An expat is usually a professional who moves to another country for reasons such as advancing their skills in their area of interest or to take up a position for work within a new country. Today the Day Translations blog looks at 4 things you should know as an expat moving to China.
Having a culture shock isn’t always the best experience for people, in fact, a culture shock usually occurs when you aren’t prepared for a particular experience within a foreign country. So to help minimize the possibility of this type of circumstance, we’ve put together a few things we think you might want to know before moving to China.
An Expat’s Guide for Moving to China
Learn the Language!
Naturally, you’ll have to quickly adapt to your new life of living in China and get the ball rolling in fulfilling the reason why you moved to China in the first place. That said, sharpening your language skills is a must. If you don’t, the simplest of tasks that are usually a breeze, such as getting public transport or opening a bank account and using your bank card, may prove to be daunting tasks, to say the least.
To take it a step further, your language barrier may also affect your interaction with the Chinese people you’re going to meet. As an expat, the locals enjoy meeting, greeting, and chatting with you, although many of them may be warm and accommodating, if you’re unable to understand what’s going on, the experience may not be as great as you would have been looking forward to it being.
Of course, Day Translations provides on-demand interpreting through our Day Interpreting app. Our team of interpreters are just a phone call away to help with all your interpretation needs.
We also suggest taking extra classes to escalate your ability to speak Chinese. It’s not necessarily the easiest to learn and needs lots of time, practice, and patience to get better and better.
Establish a Life in China ASAP
Maybe a few years ago, it would have been a task to move to and be living in China, but these days its actually much easier than you think. One of the key reasons for this is because China is a giant when it comes to technology and innovation, which makes life much easier and full of conveniences.
Whether you’re residing in the top cities or you chose to be in one of the rural areas, living in China has its perks. With apps such as ‘WeChat’, ‘Taobao’ and ‘Meituan’, doing day to day tasks such as being able to pay for a meal, ordering products, or finding services. In fact, it is said that these 3 apps have proven to be far more powerful and diverse than the products and services we use here in western countries.
So first thing’s first upon arrival; download WeChat.
The cost of living in China is also very affordable, whether in the major cities or otherwise, which means you’re able to save more and have more value for your money. Food is relatively cheap and finding affordable housing is also very much possible. Transportation is not only cheap as well, it’s also very fast, making it a win-win situation.
Understand the World of Work in China
One of the downsides of living in China might be that its extremely difficult to become a permanent resident. With this in mind, having and keeping your Visa up to date is very important. By law, you’re required to renew your visa on a yearly basis.
If you happen to be moving from one city to another, you’ll need to update your visa. This is because your visa is always linked to a particular city. Because maintaining your visa can prove to be a lot of work, it is also recommended that you work with a company that is willing to help you in this area.
And, of course, we can Segway into speaking about how easy it is to find a job in China. If your native language is English, you won’t find getting a job to be a difficult task at all. In fact, having English skills is China is an asset many employers cherish.
Many expats choose to become English teachers in China. But you’re going to discover that many other opportunities exist apart from working within the education system.
Explore Your New Home
China is a very beautiful country. From popular spots such as the Great Wall of China. Experiencing China isn’t an expensive venture. You can take tours that allow you to take in the beauty of China in all its glory. You’ll see sights such as the world-famous Pandas of Chengdu. You can also visit the spectacular west lake and so much more.
It’s also important that you keep in mind that China is generally a safe place. Crimes against foreigners is almost non-existent. Therefore as an expat you’re encouraged to dive in and experience the people and the culture as best as you can and try something new whiles you’re at it.
Final Thoughts
These are just 4 of the many important things you should know as an expat before you move to China. Of course, we couldn’t cover everything, but we hope what we’ve said helps you along your new found journey. We absolutely wish you all the best.
Be sure to continue researching and asking as many questions as possible. The more you know, the better. And don’t forget that Day Translations is a company that breaks down language barriers and creates a bridge of communication among people of different countries and cultures with a human connection. We specialize in translation, interpretation, and even business services such as localization and BPO solutions, among others.
Visit our website today to get started.