DOING BUSINESS IN CHINA

I personally feel that when you do your business you are making money for yourself whereas if you work for a company you are working equally hard to make money for someone else. Saying that I would also add that everyone can not do or does not want to do business and no one is forced to do so.

China is the haven for anyone wanting to start up big or small. At this point I know you are thinking why? Why china? Why not any other country that simply because anything and everything can be produced or is being produced in China..

The Chinese manufacturers are not only industrious but, also up to date on the latest trends on everything. May it be electronics, fashion or accessories.

Now that you have decided you want Chinese products than comes the hard part of trying to find a supplier. If you are sitting in one of the western countries please be aware, everything that comes on the internet maybe convenient but its not reliable. Click on the link below to see all kinds of scams that take place here.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13986308

China is doing what ever it can to control these kinds of mishaps but, it is a huge country and therefore managing everything is a tough job especially, when red envelopes(traditionally a form of passing on luck by giving luck money, today used as a form of bribe) is so popular in every sector.

If you ever arrive in china and start a life here you will understand the value of this red envelope. The parents give it to the teachers so their kids are looked after. The patients give it to the doctors. The suppliers give it to their vendors and business men to police and other government sectors from where they need favors. If you ask the Chinese populace as to what they think about this culture they will inevitably say we are just taking care of our needs and requirements.

As foreigners please bear in mind that all Chinese think you are rolling in dough and therefore, you are able to pay any amount. They will try to over charge you. You need to haggle a little with the suppliers may it be factories or retail vendors in order to get a good price.

Language is a barrier for us as most suppliers only speak Chinese. Even if you have a translator with you do not expect them to bargain for you or even to speak in your favor. They will always listen and respond to the Chinese suppliers and at times completely ignore your needs and requirements. This seems to be the most natural thing for them to do. I have no clue why but, this is out of my own experience.

Like I have mentioned before things are looking up for us now as more and more people speak English.

All domestic postages are handled by China Post which runs a service called EMS(express mail service). Its reliable if the address is written in Chinese.

 

Why the young generation today prefers to speak and learn English from a NATIVE SPEAKER?

I have been letting everyone know that teaching English is a very viable trade for Expats in China. This is not only true for China but, also for other countries like Japan, Cambodia, Spain, Thailand etc.

Have you ever wondered why so many people want to learn English? What charm does this language hold?

Let’s take Chinese (Mandarin) for instance it is a language that is vastly in use all around the world simply because china has the largest population and everyone inevitably speaks Chinese.

But, today there are more people in China and around the world learning English than there are Native speakers. So, if you think of demand and supply well we teachers are in good demand.

Just for laugh.....lol

As a teacher I try real hard to get my students to start understanding English as a language and then being the ablity to use it inorder have a conversation rather than just reading books and memorizing passages. When I first started it wasn’t easy understanding why so many students of all ages wanted not only to learn but, learn real quickly.

As I have been staying here I have begun to realize how tough it is for Chinese students to head to high schools or Universities abroad just because their comprehension of the English language is below average. They have to depend on agents who are more than willing to con them.

Schools are not far behind. I know of a school here in Guangdong that makes their high school student take the TOFEL test 3 times once each year under the pretext that if they pass it each year they will be preparing for university way in advance and will be able to get admission in a good one.

The TOFEL classes are beyond my understanding because they are run by Chinese teachers who claim to teach the students skills and techniques to pass the TOFEL test without actually reading and comprehending the passages given.

School in China encourages no imagination

The English taught at school is very old. They have been following the British School curriculum which got out dated 10 years back.

The children are taught very basic English at school and everything is explained to them in Chinese therefore, for more language exposure and accent reduction parents start looking for native speakers who can help their child.

As a native speaker my role in the life of the children’s I teach is not only to teach them the language but, to be their friend. My students are very comfortable with me and I encourage them to think and reason rather than just listen (which is what happens in most schools here)

The Children here are brilliant but, unfortunately they have lost their imagination and creativity. It has been curbed by continuously teaching the child to follow and blend into the crowd.

All my students here write English in a particular which never changes. So I started teaching my kids to write cursive and when one of them tried to use it at school the teacher told the child that he|she was trying to show off. 

Therefore, teachers who are not from China come across as more encouraging, open minded, education and recreational. The children enjoy to spend an hour or two and have fun along with learning rather than get bored.

As a language and accent reduction teacher I know being able to speak a language is great. But, I also know that learning one language has no affect on any other languages you already speak or will speak in the future.

Why should I consider China?

One of the oldest civilization, one of the most populated and one of the fastest growing economies in the world. China has come a long way in the past 50 years or so. I have been living in China and believe me you, every Chinese wants to head out of the country. The hottest destinations being USA, Australia, UK and Canada. All my Chinese friends speak so highly of the western countries as they see it in the movies, that sometimes am embarrassed to tell them the truth.  Well let's not look at the negatives. Here I would like to tell you the positives of being an expat and living in China. The list of course is endless but, below I will try and capture the most interesting ones...

Foreingers in demand in China

1. As an expat you are beautiful/handsome no matter how average you looked back home. (Big eyes, a good nose bridge, height, color etc.) You will have the opposite sex swooning over you. This is especially true for men. Chinese women love foreign men and if you want to know the reason that will be a completely different blog look out for it lol....

2. Well now we know expats are sought after. So, you can imagine the number of job opportunities out there for you. Please click on the link below to see all kinds of odd jobs you can only find in China.

 http://www.echinacities.com/expat-corner/adventures-in-china-strange-expat-jobs-20110801055830.html

Saying that I would also like to add that if you are passionate about teaching, starting a business or finding a job in a multinational company, you can definitely give China a try. Normally  you  would try looking for a job before you move to any other countrybut, in my opinion China is the only country where you can arrive first and then look for a job (I know many other websites or blogs will disagree).  It's quite possible you will land one otherwise it would still make an adventurous and affordable vacation trip. So, it's a win win scenario lol...

3. Everything is getting expensive in China like everywhere else but, living in China is quite affordable and definitely cheaper than the west. It's tough for a foreigner to buy property here unless you own a business or are married to a Chinese but, renting is an excellent option.   I am sure you know by now I am living in Guangzhou. Here an apartment  downtown will cost you anywhere between $400 to $800 depending on size, convenience, location, furnishing(almost all apartments are furnished) etc. This is for the ones who want a fast lifestyle but, for people like me suburbs' just fine. I live 40mins away from downtown (very conveniently connected by bus, which run from my residential complex every 15mins to different locations downtown). If you intend to rent in the suburbs you would have to shell out anywhere between $300 to $400. The apartments are larger in the suburbs and I could write pages on the place where I live which is called Clifford Estates. If you plan to live in big cities like Beijing, Chongqing or Shanghai you might may a little more for rent. 

4. Eating out in China is a very common practice. May it be breakfast, lunch or dinner restaurants are always full. There are all ranges of restaurants you can have a meal for $1.00 or for $50.00 whatever you choose. By the way a MacDonalds meal in China will cost you only $3.50

5. As the fastest growing economy you will find the best of both worlds in China. You can eat at an expensive restaurant, a local eatery, buy your groceries at an international supermarket or visit your local farmer's market for a humongous variety of fresh fruits and vegetables (this option is healthy and surely cost effective).

6. One can do the most amazing things here maybe it be visiting the world's largest aquarium, open safari park, international circus, largest sunflower garden, best skyline, fastest train and the list in goes on and on..... These are only a few of the things that I have listed in here. I have much more coming up please watch out for more information and if there is anything particular you'd like to know about please suggest and I will try my best to get you the information.

 I am not the only one saying this for more information click on the link below: http://www.sovereignman.com/expat/five-reasons-you-should-consider-china-as-a-place-to-live-and-do-business/

Well this is not going to last forever........all western countries want China to  increase the value of  the RMB which is the Chinese currency against the American Dollar .

Sunday Mass and shopping at Yi De Lu

Roman Catholic Cathedral in Guangzhou

Everyone understands that China is a communist country and therefore, atheism is part of the culture. Chinese do believe in a lot of superstitions for example 8 is a lucky number, water and fish bring prosperity, turtle in the house brings longevity, 4 is an unlucky number and the list goes on but, not many young Chinese go to temples, churches or mosques. Let's just say when asked why or why not the Chinese are neutral on this subject.  But, for all the Catholics who do go to church every Sunday and attend mass that does not have to stop if you are in China. Most Chinese cities do have Catholic Churches and most of them will provide at least one service each Sunday in English. As I am living in Guangzhou I can tell you where the church is and how to get there. The roman catholic church in Guangzhou is called Sacred Heart Cathedral and it's on 56 Yide Lu (some refer to it as Yak Tak Road). The Architecture of this church is like most gothic European churches and its sometimes known as the Stone Chruch. The best way to get to the church is to take metro line 2 and get off at Haizhu Square take exit B2. This will get you out on Haizhu square and from here it's about 10 min walk to the church. All you have to do is ask for 'Yi de Lu' I live in Clifford Estates, Panyu and the easiest way for me to get there is to take a shuttle that gets me to Second Workers Cultural Palace( last stop for the bus) and from there I take the metro to Haizhu square, get off there and exit B2 then walk 10 mins to the church.

Small stores just outside the church selling import food at very reasonable prices in YiDe Lu, Guangzhou

As I am giving you information about the church in Yi De Lu I would also like to add that all the shops right outside the church sell import food so, if you are looking to buy some cheese(mozzarella, cheddar, cream cheese etc), olives, pickles, salad dressing, dry herbs this is the place to go looking for it. It's all cheaper than the international shops and super markets. Its definitely good quality.  When I first got to Guangzhou I never made a pizza at home because the cheese was just so expensive at the supermarket that ordering a pizza was much cheaper but, since i've found Yi De Lu that's all changed. Let me warn you these shops are real small in size and do not advertise. You would think  these shops couldn't possibly cater to your requirements but, I assure you I was proved wrong. They carry everything from canned beet, cranberry sauce, coffee,ghee(clarified butter), salami, cereals, wine and all......it's worth going there if you are longing to cook something other than Chinese food.

Here's a list of Roman Catholic Churches in China:

• Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul in Baoding
•  Immaculate Conception Cathedral (South Church) in Beijing
•  Cathedral of Bengbu in Bengbu
• Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Changsha
• Xiwanzi Cathedral in Chongli Cathedral Green Bridge in Chengdu
•  Chifeng Cathedral in Chifeng
• St. Joseph Cathedral in Chongqing
•  Mother of Grace Cathedral in Daming
•  Cathedral of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Datong Cathedral of Fenyang
•  Cathedral of St. Dominic in Fuzhou
• Sacred Heart Cathedral (Seksat Church) in Guangzhou
•  St. Joseph Cathedral in Guiyang
• Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Hangzhou
• Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral in Hohot
• St. Columban Cathedral in Hanyang
•  Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel in Hanzhong
•  Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral in Harbin
• Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral in Jilin City
• Sacred Heart Cathedral in Jinan
• Xidianzi Cathedral of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in Jingzhou
• Sacred Heart Cathedral in Kaifeng
•  Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Kunming
• Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral in Leshan Cathedral
• of the Mother of God in Luoyang
• Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Longbao
•  Cathedral of the Holy Family in Meizhou
•  Cathedral of the Good Shepherd in Nantong
• Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Nanchang
• Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Nanjing
• Cathedral of Our Lady of China in Nanning
• Cathedral of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows in Ningbo
• Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Ningbo
•  Cathedral of Pingliang Cathedral of Pujong
•  St. Michael’s Cathedral in Qingdao
•  St. Michael’s Cathedral in Qiqihar
• Sacred Heart Cathedral in Sanyuan
• St. Ignatius Cathedral (Xujiahui Church) in Shanghai
• St. Joseph Cathedral in Shantou
• Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral in Shenyang
• Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (South Church) in Shangqiu
• Cathedral of Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows in Suzhou
•  Immaculate Heart of Mary Cathedral in Shiqi
• Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Shijiazhuang
• Dongguan Cathedral in Tianshui
• Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Taiyuan
•  St. Joseph Cathedral in Taizhou
• St. Joseph Cathedral (Laoxikai Church) in Tianjin
•  Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary in Ulanqab
•  St. Joseph Cathedral in Wuhu
• St. Joseph Cathedral in Wuhan
• Cathedral of St. Paul in Wenzhou
• Cathedral of Weinan Cathedral of Christ the King in Wuqiu Village
•  St. Francis Cathedral in Xi’an
• Cathedral of Christ the King in Xiamen
• Dazhangzhuang Sacred Heart Cathedral in Xianxian
• Sacred Heart Cathedral in Xuzhou
• Cathedral of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Yinchuan
•  Catholic Church in Yanggu County
•  Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in Yanzhou
• Cathedral of St. Francis in Yichang
• Holy Cross Cathedral in Zhangjiakou
• Zhoucun Cathedral in Zhoucun
• Cathedral of St. Victor in Zhanjiang Cathedral of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Sanmenshizi Cathedral) in Zhouzhi

My first info on china

China sounds very exotic and daunting to many and why shouldn't it we know so little about the real China. We don't get to see much of the present China on TV and therefore, we end up imagining China as we have seen it in the Shaolin or Kungfu movies (further popularized by movies such as Mulan and Kungfu Panda)

I am not saying these movies are not portraying China correctly but, I merely want to share the other side of China. The side where people ride around the city in BMW's, Porsches, Mercedes and every other SUV available in the market.

I have been living in Guangzhou, China for over 2yrs now and I have realized I am doing much better here than I would have done anywhere else (considering the economy and job opportunities) At one point in time everyone used to say 'USA! A place where everybody can make money' and now you can still say the same just replace the USA with China.

Guangzhou is among one of the 5 largest cities. Everyone's heard of Beijing and Shanghai and many travelers give Guangzhou a miss but, being in Guangzhou has it's own charm. The city is very conveniently located between Macao and Hong Kong which are worlds apart from China. As a foreigner this is so cool for me because whenever I want a breather and I feel Chinese traditions are getting a little over whelming I can plan a quick getaway to either city.

In the past two years I have been picking up some Mandarin and it's useful but, these days more and more people are learning English. They realize the importance therefore, here there is plenty job for foreigners who can teach English even if they speak no Mandarin at all. Students can be as young as 18months and as old as 52 or more. Everybody wants to learn and understand the western culture and language making this one of the most viable trade for foreigners in China. One can expect to earn minimum of USD 15 per hour which is not bad at all. Of course, offers will differ according to situation, city, experience etc.....I am only giving an approximate amount.

The city itself has to offer a lot for foreigners these days. You can buy just about everything just like back home. They even have Sam's Club, Walmart, Metro etc....wines a little expensive but, then you can always source it from Hong Kong or Macao.

Living in China is not all perfect it does have it drawbacks for eg, it's tough to find a good steak or decent Italian food but, more western joints are coming up and foreigners don't have to depend on Macdonalds and KFC like most people think. Chinese food in itself is a very healthy alternative with meat, lots of vegetables noodles and array of food to choose from. I have tons of western friends living here and most of them love to eat Chinese as its healthy and inexpensive...

Guangzhou skyline on a cloudy day

I am writing this blog because i feel there isn't a lot of information out there for foreigners to read, learn, get informed and decide whether they want to travel, live, work or visit china. I intend to help get some information out there. i hope to put in some personal experience that would be helpful for all. Please read follow and  watch this blog for further information. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to comment or ask and I will try my best to answer it.