Editor's note: There are a growing number of foreigners who have come to travel or work in China in recent years. Our blogger, SharkMinnow from Canada, sums up 10 categories of foreigners he has met and known over the years. Which category do you fit in? You're welcome to leave your comments.
1. Teachers
The predominant field of expats in China is education, and I am myself part of this first class of foreigners. Some foreigners teach in China because they couldn't find a job in their home country, some because they've lived here a long time and have decided to settle down, or some teachers are just up for an adventure teaching abroad. Qualified, seasoned teachers are usually well-educated and versed in Chinese history and culture and may or may not be able to speak Chinese.
An American teacher in an English class at a suburban school in Hefei, East China's Anhui province, Sept 11, 2012. The man, known to his students as Benlong, came to China from the United States in 2001 and has worked in many cities since. He became a teacher at an English training institution in Hefei and spends one day a week giving free English classes to students in a suburban school of the city. [Photo/Xinhua] |