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LeopoldBloom · Joined: 08 Jul 2010 Posts: 57

This is a note for potential Americans considering work in China. There is now a very tangible anti-US feeling in China and this can affect your quality of life living and working in China.

Chinese will, by and large, view your person as "America" in flesh and blood, especially if the way you look fits with what they imagine Americans should look like. You may well feel the friction between the US and China solely because your body represents America; and this without anything to do with yourself of course, just the American government actions, whether you agreed with them or not will make no difference. The American party-line is your line is you.

You may be verbally attacked at a bar or threatened simply because you are American. It happened to me and the US embassy warns of this on its site. I can say being there the past year, part of what compromised my experience was that I am American and Chinese viewed me as their competitor as well as representing a government that frequently makes or supports policy decisions against Chinese party line. Plenty of Chinese felt me a good dumping ground for their grievances against America. I told them I really have no control over the government decisions, I'm a non-political guy, but that made little difference. They wanted to know why 'you' America do this and why you do that etc. And they were usually asking such not in a way to gain understanding and engage in open dialogue but rather as a rhetorical device to admonish 'me' America for being out of line and wrong on said policy issue.

wangdaning · Joined: 22 Jan 2008 Posts: 3154

Situational statement. I have been here two years, no hatred towards me. I once met a guy on the plane from Shenzhen to Chengdu who was clear about why China is in competition with America. However, it wasn't about me or him. He got his driver to take me back from the airport after we stopped for some hot pot (maybe his way of trying to kill me).

I get more dirty looks for simply being a foreigner married to a Chinese girl. If I am out alone I get little aggression. No one has tried to rob me (yet?) and people are generally more interested than anything.

Not trying to take away from what you experienced, just saying it is not always true.

samhouston · Joined: 17 Jan 2007 Posts: 418 Location: LA

Huh. I get more of a problem from other expats than I ever have from Chinese.

dharma86 · Joined: 05 May 2009 Posts: 187 Location: Southside baby!

Miles Smiles · Joined: 07 Jun 2010 Posts: 1294 Location: Heebee Jeebee

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

I've never seen or sensed any hostility in two years. To the contrary, most of the people seem to be very interested in the US's political system; any discussion has always been about the differences between the governments.

I've noticed a couple of dirty looks from men because most of the women are usually looking us over.

Teatime of Soul · Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Posts: 905

Can't say I have noticed this over the last several years.

Maybe I'm in the wrong place.

Very Happy

randyj · Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 2:46 pm Post subject:

Is there somewhere on this planet Americans are held in high esteem? I don't think so. The reservoir of good will that existed after WWII has been dissipated. China? Safest place in the world.

kev7161 · Joined: 06 Feb 2004 Posts: 5880 Location: Suzhou, China

Most of my Chinese friends and acquaintances express to me their dreams of going to America and say such things as "America must be a wonderful place." I try to bring them off their cloud by telling them that America is no different than many countries in that it has its good traits and bad. If I'm getting any sort of resentment, it's from complete strangers who don't speak English (I guess) anyway so they can't easily express their viewpoints to me personally.

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

LeopoldBloom · Joined: 08 Jul 2010 Posts: 57

randyj,

there are a lot of places that hold America in high esteem. South Korea, England, Canada, Japan and a slew of other countries. We call them our allies. They don't agree with everything we do and we do make mistakes but do you know anyone or have any friend who doesn't?

What country are you from?

Gilka · Joined: 22 Jun 2010 Posts: 54

I agree, the only poor treatment I've received was from other expats. But, when in Rome, and all. I didn't really care to itemize the negative things about other countries before, but after I learned that people wasted their time doing it for America, I decided to give it a go. Whenever a Canadian or Australian feels the need to open their mouth and say negative, prejudiced things about me based solely upon my nationality, I have an answer.

dean_a_jones · Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 1151 Location: Wuhan, China

LB

Time for FW

Sorts out the B from the M

but seriously....

that bad?!?

Ajarn Miguk · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 227 Location: TDY As Assigned

KidfromBrooklyn · Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 10:55 pm Post subject: China? Sure.

Sure there is lots of this stuff going around China. I have lived in France, England and traveled to Canada many time and never have felt this way.

In fact in China there is a big fat bullseye on your back that has flashing neon lights that says "BIGDADDYWARBUCKS".

In fact I have been beaten and left for dead at my doorstep upon ariving home late one night. Local Police told me "It's too difficult" to look for the perps. Didn't even launch the most basic investigation. Robbed of my wedding ring and mobile. Woke up in hospital on the way to the CT scan of my head.

China is one of the greatest place's in the world for adventure but as every adventurer knows caution must be taken.

Problem is most of the folks spouting off have never seen outside the country and are only parroting what other tell them. Remember what you learned when you first came to China? Have a look foryourself.

With so many folks bashing about like this with no firsthand knowledge, what does that tell you?