1) Enjoying modern technologies such as high speed Internet, cable television, and cell phones will not be an issue in urban China, yet could be problematic in rural areas: It is true that technology is more advanced in urban areas. But, compared to places like America, it has a long way to go. “High speed internet” is a relative term. Prepare for long buffering times, internet lags, and disconnect. Cable TV is widely available. But, unless you know the local language, it is not much fun to watch. Out of 200+ channels I have, only one is all English (CCTV News). And, occasionally I can find an older English film. Overall, the TV programming are China-Japanese war films, Asian dramas with similar themes, and silly talent shows. If you are looking for Hollywood style programming, you need to find a torrents site. One final note about technology, Google is not accepted here. Think about all of your apps that are Google based. They will need a VPN for operation. So, your choices become limited to Chinese apps that are in the Chinese language.

2) A teacher’s apartment is typically located on or near a campus, and are often shared with a roommate: I will agree with Mr. McCabe about housing. Schools do typically have above average housing provided with all the amenities listed. I have yet to find an ESL teacher required to have a roommate though. Even when there are multiple ESL teachers working at the same school, a single accommodation is usually available. If you live on campus, be prepared for some rules that might limit your freedoms. Curfews, overnight guests, closed gates on holidays, and other rules can seem like they are limiting your freedoms as a westerner. Make sure you know the rules and have them in writing.

3) The airfare reimbursement statements in the article are correct. I always recommend that in your second contract, you change the wording from “flight reimbursement” to “end of contract bonus”. It seems like a simple thing. But, employers can play tricks with you. By making it a contract bonus, specified with the bonus amount to be paid, there is no confusion as to the total. This is usually acceptable to an employer after your first contract is completed. I always renegotiate my contract for this change.

4) Healthcare is CHEAP in China. And, the quality is pretty good. But, I always recommend that a person get international health care insurance to cover major issues that might occur. Your insurance from the school is primarily used for incidents that occur while you are working.

Example: September 2016 was not a good month for me. I was hit by a car while riding my e-bike. Fortunately it was not as dramatic and serious as it sounds. I escaped with a major abrasion on my leg and a fractured foot. The cost was only 400 rmb total for the emergency room visit, x-rays, and a foot cast. That is less than $100 USD. But, it was a reminder to me that insurance is really necessary to have. My school does not cover this because it was during my free time. And, if the accident had been much worse, I would have had to come up with all the money myself.

5) I love traveling in China, especially by train. Taxis are a crap shoot. I usually have a great time with them. Occassionally you get one who is trying to tweek an extra few yuan out of you. I have had taxi drivers refuse to pick up the foreigner. I have had friends not negotiate properly and be charged huge sums. But, overall, the taxis are good.

Trains are wonderful for an adventure. Usually they start off clean, if you get them at the beginning of the line. By the end of the line, expect a garbage pit. Especially on the slow trains. Sleepers are the best for long distances. Unless you like cramped spaces, try to pay for a lower or middle bed. The upper beds can be confining. Since we foreigners are rich (by Chinese standards), I try to pay for the extra comforts, such as business class or first class on high speed trains.

Mr. McCabe has a great piece of advice while traveling. You should always pick up business cards of hotels and other places you will frequent while traveling. A translation app is very useful too. I like planning trips, so I often have a translated information paper with places I want to visit, key phrases, and names of places. It is amazing how tones work in the Chinese language. Often you think you are saying the city’s name properly, but you are not. I wanted to go to Suzhou once. I found myself on a bus going to Xuzhou instead. They sound very similar.

6) Unless you are going to live in China for years and years, forget about the driver’s license. It is far too costly to operate a car here. And, if you get into an accident, you are at fault regardless. And motorcycles are nearly impossible to get licenses for. The rules have recently changed requiring agents and other hoops to jump through. Just stick to e-bikes. No paperwork or anything else required. Just buy one and drive. One note: some cities no longer allow e-bikes to be used “legally”. The province of Guangzhou is one suck location. Although you see them being used, they can easily be confiscated by the police with some fines.

7) Etiquette: I nearly fell out of my chair laughing so hard when I red this portion of Mr. McCabe’s article. I swear that he just copied and pasted this section from an old website. I was in stitches laughing about the time element ones he posted. There is normal time and then there is Chinese time. Chinese time runs at least 15-30 minutes past any stated time. And, flexibility in time is always best. Last minute announcements and changes are expected. For example, there is a holiday coming up and you want to do some traveling. Expect to be notified of the OFFICIAL days you get off work about two or three days in advance.

I will offer this advice in contrast to Mr. McCabe’s advice, take his with a grain of salt downed with a warm beer. These points of interests may have been valid just 5-10 years ago…but things change quickly regarding culture and traditions in China. I will offer this one piece of advice…become a follower, versus a leader. Wait to see what your hosts offer. You will make mistakes along the way, which in turn provides great conversations and a few laughs with your Chinese counterparts. Nothing more. Very few things are considered overly offensive in China today.

Mr. McCabe does a good job providing the traditional views of living in China. Similar articles can be found everywhere in China. Most articles are often outdated in modern China. Urban lifestyle is much more accepting of our western ways. Rural areas try to cling to old traditions by the elders of the community. Overall, China is rapidly changing. In just four years, I have seen so many changes to their customs, traditions, and culture. It amazes me that many of the things that made China unique and special, are being exchanged with western traditions, or completely thrown away.

Let me give you an example. Weddings are becoming so expensive today. A Chinese woman would change her wedding dress at least three times. She would begin her wedding day in a traditional Hans styled red dress that is very ornate. At the reception ceremony with the guests, she would change into a western white wedding dress. For the final toasting and farewell to guests, she would change into a simple red dress. In many weddings I have gone to, one dress has been discarded to save money. Guess which dress is not being purchased by some brides? The traditional Hans dress is being excluded.

During Spring Festival, I was looking forward to Dragon and Drum dances. I was looking for the pageantry of the season, often depicted as Chinese customs. With the corruption campaign occurring against governments, many of these things have disappeared. Skies filled with floating lanterns are not existent today. Fireworks in many communities are banned, although come midnight on Chinese New Year, it sounds like a war breaks out.

My recommendation to anyone interested in China…come make the experience yourself. Accept what is given, leave behind any preconceived notions, and enjoy each day as another blessing. The temples may all be new or recently renovated. But, they still have the tenants of the faith. Finding old Chinese architecture and old towns may be replaced with new buildings and modern amenities, but you can find old China in some places. China is what you make of it. If you come here looking for a China of long ago, you will be disappointed. If you come here with few aspirations to what China is today, you just might find New China is as interesting as Old China is in the history books. I am living in history now, as China transforms before my eyes. Sure, I get to experience old China occasionally when I stumble upon it. What is more amazing to me is that I can say I was living history as China made their way through their development.