This is a guest blog post I wrote for Opportunity China, a portal where English teachers, university lecturers, students and au pairs can find exciting and enriching opportunities in China.
You have a new job in a new country and you’re ready to live as an expat! Now what? As you experience feelings of excitement and perhaps some anxiety, you need to start thinking of how to prepare for your big move to China.
China is such a fascinating country offering culture, history, and more. Be prepared to absorb everything happening around you at warp speed. You don’t need to be a seasoned traveler to visit China, but there are some things you should anticipate in order to acclimatize to the local culture, allowing you to enjoy your time in China.
Get Your Bearings
If you’re able to, start your journey by visiting a gateway city such as Hong Kong. English is widely spoken in Hong Kong and you will easily find more creature comforts to ease away the initial culture shock. You could visit cities located close to Hong Kong like Shenzhen or Guangdong. While English is not widely spoken in these cities, it would be a good introduction to the rest of China.
Take Advantage of Your Workplace Networks
English teachers, university lecturers, students and au pairs automatically belong to a professional network. Make new friends with other expat colleagues who may have worked longer in China, and locals who work for the organization. After work drinks and weekend day trips with your new friends is a great way to open doors to new experiences in China.
To continue reading the rest of this blog post, visit Opportunity China: How To Prepare For Your Big Move to China.
Safe Travels!
xx Deb
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