Originally Posted by
sinoflyer
I'll add by saying that, in the last two years (and including this recent trip), in Beijing as well as in other Chinese cities, I have had more than a handful of conversations in which the Chinese person I talked to said this to me, (paraphrasing) "I'm trying to make as much money as I can, so that I can move to America as fast as I can." Those, the immigration lawyer ads in the back of Chinese inflight magazines, and the glossy brochure I found in my hotel room selling EB-5 immigration, tell another story about life in China, IMO.
Perhaps expats and Westerners in general have a more pleasant view of Beijing, because they know they have a real home someplace else?
This is the view of most middle class Chinese in big cities I think. I have a couple of staff who told me they are saving to move abroad so their kid doesn't have to grow up in China.
I think lots of expats have the same view of their time in China, just make money and get out. I used to feel that way but now I can't imagine not living in the French concession or Jingan. I don't want to leave my life in Shanghai almost as bad as I don't ever want to come to Beijing again. Yesterday did have clear skies...how's it looking today?
