It's getting a bit harder. Long gone are the days where if you were American and had a pulse, you'd be in middle management. Near-fluency in Chinese is rapidly becoming a standard for many entry level positions for foreigners here.
If you are not a grounded person it can get WAY over the top.
Absolutely. China is not the place to come to 'find yourself'.
I have seen beer poured by the keg, people crawling all over the place drunk, hookers all over the place, people throwing empty kegs off the roof in the frat party of all frat parties. It would make Animal House look boring...and that was at a party at one of the embassies of an un-named European country.
LOL! You're right about the big frat feeling to many of the parties here. Many of the expats here are straight out of college with their business degrees. Embassy workers are the worst--except for my friends at the U.S. Embassy. ; ) Most are only here for a year or two, and have no reason to get in touch with the culture. In fact, they are usually prevented from getting too close. So they tend to blow of steam with alcohol.
It can be a very good or very bad place, depending on one's perspective.
I hate living here, but there's no where else I'd want to be. : )
That suits me just fine. I think thats a good thing. I've ran across too many idiots who can't even use chopsticks and they are supposed to be doing business in China. Thats a positive development if you ask me.
People who have been around won't screw up nearly as much stuff.
China is not the place to come to 'find yourself'.
I agree and disagree. You can find yourself. Find yourself drunk in a ditch...find yourself getting drawn into alcoholism, find yourself married to some chinese chick who can't even speak english, find yourself at 40 years old teaching english for $200 bucks a month living in a rat hole with a communal Chinese squatter toilet... you could find yourself all kinds of places...most of them, not good. If you stay long enough doing nothing, you will find out that you screwed off your life. Other than that I agree with you.
Most people that will get ahead in China have done their dues and went to school, and learned stuff, and have real jobs.
Embassy workers are the worst--except for my friends at the U.S. Embassy. ; )
Ah, covering up for them I see... Nothing like a good bud to cover your ass...
Me, I am one to avoid the wild man parties. I am MUCH more into a subdued, but fun lifestyle.
Hell, many of the expats kids in China get drawn into some crap...like heroine, or whatever. Like I said, watch yourself and do it right, or you're gonna end up with trouble that won't rub off.