How I See The US After Living in China for 5 Years

[@陈诚-i9f]

i studies in Australia for a decade , i decided to leave and went back to China when i graduate . Back in the 90s , most of the Chinese students would chose to stay in AU for no matter what it takes , but noday most of them would go back to China simplely becoz we have a better life back home .

[@Thejesstination]

Yes! I met several people in recent years who studied and even lived abroad for a while, then decided to move back to China and open businesses.

[@kenyup7936]

because their family have relationship you know, they having a decent job when they went back home

[@michaelhuang7842]

At least Australia doesn't have a gun problem, a drug problem and free shopping.

[@kenyup7936]

@@michaelhuang7842 ppl say salary as well as benefits in Australia is great like the US, but meanwhile its tech is backward right?

[@Artist1974CH]

The last time Australia had a good PM was back in the 70's when it had Gough Whitlam, but he was overthrew by the US regime. Ever since then, Australia ended up with bootlicking leaders for the US. Just recently, Australia would not recognize the indigenous people into the Constitution. Such a heartless, racist move!

[@GMacII]

The New American _Dream_ is to *LEAVE*

[@Thejesstination]

Facts. I did it twice, and it’s looking like I’m about to do it again 💪🏾

[@myoung1970s]

​@@ThejesstinationHave you tried Singapore?

[@Thejesstination]

I’ve visited. I could see myself living there but I’d need a loooooot of money lol

[@myoung1970s]

@@Thejesstination lol. yeah the rent would kill you, but food and transport is cheap.

[@Thejesstination]

True

[@KaiserHooray]

Actually, even in USA, you may get censored. You may get banned, deplatformed, blocked, demonetized, suspended, shunned, smeared, etc. "Freedom of Speech" is not really free when they restrict the reach of your speech.

[@Thejesstination]

It’s always been that way. It was never free from consequences.

[@canto_v12]

Freedom of speech is not freedom from consequences. Private platforms have never violated freedom of speech by cancelling or banned or whatever. It's their private property.

[@KaiserHooray]

@@canto_v12 So what are the proven consequences linked to a specific speech in a specific case for banning/censoring? Scott Ritter was blocked/banned. Garland Nixon too. Please show me what were the proven harmful consequences linked to what these people said. Or, are you using the "guilty until proven innocent" authoritarian rule? Or are you saying there is "freedom of speech" but not freedom from arbitrary punishment (the "consequence") for exercising your "freedom of speech"? "Private" businesses that are open to the general public and that operate in a country which has "freedom of speech" in its constitution. We are not talking about some closed private community here. The oft-used argument that a business can do whatever it wants without regards to any principles, rules or laws is silly. Is Amazon allowed to kidnap people and force them to work for free? No. So why is it okay for a company, whose business is about enabling the general public to express themselves, to censor in an arbitratry and abusive manner?

[@Thejesstination]

I don’t know who those people are but are their mouths sewn shut now? They were blocked/banned from what? Pretty sure they can still go outside and say whatever they want. They can build their own websites and type whatever they want. That’s freedom of speech. The consequences for speaking freely on a platform you don’t own are up to the people who own it. Kidnapping isn’t even close to being an equivalent lol. That and forced labor are serious crimes which violate the law. Freedom of speech is not a law.

[@jaymarx]

⁠@@Thejesstinationit’s mostly shadow ban and limiting reach, it’s more invisible. Plus media is so much more powerful and influential here compare to most other countries.

[@jackhuynh2489]

Jessica, just want to say thanks for sharing your thoughts. I find your videos very truthful. Not bias. I’ve never been to China, but would love to visit one day, I do share the same view as you about China. We’re a declining society while China has been a rising society. I’m having the hardest time even convincing my families that’s a reality. It seems like saying any good about China is bad, lol. I do feel you’ll be a pioneer to those that choose to live aboard in the future. And China is the future in my opinion. Best of luck 😊

[@Thejesstination]

You get it! Thank you so much for this comment! Best of luck to you guiding your family as they will surely, slowly start to see things for what they really are. ☺️

[@tiefblau2780]

I think YOU SHOULD KEEP LIVING THERE Especially with Privillage Skunk like yours truely. *HA* *HA!* *HA* *HAAAA!* Entitled and all could for nothing, NOT WILLING, *CEO* *MATERIAL* *NOT!* Please stay there and stay safe

[@unreliablenarrator6649]

🇨🇳 Hi. Great summary. Some feedback from my (Chinese) daughter now attending university in CA Bay Area. Her relationship with classmates is great, but she has faced numerous incidents of ridicule and aggression (not just "microaggression") that she is very cautious when not with friends, particularly alone. This culture shock has been another education for her, but I'm afraid not in a good way. Most definitely the has gotten worse since COVID (she actually started in August 2019) and have to say, that the current American tendency to fear-monggger and scapegoat Chinese for everything wrong is making it normal/acceptable, and done by politicians in both parties, so I doubt this will change anytime soon. Regardless, she will finish her Masters.

[@Thejesstination]

The ignorance here about China is mind boggling. I’ve heard the most ridiculous things since returning, too unbelievable to even type here. Constantly correcting people on their xenophobic and idiotic comments is exhausting. I don’t even say I was in China often anymore, just Asia to lessen the amount dumb things I’ll hear in response. The strength your daughter possesses is incredible and she will only grow mentally stronger through this experience. Congratulations on raising such an independent, adventurous young woman!

[@corvetteracing4]

What else would u expect from California 🤷‍♂️ place is not ‘friendly’

[@tamwilfred]

I heard the Bay Area was bad. I don't know if your daughter would have been happier in other parts of America or in California. In located in Southern California I haven't experienced much hate here. I am a first-generation Chinese in America.

[@GiorniVenibato]

Yes Texas is safer than California. Houston has a large Chinese population!

[@tecumsehneo2174]

@@Thejesstination Lived in NYC during 9/11/2001. The mass reaction I saw reminded me of the situation now. Even though Chalmers Johnson's "Blowback" helped explain why 9/11 might have happened but it's amazing how most people just bought the lies or half truths they were told by the media to explain what happened and were duped to invade Afghanistan and Iraq. It's frightening the lies being told to vilify the Russians and Chinese. Arthur Miller used "The Crucible" to explore the fear and hysteria that pervaded American society during the Red Scare and the McCarthy era by utilizing the Salem Witch Trials as an allegory. The witch trials, another case of mass hysteria and fear, summed up the emotional state of the US during the 1950s and the US media NOW. Our politicians are beholden to the weapons lobbyists who funded them into office.

[@mayviolets]

I feel so much freer in Japan than I ever did in the USA. It's so much safer here. I don't need a car (I don't have a car) to travel around because of the trains and walkable places.

[@Thejesstination]

Thanks for sharing!

[@ThatWhopperGood126-hj8vv]

America has a high per capita. But if you translate that into purchasing power, people are struggling. living paycheck to paycheck. You could be earning 80k but a meal cost 15-20 bucks and rent 2500 bucks. It doesn't leave you much money. Compared that to China or South E Asia, the rent is only 500 buck and 20-30 bucks for a doctor visit.

[@Thejesstination]

Precisely. Cost of living determines socio-economic standing more than salary.

[@RayMak]

I’ve lived in NYC and LA. Especially in NYC, the sirens are never ending OMG…. I still can’t brain this.

[@Thejesstination]

I just don't understand why the volume is so loud LOL. On the other hand, I used to say the same thing about drivers always blowing their horns in China. The same type of annoyance. 😂

[@RayMak]

@@Thejesstination yes!!! I remember that when I was in Shanghai. They honk the entire journey.

[@beth5770]

Hey Jess I lived in Shanghai for 5 years and have recently returned to my home country (The UK). Reverse culture shock is a real thing and I keep thinking about if permanently living in China is the right choice after all(I guess that’s normal at an early stage of being back). Anyway your video brought me comfort as you have a similar experience to me! May I ask your personal choices for retuning back to the states? I hope you will be happy 😊

[@Thejesstination]

Hi! Glad this was relatable for you. I didn’t visit at all during the 5 years, so I didn’t know how long I wanted to visit, but I knew a month wasn’t long enough. As you know, I couldn’t just leave China indefinitely without a job and expect to come back easily. No job was going to allow me to take a sabbatical with no firm end date.

[@beth5770]

@@Thejesstination Oh fair enough! Well best of luck and enjoy precious time with family and friends 😁

[@georgeinjapan6583]

Is it possibile to get citizenship or even permanent residency in China if you aren't Chinese ? I am curious...

[@grimfandango76]

@beth5770, I'm from the UK and I'm pretty useless with languages, would it be hard to move over to China without knowing much Mandarin?

[@ChinalifewithBeth]

I did it 😂 if you move to Shanghai or other big cities you can get by, however I was in the suburbs for 3 years and it was difficult! Learning the basics will get you a long way and respect from Chinese! It’s very difficult at first but it gets easier 😄

[@iamjaydunn]

How interesting I found your channel. You said the things I’ve wanted to tell my friends and family in the states for a long time. I just spent 3.5 years in africa and loved it. I experienced the side that they never show on tv and miss it dearly. Went back to the U.S. and only last there for three months. It looked like an insane asylum. Now I am in South America and feel alive again.

[@Thejesstination]

Yesssss! Feel free to send to your fam! So glad you’ve found peace again in South America! 😍

[@michellemobakeng5938]

@@Thejesstination Thank you for your update on Communist China. Your are among those who of late on KZbin have been realigning our knowledge about this country against the information we receive in the West. Since you have been living 5 years over there, in one of the cities, could you please confirm the reality of the social credit system? if you have experienced it or someone you know and how does it work as we people in the West, are persuaded this system will find its way soon in our lands to control us all?

[@Frank_Techguy]

Due to our incompetent politicians, the U.S. economy is about to get even worse. Just shop at a grocery store or check out the latest gas prices and you can see which direction we’re heading. On top of that congress is currently dysfunctional. Thanks for sharing your video.

[@Thejesstination]

I left politics out for my own sanity but believe me…I see it! Thanks for watching!

[@dezcuts5319]

The first mistake you made is believing it’s due to incompetence. It’s not incompetence, it’s deliberate sabotage. She pretty much covered that in the video using broad language.

[@dyrectory_com]

There is incompetence as much as its obeying the wishes or their billionaire donors. The US is plutocracy masked as a 'democracy.'

[@TonyW-z9w]

It's been going on for awhile but our news and politicians have been quiet. The symptoms already showed itself when Richard Nixon took the dollars off the gold standard so that more dollars can be printed.

[@ロクアンドロールしかないでも好きだ]

@@dezcuts5319 yes I suspect martial law in the near future, possibly to delay elections

[@RayMak]

And yes, America is really really expensive to live in… tip is 18%-20% today and most are still struggling… sigh

[@Thejesstination]

Unfortunately

[@sengkar-g4s]

It's no more easy to live the American dream today. There are the pros and cons of living anywhere in the world, and it's inspiring to see how you are adapting well with them.

[@Thejesstination]

Thank you!

[@mranonymous9034]

Ya right but still America suck. The war mongering country which like to boast about fighting for freedom and standing for human right ya what a hypocrite. The US is the only country in the world that caused so much destructions and killing and interferring with other nations internal affair. That is what so great about America. Great hypocrite, great liar, great sanctioner, great slanderer, great bully last but not least great devil.

[@davidz7858]

I came to US 1990 from China as a student. After graduation, chose to live here. I can tell America is falling both of economy and morality. In controversy, China rise rapidly.

[@michellemobakeng5938]

There have never been an American dream. Is anything real in a dream? All throughout the founding of the USA, peoples have been exploited. Ask the Native Americans, the women and the children working in the sweatshops, the slaves and descendants of slaves during and after Reconstruction, the migrants, the men working in the mines, the foundries, the factories, the docks, etc. Lift up the street asphalt, you will see rivers of blood , the blood of the labourers' protests crying out for their wages, compensations for accidents and deaths, lynching, poor housing, poor working conditions, repression, etc. Who is the American dream for? What is the American dream?

[@quocjchau]

Thanks!

[@Thejesstination]

Thank you!

[@zhengpinghu]

I never thought I would finish watching your video, but here I am. Most of the American people are kind and caring. The problem is the American Government that let American people down. The US has changed from "of the people, by the people and for the people" to "of the rich, by the rich and for the rich". The system is rotten.

[@Thejesstination]

😂 Was it that long of a video? Lol I agree, most Americans are great. Our government is not and never was.

[@zhengpinghu]

Surely not long when you articulated the current situation in the US in a balanced and succinct manner backing it up by facts, not bigotry. The difference between the US and China is that Chinese Government recognizes the problems and makes efforts to address them, whereas the US just ignores them.@@Thejesstination

[@Thejesstination]

I agree..well, the US government _pretends_ to address them but then ignores them. 😫

[@zhengpinghu]

Right. With empty promises every four years.@@Thejesstination

[@troyparker8890]

Thanks for sharing. Proud of you for really LIVING. The hate you're receiving is just that. With better choices in my youth I'd be gone now. Love you young Sistah. Be safe

[@Thejesstination]

Thank you!

[@eac26114653]

Very interesting video and viewpoint. I'm an American living in Beijing and teaching at a university. I taught here in China for about 2 years before the pandemic. I was in America during the pandemic for close to 4 years. I'm glad to be back here. I will go back and forth (for business and work) between China and the U.S. 4 times a year Your viewpoint seems very interesting and perhaps different from mine. Look forward to watching more of your videos.

[@Thejesstination]

Interesting! Thanks for watching! I enjoy seeing perspectives that differ from mine as well. 😊

[@alexandriathe_great221]

Greetings from Egypt ❤ your show is like a documentary, thank you

[@Thejesstination]

Wow, thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@victorcampochacon7828]

Wow, I'm watching your video and everything you say resonates with me haha. I came back from Asia in 2022 and spent time in Thailand and Colombia after leaving China ( I was in China for four years, 2018-2022) and I'm currently teaching high school math here in NJ (I was teaching math in China and I'm certified ). I am planning to go back to teaching internationally. It's funny you mentioned the emergency vehicles' sirens, something I noticed too haha, so loud and yeah everything is so expensive. One gets spoiled with Didi, Gaotie , Grab , Indrive and the waimai in China. I think it's hard to live back in the US after living abroad experiencing what we get to experience in Asia haha. 😁

[@Thejesstination]

Hahaha! We need a dedicated support group! That’s awesome you’re certified in Math! There are so many options for you; it’s been 6 months for me now and I still look at job listings in China. 😂😂😂Thanks for watching!

[@idofdm7625]

After living in US for 39 years, here's my view of US! US is a land taken from indigenous people and need ever growing population from around the world to grow its economy! Thus need to brand itself ( freedom ) to attract newcomer from all over the world, first Irish, Italian to other nationals in 20,21 centuries! As long as US economy is growing it'll always attract foreigners to come here because of exchange rate it amount to making multiple of income as in your countries! It work, so much so we all wholeheartedly buy into it, some of us also believe in propaganda put upon us how

[@Thejesstination]

What happens when people realize the economy is growing faster in other countries? This is not the fastest growing economy. Although it is an easier country to enter, undocumented.

[@idofdm7625]

@@Thejesstination I do not look at thing s from right or wrong angle! But state of affairs, US is a super tanker! And can not grow like up and coming countries in the rest of the world which we went through first 100-150 years of our nation! US Household only need 1 income even in 50s, 60s to 2 incomes now for lesser quality of life! Unionization decline from 30+% to now 11% since 60s thus depress wage grow! Then came outsourcing in 80s and 90s to gut our manufacturing where China came into play given it size! From GI bill ( White only ) after WWII to now Trillion dollars student loan debts! IMO our government underestimate how fast China will came up in 4 decades where now China can challenge US dominant and became alternative to the rest of world in development, thus talk of China threat by mean of stirring up Xinjiang, Hong Kong, Taiwan issues, Freedom, Democracy is our weapons! I as Chinese American ( multigenerational diaspora BTW ) will not be as skeptical of our motives as good if not lie we spotted here and there from our government/media like genocide of Uygar, US dominate world media, thus very successful in shaping world view! For good or bad! Simply put USA prime was decades agos, after that it just about taking away from us citizens little by little to this point! As long as our politics keep our citizen fighting over issues having nothing to do with our livelihood ( transgender population constitute .1%-.6% of our population ). Even illegal immigration, kind of feel conspiratorial, like busing them from border to NYC and put them in hotels, they'll be cheap source of labour, someone with no mean to challenge employers plus we all can find scapegoat for our country's ill ! Meanwhile politician and cooperations still getting richer and richer in their gated community! Capitalism at it best! Like some politicians say pull yourself up by your bootstrap,😖

[@dkblack1289]

Jessica, I just come across your channel and I am completely taken by your critical thinking and cool headedness. Believe me you dont, listening to you, Herbert Mercuse comes to my mind. You are amazing. Your channel will grow. All the best girl.

[@Thejesstination]

Thank you so much! ☺️

[@pandabearoceanpark]

Great summary! And I agree! There are trade-offs in living in either country. Good luck with your job search, get yourself established and find a love that you want in this country. One of my ex coworker was just a river rafting guide, but was able to find a sales support job in a high-tech company and she has been doing well ever since. Changing field is difficult but it can be done!

[@Thejesstination]

Thanks for watching!

[@RaceCarFriends]

I felt like your assessment was very honest and real, you just got another subscriber.

[@Thejesstination]

Thanks! And Welcome!!! ☺️

[@RaceCarFriends]

@@Thejesstination No problem you're welcome sister. 🙏🏿

[@jasonmillers6941]

There an interesting reception you get when you’re abroad. Especially in India, China and most African countries. You really get a feeling of abundance. That makes it easier to survive there.

[@Thejesstination]

That’s one way to look at it

[@user-eo4tb1dy7w]

I like your vids! Im an american dude at an intl boarding school in china. Got here in august

[@Thejesstination]

Congratulations on exploring the other side!

[@Courtneywb]

Your journey is similar to mine but mine started a little earlier. I was in China from 2014-2019 and also only traveled back to the US once for a week during that time period. Reverse culture shock is so real. I also noticed the same beautiful things and disappointments about America when I returned and contemplated whether to leave or not. Luckily the decision was taken out of my hands because a couple of months after I had arrived back, COVID started and leaving/traveling quickly became a non-option and I was forced to re-assimilate and forge a path for myself here. Now, hindsight, the pandemic was the best/worst thing that happened to me. The isolation of it all really messed with my mental health and I’m still suffering from some of the effects of it to this day, but financially/career wise I have never been doing better than I am now. I’ve been able to create a flexible work schedule that more closely matches my China work schedule (staying up late, sleeping in until almost noon) with most days working from home, and make well over and into the the 6 figures, which I never made before my time in China or even during time in China. So while I do miss a lot of things about China, I would not give up what I have now to get that life back. While certain things about America has turned out to be a lie, the land of opportunity certainly is not one of them. I’ve never seen so many people going out on their own making this schmoney in so many different and creative ways that authentically work for them except here in the States. Take everything you have learned abroad and use it like a superpower to create a different life for yourself that you maybe only imagined. A lot of people here are struggling, but I think the best thing about living abroad and coming back is that you have this new and different perspective that others do not have that have been shaped by your experiences. Just like when immigrants come to the states and become successful business owners. The opportunities are out there, you just need to perspective to see it, and the courage to grab it; both of which has been cultivated within you over the last 5 or 6 years every time you braved leaving your apartment building and going out in those foreign Chinese streets, requesting services from government officials, dealing with a Chinese bank (good lord!), surviving Chinese taxi rides, being put on display and in the spotlight for class demos, turning yourself into Whitney Houston for your chinese colleagues at KTVs, being the odd one out at Chinese weddings, dealing with people failing at hiding the fact that they are secretly taking pictures of you, or the innocent kid in the elevator who comments on how black your skin is and the parent or grandparent says “yes it’s because she’s African” and you have chosen to either correct them or, most of the time, hold your tongue and shake your head because it’s not your job to educate everybody. Haha but that was all balanced out by the amazing summer nights that never ended, the incredible people whose lives you have touched and have touched yours in return, the language(s) you have picked up, the amazing cuisine and flavors the majority of Americans will never even know about or get to experience for themselves, and the ways in which you see the world now that you will not be able to unsee. This is your new superpower. Nothing can stand in your way now once you realize it and then claim it. Wherever in the world you end up, I wish you luck and good success! I’ll be cheering you on. Let me know the next time you’re in LA 😊

[@Thejesstination]

Congratulations on finding a path that worked out well in the US! Thanks for sharing. 😊

[@PeterTwo-ht6ts]

If you make big income then it make sense to stay in America. If not then choose other options. Always follow the money

[@asw654]

Thanks for being a trailblazer though. It takes time and familiarity for people to change their attitudes towards you (i.e. treating you as a novelty or trying to secretly take pictures with you). You've been helping with that, even if it was unpleasant for you sometimes.

[@themarbleking]

American freedom means freedom to hate, freedom to shoot someone. Freedom to be a bastard.

[@WAW90]

很多时候，我们生活在哪里就是机缘巧合。

[@DwainDwight]

man you are awesome. thank you for sharing. run for pres. I will vote for you!

[@Thejesstination]

😂😂 Thanks, I hope one day someone who lived abroad (without being in the military) runs for president!

[@salehchazali7848]

really enjoyed your video,and surprisingly I watched you for the first time.been living in the states for 21 years and have been to many cities in china more than a dozen time.Everytime I go there I always wanna live there and finally I made the decision to move there in few months from now.Their economical growth is at an incredible speed.And living there comfortably, comes at a very affordable amount too.I went ahead and subscribed to your chanel and maybe I will meet you in China one day,who knows...lol

[@Thejesstination]

That is awesome! Congratulations on deciding to make that move!

[@Fordance100]

Such profound video, so on point. Love the way you put your thoughts piece by piece together.

[@Thejesstination]

Thank you so much!

[@dangerzone9747]

I booked a trip to Beijing because of this video. Thank you.

[@Thejesstination]

Seriously?! That’s amazing! Please see more than just Beijing though!

[@孙默野]

欢迎，但是你不要只去北京，我是北京人，但是我更喜欢中国南方，比如广州，深圳，成都，杭州这样城市，总之欢迎你😀

[@wenc9027]

Our country really needs to revise the laws on foreigners’ permanent residence and acquisition of nationality as soon as possible to help those friends who are willing to live and work in China and identify with our culture and political system to live and work here in peace and contentment, and enjoy as much national treatment and more convenient public services as possible. But we have to overcome domestic nationalist opposition. We have a history of large-scale acceptance of foreigners, but later foreign rebellions led to hundreds of years of division and war. Therefore, the process of changing the laws on permanent residence and naturalization may be slow, because opinions must be heard, especially from nationalists, to avoid making them feel that the joining of foreigners is a serious threat. Hope all of you, my friends enjoy the days in China.

[@Thejesstination]

Well said! I don’t know how party leaders are chosen but you need to be in there!

[@Adam-ub7tc]

I don‘t think it is wise to do so.

[@baileyshirleen37]

会引起暴乱，计划生育埋了个雷。

[@DmoneyS44]

As an american of chinese descent, the rise in nationalism in both the US and China is worrying for me. The things about both country that i am proud of are being undermined and threatened by the different countries respective right wings

[@wenc9027]

@@DmoneyS44 Don't worry, my friend. I understand your concerns, but for now, things aren't that bad. We should try our best to maintain the friendship between our two countries, at least we can start with you and me.😀

[@leyhuntan8879]

In Vietnam and China they grow their fruit trees and plants in their own backyard any remaining they sell They raise their own poultry enough for meat and remainder they sell too So it seems that makes most food lower in price

[@Thejesstination]

Thanks for sharing

[@tecumsehneo2174]

Curious how other Americans or Europeans feel about living in the US or Europe and their future direction. I visited China in the 1970s, in 2007, and again this year. Each time I was just amazed at how much it has developed over the years and I can see why the people feel so positive about its government. Yes, PR or propaganda helps but they also have the goods to back it up. In the US, standard of living has improved (my 4200 BTU Sanyo window AC cost over $400 in the 1980s but the much more efficient Made in China 5700 BTU unit was only around $100 in 2008) and our military is still ranked #1 but so many people still live from paycheck to paycheck. Prices of stuff just skyrocketed over the past few years. Although my $100 AC unit is still working, if I were to replace it now, it would cost almost $200. A made in China 5-level steel-wire shelving unit that used to cost $50 from Target now costs $80 or $145 from ULINE. Here we keep seeing stuff like Xi as dictator for life but there they see him as the 1 who reigned in corruption and they're okay with the slower GDP growth as a result because he's seen as the 1 fighting to improve the common working folks and not the billionaires like Jack Ma that we seem to worship here. The amount of infrastructure built there that serves the general public over that past 16 years is just mind blowing. Anyone visiting there now who was not there 16 or 40+ years ago might not appreciate it but I saw what it was like and I'm sure the Chinese who also did often remind the younger generations how much better things are compared to before. People here forget even at the slower pace, they are still growing 2x to 3x faster than the US. FDR was president for 4 terms in a row. Xi is only just starting his 3rd term.

[@Thejesstination]

I’m glad people are starting to see that speaking positively about China isn’t “propaganda” 😊

[@rachelmillison7939]

Hi Jess! As always, this is cinematic gold! You did such a lovely job capturing such large experiences and themes of your life. Really enjoyed watching this :)

[@Thejesstination]

Thank you so much!! 😊

[@AetherStreamer]

I'm not from the USA, but I've observed that the pronunciation of english is changing fast in the USA The pronunciation of the end of each phrase is elongated.

[@Thejesstination]

That’s a Californian/TikTok thing. God I hope I don’t sound like that. 😂

[@AetherStreamer]

@@Thejesstination I thing that's how the changes in the languages begin. Look how important is California, and how much influence that people has on others. In ~100 years, that surely will be the "accent" of the USA. I'm not saying it is bad or good, is just a change I've noticed every time I open youtube and listen to a youtuber from the US; is a change not present 5 or 8 years before. I think I can clearly notice it because english is not my primary language.

[@Thejesstination]

California isn’t important to people on the opposite coast where I am. 😂 People don’t speak that way on the east coast, or in the south and never will; there are so many accents in the US just like every other large country. To your point, a lot of what people in other countries see is “Hollywood”, so I can see why you feel this way. ☺️

[@AetherStreamer]

@@Thejesstination Allrighty then :)

[@christina9238]

I can pick up on an Cali accent / speaking pattern in about .05 seconds, and something about it grates my nerves. Cali is a big state, but the rest of the country is uninfluenced by it. @@AetherStreamer

[@growbear]

Very nice program. I appreciate your incisive perspective. I am Chinese and have lived in the US for decades. I feel sorry for your experience in the encounter with the Chinese family. If it were me, I would have done my best to help with your app and likely converse with you in Mandarin for an hour. Some Chinese are quite insular by culture, and may have had bad experience in the past, as you suggested.

[@Thejesstination]

Thanks! I totally understand both perspectives. ☺️

[@DoyinVoice]

Hey what city do you recommend in China please for a potential TEFL teacher. WeChat: DeeLight25

[@rietachikawa7947]

How dare you call yourself a Chinese? Don't all Chinese go to the United States to adapt to local culture or even racial discrimination? How many years has it been the yellow peril theory in the West? What I don't understand is why foreigners always come to China to emphasize how different the culture is and how unacceptable it is. China is not a country of immigrants, why does the United States, as a country of immigrants, not change for the sake of Chinese or black people? With the hostility of the United States to China in recent years, isn't racial discrimination against Chinese more serious? A word to foreigners who come to China: it is always people who adapt to the environment, not the environment to adapt to people.

[@rietachikawa7947]

You say yourself that you are Chinese and have lived in the United States for decades, so how do you know about China? You may not even speak Chinese well now, how do you know China? Perhaps living in the United States for decades has brought back the arrogance and self-righteousness of Americans? Why do you say that Chinese culture is closed? You are nothing but bananas in our eyes (yellow skin, white heart.)

[@noahmyavon]

I support you. Just subscribed. I love your vibe

[@Thejesstination]

Thank youuuuuuu!

[@yends.7983]

When I’m vacationing abroad, I feel rich and never have to ask how much or thinking to myself, can I afford it. That’s financial freedom and it’s an incredible feeling.

[@ĐoànĐạiDương-f1n]

Funny, I feel the same when I travel to America! Except that I feel the need to take antibiotics just looking at you people!😂🤣

[@Thejesstination]

Yes, not having to check your bank balance everyday is freeing!

[@1infinitecreator]

🇺🇸 hit the nail right in the head. I remember back in elementary school the lengths our educators would go in an effort to program us into believing that this is the greatest country on earth….. sad to say it was all illusory.

[@Thejesstination]

The miseducation of Americans…don’t get me started!

[@julianxu6396]

Definitely agree on the siren noise pollution here, my little town has the routine of having three fire trucks going down the street followed by ambulance all blasting sirens almost 10+ times a day, I don’t know what major accidents happening here (

[@Thejesstination]

Ughhh that’s even more frustrating! When you know it can’t be that serious and it’s still blazingly loud lol

[@htlow3598]

You delivered a very well balanced personal view of living in both countries. This is the type of KZbin contain we need. QDOS to you! 👍

[@Thejesstination]

Thank you very much!

[@ruedelta]

🇺🇸 Just came back from China in about the same time frame. I've been seeing everything in this video as well. It leaves me wondering if COVID was such a dark time that people are in a post-disaster kumbaya phase of acceptance (well, at least being out and about). Coworkers here have uniformly talked about how traumatic COVID was, so I'm not sure what to make of it.

[@Thejesstination]

Post-disaster kumbaya phase 😂Definitely seems that way. I really think they all thought they were gonna die in the states. We never thought that in China.

[@TonyW-z9w]

In 2019 many economists already noticing things were about to crash before COVID. COVID was an excuse to hide the obvious. We were supposed to implement the Great Reset to cancel all debts.

[@thorebergmann1986]

@@Thejesstination Wait, here in Europe the media told us that the measures in China against Covid were much more strict than in the rest of the world o.o

[@Thejesstination]

Restriction levels varied; they depended on the time frame and province. "Don't let the media fool you!" I don't know what they told you guys in Europe, but US-based media got 99% of it wrong. The only journalist who reported accurately was Selina Wang for CNN. There were extreme incidents, but most of us who stayed beyond March 2020 never thought we were at risk of death. I traveled all over China in 2020 and 2021.

[@ruedelta]

@@Thejesstination I can't see the comments you're replying to, but yeah restrictions in China were pretty varied. They were almost nonexistent in Hangzhou, but I know Beijing was a PITA since they did restrictions by district (seriously who thought this was a good idea?). Also March 2020 up to some parts of 2022 were mostly a sense of normality, outside of "can't leave the country without having a hard time coming back in." I didn't think twice about eating out during that time. If people did feel restricted, it was probably due to the nucleic acid testing.

[@TheCasheba]

Thanks!

[@Thejesstination]

Thank you so much! 💚💚💚

[@teexiannibiru687]

I LIKE THE WAY YOU CREATE THE VIDEOS, REALLY IMPRESSED. 👍☺️

[@Thejesstination]

Thank you so much 😀

[@justind2490]

Wowww! I’m a black male that lived in China for 3 years. It’s absolutely crazy. This is how I felt coming back home during a pandemic, and why now, after being back for 4 years have decided to move back to China. The sense of community is wonderful here but the added headache of finding a well paying job just to live to work is insanity. Thank you for making this video, I wish you well!

[@Thejesstination]

I love that this video is finding people who relate! Thank you!

[@Daoland-Everywhere]

LOVE YR VIDEO!. My experience between the eu and China are similar. In the eu Healthcare is sort of similar in China, but in different eu countries prices can be very different. In China being a class society you have the freedom to choose different price classes for your care, but the quality between them is very similar. I lived in different Chinese places and you gradually pick up on physical nuances. But social mobility is quite good compared to modern western countries. Last time in the USA I felt so badly treated I avoid the USA when I can. The people are nice, but it is so authoritarian. In China that was much easier to avoid

[@Thejesstination]

Love this comment! If I said this, I'd have dozens of comments calling me a puppet for the CCP and telling me to leave America lol. Very well said and I completely agree!

[@fohponomalama5065]

We've lived overseas for six years in Third World countries where my wife gave birth to two of our three kids. I found the people overseas more genuine and not as materialistic as the typical American. Our oldest son has lived in Japan for 15 years now and I tell him to stay there. America has changed a lot and is not the country I or my kids grew up in. So, yeah, live wherever you want. "It's a Small World After All!"

[@Thejesstination]

What a beautiful life you’ve built for your family! I love seeing families like yours, thanks for sharing!

[@rudygrissom5871]

I appreciate your insight, very beneficial information.

[@Thejesstination]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Creative-Chaos]

I am an expat living in the Balkans. I met people who spoke my a language that I learned as an adult. They weren’t expecting me to speak their language and they initially said they didn’t understand. After a while, they realized I did speak it and we started communicating. My point in telling you this story is that the Chinese woman who didn’t understand you might have simply had their ears closed because they weren’t expecting you to speak it. Closed ears happen to everyone in every culture. I hope you can get overseas again.

[@Thejesstination]

The same things happens to expats in China everyday. 😂 I’ve have people respond to me in Chinese before looking up at me, then when they do they’re like 😳 frozen and stop talking or say they don’t understand. It’s so funny. Yes that is absolutely a possibility in that situation with the family. 😊

[@rhatid]

What a good video. Such well presented arguments. I'm no doubt biased because I essentially agree with your arguments ... but really, i think they were just damn sensible. The immediate and then delayed response to the Mandarin/Non-Mandarin speaking family is so just right. No, I buy your observations. Good video. I'll subscribe perhaps I'll find your other discussions/agruments/analyses okay. This was an excellent start, well worth the 28:32 I spent watching it. Nice one!

[@Thejesstination]

Best comment ever! So glad this was worth your time. Thanks for watching!

[@maxxie6275]

yay been waiting for this video!

[@Thejesstination]

Hope you enjoyed it!

[@AleksanderCarter]

I lived in China for 7 years and South Korea before that for 6 years and now I’m In Vietnam, during these years I went back to US and I couldn’t stand it., everyone was on drugs, they celebrate debauchery, and I just had to get out, I’m really considering leaving Vietnam and going back to China, China was an awesome place! Good Food, Memories, Great Cost Of Living, amazing salary and is quite safe! Miss it so much!!

[@alexwang-hg8uz]

welcome back

[@Thejesstination]

I can’t seem to find any drugs or debauchery in the US much to my dismay! I’m not enjoying my time here at all. All I find are really nice people living very boring lives. 😂 In all seriousness I’m glad you were able to get back out and enjoy Asia again. China is indeed awesome. 😊

[@arishem555]

Your video is so fun to watch. You have the taste and creativity. Please think about improving sound ;-)

[@Thejesstination]

Thank you! 😊

[@billthebuilder1579]

planning to retire in Kunming, the city of eternal Spring. $2500 mo live like a king.

[@Thejesstination]

Sounds like an awesome plan! Medellin, Colombia is the only city I recognize as the city of Eternal Spring lol. Another great place to retire!

[@dawncc1]

I’m an expat in northern Thailand. I’m also born and raised in Pittsburgh as a Japanese (American). I can relate to everything you’d said here. Perhaps it’s time to look at Expat communities and working online.

[@Thejesstination]

Pittsburgh!!!! So glad you can relate. ☺️

[@小飒萨]

Girl you in Baltimore? We should hit up. I am Chinese American. Grew up in China and lived in america for the past 10 years. Wanting to go back

[@Thejesstination]

Oh wow! I’m not in Baltimore anymore, but I hope you get to visit China soon!

[@duaneowens7777]

hi i am a black american in beijing as well

[@williamknopic7915]

One of the reasons and maybe the biggest problem why America is in the shape its in is because it's a big melting pot. The immigration problem here is one of the biggest problems. China doesn't have an immigration problem because they don't do immigration. No problem. I've been to China many times and love the land and the people. I feel as comfortable with them as I did visiting my grandmother as a child. The Healthcare in America is Pure BS. I'm a senior now and recall visiting relatives and friends in Pennsylvania and the old timers used to say this country is going to Hell in a hand basket. In my lifetime I watched this country do just that. Why? GREED. Established by the politicians. The biggest crooks in this country. Welcome to America.

[@Thejesstination]

China didn’t capture and enslave people and force them to build their country. The US is literally founded by immigrants. Aside from native American descendants, the few that survived gen0cid3, everyone here is an immigrant. You can’t really compare the US and China this way. There is an immigration problem in the US currently, but the root of the major problem is capitalism and inherent bias. If there was no immigration, there would be no USA.

[@iamtyanna]

9:48 I’ve noticed this too. I work in an area with a lot of tourists and I’ve noticed that a lot of black people make an effort to support black owned businesses when they come by. I started doing the same

[@iamtyanna]

Dont get me started on the job search 😑 I’ve taken a huge pay cut every time I think about it I get mad. I can’t even live off of it. I thinking about pursuing something else because this ain’t it

[@Thejesstination]

Yep! Giving my last dime away feels better when I give it to a BOB!

[@Thejesstination]

I went down a rabbit hole on Twitter about job searching and the efforts and lies and chatgpt of it all... it's a full-time job to get a job where part of it is being a detective because most do not post the salaries. Ughhhh!

[@mauraece]

Love your perspective Jess 🇺🇸

[@Thejesstination]

Thanks for watching 😊

[@loulou_9999]

Excellent video. Love your insight; you were able to sum up the current situation quite quickly. Good luck with your next destination.

[@Thejesstination]

Thank you!

[@a_viewerv2069]

Well said , great video , thank you

[@Thejesstination]

Thanks for watching!

[@rarinkaz]

Comercial flying and airports are a nightmare... but not if you own your own plane then you have a separate entrance and waiting area which is for your whole party to arrive and then you board the plane at your own leisure and then get permission from the tower to take off it's that simple almost like when you get in your car and drive away!

[@Thejesstination]

Right, let me call my friend Beyoncé and use her jet next time. 😂

[@robmello3245]

I really liked your video and how real and aware you are. I loved your previous videos in China too. I hope you find the balance you are looking for and be happy! Maybe you could find a job in China or in another place that allows you to visit the US more often, so you could live with the advantages of each place.

[@Thejesstination]

Thank you so much much!

[@kueller917]

My coworkers ask sometimes in small talk if I'd ever go back to the US and they're always quite shocked how quickly I say "no" which I've found is a shared experience among other immigrants I've met. I do live visiting back but that's getting the culture and diversity without having to deal with the cost of living and lack of social services. I'd be tempted if I got a reeeeaaally high paying job where I could afford one of the cool cities where I wouldn't need a car, but even then a lot of the good paying jobs still have long hours and little vacation time. Also I had a story regarding the helpfulness in American culture. There was a woman who forgot her card at the grocery store. This happened to me and it's so frustrating cause you've shopped, scanned, packed, and are about to pay then gotta do a walk of shame out of the queue. Her stuff was only like 10€ and I had only bought a snack so I offered to cover. We chatted afterwards and turns out the woman is from Colombia, moved to Spain, and was in France for the week, but also had family in Los Angeles. Mentioned how she's only seen acts like that in the Americas. Europeans are sometimes nicer than they're given credit for (especially further south), but just not in that way.

[@Thejesstination]

Awww wow what a beautiful story! Americans get a bad rep (rightfully) for a lot but people don’t give us credit for stepping up in acts of kindness often enough. It’s hard to see what’s genuine online these days, everything looks staged. But in real life I’ve seen so many kind moments like that and not all of them involved money. Helping a disabled person cross the street, keeping an eye on someone’s kids so they can take care of something, stuff like that. We really are helpful people. 😂 I’d be tempted to stay for the same reason, that and meeting someone worth staying for. I’m 0 for 2 right now so it’s not looking good. 😂

[@antwango]

you need to get yourself some HSR over there

[@kueller917]

@@antwango The California one will be built... eventually. But I took a TGV today. Always very nice just a bit expensive.

[@Joseph_Smith2024]

Great reflection. It seems your quality of life has actually gone down since returning to the US (although you have sentimental reasons for liking aspects of it). Had you thought about an international city like Dubai or Shanghai (?), where your skills are highly valued. God bless.

[@Thejesstination]

Thank you 😊

[@thomaslesesne4392]

It's nice to get a perspective from someone that has been on both sides of the spectrum. In all my travels, domestic and abroad I don't really run into racism the way the media portrays it here in the U.S. In reality it's only a fringe group here that are ignorant. Most people in other countries, it's true they think when they meet me I am wealthy as hell maybe because I'm there on holiday (as they say in Europe) for an extended period of time, no I not Oprah wealthy but I'm not exactly poor either and I don't know maybe they equate that as being wealthy. I have found that people are nice and helpful people no matter where they live. They all seem to have the same things in common, family, providing for their family and a belief in a Higher Power.

[@Thejesstination]

Thanks for sharing, and watching!

[@tecumsehneo2174]

In my experience, it's not just a fringe group. It's mainstream. People I talk to actually believe the stuff about Taiwan, Xinjiang, and Tibet. It's ironic that the separatists in Ukraine who want to join Russia are not mentioned. The Hawaiians who want to be independent from the US are not mentioned but the small percentage of separatists in Taiwan, Xinjiang, and Tibet are made out to be the majority of the population in those regions. I remember how the masses were persuade to not object to wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Ukraine, etc. I wouldn't be surprised if this thing escalates to a hot conflict with Taiwan / China.

[@walhdamaskus2408]

As i had many times in the past said to american cousins that the most educated american is the american who lives outside US America.

[@Thejesstination]

👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@paul8392]

Awesome video Jess! Do you think you will stay in the US long term or try to return to China to teach English? Also, would you recommend teaching English in China as a career choice in 2024?

[@Thejesstination]

Not sure what the crystal ball holds for me yet but I did make a video about the future of teaching in China! Here ya go kzbin.info/www/bejne/q4DOmnppgd2XgM0si=OKFupJ_m9a7E2b8K

[@brianh2476]

Hi Jessica, I appreciate you..

[@Thejesstination]

I appreciate that!

[@LadyShaQuenta5]

Everything was all facts💯🎯💪🏾😎

[@MAdams-ey4if]

Wow! Good survey. Do you have conversational fluency in Mandarin, Spanish? When you speak the local language, the experience is quite different.

[@Thejesstination]

Yes, I speak both conversationally.

[@MAdams-ey4if]

@@Thejesstination Guuuurrrl, you need to be in da Big City where you can practice all of them in the same lunch hour 🤩

[@Thejesstination]

Spanish is spoken as much as English everywhere I’ve been in the US. so that’s easy. I can always practice putonghua with my friends in China. 😊

[@colonylaser4860]

I've been so angry about America my country the last 20 years to police brutality treatment of the poor the homeless the trash the medical care the education the institutions and on top all the violence and crazies at home and abroad the proxy wars and the bombing and killing of people we slandered as evil when we are the ones doing the evil, that I've come to bad mouth everything everyday everywhere on line or off line to friends family coworkers strangers. Jessica, thank you thank you thank you for reminding me that there are still good and kind people. It probably won't change how I feel about the violence and proxy wars and hypocrisy and the lying media and the incompetent government, but it's a good reminder nothing is absolute.

[@Thejesstination]

Yes! There are way more kind people in this crazy country than media makes it seem. Thanks for watching! 💚

[@flipsandtrips8970]

Hey great video … looking forward to you next one. Would love to visit china 🇨🇳 just so far. Keep me updated with there culture just became a fan. Enjoy ur trip

[@Thejesstination]

Thanks for watching!

[@niveajones6400]

Loved this!

[@Thejesstination]

Thanks for watching!

[@tecumsehneo2174]

Thank you so much for sharing your experiences and reflections. Has anyone wondered why people in developing countries want to learn English and approach foreigners in public to practice English while here in America, it's rare for people to approach foreigners to learn foreign languages. When a young white American (XiaomaNYC) in NYC who learns a foreign language such as Mandarin films himself using his Mandarin in NYC Chinatown and posts those videos on KZbin, they go viral because they are so rare. His most popular video from 3 years ago now has over 83M views. The double standard or unfairness of the situation (no one is surprised that foreigners can speak fluently in their own languages in addition to speaking English in the US) is so obvious but just accepted. That's the reality of the bias, prejudice, and racism in the US - supposedly the most progressive, liberal, and inclusive country in the world.

[@shinbi6009]

I wish I can make money like Xiaomanyc but when I a poc, speaks English to white people, no one is surprised or ever will be.

[@Thejesstination]

@FrankieLight does the same thing but because he’s not white, he doesn’t have as large of a following. I never heard of XiaomaNYC. In the US people will likely be offended if you go up to them to practice their native language suddenly. They will say “I SPEAK ENGLISH!” People who have migrated here have worked hard to learn English and assimilate into society. Speaking a language other than English in public here has been the cause of many disagreements and racist acts in the past. That’s why it’s rare. No one wants to offend anyone.

[@gusbilly]

Great you’re in Bmore. Im in MD glad that you are here. I would like to mandarin how best to immerse in China to learn the language. Any advice

[@Thejesstination]

I’m not in Baltimore anymore. The best way to practice without being in mandarin speaking country is to watch tv shows in the language, and try a language learning app. I recently tried Pimsleur and it’s set up really well.

[@CycOp]

Lately I’ve been seeing many youtube video by African American (more than ever) on experiences traveling to China. Also I noticed that on my flights from US to Taiwan (a major transit point to SE Asia) and back, there were many African American travelers. I guess everyone is indeed traveling around more post-COVID.

[@Thejesstination]

Well the borders just opened so that’s why you’re seeing more people travel there.

[@eaglestar2962]

Even Han Chinese have many different ethnicities and many different cultures, traditions, clothes, foods, etc.

[@Thejesstination]

Thanks for sharing

[@stayfree870]

I love your personality and the way you think.

[@Thejesstination]

☺️ Thank you

[@mmaximk]

Excellent video, thank you.

[@Thejesstination]

Glad you liked it!

[@Johnnydoenyc]

Hi there I just happened upon your video bc I’m trying to learn more about China. Regarding your experience with the 3 Chinese Americans who ignored you when you tried to speak Chinese to them, another possibility, in my experience, has been that more often than not, when people, esp non Chinese Americans, ask me if I speak Chinese they are usually trying to sell their religion to me lol. So I often say I don’t speak Chinese. As you say, you never know what their experience was. Or they could just be rude for some reason. But I’m just offering you my experience, and probably the experience of lots of Chinese Americans living in NYC. Chinese Americans are a huge untapped market for Christianity.

[@Thejesstination]

Thanks for that perspective. ☺️

[@Thejesstination]

Then they could have responded in English lol. They weren’t ABC’s.

[@weizhang2834]

​@@Thejesstinationas s Chinese i met a lot of time these kinds of experiences in California: when i talk to a person looks like chinese, they got angry : i am not Chinese . i believe a lot of Chinese Americans dont speak Chinese and also reverse racist towards Chinese Chinese ( even Chinese American police i met ), they watched a lot of fake news propaganda and shamed being called Chinese

[@ColorsOfTheeWind]

YOU GREW UP IN PITTSBURGH...? GET OUTTTT. where ? Ive been watching your videos for a couple weeks and im so glad to know youre from pittsburgh. Im from wilkinsburgh. but I love to travel and all I wanted to do was leave pittsburgh. I left for travel 2 years ago for 7 months and been back since the begining of 2022. Im waiting to have my necxt oppurtunity to travel... which id love it to be in asia. If you are ever in pittsburgh Id love to connect with you so we can exchange traveling stories ! thankyou for your videos

[@Thejesstination]

Thanks for watching! I haven’t been back to the Burgh yet but hopefully soon! I love that you got out, you already know it’s one of those places where many never leave the city let alone the country. Thanks for sharing! ☺️

[@chriscox3109]

Believe me we in Britain feel the same, well 99% of us, the rest are very happy to continue on a social downwards spiral into degeneracy and despair.

[@Thejesstination]

So many unfortunate similarities we share!

[@sarahdaniels6078]

Let me start off with two words “made in America” you are so funny you should have your own Worldwide show! Oh wait you do! Really really love all your videos, what should I say travel until you find the place where you belong. It may take you a few more trips but don’t worry you’re going to find it. And in the meantime keep sharing and showing us all the places you visit. we are rooting for you!!! Stay safe, stay well, stay blessed🦋🙏🏿💗💗💗

[@Thejesstination]

Wow, thank you so much! 🤗

[@cosmicchitony]

As someone who lived many years on both sides (America and China), I can say that you would do so much better in China. You are beautiful, find a rich Chinese man who will give you the life you deserve. You're a queen, believe in yourself and get what you're worth

[@Thejesstination]

Ummmm thanks lol

[@weizhang2834]

2

[@GiorniVenibato]

I second that! Go find a Chinese husband! 😂

[@BA-mv8pp]

I am a white American. Last year got a retiree visa to a small, upper middle income, island nation where I am a minority. It's not perfect but is much safer, much cheaper, and much freer. And NOT weird. There is not as many super rich people, but not as many super poor people either. My wife and I enjoy the peace of mind. We stay part of the year.

[@Thejesstination]

That's awesome! I love that you both are enjoying it and recognize the peace that you have there... what country is it?

[@Qantz]

Keep them lean, keep them keen. Learnt this phrase from a white Aussie boss. And you start to see the way their mind works. I think if we deep dive into the slaver's mentality, we will begin to understand how the American government functions as compared to the rest of the world, who have been slaves.

[@Thejesstination]

Deep!

[@dyrectory_com]

Moreover, I suspect they, those in power don't want to address the underlying reasons for crime because having criminals keeps people in fear, it's another method of controlling the people?

[@Thejesstination]

That and the correlation between a rise in crime and price gouging mislabeled as inflation.

[@samuel-louisbandy2542]

Are you staying in the LA area now? Which East Coast City are you from?

[@Thejesstination]

I moved around a lot. I guess some people consider Pittsburgh Midwest but I don’t lol. I spent a lot of time in NY. I’m in the southeast currently, LA was just a week long visit.

[@timothypeterson1903]

Getting out of here myself next year this place is rapidly falling apart. Everyone keeps asking me Where are you going? I know where I am headed and nobody else needs to know. They are not paying for anything or coming along.

[@Thejesstination]

😂😂😂 Exactly! Tell them nothing, they aren’t going to help, most are just nosy.

[@timothypeterson1903]

@@Thejesstination I am aware. Thanks 👍

[@johnspillman5403]

I live in China for 3yrs 2010/13 in Chengdu szechuan province am from UK, and to me China feel more like home, my advice girl go back to China have good life, Chinese people are inquisitive about about foreigners because most parts China have never seen foreigner, story when I was in China with a few friends, one girl was blonde and ask if could touch her hair because they never seen blonde hair, for myself I have hair arms, and I was ask if I would mind touching my arm and stoked like you would dog or cat, because are eager to understand foreigners because in country that has 1.4 billion people and have black and black/brown eyes, Chinese people love ask questions, it there way, have good life that's best for you 🇨🇳🇨🇳🇨🇳🙏🙏🙏amituofu (阿米陀佛)

[@Thejesstination]

I’m glad you enjoyed your time in China. ☺️

[@idofdm7625]

Continue: dystopian to live in China or Colombia vs US ( Ive read numerals time I would rather live here than "communist" China where you'll be snatch off in the middle of the night) so we glady accept skyrocketing cost of medical care, educations or cost of living in general! You try to "make it" by working 2 or 3 jobs, if you don't, you chalk it up to your own personal failure and not the system! Because in a capitalist country we all have to swim hard to stay afloat or you'll be on the streets by your own fault like may do nowadays! And politics here is quite genius! Every 4 years we're given new hope, remember Ronald Reagan's " New dawn in America", Obama's "Yes we can" " keep hope alive" Donald Trump's " make America great again", promise, promise, promise! it's all an illusions! Thing go South switch a president while system doesn't change if not more against ordinary citizens! USA!USA!USA!!!!💪👍💪👍💪👍 it's call American dream! Blame it on Biden! Bring back Trump 😅

[@Thejesstination]

Most of the people who say they'd rather live in the US never left the US, and they definitely have never been to China. They'd see people retired at 55 living their best lives, eating delicious food, and not getting snatched in the middle of the night. 🤣🤣🤣

[@ianisles2537]

Cool video! Food for thought.

[@Thejesstination]

Thank you!

[@ianisles2537]

@TheJesstination you are beautiful, if the han dudes don't like you they're foolish .

[@Thejesstination]

😂 I appreciate that ☺️

[@namastewoke5197]

Gurl, I would have just said "yes. Thats my funnel cake, my numbers been called, excuse me" and i would have kindly reached pass, around, or through and got my cake and kept on getting it. People like that everywhere. I am from STL and I was raised don't pay nobody the mind, gets yours and keep getting it. And for a funnel cake, hunty, dont mess with the funnel cake! Lol! 😂😂❤

[@Thejesstination]

😂😂😂 There were 3 of them though!

[@younot-ez3xr]

I suspect those 3 were quite a bit on the big side as well. Such entitlement- ship them to Kazakhstan, that'll change their ways quickly

[@joewong438]

I don’t mean to disagree with you about talking Mandarin with Chinese guys. They maybe like me, raised in North America mostly don’t speak Mandarin, our mother tongue is Cantonese.

[@Thejesstination]

That’s the case for many, however as I said…they were speaking mandarin the whole time I was sitting next to them.

[@MFJLabs]

omg -- thank you for confirming what many suspect, but can't bring themselves to believe because they're blinded by the matrix (media). we have friends all over the world and all of them say the same thing -- the us you see on tv isn't the us in real life. by the time many are done working jobs they hate they're too tired to enjoy the nice things they still can't afford. (head shaking) 😄 need more sistas traveling and sharing the message. thanks again.

[@Thejesstination]

Thank you for watching! 😊

[@livanoguerrero3385]

I went to the US, from Colombia in my youth and I love the US and norteamericanos...I even received a marriage proposition from a Nice rich girl and I was dumb enough not to accept it, because I was poor and shy...

[@Thejesstination]

Awww! You should have accepted that proposal jajaja! De qué ciudad eres?

[@rarinkaz]

The incident of micro aggression you spoke of seems to be the american way, I see and deal with it all the time! Something as simple as driving on a highway... keep right EXCEPT to PASS? Well american's are entitled to ride in any lane they choose and you can just wait till their exit comes up before they decide to move out of the way!

[@Thejesstination]

😂😂😂

[@AyeshaTheGreat]

Wow at this video going viral... just wanted to stop past and say it was fun watching you film this while downtown in my city. I am rarely down there and try to avoid it so it was nice to see a tourist taking in the sights.🚩(I couldn't find the real flag but this seem to be an appropriate substitute.)

[@Thejesstination]

Thanks, girl! Inner Harbor living is nice! At least for someone who is used to having everything within walking distance and doesn't want to have a car. That is absolutely an acceptable replacement flag! 😂😂😂😂

[@lipincheng]

天下沒有所謂的烏托邦，任何事情或政治制度都是兩害取其輕。十八世紀一名英國外交官周遊中國數月後坦率直言中國相對於西方是個陳腐落後的半野蠻文明，西風東漸對中國現代化起了決定性的貢獻功不可沒不在話下。但是西方文明的致命傷是先天不足建立於爭奪霸權的基礎上，取代不了中國幾千年持續文明。中國虛心接受同是來自西方的共產主義，資本主義，西方反而作繭自縛抱殘守缺。天安門斗大的字“世界人民大團結萬歲“不是掛了好看的。簡單的說，就是當前世界各國正在面對王道與霸道之間的抉擇，而你我都是這場歷史事件的見證。 There is no such thing as a Utopia, it all comes down to picking the lesser of two evils, including political systems. In the 18th century, a British diplomat traveled around China for several months and frankly stated that China was an outdated and backward semi-barbaric civilization compared to the West. It goes without saying that the eastward spread of the Western influence played a decisive role in China's transformation into a modern state deserving a lot of credit. However, the fatal flaw of Western civilization is that it is based on the struggle for hegemony going back a long way and cannot replace China's thousands of years of continuous civilization. China humbly accepted Communism and Capitalism, both of which came from the West, while the West instead trapped itself in a cocoon and stuck in comfort zone. The oversized words "Long Live the Great Unity of the People of the World" in Tiananmen Square are not just for decoration. Simply put, countries around the world are currently facing a stark choice between kingly benevolent way and hegemonic way, and you and I are all witnesses of this historical event.

[@Thejesstination]

Definitely no such thing as Utopia. I feel like I’m too young to have lived through so many historic events but you’re right…here we are again.

[@lipincheng]

@@Thejesstination You're right, fortunately or unfortunately, young folks like yourself did not get to witness some monumental historic events first hand. In 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first human to set foot on the moon. I was in a room with 30 or 40 people watching the event live on TV. When Neil took his first step on the moon, the room erupted with everybody shouting and cheering. No one quite believed it would happen until it actually did. Just a powerful and magical moment that one could never forget after witnessing it. Then there was 1962 when the world was on the brink. Every day, people were talking about which country had the bigger bomb or upper hand. But everyone knew it wouldn't have made any difference. If something bad was to happen, it would be nuclear annihilation and game over. One thing we can count on is the only thing certain in this world is nothing is certain. Cherish every moment you got.

[@Thejesstination]

Absolutely! Cherish it all!

[@timmcgraw3096]

Actually I love american culture, movies, pop music, basketball and so on. I respect the american ppl who respect us and my country. The US and China both have their own strengths and weaknesses. The two countries and their peoples should learn from each other's strengths, respect each other, and cooperate for win-win results.

[@Thejesstination]

I agree, we’d all be better off learning from one another instead of finding things to argue about.