When in Rome, do as the GOOD Romans do.
Driving like a bad local driver will NOT make you less of a hazard.

Driving like a good local driver will require you to adapt a different mindset to driving. Actually the driving here is very predictable, once you learn how to predict driving gets easier. Predicting will help you stay out of harms way. Even defensive driving has a different set of rules here.

Hi Latou

I agree Mandarin essential.
English is the business lingua franca.
Japanese, especially in China. As business links with Japan are growing and most (not all) Japanese only speak Japanese.

From a career point of view, Spanish may be the best additional language to learn. Why do I say this. Spanish is the world's third language. Most of S. America use it, and China's trade links with Latin America are growing strongly.
Also German, French, Italian, Spanish (EU) and other European business people usually already speak very good English.

But be aware, not all your kids may be linguists. One of them might be a dancer, or a computer geek with no social skills (OMG!!!!). LOL

There seem to be a lot more serious accidents in the UK, by sheer weight of numbers. Driving here IS much slower, generally, and accidents are mostly very minor with no real damage done.

The comment about don't hit the guy in front is the unwritten rule, but seems to apply. Confession time: driving here I use the mirrors a lot less, because there is so much crazy stuff going on in front of me I don't have much time to use them. Fact.

There is also a wealth of stuff in the Chinese driving test about 'the courteous driver' (chortle).

Ultimately drivers here are more inconsiderate, but that is not about the driving culture specifically. Is it?

If you are not going to be here long term, it is possible that rote learning habits will be beneficial.

Here's mu 2 cents.
The eastern model is the acquisition of knowledge, the western model is the application of knowledge.
However, unless you acquire knowledge you can't apply it. Some of this knowledge must be memorised, for example the Periodic Table in chemistry.

Why are Chinese kids so good at maths (especially calculus) and chemistry? Because of rote learning.

Why are there so much growth in liberal arts degrees, and reduction in science degrees in the west. Because many schools have dropped rote learning practices and the 'hard' subjects that require more disciplined learning, and less reasoning.

I think that if they kids who acquire good learning habits and good reasoning skills (critical thinking/critical expression), they will develop strong academic capability all round. Kids can get the former in school, and the latter at home. As a parent who takes an active interest in your kids development, I think you will hit this balance. Gawd know my parents couldn't.

I am actually amazed that I don't see more accidents. The few I have seen are only scrapes or mild fender benders.

I agree that there is no concept of the vulnerable road user here.

But, and it is a big but here, the general rule is 'don't hit the guy in front'.

I used to be a motorcycle instructor, and we used to tell trainees "If you go out with the attitude that everyone else on the road is trying to kill you, you are in a better position to be safe".