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| How many years have you lived in China |
| 0-1 |
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15% |
[ 7 ] |
| 1-2 |
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6% |
[ 3 ] |
| 2-5 |
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28% |
[ 13 ] |
| 5+ |
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48% |
[ 22 ] |
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| Total Votes : 45 |
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Message |
Denim-Maniac
Joined: 31 Jan 2012
Posts: 1238
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 Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 10:28 am Post subject: |
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| I've voted 2 - 5. My relationship with China started in 2006 but I flit in and out all the time. My last flit out was last summer, my next flit in is this April, and Ill be out again in January 2014. |
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Babala
Joined: 28 Jan 2005
Posts: 1303
Location: Henan
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| Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 10:39 am Post subject: |
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This is my 12th year  |
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sistercream
Joined: 18 Dec 2010
Posts: 497
Location: Pearl River Delta
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| Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 11:14 am Post subject: |
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First landed in '79 - everyone was still wearing Mao suits and we laowai were "looked after" to the nth degree. Just having one of us cross a street was enough to cause a major traffic pile-up (but the traffic was all single-gear pushbikes, so no major injuries occurred that I heard of).
I certainly haven't been in China continuously since then, but definitely racked up the 5+ years ...
Of course, if you use the government's definition of China - which would include Taiwan as well as Hong Kong and Macau - then make it 25+ years 
I plead very, very guilty to terminal weirdness! ... Even planning to retire here in Hong Kong ... |
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johntpartee
Joined: 02 Mar 2010
Posts: 3258
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| Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 11:32 am Post subject: |
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| I first came here in 1975; not as a teacher, though. I was an admin assistant to a government representative who was implementing Nixon's "one world" policy. In other words, the US wanted to find out what the heck was goin' on here (nuclear weapons, spaceflight capability, etc.). But anyway, started teaching in early '76; yeah, the tunic suits were THE coolest attire. The few foreigners here were quite a sight to the locals, equally so because our clothes actually had colors other than OD, black, and brown. |
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it'snotmyfault
Joined: 14 May 2012
Posts: 527
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| Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 12:31 pm Post subject: |
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^^
A couple of trailblazers there.
Coming here in the 70s must have been quite something. |
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fat_chris
Joined: 10 Sep 2003
Posts: 3198
Location: Beijing
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| Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 12:47 pm Post subject: |
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| it'snotmyfault wrote: |
^^
A couple of trailblazers there.
Coming here in the 70s must have been quite something. |
Agreed. Serious respect for sistercream and johntpartee.
Warm regards,
fat_chris |
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jibbs
Joined: 02 Feb 2003
Posts: 452
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| Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2013 8:38 pm Post subject: |
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| As strange as much of China can seem to a foreigner now, I can hardly imagine 30 plus years ago. I've heard there are still lots of Chinese who have never seen a foreigner, but back then it must have been the majority. |
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johntpartee
Joined: 02 Mar 2010
Posts: 3258
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| Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 12:16 am Post subject: |
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| I've heard there are still lots of Chinese who have never seen a foreigner |
In late 2008 I got a position in Zhongmu City (a suburb of Zhengzhou, 25 miles from the city center). I was the first foreign teacher at the college (they had just gotten permission to hire foreigners). I would estimate that 50% of the students told me I was the first foreigner they had ever seen in person; many of these students were from Luoyang. Both Zhengzhou and Luoyang are pretty urban; it wouldn't be much of a stretch to say that the further you get out in the sticks, the less likely the chances are that the locals have seen any Westerners, especially in western China. |
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mike w
Joined: 26 May 2004
Posts: 1071
Location: Beijing building site
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| Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 8:20 am Post subject: |
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16 years without a break (except vacations - 3 weeks max).
First visited in 1974 - Shanghai - 3 days as part of a military exchange - red guard, red guard, red guard everywhere - scary place! |
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johntpartee
Joined: 02 Mar 2010
Posts: 3258
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| Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 8:25 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| 16 years without a break |
We have a winner!!!! |
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JamesD
Joined: 17 Mar 2003
Posts: 934
Location: "As far as I'm concerned bacon comes from a magical happy place."
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| Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 10:44 am Post subject: |
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| johntpartee wrote: |
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| 16 years without a break |
We have a winner!!!! |
Sorry, I'm at 17 years without a break except for 2-week trips back home every 3 years. |
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johntpartee
Joined: 02 Mar 2010
Posts: 3258
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| Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 11:04 am Post subject: |
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| And a tip of the Hatlo hat to the new champeen! |
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DirtGuy
Joined: 28 Dec 2004
Posts: 529
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| Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 12:48 pm Post subject: |
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What do you mean by "totally jaded"?
DirtGuy |
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johntpartee
Joined: 02 Mar 2010
Posts: 3258
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| Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 1:22 pm Post subject: |
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totally adv. 1.Entirely; completely.
jaded adj. 1.Worn out, wearied, exhausted or lacking enthusiasm, due to age or experience.
2.Made callous or cynically insensitive, by experience |
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mandu
Joined: 29 Jul 2004
Posts: 794
Location: china
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| Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 2:39 pm Post subject: |
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| this is year number 12 for me |
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