10 reasons we’re looking forward to living in China

September 12, 2012 / 20 comments / 3164 views

The countdown has begun.

In just a few days, we will board a plane, bid goodbye to New England, and head to the People’s Republic of China, our home for the next year.

Everyone keeps asking, “How are you feeling? Are you all ready to go? Are you nervous?”

“How would you feel if you were moving to China?!” I think, but do not say.

To be honest, I’m kind of scared. But scared in an excited sort of way.

There will be great uncertainty; much unfamiliarity.

But let’s forget about all that for now.

Instead, let’s take a look at some of the aspects of China we look forward to the most. You know, awesome stuff like …

10.) Funny signs.

Sometimes it’s difficult for English and Mandarin to find the equivalent of one another. That’s good for us, as it results in some pretty hilarious translations! And besides, you get the general idea, right?

9.) Learning Mandarin Chinese.

Mandarin is one of the most difficult languages to learn. It is also the most widely spoken in the world, and therefore quite useful to know. It involves four different spoken tones and thousands of written characters. We’ve already started our learning and hope to achieve conversational proficiency by the end of our time in China.

8.) China is a hotbed for global commerce.

Since its shift toward a market-based economy in 1978, China has secured its position as the world’s second largest economy. Because of Justin’s engineering job and my online business, we will both experience first-hand the pros and cons of our increasingly globalized world.

7.) China’s rich culture.

China’s 1.4 billion people are members of 56 different ethnic groups, of which the Han account for over 90% of China’s population. The remaining 55 minority groups compose the remainder of the population. Each of these ethnic groups has unique customs, dress, music, and cuisine. Many of them speak their own language, though Mandarin is by far the most widely-spoken throughout China.

6.) We will miss the Presidential election!

Every four years, I wish I could just leave the U.S. from August through November to avoid the incessant barrage of nasty campaign attacks and endless bickering. This is one season of American history that I don’t mind following from afar.

5.) We’ll both be turning 30 … in China!

This birthday seems like a big one; a total change in classification requiring the renewing of drivers’ licenses! I never thought my 30th birthday party would be held on the Great Wall of China! Who knows what crazy adventure Justin will choose! His last monumental birthday, 21, was also celebrated while in China!

4.) China is a gateway to explore other parts of Asia we probably wouldn’t otherwise.

Justin’s company pays for us to take three separate vacations (R&Rs) during each 12-month period we are in China. We’ll also have some random holidays and long weekends to explore throughout China. This will give us the great opportunity to explore a few areas of Asia that we likely wouldn’t visit otherwise. So far, the plans include Cambodia, Japan, South Korea, and more remote areas of China, such as Guilin in the south.

3.) We have family in China.

Justin’s brother has spent the last decade in China and continues to live there with his awesome wife and two kids. We love them like crazy and don’t see them nearly often enough, so we’ll be spending weekends with them as much as possible.

2.) Chinese food is amazing.

Sweet. Sour. Spicy. Beef. Scorpion. Dog. You name it, China serves it. And most of it is rather delicious, so we’ll be enjoying as much of it as possible.

1.) China’s history is nothing short of incredible.


China boasts one of the world’s oldest civilizations, having transformed from the days of the emperor to the reign of Chairman Mao Zedong. Its current form of Communist government with a market-based economy has seen it rise dramatically in might and wealth over the past three decades. We look forward to studying this fascinating history first-hand by visiting sites such as the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and our most anticipated — the Terra Cotta Army!

Well I don’t know about you, but I’m glad I gave myself this little pep-talk of a countdown.

With so much to see and experience in China, how can we not be excited about the coming year?

The bags are mostly packed. The details nearly squared away. The goodbyes are all but said.

The wait is nearly over.

Soon enough our plane will land, our hearts will settle, and our senses will kick into over-drive as we jump head-first into one of our greatest adventures yet.

 

Have you ever moved to another country? How did you feel before the big move? Share your thoughts below!

10 Things China
About The Time-Crunched Traveler
Ellen first traveled overseas at age 15 when her father insisted upon sending her on a school trip to Germany. And that’s when it happened: high atop Switzerland’s Mt. Pilatus, she was bitten by the travel bug and has never quite recovered. Since then, she has traveled to 34 countries on five continents. She currently resides in New England and continues to hold her father responsible for all the money she has spent on travel since that first trip to Europe.

20 comments

  1. Andrea
    September 12, 2012 at 8:12 am - Reply

    I lived in Germany for 3 yrs. My plane was in the air the night the Iraq war began. Despite a few protests I had the most incredible experience of my life. Y’all will have a blast!!! Enjoy & take every opportunity to get out & be one with the locals.

  5. Ryan Brown
    September 13, 2012 at 7:09 pm - Reply

    Hey you two! It’s been so long supine I’ve had a chance to read ANY blogs, especially ones like yours that I love. I am so freakin’ excited for you two…I feel like living in China is going to be specacular, and a change of pace from been so time crunched on trips all the time :) I hope I can catch up with you two in Asia, I’ll be moving there around Spring!

  6. Laurence
    September 14, 2012 at 4:30 am - Reply

    Don’t worry, wherever you are in the world, facebook will be there to help keep you up to date with an election that isn’t even about the country you live in 😉

    Also, Chinese signs rock. My favourite from my time there was a big notice in front of a pedestrian footpath that said “no passing - it’s a path”.

    Still perplexed by the zen like nature of that one…

  9. YY
    September 19, 2012 at 1:37 pm - Reply

    Oh to Laurence who commented earlier… there won’t be FB access in China though as it is blocked by the government… you will experience that when you use other websites there - Google, Amazon, etc, all different.

  11. Andrew
    October 7, 2012 at 7:50 am - Reply

    Freaking awesome for you guys. SO looking forward to more stories. I remember my countdown to moving to Germany. It wasn’t as scary as I had traveled there a lot and lived there already twice for a few months at a time.

    Definitely agree that it is nice to escape the election. Though given the US influence in the world, I find that locals in Germany are actually as interested as it as Americans. Perhaps more given the normal apathy. Though you don’t get as much propganda.

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