My degree is in Latin American Studies. Even if there were a template called, “How to Use Your Latin American Studies Major,” I seriously doubt it would include moving to China. I’d never been to Asia, never studied Chinese, and never even taken a class about China. This rather random choice has brought me opportunities I’d never envisioned.
Here’s a short version of my China story.
A few days after my graduation from Berkeley in May 2006, I thumbed through my well-worn copy of Delaying the Real World – an inspiring and practical book that should be on every adventurous twenty-something’s desk – and looked up just about every international opportunity listed.
Three months later, having spent the summer volunteering in English classes for recent immigrants, I started as an English Instructor at Jiaxing University, in a small-by-Chinese-standards city about two hours south of Shanghai, thanks to CIEE Teach in China. Next, I interned in the corporate social responsibility division of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, and helped a multinational ports company with its corporate social responsibility report. After a year and a half in China, I found myself homesick and returned to my hometown, San Francisco.
During my stint with socially entrepreneurial software startup there, I got very involved with a China-focused microfinance non-profit called Wokai. I then decided to move to Beijing, where I currently train Chinese lawyers and reporters to use English more effectively, study Chinese with a wonderful tutor, and assist a professor with his environmental law research. Overall I’ve been in China about two and a half years.
China’s Growing Economy Values the Skills of Young Foreigners
If you are a native English speaker with a foreign face (yes, this sounds politically incorrect but it’s true) I think you can find work in China. The easiest type of job to find is as an English teacher. There is also demand for the research, editing, and analysis skills honed in America’s education system, though getting these jobs generally requires being here already and having significant experience in the specific field.
High Standard of Living, Despite Lower Salaries
Though it is also virtually impossible to earn anywhere near what you might earn in the United States, hole-in-the-wall restaurants, taxis, and services like haircuts and plumbing are relatively cheap.
Access to High-Level Mentors in a Variety of Fields
For me, one of the most gratifying aspects of working in Shanghai and Beijing is meeting older-than-me expats in a wide variety of fields, who have inspired me and taught me so much. BEER (the wonderfully named Beijing Energy and Environment Roundtable) attracts a diverse crowd of engineers, NGO representatives, academics, students, journalists, and other interested people. A good friend of mine, a journalist, commented that these people would rarely be in the same place in DC. Gatherings like this have continually sparked my curiosity. I don’t think this is as true in China’s second and third-tier cities, which have smaller expat populations.
Opportunities for Interesting Work
Through my current job, I’ve learned about up-and-coming fields such as China-Africa relations, patent law, and wind energy. Conversations with my clients have challenged my ideas about creativity, success, and so much more. I’ve taught specialized writing lessons for Chinese reporters for an international energy publication. I’ve marketed our programs using skills I’ve learned through my previous roles. The variety of challenges that each day brings is quite different from what I experienced in my short stint working in the United States.
Caveat: You Must Have a High Tolerance for Mafan
In Chinese, mafan means trouble, particularly of the bureaucratic, negotiation-requiring, time-consuming variety. I recently returned from an urgent and unexpected trip to Hong Kong for a new visa because my application to extend my work visa was denied, despite two months of hard work to assemble the documents. This kind of story is incredibly common. Living here requires ample patience for guanxi-building meetings, thwarted plans, long waits, language challenges, things breaking in your apartment, and much more. When I go home to the US, I am amazed that trips to the bank don’t take half the day. If you’re a Type A personality who expects to be able to accomplish 20 things in a day, China may not the country for you.
Overall, China has been good to me. My original decision to move here, definitely been the most random of my life, has exposed me to so many adventures and opportunities, and I’m glad to have taken this plunge.
I have friends who all come from liberal arts backgrounds teaching English in China, Japan and Korea. Your money goes the farthest in China, it seems. However, Korea sounds like it would have the least amount of culture shock. I’m glad people are talking more about the real opportunities that exist abroad for creative types. Best of luck : )
Most of my culture shock came when I returned to the US after 1.5 years in China! When I arrived in China I had mentally prepared myself for life to be different. When I went home, I found myself saying, “wow, the sky is so blue… where are all the people? … wow, going to the Bank of America only takes five minutes? … wow, i can read all the labels in the supermarket…” I haven’t been to Korea so I can’t really compare. (My clients tell me that business drinking culture in Korea is way more savage than in China.)
You might like this blog post, about how language usage can divide people in Korea http://www.adamdanielmezei.com/korean-case-study-how-well-you-speak-a-language-determines-your-status-in-society/1825
Thanks for the comment 🙂
I’m in Macau. I do like the food and the Portuguese pace of life here. It’s close to Hong Kong, and immigration into China isn’t *too* bad.
I’ll have to keep CIEE in mind. I do like to teach, but it’s not my profession. Thanks for the article.
Ni Hao!
Having lived in Shanghai for two years I know first hand how amazing China can be. What I’m amazed at is how quickly they continue to grow! There is a TON of opportunity in China.
I went to the Great Wall this summer and it was amazing. 🙂
🙂 Thanks for the comment. Yes, China is growing in so many ways, and there’s lots of opportunity here.
Many Americans have expressed concern about China’s domination, especially in the mainstream media. I’d like to share an article my good friend Christina Larson just wrote to address this issue. She focuses on China’s environment and here she debunks misconceptions about the supposed greentech “space race” between China and the U.S. – http://www.e360.yale.edu/content/feature.msp?id=2238
Awesome story. I’ve lived in a SAR of China for 2 years now, and will probably be here much longer. I’m learning Cantonese, and I almost died laughing when you said Mafan. I didn’t realize that the Mandarin word for trouble is similar to the Cantonese.
And it’s SO TRUE. Here’s an example: In my area you’re allowed a temporary driver’s license for 2 years. After 2 years of driving you need to take a driving test (you might want to read that part again). You need to pay over US$500 for practice lessons, because there are 8 different driving routes for the test. They don’t tell you how to drive the route and they will pick it at random the day of the test–so you need to memorize each one. I won’t even get into the ridiculousness that ensues during the test. Note that they put their own citizens through these hoops as well.
As a side note, it took over an hour to convince them that my USA AUTOmobile license was for both automatic and manual cars 🙂
However, the good far outweighs the bad and I’d recommend it to anyone.
AUTOmatic AUTOmobile — I can see how literal translations coupled with bureaucracy led to plenty of mafan. I’ve never tried to drive in China and don’t have the overwhelming desire to. Though I did read this interview with Peter Hessler about his latest book, which describes how driving changed his viewpoint on China and its development: http://shanghai.urbanatomy.com/index.php/arts/why-i-write/2770-why-i-write-peter-hessler Hmmm…
I’m glad to hear that my China stories resonate with yours. Which SAR are you in? I particularly like Macau, for its combination of Portuguese colonial, Las Vegas, and typical Chinese architecture, and delicious food.
Enjoy China and definitely learn as much Mandarin as you can! Also, take a mental snapshot of what Jiangxi is like now, b/c it will change so much in 10 years.
Are there any yang rou chur sidestalls with Yanjin pi jiu still around?
Sounds like you have your own China story! Yep, there are still yangrouchuanr stalls with Yanjing pijiu. I’ve been studying Chinese twice a week with a tutor. The more I learn, the more I can learn from the people around me. I can currently speak like a 7 or 8 year old kid. I’ve never been to Jiangxi province, though a good friend’s hometown is there. I hear it’s gorgeous. This country is changing sooooo fast.
Ah! What an inspirational post. I really like the component that you’ve taken into account, which is learning to do things outside the States without (direct) use of the degree. I think your story is terrific, and it is really good that you are able to utilize your ambitions to do something important.
Thank you Beth. Yes, I was lucky to attend a university that encouraged cross-sector connections. Actually, back in ’06, when I mentioned my random idea to move to China (having recently turned down a job offer to go to Peru or Ecuador, and having applied for a scholarship to study Portuguese in Brazil) my Latin American Studies advisor encouraged me and wrote me a nice letter of recommendation. Now, in Beijing, I use my university education every day, in that I’m always researching and analyzing information, and customizing it for my audience. I sometimes speak Spanish or Portuguese with friends here, even though most people who move to China can speak English.
I would love to visit China! That is awesome that you are doing that. Good luck with everything!
Xie xie ni 🙂
Your article really inspired me! I went to Beijing and Shanghai 2 years ago as part of a college trip and immediately fell in love with the culture. I had never heard of Wokai before, I’m interested in learning about their internship/volunteer possibilities. I have a B.S. in Finance and have never imagined using the degree for anything other than starting a business or getting involved in microfinance.
I would love to hear more about your experiences with WoKai or any other microfinance opportunities you’ve found in China. Perhaps another great article?….
Wow, thanks Rich! It’s good to hear that you had a great time in China. Wokai is always looking for more supporters, and they’re hiring. Here’s a link for more information: http://www.wokai.org/f/about/index.php?page=getinvolved
As for microfinance in general, it’s a fascinating field that’s really in demand these days (both from borrowers and from aspiring microfinanciers). I first got involved with microfinance as an exchange student in Chile in 2005, where I interned for an organization called Accion Emprendedora. I’ve written several posts about microfinance in China and Latin America on my blog: http://www.leslieforman.com/category/microfinance/
I guess the main piece of advice I could give about working in microfinance is to learn as much as possible. Read microfinance blogs and publications, like Microcapital and MyKro.
Hope this is helpful 🙂
Wow! That’s a huge leap. All the way to China, huh? Something I couldn’t even fathom right now, maybe in a year or two. Delaying the Real World is what you said inspired you to do this? I’ve got to read this book
Looking forward to hear more of your experiences.
Thanks Robert for your kind words. Yep, it’s an awesome book! (However, I’d always been really in to languages and traveling, and I’d never been that interested in doing what other people expect me to do. Just ask my parents 🙂 Here’s more information on the book http://www.delayingtherealworld.com/ and its author http://colleenkinder.com/Colleenkinder/home.html