Full Version: Kevin is an American who is living and loving in Weifang China

Kevin is an American who is living and loving in Weifang China

[img]http://expatinterviews.com/files/imagecache/thumb/files/Kevin_Smith_large.jpg[/img]
Kevin looks to be your typical all-American guy-next-door…except for the fact that he’s living in Weifang, China: a city with an international reputation for its extravagant kite festivals. Learning the language and taking part in the culture are just some of the things that he has done to adapt to the local way of life. Kevin shares his insights on what it's like to be an expat in this changing nation, a nation that he loves so much he wants to continue living in China.
  
Kevin Smith



July 5 2006

-Where were you born?
Illinois, USA

-Are you living alone or with your family?
Married to a Chinese

-In which country and city are you living now?
Weifang, China

-How long have you been living in China?
Three years

-What is your age?
26

-When did you come up with the idea of living in China?
When I was 20 I traveled to China for a month, developed a strong interest in the country while I was there and made up my mind to come back to live and work in China when I graduated from college.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?
No. As an English teacher at a Chinese university it is quite easy to get a working visa.

-How do you make your living in China? Do you have any type of income generated?
I teach English, both as a day job and privately, part-time.

-Do you speak Chinese and do you think it's important to speak the local language?

Yes. I speak Mandarin. I think it is important for expats to learn the local language if they really want to take part in society. Without the native language it is almost impossible to understand what is happening around oneself.



-Do you miss home and family sometimes?
Yes I do, sometimes. I call home when I feel homesick. I also play badminton, go swimming, take walks and go to bars and restaurants for recreation.

-Do you have other plans for the future?
I plan to stay in China, move to Beijing and find a job in a small and friendly company.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?
The university I teach at provides my housing.

-What is the cost of living in China?
The purchasing power of one Chinese Yuan in China is similar to that of one US dollar in the States, but the exchange rate is 8:1, so for many expats the cost of living in most of China is quite low.

-What do you think about the Chinese people?
Foreigners are still a bit of a curiosity to the Chinese, though less and less so as China's economy grows and more and more foreigners come to China. The way one dresses is very important. The Chinese tend to wear a lot of layers in the winter. When an expat wears more or (typically) less than the expected number of layers for a given season, the Chinese in Weifang will often comment disapprovingly.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in China?
On the positive side, it is very exciting to be living in China now, when China is undergoing such vast changes and becoming a very important player in world affairs. On the negative side, along with China's rapid growth come a lot of shady people trying to make money as easily as possible. Some of these individuals seek to rip off foreign travelers and businesspeople.

[img]http://www.expatinterviews.com/kevin-smith.jpg[/img]
-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in China?
Learn at least survival level Chinese. That is, enough to buy a train or bus ticket, give directions to taxi drivers, bargain for souvenirs at tourist areas, find the toilet, post letters and order food with the aid of a bilingual traveler’s menu.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about China?

The Weifang Radish: Life in China. From Weifang, Shandong.
[url]http://homepage.mac.com/kevinjamessmith/iblog[/url]

Sinosplice: Life in China, Learning Chinese
[url]http://www.sinosplice.com/life/[/url]

Talk Talk China: Having a bad "China day"? If so then you've come to the right place.
[url]http://www.talktalkchina.com/[/url]

Imagethief: Confessions of an American Spin Doctor in Beijing
[url]http://news.imagethief.com/blogs/china/default.aspx[/url]

OneManBandwidth: An American Professor in China
[url]http://www.onemanbandwidth.com/wordpress/[/url]

blog.matthewstinson.net: Interesting and thoughtful writing about China.
[url]http://www.matthewstinson.net/blog/[/url]

AsiaPundit: Asia-related punditry
[url]http://asiapundit.com/[/url]

ESWN: Excellent English translations of relevant and current Chinese news items.
[url]http://www.zonaeuropa.com/weblog.htm[/url]

China Law Blog: China Law for Business.
[url]http://www.chinalawblog.com/chinalawblog/[/url]