chinese more than casual greetings or understanding how much money to give when I buy something.
Local spouse contributes a lot to avoid having to learn, and since neither of us are teachers, family happiness comes before frustrating teacher/student relationship.
Also, to me it seems that it gets easier to manage without Chinese every year - I suppose it is some kind of development both ways.
But I have been considering taking formal classes - not so much to hold a conversation, but as backup plan if things change career or otherwise.