I haven't posted here for a long time but decided to come back and do a search on "China," seeing as I'm living here. I was just wondering if there were any aspies working over here and what their experiences were like. I've lived in Zhangjiagang, a small city about 2 hours away from Shanghai, since the end of August 2010. It has not been easy and, true, there have been some bad and depressing circumstances, but living here hasn't been a complete hell either.
I wouldn't say that China isn't for people with Autism, but it certainly isn't for the feint of heart either. You really need to stay over here for awhile to get used to some of the major annoyances. Then again, there might be annoyances you will never get over. For me, the most annoying thing is being treated differently...I'm caucasian, living in a city with a very small expat population. If you felt different in your home country, and you worried about what people thought about you then you probably shouldn't stay in the smaller cities. I get stared at all the time, people talk about me, watch what I buy, how I eat, and so on. People walking by with their friends, saying hello to me, and laughing is somewhat off-putting as well, though I doubt that all of them are doing it to be a smart ass. Being the subject of curiosity is sometimes funny, but it can get exhausting after awhile. Living in Shanghai, Hong Kong, or Beijing you won't deal with as much of this, but you will still probably find someone who wants their picture taken with you.
China in general is a very social place. If you are a man, it seems to be expected that you will share drinks and smokes with your colleagues and friends when you hang out. I don't do smoking, but I have gone out to bars with people, and I don't care much for the atmosphere. Drinking becomes a competive as each person tries to 1-up the other. But if you refuse things like this, people can find it rude...like you don't want anything to do with them and are selfish. So if you live here, you either play the game or figure out a way to skirt around the issue without looking like a jerk.
Also, if you're really picky about what you eat, then you might have some problems here. You'll be picking lots of bones from your meat, a lot of dishes are oily, and some of them seem downright strange to a Westerner. Not to mention, vegetarians will be sorely disappointed....It's hard to find vegetarian places outside of major cities. A lot of places that have tofu will still have meat in the recipe. Fortunately for me, I'm not too picky, but there are some things I can't get into...I'm looking at you, chicken feet.
Comparing cleanliness standards to the west will probably also leave some of you disappointed. There are some weird smells out there and, as mentioned, a lot of people spit and blow "snot rockets" outside. I was surprised by some people peeing outside at first but, to be honest, the other option would be the public bathrooms, and that makes peeing outside look enticing to me. Needless to say, any time I see a wet spot on the sidewalk where a bush runs alongside it, I step around it. haha
When it comes to dining, the cleanest places will be the most expensive. I've eaten at place that was considered one of the most famous restaurants in the city, and I saw roaches on the curtains. You have to train your brain....I laughed it off because the food was excellent. I didn't even get diahrea! Actually, I've been very fortunate in that arena, since I've rarely had that problem. Yet, everyone will warn you about it before you go to China. People share from the same dishes at mealtime and a lot of people (cooks included) don't wash their hands as freqently as you might think they should, so germophobes beware. Bring lots of hand sanitizer!
Oh yeah, if you really hate changes, then you probably shouldn't work at a Chinese company, at least not in a school anyway. Mine changes s**t on the fly all the time, and I have no choice but to adapt. I was told that I would be doing one thing when I got here, but then they through another class on me. A month later they took away some of my classes, to replace it with another class they told me I had to teach. They'll also take the kids to assemblies, etc. when I'm supposed to have class, often without telling me. I never really know when my holidays are either until the last minute, which makes planning in advance nearly impossible. If it sounds frustrating, it is, and I'm still learning how to deal with it. Culture shock has been really wearing me down as of late, though.
Sounds...Yes, things are loud in China. The horns are only a minor annoyance to me...Then again, in ZHG, not as many people have cars as they do in Shanghai, but people lay on the horn here all the time. The only time it pisses me off is when I'm in the crosswalk while the pedestrian light is green, and some impatient driver turns and honks his/her horn at me. I just smile and wave hello to them. People do talk loud, especially when answering their phones or sitting in a restaurant. My students are also bloody loud in the classroom. I frequently find myself having to shout over them and to get their attention.
Does this mean that I think living in China is a complete bust for someonen with autism? Absolutely not. Your comparison of Hong Kong to the Mainland gives the impression that the Mainland is ultra barbaric. Say what you will about the government and corruption at all levels at society....That exists for sure, unfortunately. But by and large, the people are pretty friendly here and forgiving if you have difficulties grasping Chinese. Making friends, good friends especially, is relatively easy here. I walked to the rural outskirts of the city, was taken in by a family of strangers for dinner, and was invited to celebrate Chinese New Year's Eve with their neighbor's family. I have been really fortunate to meet some wonderful people.
It's true that you can't let your guard down, though. There will be people out there trying to con you sometimes. I remember when a group of guys who practically couldn't communicate in English came up to me and asked me to go with them....no explanation of where, who they were etc. They tried to act like they would be my friends, but I declined the offer...Something sounded shady.
For me, the hardest part about China has been coping with culture shock in the workplace. I can deal with everything else, even the crazy taxi rides and tail-gating buses. But my school has done things that have depressed me, and I don't find the work fulfilling. Don't get me wrong, I love these kids. They have largely been a joy getting to know, but I know I couldn't be happy living here for the rest of my life. One of these reasons is that foreign English teachers aren't really respected without a major list of qualifications, and this shows itself in what the job demands of me. Most of the classes are one day a week oral English classes. How can you really learn much of anything in one day? This also makes it hard to keep kids in line, especially when I was told to pretty much deal with it myself. And the kids don't want to do much other than play word games...Getting them to do something with conversation feels like a chore. I feel like a guidance couselor more than a teacher and, in some ways, that is a more rewarding role...I don't think a lot kids here get that kind of support...They go to school all day and, according to an Australian boy, the teachers will even smack the kids on the side of their head. This is why I try to be patient. But this is off-topic...
Anywho, don't be afraid to visit China...There has to be a place here that's the best fit for you.
P.S.:
As for Hong Kong, its better living standards are largely in part due to its prior status as a crown colony. The people aren't necesarily always "polite" either. Getting on the subway is a free-for-all. You can also escape the crowds in Hong Kong. Go to the New Territories, and see what I mean.
06 Feb 2011, 5:03 am
