In the past, I've expressed my admiration of China in this forum: I am very happy living here.

I also have worked with many foreign teachers, certainly more than fifty of them, in my many years of teaching in China.

Having said all of that, China is a nation characterized by a unitary racial identity, an ancient powerful culture, a pervasive proactive government, and an historic parochial fear of the 'other'. Living here is unlike living in any Western country. You may gradually 'fit-in', but you will never 'blend-in'. You will never be Chinese.

Perhaps you may one day become an Australian or Canadian or a citizen of the United States or England. I've worked with FTs from all of those countries and, in my own non-scientific appraisal, I've observed that U.S. citizens have had the greatest difficulty of adapting to life in China. Perhaps this is because my U.S. countrymen often have a faith in American Exceptionalism honed by our shoddy education system and corporate media. Our ignorance of the world is epic and ultimately tragic.

Living in China, even for a year or two, is not for everyone. If you arrive eager to "donate" your skills and knowledge to a "third-world" country, you will surely be lamenting your decision. If you dive in, expecting to struggle and gasp for breath, it will likely be an amazing experience.