Expats are coming and going all the time in China, but I’ve noticed an unusual number of articles in the past 2 years which refer to a “exodus” of expats leaving the country. This is certainly hyperbolic but still noteworthy. There are numerous reasons for people to choose to leave, including sour business deals, bureaucracy, and cultural disconnect; however, the most common quality-of-life concern has got to be the air.

The health concerns of those living and visiting China can be seen in the numbers- one example being the reduction in tourism Beijing has experienced in just the past year (Quarters 1 to 3 between 2012 and 2013). The Beijing Youth Daily reported in October that local travel agents have seen a 50% decline year-on-year in the number of tourists visiting the city, although official numbers are closer to 15%.* And with the cold, dry air of winter just getting started in northern China, you can be sure that tackling air pollution will probably be their #1 priority.

Although not as bad as the Harbin smog last month, Shanghai recently shutdown schools and cancelled flights due to “unprecedented air pollution” reported by Forbes online. Guangzhou, a metropolis of over 12 million residents (2010 census), also has prepared contingency measures for when PM2.5 measures over 300.

In 2008, the Asia Society produced a series of videos which provide a brief overview of the pollution issues in China along with some engaging content.

Did I leave China because of air pollution? Not exactly. Just like anyone else, there are a bunch of reasons that come together to cause you to make a big move. And although I lived in one of the cleanest coastal cities in China there were other concerns like food quality and noise pollution.

There are many livable places in China and I recommend all expats in China (especially with family) to consider the many aspects of life there. If you have left China (or choosing to stay) share your stories with us below. Thanks!

On September 24, 2013 I started my repatriation experience after 8 years of Asianliving (mostly in China). Before leaving China I was told numerous times by foreign, non-Chinese friends and colleagues that I would be back in 6 months… tops… and I told them all I wouldn’t just cave and go back any time soon.
So, how am I holding up…?

Well, after a month in NH and Boston I’ve had a lot of time to prepare for a new career and new living situation. It’s been GREAT seeing my family and helping them whenever possible. I would never take that back. But there have been times when I’ve really missed China.

Today’s post is not an excuse to complain about the US but rather a chance to be open about what I’m truly missing from my long stay in China.

1) Weather– Living in southern China is like living in Florida- palm trees, seafood, and sunshine sheilas. Everything about the climate makes for a more comfortable lifestyle than, say, the cold snowy Northeast. It hasn’t gotten unbearably cold in Boston yet but the recent cloudy, windy days have been a preview of what’s to come. Hopefully the beautiful snowy winter scenes will be worth it!

2) Food– Coming home has reintroduced me to that daily coffee craving we covet in America and this is why Dunkin Donuts a mixed blessing. Their awesome coffee paired with bagels, croissants, donuts, and a variety of other sandwichy things has single-handedly changed my daily diet. There’s nothing wrong with bread as a staple but it has displaced my rice intake. Before my move back I ate white rice 1-2 times daily and now that figure is more like 1 time per week. My ginger and garlic intake has also dropped too. So, when I get a chance I’ll cook here but I won’t be able to do that as often when I start a full-time job. I am starting to miss my Asian diet but luckily I have found more Asian markets in the Boston area. The only problem is that food prices are steeper in the city.

3) Remedies– Whether its from my lower garlic intake, or for other reasons, I have gotten a full-on cold. *cough cough* Getting sick these last couple days was the first time in quite a long time. Most years in China I would get 1 or 0 colds. Early on I got a serious flu over there and a friend cured me using a local remedy called scraping. That, along with countless other remedies, were part of my life over there. Now I’m taking flu medicine, drinking cough syrup and sucking on Halls to combat my first bug since my return. I miss Pi Pa Gao and congee, but luckily I’ve found these things here in a local Asian market.

4) Relationships– Family and friends are often curious about what’s going on with me and my girlfriend in China. And I have sworn off distance relationships in the past… (remember Brazil?) but this time is a little different. I know it’s hard to be so far away from someone you love, but then I think about how I managed that with my own family. How could I spend 9 years away from them and still have this wonderful relationship we have today!? What I’ve realized here is that we can make it work if we are honest about our goals and what’s most important to us.

Overall, I think I can stick it out here in Boston with some family and an Asian market nearby. The World Series is here in Boston, Thanksgiving is around the corner, then Christmas, and the new year! After that we have Chinese New Year and weekend trips up to the slopes. A visit to Florida will definitely be in order by March too… There’s really too much going on for me to just jump ship and move back to China. When my student loans are paid off and I’m ready to start a training school there I will, but I won’t be running back after a short 6 months visit home.

2 years ago I told a troop of Duke University students visiting China that I intended to give my current projects (via Huajie Group) another 2 years to float or sink before returning home. This summer being the 2 year mark, I’ve decided it’s time to move the Benji Ming show back to the USA, for now. It’s not easy to leave a place that has been my 2nd home for such a long time, but I have decided that my real home and family are what matter more than anything.

So, what’s up next? Since I have academic credentials and a portfolio related to eLearning, I’m going to pursue a career in Instructional Design in the Boston area. I’m currently looking for opportunities in Beantown, with particular interest in Pearson, Cengage Learning, and McGraw-Hill.

Take a look at my self-introduction module developed using Articulate Storyline: bit.ly/benpiscopo2013

Longer term, I plan to continue a career in education. I’d also be very excited to leverage my Chinese language and cultural understanding in a leadership position in Asia again someday. But for now, I must stay focused on paying off student loans and gaining tangible experience in my industry.

Thanks again to my family, especially mom, for supporting my decisions and efforts out here for so many years!

~If you or a friend is in Instructional Design and interested in linking up, please visit my profile here: http://www.linkedin.com/in/benpiscopo

A blog that totes the wonders of Asianliving should really offer a fair slice of the other side: the health problems suffered in Asia. Suffice it to say the global news media frequently reminds us of the air quality issues across China, I decided to take it one step further and opine on the love of smoking here.

As Andrew Hales recently noted on his visit to Chengdu (where people use umbrellas in the daytime “like in the olden days”), China in the 20-teens seems much like America in the 1950s. Smoking is everywhere, all the time. And if you aren’t smoking, you will still smell (inhale) other people’s smoke. Restaurants, bars, shops, bus stations, train stations, bathrooms, and schools. There are virtually no tobacco-free zones in China, although in 2009 a policy was passed to “ban smoking in all health administration offices and medical facilities by the year 2011.”* That’s right, smoking in hospitals was common even just a couple years ago. City-specific legislation is still being carried out slowly across the country.*

On World No Tobacco Day in May 2012 the Chinese Ministry of Health stated that over 1 million deaths per year can be attributed to smoking.* That was also the day Bill Gates visited China to roll out his organization’s “Say No to Forced Smoking” campaign, as supported by the local government.  It’s estimated that 740 million people suffer from second-hand smoke in the country.*

As with most glaring health issues, it’s all about social norms. Certainly, the Chinese struggle to deter smoking is as difficult, if not more so, as curbing obesity in America. Two major health issues affect our nations and it’s time we try to learn from each other. How did America majorly kick her smoking habit? (Smoking rates in the United States dropped by half from 1965 to 2006 falling from 42% to 20.8% of adults.*) And how have the Chinese managed to keep so fit through the westernization of their economy and modern lifestyle?

It’s easy to envy the Chinese position because they could just learn from our past, right? But it’s not so simple. Truly lasting change comes from within a culture, not from outsiders unilaterally wagging a finger. When the British Council started an educational campaign in 2010* to get young Chinese on board to respond to local factors which contribute to growing pollution problems in their country, there was actually some backlash from participants, as I was told by a British colleague involved. They know they have a problem and don’t need us to solve it for them.

Social norms are a bit odd wherever you go in the world and we can’t know for sure what’s going on in the minds of our foreign friends. The best we can do is stay near, stay positive, and pray that they find a way to kick their bad habits in a way that works best for them.

~ Want more info on the acceptance of smokers and overweight persons in American society? Take a look at this Gallop Poll video from 2008. ~

NBC Nightly News ran a report recently about “food deserts”, which is a phenomenon that occurs in low-income, rural areas of the country. (See 2004 article about Pittsburgh, NH) A food desert is where a fresh produce market is 1 mile or farther away from any given neighborhood. For many in this kind of situation, locals often do their shopping in expensive mini-marts or convenience stores. And the health implications of food deserts exacerbate various weight-related issues.

It’s no mystery that fast food and preserved food is pervasive across the US, but the solution has to be economically viable. That’s why private enterprise is starting to react to this issue. Wendell Pierce and partners have started a chain of supermarkets called “Sterling Farms” and has begun in his hometown of New Orleans. Since they target food deserts in particular, there is a social impact that ripples through these communities. And for those who don’t have private vehicles, the grocery store has started offering free transport for customers spending $50 or more.

The reason this story struck me and led to a post on AL.ME was because of the concept of food deserts. Having fresh vegetables, fruit, and meat at a walkable distance is extremely valuable and can make a big dent in long-term health issues.

Take Zhuhai for example, I live in a Chinese city which has fresh vegetables and fruit available within 2-3 blocks of most homes. In fact, the only way to avoid this kind of convenience is to move out into the outskirts of the city… but even then, you are likely to find a kiosk of fruit and vege tucked away in each community.

Another wonderful way to help combat the food desert issue is to provide transportation because low-income families might not have the means to get to the market easily. In China, the public transportation systems of most small and medium-sized cities are well developed at this point. You can get almost anywhere for about $0.50. Take a look at this massive Carrefour (a French supermarket) down the street from where I live. Of course, Zhuhai is a city and not a food desert, but the Carrefour bus system goes deep into the outskirts of the city, allowing anyone on any budget to get the same access as city dwellers.

As communities reward entreprenuers for their social conscience we will see more of this kind of supermarket in America. The respect of the community will do wonders for their business, and in turn, the community will have a better opportunity to come across healthy, nutritious food.

There’s a saying in ancient Chinese: “Walk 100 steps after every meal and you’ll live to 99 years old.” This is a reminder that food isn’t meant to sit- it should be moved around.

Avoid the following scenario: Drive to the restaurant, get out, go in, sit down, eat, then leave, drive home, and go directly into the house. This is a recipe for digestive disaster over the longer term.

And although many people may think that it should be a 30-45 minute “brisk” walk, it doesn’t have to be. Just a 5-10 minute walk around the block is worth it and does make a positive difference.

It’s been a wonderful holiday back in the US with family and friends. This is definitely the best time of the year because it not only brings loved ones together but it also gives us an opportunity to start fresh again. And in that respect, this new year is no different from previous ones… everyone wants to improve something about their health.

When I asked my family about their New Years resolution I kept hearing a variation of “getting healthy” and that got me thinking… Why not do something easy for your health everyday throughout 2013? Yes, I said everyday.

This year I will share with my readers 365 easy-to-follow Asian health secrets, a majority of which are based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which is a 3,000-year-old medical system that includes nutrition advice, herbal remedies, and activities such as Qi Gong as well as acupuncture. With great advice from Chinese traditional medicine doctors I’ve learned from over the years, along with grandparents of Asian friends, you will enjoy natural ways to reduce stress, end migraines, get a full night sleep, lose weight, improve your love life, find a spiritual balance and much more!

This will be a big challenge for me in 2013 and I’ll need your support to make it work. Try the secrets each day, then tell everyone what works for you. Then, I’ll put ALL of the best ones into a free digital book at the end of the year. It’s my gift to every Asianliving.me  reader.

So, here’s to our better health in 2013!

Sincerely,

Ben 杰明

UPDATE: From January to March 2013, Google began to punish AL.ME for short but frequent posts. This has led to lower search traffic and I’ve decided that 1-a-day is not healthy for this blog. I will now produce 1 long post every week, with enough content that can be spread out over time. Thanks for your understanding and support!

Hi everyone. Today I’m turning 30 and I guess I’ve been feeling 30 for a while already. Family and friends have called wishing me a great day on this occasion because I guess it is a milestone. (I’m still alive! Woohoo!) Actually, I have got to say that I’ve really enjoyed spending most of my 20s out in Asia and I would never trade those years for anything. A lifetime of experiences have come from the last 10 years: interesting people, amazing food, unusual arguments, wild adventures, new friends, and near-death experiences… who could ask for more?

Although I’ve spend most of my career as a teacher, I have certainly learned more than if I had chosen to stay local and get a job after graduation. Certainly I would have made more money and kept in better touch with friends, but I’m sure they have also found themselves busier with their own lives as the years have rolled on… And I don’t blame any of them for that – it’s life, and we all must live it in our own way. It is important, though, to remember your roots and find a way to give back to the society that raised you. And that’s why I know I will come back to New England before I’m 40.

There truly is too much happening in Asia to ignore it, but there is so much going on in America too. Economic downturns aside, the US is still an economic powerhouse which plays a major role in world events.  And with everything that my grandparents and ancestors have done to give me the opportunity to be born in a place like America, it would be shame for me to just live the rest of my life in country that doesn’t share many of the same values. And a constant reminder of that is the nation-wide blocking of Facebook, most google services, and even this blog AL.ME. (I need to use a proxy to update this site now). China has certainly come a long way as a developing country and will continue to trudge along with break-neck growth. But it’s not my country – It’s not my storm  to weather, nor could I resolve the issues of the day as a foreigner. The Chinese need to do that for themselves, just as Americans need to deal with their own internal issues.

But this country will forever be part of global politics and economics. We can’t ignore them and that’s why I’ve done as much as I can to get familiar with their ways: because a peaceful rise of China is a global rising tide and it will lift all boats around the world.

So, now I’m off to Karaoke to sing Gangnam Style while eating New York cheesecake made by Germans. After that I’ll probably eat a Japanese sushi dinner with my Chinese girlfriend while toasting with Mexican tequila. Then it’s off to the Irish bar to watch Australian rugby… It’s going to be great day.

Maybe I avoided it because it was so Cantonese and I missed the Mandarin world a little. Making soup (煲汤) and Morning Tea (早茶) are very Cantonese and have slowly found their place among my all-time favorite Chinese weekend activities. Now, or when I’m ready to move on, they will join me as I explore the rest of China (and the USA).

The one thing that worries me though, is that there are two ingredients that might not be available back home. One is fresh bamboo shoots and the other is fresh water chestnuts. Both must not come from a can… or else the whole thing is ruined, I think.

Stuff to Prepare: (see pic)
a large peeled, sliced carrot.
a fist-sized red onion, sliced.
a fist-sized potato cut into bite-sized chunks.
a full ear of corn, cut into 4 or 5 sections.
a “ham hock” or soup bone which has some meat and a lot of marrow. (Ask your butcher)
5-6 fresh water chestnuts, cut into halves or quarters depending on size.
3-4  fresh bamboo shoots, sliced in half.
salt.

1~  First prepare everything as you see in the pic above. It’s vital that everything is prepped in advance because all you have to do is throw everything in together!

2~ Take the chopped up ham hock chunks and pre-boil them for about 5 minutes. This cleans out the meat and keeps the soup free from some sneaky bugs… at least this is the typical way it is prepared in Guangdong.

3~ You’ll need a soup pot like the one in the picture, so visit an Asian market (or increasingly any Dollar Store) to buy a cheap one. They cost about $4 in China. Fill 3/4 with drinkable water.

4~ When the meat is pre-boiled, drain the gunky water out and drop the meat into the soup pot. This will become our stock and leave some tasty meat chunks to eat between mouth-fulls of veges!

5~ You can put all of the ingredients in at the same time if you want. They will boil together for about 30-45 minutes at least. Then make sure to pour in salt to taste. Don’t start with too much! (See pic)

I usually let the soup simmer after 45 minutes. It can stay simmering for hours if you want. If you want to keep the soup for later, just leave it on the stove top. You should put the leftover soup in containers and leave them in the refrigerator if you indeed to eat some the next day.

Enjoy this traditional, very easy to make soup!

Have a look at what the church looked like outside. The white banner on the left is the official signage which shows this church is registered with the central government. (Click image to zoom in)

The inside was a little bit of a surprise to me. I guess the group was a Taiwanese, Christian band which tours throughout the world. They do English songs too. The crowd was feeling pretty spiritual, which couldn’t be a bad thing. It all reminded me of how strong capitalism truly has become in China.