Beijing, China
Expat Advice: Culture Shock in Beijing, China
What is the name of the city or town that you are reporting on?
Beijing
Did you receive any cross-cultural training for your move abroad? If yes, was it before or after the move?
before
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Traveling MailboxTraveling Mailbox serves thousands of travelers, expats, digital nomads, businesses, individuals and others in over 47 Countries by scanning their postal mail so they can view it online anywhere in the world. They provide customer service 7 days a week so if you need assistance, it is just a phone call away. Traveling Mailbox works with Evernote, Bill.com and Dropbox. And, there are Traveling Mailbox apps available for iOS and Android devices.
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Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.
If they speak another language in your new country, do you speak the language? If yes, did you learn the language before you moved or while abroad? If no, are you planning to learn the language?
before
Were you worried or concerned about culture shock before you moved abroad?
yes
Traveling Mailbox
Traveling Mailbox serves thousands of travelers, expats, digital nomads, businesses, individuals and others in over 47 Countries by scanning their postal mail so they can view it online anywhere in the world. They provide customer service 7 days a week so if you need assistance, it is just a phone call away. Traveling Mailbox works with Evernote, Bill.com and Dropbox. And, there are Traveling Mailbox apps available for iOS and Android devices.
Traveling Mailbox
Traveling Mailbox serves thousands of travelers, expats, digital nomads, businesses, individuals and others in over 47 Countries by scanning their postal mail so they can view it online anywhere in the world. They provide customer service 7 days a week so if you need assistance, it is just a phone call away. Traveling Mailbox works with Evernote, Bill.com and Dropbox. And, there are Traveling Mailbox apps available for iOS and Android devices.
How significant was the culture shock you experienced when you moved abroad?
very
Expats often talk about going through the "stages of culture shock." Examples include the honeymoon phase, the irritation-to-anger stage, the rejection of the culture stage, and the cultural adjustment phase. Do you feel like you went through these or any other stages as you settled into the new culture?
partly - no rejection: I had lived in other cultures for 10 years beforehand
What, if any, were some of the changes you noticed in yourself that might have been caused by culture shock? These might include things such as anger, depression, anxiety, increased eating or drinking, frustration, homesickness, etc.
intolerance of xenophobic expats
What are some things you appreciate most about the new culture?
respect for others, especially those older than yourself (xiao - filial piety)
What are the most challenging aspects of the new culture?
language
Did you "commit" any embarrassing or humorous cultural blunders? If you did and you'd like to share them, please do tell!
see my book: "the chinese business puzzle". typically, asking chinese if they have "children" when government policy limits them to one
Do you have any advice or thoughts about culture shock you would like to share?
PREPARE BEFOREHAND
