I can only imagine how difficult it must be to be so egoistical as some here are. It must be awful

In my ten years I have never seen violence. Maybe loud arguments. Knock on wood! I actually love being here. It's a laid back easy feeling being here in Kunming. I guess a lot depends on your age and expectations.

So for mickey, Liumingke, Ocean, Bucko and me it's overall positive; for dudeson and one-hit it's overall negative; zhudan says he's trying to change his opinion from negative to positive; for Stephen, Alpage and goldie it's unclear, at least to me.
Why are dudeson and One-hit staying? If they've been here for more than a couple of years, you'd think they'd give up - life's too short, you guys.

I am virtually unemployable back home. The stereotypical loser laowai in China. And that's a fact. I may go back home and try to get a job at McDonald's. Or Subway. I'm practicing saying 'Eat fresh' with a fake smile in the mirror for the interview.

sockpuppet

@One-Hit Wonder
Ha.Ha. That's funny. Don't forget to practice this as well:
"Welcome to McDonald's can I take your order sir/miss"
"That will be $7.50, please"
" Do you want fries with that?"
Ha.Ha.

Haha, yeah forgot about that. I'm gonna practice on the forum. Dudeson, do you want fries?

For me it's positive. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't. The benefits outweigh the negatives by far. I think the best part is financially. I don't have to worry about healthcare, housing, eating, utility bills... it's all so cheap.

In the US I was paying thousands/month for rent, 100$ just for cable tv, hundreds a month for health insurance, plus a car payment... the list goes on... and forget eating out.

@Goldie
Exactly! What about sales taxes you pay when you buy something? When I use to live in New York City the sales tax was 8.25%. If you bought a T.V. the tax was ridiculous. Rent for a one bedroom in the Bronx was about $1,500 a month. Definitely more affordable here.

@one-hit-wonder
Do you remember, you asked my why am I so defensive? ...That's why.

And just for the reocrds, disagreeing with many of the fake Chinese culture, [unless all Taiwanese, HK'ers, and other Chinese, not from the mainland are bad examples for being Chinese],-doesn't make me like all things Western or foreigners per' se.

@Alien
We stay here, just so we can annoy you.

How can you not get that, what you want, and think of China, most Chinese disagree with. You are an expert Chinese-"culturist", use your expert Chinese and read through blogs, news reports, and general feedback of the Chinese people [if you are stuck back home]. Not the brainwashing propaganda you believe in.

Even the governemt is putting up those, dumb red banners on the walls, promoting less violent problem solving skills, advertising to talk to your culture officer in your xiaoqu, etc. Why do you think is that?
The news is full of overexessive violence over the most minor sh*t.

I am not making that up. If you disagree with it fine, I don't mind. But don't sit there behind your computer, all day and tell us how China looks like from inside your living room window.

Plus, you don't seem to talk to 'real' Chinese people. Ask them questions, about "actual life" Chinese culture by learning and asking, then you will learn what Chinese people think and believe in, and it's for sure not the China you have floating around in your head.

And why would they? Why would they not have a safer, more beautiful, society? So, that all the "unconditional China loving" foreigners, can congratulate themsleves for being here, far away from real Chinese life, telling how great everything is, compared to the west, ignorant of even worse stuff happening here?

I am watching my back, I am assessing situation more often now, and walk a few extra yard when I see, aggresion lingering around.

If you for some crazy reason think [socialist/capitalist/xenophobe China], is the safest place on earth, good for you. Really I mean it. I didn't see violence, or at least I didn't pay attention, for the first 7 years. And then is started to appear more often. And most Chinese people I know see it on the rise, as I say, the police doesn't do much about it, unless you are VIP.

I can't believ how ignorant some foreigners are, and thus I almost feel sympathy for the guys trying to kick my butt, if I would read how you are living the life here.
I recommend to live on month like the pooret in the country, see if you still think healthcare, education, opportunities, society, and support, is as awesome as you think.

You know what, just live on a farm for a month and tell the people there about your experience of happiness and splendor.

No wonder a lot of Chinese hate foreigners.

The guys here talking most about, foreigners not fitting in, are so not integrated, you sound very colonial to me. Living in palaces and all being splendid.