The battle of non-natives

English teaching. It seems to be a world full of traps, deceits, sugar coated nonsense and trying to outsmart rather than to be outsmarted – and all this to endure before you even set a foot in a classroom or sign a teaching contract!

I'm talking about us ”traveling” teachers: people who are looking to get employed abroad rather than staying at home. Back at home you know the rules and they seem straightforward, ie. certain qualifications that are needed to be employed as a teacher. I for one never imagined that it could be such a twisted world of pretense trying to get a decent teaching job abroad. Especially after I paid nearly 3000€ for my CELTA teaching certificate, which is supposed to be the most recognized piece of paper you can have in the teaching world.

But more precisely I'm talking about the fact that many companies prefer native English speakers instead of non-natives. In fact that is not putting it quite correctly: they do not ”prefer”, they actually require. Many times non-natives are told not to even bother applying for teaching jobs.

As a non-native whose English is on the level of most native speakers, this obviously is very frustrating for me.

And for what reason are us non-natives discriminated? Many companies argue that they want the ”authentic accent” or ”knowledge of the preferred culture”, but I buy none of that for a second. As I've lived in China for a year now I have seen what it's like: hiring managers are perfectly happy offering you a job if you are a) white and b) sound like you come from an English speaking country. That's it. As I fill these requirements I've been offered jobs constantly. I have not accepted any of the offers since they were not my cup of tea nor have I let the people offering them know that I am actually not a native speaker; that in fact I fooled them with my accent and they mistook me for a native speaker. Though lately I've wondered why haven't I revealed to them that I'm not a native speaker? I guess my reasoning is that it would most likely make them think less of me and my language abilities – which is insane because my grasp of both written and spoken English is better than some of my native speaking friends. But none the less this is the reality for a non-native English speaker who wants to find a teaching job: we are simply tossed to a pile of unwanted material.

Every so often I spend a bit of time online searching for the next job opportunity. Time and time again I find that as a non-native English teacher my options are quite limited, especially because I don't yet have the 2+ years of teaching experience which would make it marginally easier for me to get employed.

It's obvious that people who are hiring and making these rules of non-native speakers have either no clue that being a native speaker doesn't mean you automatically are a good teacher or they are only interested in having a ”trophy” teacher, someone who is not required to really teach. In all fairness this is exactly what I've been doing for the past year: my school obviously knows my origin but the managers decided to lie to all the staff and the students' parents because ”they would prefer a native speaker”. It was my first week here in China when my manager told me that they have informed everyone that I come from the UK, so they suggested that I think of a story: what city I come from, where I went to school, etc. I was gobsmacked and must say I did not have very nice thoughts of them at that point. In a way it's like living in a constant lie, having to undermine my true nationality.

What I have come to realize working in China is that one of the reasons they want a native speaker to teach them English is because they feel like they can just be in my presence and ”absorb” the language... Yes, it sounds ridiculous and it certainly is just that. But I have been told by the staff in my school that even though they speak barely a word of English now, they're convinced that they'll learn just by listening to me speak – without even interacting with me. So there definitely is a magical X factor there that they're hoping to catch... I wonder how deceived they would feel if they found out I was in fact not a native speaker at all. Would the ”magic” be lost?

So what do to with this pickle? I know for a fact that I'm not alone with this issue of discrimination towards non-native teachers. I know there are companies that are smart about hiring teachers: they require that your level is high and you're a professional – which is exactly how it should be everywhere. I also know there is more and more talk about this unfair factor in the job market and hence I believe the more discussion there is the better chance there is to make a right out of this wrong.

In the meantime I will try to get away with what my English professor told me as a piece of advice if asked in a job interview whether I'm a native speaker: "just say 'yes'."

https://www.facebook.com/quirkyteacher

He loves me (not)

Abuse.

A simple, little word hiding so much inside. Including prejudice.

This is my own story about abuse.*


Before I got into an abusive relationship I always thought that people who end up in them - and worse of all, STAY in them - are weak and pathetic individuals. In general I think of myself as a kind-hearted, tolerant person but that was genuinely how I felt about abuse victims before. "Why don't they just leave?" I would think out loud. After all, how could anyone who had any self respect or dignity in them allow someone to abuse them?
Little did I know.

When my ex boyfriend started showing signs of abuse - or more correctly I started noticing them - I did what majority of women do; try to rationalize it, make excuses and explain it all away. "He's just stressed", I would tell myself and others, "he has a bit of a temper" or "he's not normally like that". I didn't realize at the time that this was in fact a classic example of the beginning of an abusive relationship.

Like in many other abusive relationships, the beginning was wonderful. Almost too good to be true in fact: he was like a prince charming who would tell me every day how wonderful I am, how I was the only one for him and he was constantly making big plans for our future - everything was also moving along quite fast. It was magical and wonderful.

But very suddenly all that started to change. He got jealous. REALLY jealous. He didn't want me to spend any time or even talk about other men. Little by little he started to isolate me from my friends as well. We moved to a house in the middle of nowhere which made it difficult for me to see many of my friends. Then his need to control me got stronger. He would text or call me throughout the day to find out where I was and who with.
A big issue for us was also money: I was supporting him financially. To be honest I have no clue how that happened.

We moved in very fast after meeting each other and he kept making excuses about money and postponing chipping in on our mutual costs, so I ended up paying for rent, food, petrol for both our cars, also lending him money almost on daily basis for "stuff". Obviously as a good girlfriend my responsibilities were also cooking and cleaning. He expected dinner to be served every night and his lunch to be packed ready every morning. At first this didn't raise any alarm bells because I'm a person who enjoys to fuss and look after the people I love. But after a while I realized that I was being taken for granted and like a dictator he expected these things from me without asking or thanking me.
I later found out that abusive men are very good at manipulating people and they make you feel very guilty if you don't go along with their wants and needs.

As I'm an independent person and also a great believer in equality I always stressed the fact that me paying for everything was a very short-term personal loan: he would have to pay me back sooner or later. I wouldn't budge or let him sweet talk me into forgetting about it - and hence the money issue came a real problem. Although he was working 50+ hours a week as a tradesman and getting paid seriously better than me as a part time receptionist, he would still seem to have no money... After a month or so living together and still having none of his financial support I had no more patience. I told him as a matter of fact that we are equal and he has to start chipping in. He was furious.
It's funny how most abusive men make a big deal about being "the Man" and the provider in the family but in fact 99% of them will try to financially get on top of you by making you pay for everything: leaving them the upper hand as they have not invested any money on the relationship.
For the abuser this is important because he will feel like he's in control. He now owns you because you have no money and he does.

It was very confusing living with someone who you slowly realized was not quite what he pretended to be - yet being already in love with the person made it tormenting.
His need to own me was frightening. His obsession to have me and control me became obvious and it also came as a surprise. How could a person who says he loves you do that? I was torn between wanting to believe in him, trusting his convincing words and opening up my eyes and seeing the facts for what they were.

I wouldn't say I was afraid of him - I am perhaps a bit boneheaded that way - but that was before The Day came, the worst of them all, when all the horridness culminated. He got furious because I refused to buy him beers from the supermarket. So furious that he started smashing things inside our apartment. Shouting at me, barking insults (that was the first and the last time he called me "a whore") and as if that wasn't enough when I told him he had five seconds time to stop and apologize to me he got quiet and sinister, walked up to me very slowly, wagging his finger in my face and spitting out "you better f*cking shut your mouth, or else..". And with that, he turned around and left.
He smashed a few more things as he went, almost breaking the glass door as he slammed it. I couldn't breathe. I looked around me and saw what my life really looked like. It was a mess.

I wish I could say it was easy leaving him. After he left that night he kept sending me spiteful, horrible messages - constantly tormenting me and telling me what a bad woman I was and how no one else would ever take me. He called himself "the best you will ever had". I was trembling. Afraid. I realized he wouldn't let me go, I would have to flee.

Would it surprise you to hear that by the next morning I had changed my mind? I had decided to give him "one last chance". (And I assure you there had been many.) I told a handful of people I could trust what had happened. They tried to talk some sense into me, saying I was in danger and I should leave while I could. I remember breaking down crying, sobbing something about how he deserves a chance, just one more. Luckily I was surrounded by wonderful, strong women who talked some sense into me. The next day as he left for work, I secretly packed my things and left our home. And I was so incredibly lucky to have a safe place where I could return: a house full of friends who loved and cared for me. They understood me when I would tremble every time the front door would open or if I started to cry without any apparent reason. I was scared. Terrified. And when he realized I was gone later that night the messages and calls I received made me a human wreck. I couldn't sleep because I had to get up every five minutes to check if my door was locked. I was sure it was only a matter of time before he'd find me. After all, I knew how bad he could get.

Leaving an abusive partner was possibly the hardest thing I've ever done. I went from a happy-go-lucky girl into a fearful bunch of nerves who was afraid to walk alone on the streets in the fear of bumping into him.
Luckily the local police took me seriously and did everything to make sure I was safe. It was the police who directed me to a safe house/abuse centre where I was able to go and talk to professionals. Even if in the beginning it was mostly hysterical crying instead of talking. It took 3 months of therapy to get back on my emotional feet. And I owe it all to my therapists at the safe house: after our sessions came to an end I was back to my old self, or dare I say: even more brave and confident than before. I was no longer afraid of him. In saying that it did take me a long while to trust another man again.

Alas, time is a healer. I have stopped blaming myself. For a long time I felt like it was all my fault because I was so weak and stupid to fall for his charms and lies.
Which brings me to a sad side note. When I returned to my home country to see my old friends and family, I felt just about brave enough to tell them honestly what had happened. My family had been incredibly supportive since the beginning but it was the reaction I got from some of my oldest friends that completely took me by surprise...
"What do you mean he was abusive? But he'd never hit you? What DID he do then?" were some of the shocking questions I got from friends back at home... I nearly choked: I had just opened up my soul and revealed the most darkest fears in me and they looked at me dubiously and questioned WHY I WAS AFRAID!? I felt so betrayed. And when I tried to hold the tears back and explain to them that not all abuse is physical, that emotional abuse can actually be just as bad if not worse, they wouldn't let it lie. "How can someone be abusive if they don't actually hit you..?" I wanted to scream. I was still in the middle of my therapy and I felt like they brought me back to square one. I felt possibly even more ashamed of myself than ever before.
I try not to blame these friends too much anymore for their ignorant words and pestering questions. After all, they are naïve and hence lucky because they have never had to encounter anything as dark and scary as abuse. And I hope they never will.

Abusive relationship and getting over it has been a life lesson for me. I sure didn't want it, but in a way I'm glad because it did make me stronger than before.

I hope my story can be a part of the important cause of telling people about abuse. It's not always easy to see who's in need of your help. My ex partner never laid a finger on me but his aggressive and demeaning presence haunted me long afterwards: naked to the eye.

All abuse victims don't have black eyes or broken ribs.

More about abuse on this website www.loveisrespect.org

*I have not gone into too much detail about the abuse I went through. Partly because it would make this blog post very long and also because it is still incredibly painful.

My favourite mornings

I'm not a morning person.

But sometimes something magical happens... I get lucky and my mind plays tricks on me as I move from the dream world to the conscious one, feeling like a bear who's just waking up after a long winter of slumber. And in that split second before opening your eyelids you're in a haze, not entirely sure where you are - or when.

It only takes an instant but it's enough time for the mind to start scrolling the film roll of life: am I waking up in a safari tent in the outback; or in my old rusty camper van; or perhaps on a sofa at a stranger's house who has shown me such kindness that we have become lifelong friends.

Or am I waking up in that luxurious Las Vegas casino hotel to a scorching summer day; or possibly wrapped in the arms of a special someone who made my days on the road oh so sweet - even if just for a short time.

Indeed, I'm not a morning person but sometimes I get lucky and wake up not remembering where I am or when. These are my favourite mornings.

Is Couchsurfing.com dangerous?

Couchsurfing.com is a website connecting people who either travel and/or wish to meet travelers from other countries and cultures, welcoming travelers into their homes. In short: you invite strangers from different parts of the world to come stay in your home for a few days. Sounds pretty radical when you put it like this, but the concept is brilliant.

As Couchsurfing is a traveling community based on good will, no money changes hands. Strangers from all over the world will offer you their homes just so they could meet interesting new people and potentially make friends - and also so when they go traveling themselves they will enjoy the hospitality of others. Quoted from the couchsurfing.com website: "We envision a world made better by travel and travel made richer by connection. Couchsurfers share their lives with the people they encounter, fostering cultural exchange and mutual respect."

The website has been around for over a decade and I first started using it with my friend when we left traveling five years ago. In 2010 Couchsurfing was still a non profit organization before it was sold and changed to a profit making machine. This, I truly believe, was a mistake.

We are always warned by strangers: when we're young our parents tell us not to talk to strangers or go with them under any circumstances. When we grow older we automatically fear strangers - who knows what dangers are lurking behind those seemingly average faces. And it's smart, obviously, as we know the world is not a perfect place. There are rapists, murderers, phedophiles, scam artists, kidnappers and traffickers, you name it, they're all out there.

But to not turn into a complete cynic with no faith in the human race, we have communities that we join in order to feel safe and happy. For many years Couchsurfing was a community I was not afraid to use: I have "couchsurfed" with dozens of people in several different countries all around the world and even if we didn't become best friends with all of my hosts, most of the time I felt comfortable and completely safe. I have met many friends while couchsurfing and made even more memorable acquintances - each and every person I would not have met without the website! I have a lot to be grateful for: I trusted strangers and they showered me with hospitality, making my travels truly unforgettable.

Though it's not all rainbows and giggles, Couchsurfing is still like anything in life: you have to keep your common sense with you. Four years ago was the first time I encountered a person who marred my Couchsurfing experience: an older man of 50+ years of age, who invited himself to my bed while I was couchsurfing at his house and tried to kiss me several times while I kept pushing him away, repeatedly saying "no". I'm a strong personality and have bucket loads of self confidence, so I managed to get out of a potentially dangerous situation. I couldn't stop thinking what if... But for a long time this remained the only bad experience I had with Couchsurfing.
Then last year I had a very similar thing happening: a man of 65 years old that was my host had been very flirty with me for a few days before he finally crossed the line and said he thought I was very attractive and wanted to lick my toes. LICK MY TOES!!! Needless to say I locked my bedroom door that night and very quickly got out of his house.

It seems that the negative issues have truly escalated this year. My very recent trip to Japan was something I anticipated very much and I started planning my trip on the Couchsurfing website: searching for like-minded people that could offer me accommodation, I was mostly contacted by younger men who seemed dubious: my gut feeling was telling me not to trust majority of these people. One man actually told me that his previous couchsurfers have shared a bed with him because he has no extra bed to give to people who stay with him...! WHAT? Obviously he only invited young, attractive girls to stay with him. I was horrified.

And then it happened. I was in Tokyo and had agreed to couchsurf at Japanese man's home: he seemed normal and nice from the very beginning when he first invited me to come and stay with him. So I kept emailing with him to see if I would get a bad vibe or if there was something off-putting about him to raise the "stranger danger" alert in my head. No such thing came up, so I agreed to stay with him for 4 nights.
I met him in the busiest station of the world, the Shinjuku station in Tokyo, during rush hour. It was bustling. He was dressed in a suit, I thought him a business man, and he seemed nice. After short introductions we were chatting and started heading off towards his house. After a few minutes of walking he told me casually that "you can't come couchsurfing in my house because my parents don't approve of it. So I have booked us a hotel room. There is only one bed though, that's OK?". I couldn't believe what I was hearing. My feet automatically stopped. I was gobsmacked. I gaped at him and in the midst of the bewilderment and utter disbelief I asked him to repeat it: maybe his English wasn't that good or I had misunderstood. He confirmed: only one bed for the two of us. I felt betrayed, shocked, disgusted. I couldn't believe what a weasel this man was. To be 100% sure I wasn't mistaken, I asked him "Did you book this hotel room because you thought I would have sex with you?" and he simply looked me in the eye and said "Yes".
After that good many things happened. The most important thing was that I was safe: we were still around the Shinjuku station so there were literally millions of people around us. I told him what a disgusting human being he was and how dare he take advantage of people's trust, trying to USE me!

That was just what Couchsurfing is NOT supposed to be, but if you are not careful it could happen to you. I remember sitting on the street in Shinjuku, thinking to myself "how did this happen?" and crying. Tears of disappointment, anger, even fear. After a few minutes I picked myself up and made a new plan but looking back I understand that I was in a state of shock. This time I was lucky: the creep revealed his disgusting plans to me while we were still in a public place and I could turn around, say no.

After this experience I have started to think about Couchsurfing differently. After the non-profit Couchsurfing website was turned into a money making machine a few years ago, they have changed for the worse. I didn't use to be afraid using the Couchsurfing website but now I'm cautious: I will carefully read the profile of the person, what other couchsurfers have said about them and also from now on if I get the slightest bad vibe, I will turn people down.

In a nut shell: I absolutely recommend Couchsurfing - but I also recommend listening to your gut and having loads of common sense. And even after that keep your sensors on. Always.

Haven called Japan*

*Author's note: This post will most likely sound like an over-the-top tourist advertisement, but I simply can not but rave about Japan! I assure you that Japanese government did not pay me to publish this :P

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Girls wearing yukatas (not kimonos)

The moment I landed in Fukuoka, a small city in the south parts of Japan, I felt a long missed sensation of a modern society. Everything was clean, efficient, no-nonsense, people were respectful, polite - they even smelled nice and clean. (I wonder if I've lived in China too long to notice the lack of body odor...)

I was impressed with how high-tech everything was, even the toilets with their built-in bidets! After dirty, old fashioned China it was so refreshing to visit a developed country and I must've looked silly smiling to myself at every turn admiring the smooth operation of everything around me. For instance: All transportation ran on time. Smoking was prohibited in most places. Even during rush hour there was no pushing or showing: people gave way to each other. People QUEUED (this NEVER happens in China) politely and quietly everywhere possible. There were signs on public transportation that asked you nicely to turn your mobile phone on mute and to refrain from speaking to it as it was disrespectful to your fellow passengers. Seriously?! I felt like I was in heaven!

Old straw boots hanging on a door of an
ancient village house. Gokayama,
West coast Japan

The genuine smiles I got from people truly warmed my heart and I fell in love with Japan during the first hour I was there.

Many Japanese people apologized for their level of English but honestly mostly everywhere I managed perfectly. Navigating throughout Japan was a piece of cake as most signs are in both Japanese and English. I traveled in six cities using the high speed trains which were marvelous. From Tokyo to Kyoto in 2 hours 20 minutes! The trains travel at 300km/h+ and have all the comforts you might want: luxurious big, reclining chairs with plenty of leg space, plugs for charging your electronic devices, AC, etc. If you're planning on traveling to Japan I highly recommend buying a Japan rail pass before entering the county - as the expense of traveling in Japan is very high.

That might actually be the only downfall of my trip in Japan: compared to China everything was very expensive. Though it was still a lot less expensive than Scandinavian countries, mind you. It was still easy to find cheap places to have a really nice meal in, but beer and other alcoholic drinks were so expensive that I didn't enjoy too many during my trip!

Miyajima Shrine

But the most important thing (for me) in Japan was the culture: I visited countless temples, shrines, a ninja house, samurai castles, ancient villages, the imperial palace and felt nothing short from impressed. I still couldn't get enough and will have to return to find out more about the history and the culture in Japan. It was truly fascinating.


The nature didn't disappoint me either: lush green forests, some of the most beautiful gardens in the world (and I've seen many), cozy city parks, clean rivers and oceans (safe drinking water) and quality of air. Inspired by all the beauty I must've walked a good 10km a day almost on daily basis! I even was spoiled with a beautiful sunset on a beach for my last night in Japan. Truly unforgettable.





















And I couldn't forget about the more creative part of my trip either: all thanks to my amazing Couchsurfing host I got to try plenty of Japanese arts and crafts, such as origami, calligraphy, paper making and I found out about the gold leafing technique.

Practicing calligraphy...it's hard!!

Decorating the paper I made myself

As a food lover the Japanese kitchen deserves to be mentioned, too - and to be honest I was anticipating the sushi for weeks before my actual trip! (And I indulged myself with it at least once or twice a day during my trip!) In addition I was lucky enough also to have my new Japanese friends cook for me and take me to amazing Japanese restaurants to eat yakitori, sashimi, tempura and other amazing dishes. I tried eel for the first time and found it very tasty. Plum sake also took my heart whereas the original sake I can't really rave about.

Finished! (This was the work of only two people)

For a food lover such as myself it was simply divine to experience the real Japanese cuisine and I can't speak too highly of it!

Sushi train! 

All in all  Japan for me was a haven. I needed an escape from the Chinese reality and I can't imagine a better cure than what I experienced :) I fell in love with the country and will organize a more (semi) permanent return to soon. To be honest if I could've gotten away with it, I would've just stayed in Japan and forgotten all about China!

Alas, Japan will have to wait for a few months. For now I'll savor my wonderful memories :)

One of Fukuoka city's parks

Revelations and life choices

I'll be honest. I never wanted to come to China to work. A couple of years ago I had an idea in my head that I wanted to go work in Japan. I'm not sure how that happened since I'd never been to Japan before and didn't know much about it, but I was determined to go through with it.
Unfortunately after I got my English teaching certificate last year the majority of opportunities for an inexperienced teacher were in China, not Japan. I tried applying for many teaching jobs in Japan only to find that I lacked the required experience. Hence, I came to China. My biggest mistake was assuming that China would be similar to Japan.
How bitterly mistaken I was.

I can confess that going to Japan was like a dream come true. Once I was there I realized that Japan was exactly what I had wanted to experience all along: old culture, ancient customs mixed beautifully and seemingly seamlessly with Western modern culture and comforts, along with polite, super friendly people. I knew that Japan was everything I was hoping for when I first flew to China. And never got.

Now I can admit to myself that I have been disappointed with China since the beginning. I don't think I need to repeat my issues with China since I often write about them: pollution, dirt, chaotic no rules mentality, rude and disrespectful manners of the general crowd.

Visiting Japan truly made me happy: in every six cities where I traveled I was thrilled that I could go and walk everywhere - and enjoy it - since there was no human waste or rubbish on the streets, no need to wear an air pollution mask, the cities were well maintained, organized and beautiful; the locals were incredibly friendly and the Japanese people are SO polite! What a contrast to my life in China.

During the trip to Japan I experienced a growing feeling that I'm wasting my time in China. I realized how it's not just enough for me. Not even for the sake of the experience anymore. Sure, it's been a novelty, the craziness has been a test whether I could adjust to an extreme existence or not. I think at the end of the day I come out as a winner: I survived the massive culture shock. I feel like I've immersed into the culture.
I read articles written by Westerners who have lived in the mega cities of China (ie. Beijing or Shanghai) and smile to their stories of how different life is for them there. Well, I can honestly say that one hasn't experienced "real China" unless they've lived outside the mega cities. You simply can't imagine how it is here unless you come and see it for yourself. Living in a mega city in China is a piece of cake compared to the small cities.

While I was in Japan I fell in love with it. Truly, it made such an impact on me I did not want to leave. The saddest part? Coming back to China AND I can't tell any of my Chinese friends here about my wonderful holiday because Chinese people hate the Japanese and everything that comes from Japan.

I see now that my time in China is coming to an end. When exactly, I am not sure. I still have some three months to go til my contract here ends but in so many ways I feel like I'm done with this all. I'm contemplating how important is it to have that full one year of teaching experience under my belt (and in my CV) versus to go and be somewhere I really want to be.

A friend of mine told me a while back that she hopes "China is either treating you well or teaching you a lesson". I think I know now which.

At the moment I'm standing on a crossroads. Where will the next path lead? I can't wait to find out :)

I feel a need to pack my bags

Lǎowài life

"Lǎowài" is Mandarin Chinese and in slang means "a foreigner". Some foreigners in China consider this an insulting name (the literal meaning of the word is "an old outsider") but I personally don't mind. So when you recognize this word you will always know when people are talking about you.

To be a lǎowài in China is a special thing. In both good and bad. Chinese people adore Western culture and adapt some of it into their own culture: the mixture is no less than hilarious! Everyone has iPhones even if it costs an average Chinese person approximately three months' wages..! Insane, isn't it! Western designer bags are worn with frilly, bejeweled, lacy, over-the-top clothing which I simply call Chinese fashion. And then there's the food - Western food is considered a special, fashionable treat here but the Chinese have twisted it into their own style. Or how would you like some fruit pizza with sweet mayonnaise, "steak" that's made of ground beef and drowned in black pepper sauce, sweet popcorn, or a hamburger with deep fried sweet chicken filet instead of a beef patty. When I get cravings for something other than Chinese food it means there's not much help to be found in the nearby restaurants. Lucky I like Chinese food!

Dragon is a powerful symbol for emperors. It's also very lucky.

Nonetheless the Chinese are enthusiastic about the Western culture and want to adapt it to theirs. That's right; they don't want to adapt to it, they want to adapt the Western culture into the Chinese culture. So what is the ultimate Western culture object? Of course a genuine lǎowài, in person. Many times I don't feel like a person but more like an object, a circus animal. Strangers come up to me, wanting to touch me, talk to me, hug me and sometimes young girls or children tell me that they love me...because I'm a white lǎowài. It blows your mind. To be a white foreigner in China is like being famous. But not the nice way: more like you're a famous monkey. "Everyone knows the monkey but the monkey doesn't know anyone" fits perfectly to my existence here.

Like a superstar I get asked to pose in pictures with random strangers I meet; when I leave my house there are strangers everywhere taking my picture without asking my permission; I get special treatment and free goodies occasionally; wherever I go people recognize me and make a fuss. Sometimes I obviously enjoy the perks of being a lǎowài: I love the fact that I'm always the most important person in the room; if I say something people will regard it as pearls of wisdom (I'm not pulling your leg); my opinion always matters; I get asked to speak or perform in events as the star of the day (I've learned a lot about performing while in China!) and sometimes companies or private people will offer me for instance free food, drink or service, and of course want me to come work for them.
Yet there's no such thing as free lunch. The flipside of lǎowài life I've obviously talked a lot about in my previous blog posts.

But things I do enjoy about China are plentiful once I think about it:

Cost of living. It's ridiculously cheap to eat out in a restaurant, take a taxi, buy groceries or fly across China! In saying that I have found that many people do try to take advantage of the poor old lǎowài: I get usually asked for triple to price for anything I purchase. It takes time to understand how things work and after that it's all up to your guts and negotiation skills on how much you will actually pay for the things that have no price tag!

Sober streets. There are no drunks anywhere in public areas! When Chinese people drink it's only mostly the men and they still behave themselves quite well. No fights, no excess noise or trouble, exactly opposite to what we have in any city in the West. In this way the Chinese are super civil people! I always feel safe walking down the streets no matter what time of the day or night it is.

Corruption. A two bladed sword since if you have money or influential friends, there are no limits to what you can do. Or just fake it! For instance for many foreigners it works well: if they don't have the requirements or the experience to get a job they want, they can just make something up and/or fake certificates. Golden!

Perks. Usually your employer would want to treat you well because you are the lǎowài employee and very important for the company. I am the only lǎowài working for my school so I get taken out for free lunches, dinners, they organize little trips to entertain me and in general all my colleagues try to make my life as comfortable as possible here. It doesn't hurt to be a nice person either: I get told frequently that people are so nice to me because I'm such a lovely person to everyone.

Ego boost. People will tell you constantly how beautiful you are because you're so white! Coming from Scandinavia my skin is super white, my hair quite long and naturally dirty blonde so people are always complimenting me on my beauty. It feels nice, especially since sometimes you feel like a fat giant compared to the size 0, petite Chinese people!

All in all life as a lǎowài is always anything but boring in China. And after a while you will take it as "normal". Problem might prove to be that good old Western life could possibly seem rather dull and mundane after the Chinese lifestyle.

Long live everyday roller coaster existence!