Merle,

Actually, this is my field of specialization :-)

I'm Canadian, and have been living in China for the past 10 years. I am a specialist in cross cultural issues, and think I can provide some solid answers for you.

In regard to intercultural (or cross cultural) training, there are really two different areas to consider.

First, there is "general orientation" which seems to be your primary area of interest. This is basic training for new arrivals in China, helping them to get oriented to the new environment, help them understand what problems they are likely to face (and what resources are available to help them deal with them), and a general introduction about the local cultural standards and practices. This is very useful and important; in the past, I ran quite a number of such programs for various relocation companies. At present, I do not do this myself (more about my work a little further on), but you should be able to find good information on this by typing "relocation, china, culture" into any search engine (like Yahoo, Google, etc.). A.R.M. and Crown Relocations are two relocation companies that I am familiar with who both offer such services.

The second kind of cultural training is training focusing on cultural issues in the professional workplace. It is designed for people who are working daily in a mixed-culture environment, and helps both sides understand the most common problems which result, and suggest strategies to deal with those problems.

I currently work as a consultant specializing in this area; I've spent more than 5 years researching these issues in multinational companies operating in China, and have developed a very effective program to train my clients. Current corporate clients include Motorola, Dell Computer, P&G, and the Beijing 2008 Olympic Committee.

There are significant differences between the two kinds of programs. The first kind is run on an individual basis, and should be done as soon after your arrival as possible. The second is run not just with yourself, but with all the staff in your department/team (to identify areas of potential conflict, and do team-building and communication exercises to minimize such conflict), and is best done after you've been in China at least 2 months.

If you'd like more information, I'd be glad to help; you can contact me at QingdaoMan@hotmail.com (I don't like to display my business email in forums like this).

Hope this helps!

John

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John;

I've seen you comments several times, and you certainly seem knowledgeable about Expat subjects.
I am currently being considered for a transfer to work at our offices in Beijing.

I've been doing my due diligence, and using the net to learn all I can before I make a decision.

Some areas which I find difficult to to get a good read on are:
Housing costs and how to best find the right direction without getting fleeced for being the new kid in town.
How much of an American Expatriate community there is in the Beijing area. WIll my wife and kids find a social life?
What is driving there like?
You've been there ten years. I must assume you like it.
Any answers, references, or comments would be welcomed.
If any Americans living in Beijing read this, I'd like to hear from you as well.

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I'll do my best to answer your questions:

Regarding accomodations, costs vary hugely depending on the area of the city you live in, the size of the apartment/house, and what 'extras' you want.

For example, a good-quality Chinese-style apartment (120 sq.m.) just outside the Central Business District might run you less than US$ 1000/month. But you'd have no access to things like CNN/HBO (you'd have almost entirely Chinese-language programming, except CCTV 9 which is China's english-language station); your kitchen would have no oven (only a gas range); and you would likely have no bathtub, only a small/cramped shower.

On the other end, you could get a beautiful, fully-furnished Western apartment, with CNN, HBO, full western-style kitchen, bathtub/jacuzzi; in a complex that also offered indoor swimming pool, fitness center, recreation center, etc. Apartments like this would run anywhere from US$3000-5000/month (or higher, if you want more perks).

In short, pretty much anything you want can be found here; it depends on how much you want to spend. I'd say most expats can get by quite nicely for around US$3000-4000/month. There are SOME good deals for less than that, if you do some shopping around.

As to how to avoid getting ripped off by the locals -- don't go looking yourself. There are several reputable real estate agencies that deal specifically with expat housing, and should be able to find you something suitable without getting ripped off.

Regarding the "American Expat Community"...you'll likely find yourself rapidly referring to it as the "foreign expat community". There is not that much of an identifiable "American" Community as such (outside of the US Embassy). Even the American Chamber of Commerce has huge numbers of people of other nationalities involved. However, the general expat community here is quite large, and there are always activities going on. I'd suggest that if you want some idea of the social life in Beijing, and what is offered (for you, for your wife, for your kids) check out www.thatsbeijing.com or www.cityweekend.com.cn. Both of these are websites for popular local expat-oriented magazines. Once you are IN Beijing, just keep an eye open for magazines like That's Beijing, City Weekend, Beijing Journal, or Metro. These are all provided free of charge, and are available at most expat-targeted bars and restaurants. They provide regular updates about exactly what's happening in Beijing.

Regarding your kids, I wanted to add a little here; there are a number of excellent international schools available to expats here. However, at present, the number of foreign children exceeds the enrollment capabilities of those schools; there is therefore a waiting list (sometimes of a year or more). So if you ARE thinking of moving here, you should try to contact those schools ASAP to get info on what types of programs they offer, what the costs for enrollment are, and how long the waiting list is. Alternately, contact a relocation company and have them help you; most of the relocation companies in Beijing have very good contacts with the international schools, and can help you get your children enrolled in the minimum time possible.

Driving -- is usually a shock to new arrivals. There are not traffic "laws" so much as there are traffic "guidelines"...guidelines that are frequently disregarded. It is getting better (is MUCH better than ten years ago), but still far from the standard you will be used to.

Also, an American or international driver's license is worthless here; if you want to drive in China, you have to pass a Chinese driver's examination to get a local license. For MOST expats, the solution to all of this is simple; just hire a local driver to drive for you. There are very good-quality local drivers who can be hired for very low cost, and are available to you essentially 24 hours per day. Or, alternately, just take a taxi. One out of every three cars in Beijing is a taxi, so there's not often a problem finding one.

And yes, I love it here. In truth, there are very few expats who stay here as long as I have; it IS a very different life from that back in N. America, and can be hard to adjust to. But for those who can make the adjustments, it is one of the most dynamic and exciting environments that one could hope to live in or experience.

Hope this helps; if you have more questions, feel free to leave a message here, or contact me at the email address in my first response.

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Great response. Very helpful. Thanks much!

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hi. my husband is currently working in beijing, and we are scehduled to move there in august. hopefully sars will be under control by then.

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HI Mielle,
Dont be afraid of going to China because of SARS
situation. I am living in Changchun, CHina, right now
we have about 35 cases. Even though there are more
cases in Beijing, you should keep in mind, that there
are some million people living in Beijing, and dont
believe, that everything in the international press is
the trouth. There are a lot of bars and cinemas, still
open in Beijing. Others are closed because the
gouverment tells people, better not togo out. So
business is bad for the discos,that is why, some are
closed. Right now travelling to Beijing ist o.k.,
beause it is not that crowded. The international
schools are open, so if you go threr with the family,
your children can visit the school. There is no need
to be afraid of going to beijing now! And hopefuly the
situation in August will be better than in May. You
should be more concerned about the very hot weather in
August and the smog.
Best wishes!
Merle

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HI Mielle,
Dont be afraid of going to China because of SARS
situation. I am living in Changchun, CHina, right now
we have about 35 cases. Even though there are more
cases in Beijing, you should keep in mind, that there
are some million people living in Beijing, and dont
believe, that everything in the international press is
the trouth. There are a lot of bars and cinemas, still
open in Beijing. Others are closed because the
gouverment tells people, better not togo out. So
business is bad for the discos,that is why, some are
closed. Right now travelling to Beijing ist o.k.,
beause it is not that crowded. The international
schools are open, so if you go threr with the family,
your children can visit the school. There is no need
to be afraid of going to beijing now! And hopefuly the
situation in August will be better than in May. You
should be more concerned about the very hot weather in
August and the smog.
Best wishes!
Merle

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hi, merle. thanks for your support and encouragement.

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Hi

I don't know if this info is too late in getting to you, but I figured it was worth a shot.

I am an American in Beijing and am also in the relocations field. I first came to China in 1989 and have lived in Asia for 9 years since.

I agree with some of the other advice but my experience as a relcoatee as well as the person conduction the orientation has taught me that what you need first and foremost is a good orientation program, not a freebie thrown in by the company that moves your household goods.

Schools do have waiting lists, but American passport holders by pass the lines (only behind Embassy employee dependents) since it was originally started as an Embassy school. Fair or not, that is the way it is. A good relo company will help get your applications in for you.

I think the housing budget was a little low. Those rates seem more like ones you'd get from a landlord, not a management owned unit. Not that landlord's are bad, but you definitely get what you pay for.

You need to decide primarily if you want to live in- city or in the suburbs (Shunyi) and then in a house or in an apartment. Rents can also include management fees, utilities, clubhouse fees and on occasion cleaning service, so find out what is included in that monthly rent.


Your wife and child(ren) can adjust well with all the offerings for expats in BJ...sports, cultural activities, etc.

Driving is crazy to the uninitiated, and many expats have drivers (some companies provide them). In city residents can get by on taxis, biking and walking, but a car is necessary in Shunyi. Since SARS, many people (local and expat) have bought new cars, and the traffic has gone from bad to worse.

If you have specific questions, email me at bchen715@yahoo.com
and I'll be glad to give you some insight to expat life in BJ, as an American and mother.

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