Recent years have witnessed tons of Chinese parents sending their children overseas to further their study and rich Chinese people migrating abroad, especially people in big cities. It is reported that over half a million Chinese went to other countries to study in 2015. China has become the world’s largest exporter of students. China International Migration Report (2015), published by Center for China and Globalization (CCG) and Social Sciences Academic Press, pointed out that Chinese immigrants have formed the world's largest overseas immigrant group. So what is attracting Chinese people abroad? What makes them leave their motherland, their birthplace to another country for good?
Education. This is always an interesting and fervent topic. Foreign education system stresses that students should be given more freedom to develop their personal interests and hobbies. They have a rather loose education environment even in classes. That’s why many Chinese who study abroad would miss a quiet and disciplined classroom. People who received a complete Chinese style education in China should know the biggest characteristic Chinese education is top-down indoctrination, which is mandatory and students’ personality and individuality are rarely considered. As a result, the whole education system is like ”duck-stuffing” --- students lack innovation. The East and West have 2 very different education concepts so it will take Chinese students a lot of effort to adjust to the Western style to truly learn some knowledge.
However, some people just use “education” as a spring board to stay in the West. Education -- diploma -- work visa -- PR -- nationality is the most traditional migration way even today.
Environment. Who enjoys sand storms from winter to the next spring, a time that you can see nothing beyond 100 meters and having to wear thick masks like ninjas and sand choked in your lung? Nobody. Not to mention the hace in many cities all year round, poisoning our body slowly everyday. Most Chinese people, when they went abroad for the first time, would look up and say “Oh my god, blue sky!” YES, as blue as blue can be and the fresh air is most indulging. Pollution is the unpleasant consequence of industrial development. However, most developed countries also went through the pollution to environment protection process. Los Angeles suffered from photochemical pollution for decades and it took the government a lot of effort to improve the situation. China is going through the process right now and I believe in years to come we will see the vast land of China dotted with green mountains and blue sky again.
Food safety. Chinese cuisine is one of the 3 major cuisines in the world. Chinese people love to eat, all kinds of food. But when you watch the news now you will see horrifying report of fruit injected with chemical sweetener, restaurants even big restaurants using waste oil from sewer, hormone-fed fish and shrimp... The stark reality has set many Chinese people worry about the food in China. The Sanlu toxic milk powder event in 2008, causing babies kidney stones (including 4 deaths), has shocked the whole world. After the event, many countries and regions ban the sales or import of dairy products from China and consequently foreign milk powder become popular in China overnight --- the first choice of young Chinese parents. Developed countries have a complete supervision over food safety. People rarely have to worry about the things they eat.
However, are the western countries that attractive and advanced? Are most Chinese migrating overseas really happy from the bottom of their heart? The answer is different from person to person.
Culture. The first thing immigrants have to face is the culture difference. Films and TV shows like The Joy Luck Club, Gua Sha, Beijingers in New York... are the vivid reflections of Chinese immigrant, confronted with the huge cultural clashes, feel lost and no sense of belonging. Even the ABCs who grew up abroad have difficulty in this regard because after all, they look like Chinese. Even some people would rather live a It usually takes generations to fully merge into the foreign society.
Many Chinese immigrants complain about the boring life abroad, they miss the dinner with family and friends, shopping or movies together on weekend. While abroad, they hardly even see any people, let alone penetrating the “white people circle”. Shops closed after 6 at night, the serenity would make you wonder what makes me really give up the bustling street, the delicious Chinese food, the funny friends chatting while you are alone abroad watching the warm glow from the street on a cold wet winter night. I would shudder even at the thought of that.
Transportation. We are so used to the convenient public transportation every day --- buses, subways, high speed trains, they get us almost everywhere and they are cheap! However, in most foreign countries, you have to drive for hours to get to your destination. Plane seems to be the best option for long distance travel. Chinese people who are not used to travel by car may find it difficult at first. Most foreigners who have experienced the high speed train would marvel at its speed and convenience, they usually can not stop taking photos on the maglev train in Shanghai.
Safety. Many of my foreign friends and colleagues would ask me whether it is safe to travel in China. I always tell them much safer than you think. Terrorist attack, religious disputes, gun fights in schools, gang rapes, clown terrors... We have watched enough news about safety problems in the West. When I went to the US for the first time, my colleagues took me to gun range where i have seen people carrying all kinds of guns. They have no sense of safety if they are not allowed to own guns. I ran into a junkie who tried to attack me near Cologne Cathedral in Germany last year (I even had my German colleagues with me) and similar things happened to me in the US too.
I would say you have to give something up to gain more. There is no perfect place in the world. My suggestion is --- go to see the world first, to experience, to feel. Stay in your ideal country or area for 10 or 15 days, talk to local people, try the food, feel the culture. If you think through all the pros and cons of going abroad and find the balance or your best option, I would say go chasing your dream cause we only live once. Besides you can always go back home :)
