10 Things I Wish I Knew Before Moving to China

[@pushcartoldman8698]

Chinese foods have so much varieties, spicy foods are mainly the Sichuan & Hunan foods. Shanghai foods are sweeter, Beijing foods are saltier and Cantonese foods are more steamy and soupy.

[@ReadyGoExpat]

Hey Dadiao. That is right. I could notice the difference in my first year there living in Qingdao and then moving to Jiangxi province. Chinese cuisine is extremely diverse.

[@mctennys]

Yeah. Be patient, and be nice. Chinese are mostly helpful, and sometimes too passionate, as long as they can understand what you want.

[@ReadyGoExpat]

I totally agree with that. People need to be patient and be nice because the Chinese are very happy to help foreigners even when foreigners can't speak Mandarin.

[@porterlewis7503]

I dont mean to be off topic but does anybody know a way to get back into an Instagram account..? I stupidly lost my account password. I would appreciate any tips you can offer me!

[@armandocassius829]

@Porter Lewis instablaster :)

[@porterlewis7503]

@Armando Cassius I really appreciate your reply. I got to the site through google and I'm trying it out atm. Seems to take a while so I will reply here later with my results.

[@porterlewis7503]

@Armando Cassius it did the trick and I finally got access to my account again. I'm so happy:D Thank you so much, you really help me out!

[@sususegar]

Kuai 块 is more of a colloquial slang term, it's kind of like saying "dollar" as value instead of as a currency. As a Chinese ethnic outside China, it's still commonly used across all dialects, which suggests that it might be a very old term used long before RMB was established as a currency. Also, the problem with Chinese traditional meds and treatments (for skpetical people) is that it's hard to scientifically measure effectiveness by Western medical/laboratory standards, but they are usually very effective for treating minor issues like stomach aches and early fever symptoms. Even when you're not sick, it's good to have some herbal-based food/drinks every once a while to "balance" your body (almost like supplements).

[@PlasticExtrusionProfiles]

enjoy your time in China, thanks for teaching our students.

[@ReadyGoExpat]

It is a pleasure to teach my wonderful students in China :)

[@catharineduplessis5273]

Thanks a lot. Informative!

[@ReadyGoExpat]

glad you liked it 😊

[@TashaPryor-oz5om]

I'm really looking for like a lil close to the country side. I can just get a Uber if I want a night on the town town.

[@Aprikoze]

all the ranks about the tiers of cities are not official, it's just a conception that widely accepted by the people, the authority didn't release any rank about city tiers, and being in a higher tier doesn't it a better city in every aspect.

[@ReadyGoExpat]

Yeah. I understand that it is not something official, but it's a good way to have a general idea of the city you're going to choose before actually moving there. Qingdao and Nanchang are both considered Tier 2 cities, but they are SO different in so many ways. Thanks for the comment =]

[@krollpeter]

That is not so. Higher tier receive more resources, lower tier stand behind in the Q.

[@KiunB]

Nice video!

[@ReadyGoExpat]

Glad you enjoyed it! 😊

[@krollpeter]

- Taobao can only be used by Chinese citizens, unless that changed now. - I would bring medication only for the first 3 months or so, you can get everything in China. Just show the pharmacist the package. Some of them are quite knowledgeable, sometimes they are actually doctors. - If you go to a cheap eating place, be prepared the cheapest unhealthy ingredients are used, cooking oil made from old oil etc.. - For non serious non urgent issues go to a local hospital. The treatment is a bit basic so don't be too sensitive, and the service is usually not friendly. But what they do is ok and very cheap. - Hair dressers are not then more expensive is the better. - If you have kids do not be shy to ask at local child cares around. Not all accept foreign kids but some do. My son was lost first but then learned fluent Chinese in weeks! - If you use taxi always have a navigation app open. That alone makes drivers using the correct way. - At all cost avoid accidents with locals, everywhere and at all times. Regardless who's fault it is you will be faulted, and they try everything to strip you off your money. It means months of very unpleasant quarrels should you object. Sometimes even the police lines up with the local, they receive a small share. - Serious crime is low but cheating and pick-pocketing is rampant. - Be prepared to see freak accidents on the road, which you would have never thought to be possible. Call the police, do not help yourself unless you need to for avoiding more serious things to happen. It is not rare the helper is later being blamed to be the culprit. If you help do ask your friend / partner to take pictures to have a prove of what you did. Sad, right?

[@ailianr]

Foreigners can use Taobao, for taxis people should use Didi or call a taxi through the maps apps (practically impossible to be scammed with these), and pickpocketing is uncommon now.

[@davehann6614]

Good advice, particularly number 10. I like the spicy food though.

[@ReadyGoExpat]

Thanks! Yes, I feel like a lot of foreigners enjoy the spicy food here in China. I kind of got used to it when it's just a bit spicy.

[@raincrow8017]

If you live in Jiangxi, it's not suprising that you find food to be too spicy - Sichuan food's spiciness is virtually nothing compared to that of Jiangxi. So it's just a matter of locality. If anyone visits Fujian for example, it's actually quite difficult to find any real spicy food at all.

[@ReadyGoExpat]

Hey Rain. Yes, I agree with that. I didn't think the food in Qingdao, where I lived during my first year, was as spicy as the food in Jiangxi. However, judging a food as spicy or not also depends where the person is from. As for me, being Brazilian, any food that is "a bit spicy" is already too spicy cause the food in Brazil is usually not spicy at all. It is different if you get someone from India, Pakistan, or Mexico for example. Thanks for the comment =]

[@hannah4107]

This was really helpful, thank you for this video! 🙌

[@ReadyGoExpat]

I'm glad it was. 😊

[@saulching209]

特别说明一点：除臭剂。只有不到2%的中国人有狐臭，所以除臭剂在中国很难买到，基本上只有在外国品牌的超市里有货（比如沃尔玛、Taget）。 Special note: Rexona.Less than 2 per cent of the Chinese population has body odor, so Rexonas are hard to find in China and are generally available only in foreign brand supermarkets (such as walmart and Taget).

[@ReadyGoExpat]

Hey Ching Saul, I agree with you. The products in Chinese supermarkets are aimed at the Chinese population, not expats. Thanks for the comment =]

[@jackwu8664]

at 1:43 十快。 Not 快（kuai）。 It should be 块（kuai）。 块 （塊） kuài 成疙瘩或成团的东西：土块儿。 量词，用于块状或某些片状的东西：一块地。两块糖。 量词，用于银币或纸币，等于“圆”：一块钱。

[@ReadyGoExpat]

Hey Jack Wu. Thanks for explaining that =]

[@jackwu8664]

@@ReadyGoExpat You're welcome. 块 塊 kuài 【量】 整体的一部分〖piece; lump; cube〗 人运大石一块。--清•邵长衡《青门剩稿》 又如: 一块布; 一块石头; 一块煤; 一块方糖; 一块肥皂; 一块冰砖 中国基本货币单位〖yuan〗。如: 三块钱 块儿八毛 kuàir-bāmáo 〖one yuan or less than one yuan〗一元钱或一元钱略少。也说“块儿八角”

[@ReadyGoExpat]

@@jackwu8664 Great examples. That's very interesting. Thanks! 😊

[@sunnywan9159]

也是超详细了

[@Leiwen168]

How can you work in China as English teacher if from Brazil?

[@ReadyGoExpat]

Hey Nicolaj! That's a very good question. I am currently preparing a series of videos about teaching English in China and trying to get updated information. But just to answer your question, I can't teach English in China anymore. The laws have changed in the last couple of years, but they started in the 2 biggest cities first, and gradually happened in the smaller cities. That's one of the reasons I am not teaching in China anymore. But it's not that simple. I will explain it in the video in details so subscribe to the channel to watch the video in the next couple of weeks. =]

[@jimlin2993]

很棒的视频，希望你在国内一切顺利！

[@ReadyGoExpat]

Thank you! 谢谢 =]

[@xingchenguo1106]

Hey I am from xinyu Jiangxi,

[@ReadyGoExpat]

Hey Camaro! That's really cool. I've lived in Nanchang and Fuzhou, but I have also visited Ji'An and Yingtan in Jiangxi.

[@ayflying2145]

keep going!

[@ReadyGoExpat]

Thank you =]

[@kean6577]

Qual foi a oportunidade que te levou para a China? Eu adoraria tentar a vida na ásia, especialmente china, japão ou coreia. Mas não sei por onde começar, você tem alguns insights que poderiam me ajudar?

[@ReadyGoExpat]

Oi Vince! Desculpa pela demora. Eu procurei um job online como English teacher, fiz entrevista, passei e depois mandei os documentos pro consulado da China em Sao Paulo. A vida na Asia é bem diferente da vida aqui. É mais tranquila e simples (dependendo do país que você for). É mais barata também, tirando o Japão, Cingapura e Coreia do Sul. Acho muito importante você procurar algo para ir já com algo certo. Pelo menos dá mais segurança. Procura cursos, bolsas, ou empregos. Boa sorte!

[@tailslapexplore6887]

Kuai mean dollar in mandarin dude, 10 kuai means 10 dollar.

[@TashaPryor-oz5om]

Hey hyd. I want to come there. For about 3 months before I make a decision to stay longer. How much money US currency I need to start about 3 months. And I only need. 2bedroom and I have a PCA ( Patient Care Assistant) certificate good to get a job in hospital or care for elderly that can't help their selves completely. Can you chat with me to help me out a lil bit on making my decision. Please.

[@ReadyGoExpat]

Hey Tasha. I left China at the beginning of 2020, and I know things have changed a lot since then. I recommend talking to foreigners who are currently living in China and watching more updated videos to get better info. Good luck with everything!

[@zhizhang3414]

u are so familiar with china!!!

[@ReadyGoExpat]

hhahahaah my five years there were really intense. I tried my best to absorb different aspects of Chinese culture. 😊

[@leungpaul9401]

Idea of TCM is prevention

[@ReadyGoExpat]

Yeah, you're right. I found that out after trying it in China a couple of times.

[@wuwei1934]

The English meaning of 得便宜卖乖 is: you buy a very cheap item, and then you accuse the seller of a bad attitude, showing that you are aggrieved, in order to cover up your profit.

[@安大鲁]

跑去抚州当然辣，外国人都以为四川辣，四川只是麻辣，只有中国人自己知道江西贵州才是真的辣

[@ReadyGoExpat]

Yes, I understand. For me it is super spicy.

[@wuwei1934]

Because there is no special treatment for foreigners, your tenth thinks that foreigners need patience. In Chinese: 得便宜卖乖

[@jamesr3743]

China is a place to VISIT, have some adventure while you're young, spend a few years at most. Mainland CCP China is NOT a place to try to settle down, or god forbid have a family if you are not Chinese yourself. The "People's Republic" of China is the epitome of a nationalist ethnostate. If you are a foreigner you literally cannot get permanent residency, let alone a citizenship. Compare that to Japan or Korea which have reasonable citizenship pathways for foreigners. The government is ridiculously oppressive and downright scary. Fake alcohol (among other foods and consumables) is a very real threat in China's "chabuduo" culture where any means to make an extra buck are perfectly fine. The plumbing and quality of houses is horrible. If you are used to western freedoms and luxuries, it's just not a place to live tolerably for any amount of time.

[@lottabee]

Shut up loser lmao, go spread your fearmongering somewhere else.

[@tailslapexplore6887]

If you have problem adapting in China bring ur whole country, EZ Loll...