As for me, I don't want to eat Chinese food all the time, and from Friday to Sunday I only eat Western food. Yep, it can be expensive, and I get taxis everywhere most of the time. Cold beer still only 9rmb a bottle however!

What are the above irrelevancies in aid of? FYI, I cook my own Western food, and seldom ride by taxi. Walking is healthier. Cold beer here is 2 yuan a bottle. I can match your 'exploits' if I wish, but I don't want to do so!

Obviously, I need more than 5000rmb a month to support my lifestyle here.

Very obvious, and I never said I'm on that salary, or what salary I'm on, for that matter! So, I discount your assertion as irrelevant.

As for Western employers, I agree they can be as selfish and greedy as Chinese employers. It is why I will only ever work at a public university in China, or for myself in the West ( if I ever return for good )

I've been a certified teacher back home. I was instructed not to drink during lunch break, under threat of dismissal. Here in China I drink every lunchtime and then teach. See what I mean about CONTROLLING employers? You failed to address that one, didn't you!

I am not Chinese, I don't want to live like them or ever become like them.

A sweeping generalization, if ever I saw one!

I an still Western in nature and thinking, still like Western food, still prefer English to Chinese, and I prefer English music and literature.

Yes, you are that. Maybe that's why you're a member of 'the famous five'!

Some FT's forget where they came from.

And some are entitled to forget that, because China gives them a better deal overall than what their homelands have given them.

Lastly, I hope you can adjust better to China and its citizens in the long run, for your sake!