As expats we have to be careful about others trying to manipulate our emotions, that is the biggest thing to be careful about in general. Of course I just speak from personal experience but both other expats and local chinese will try and take advantage of you not being it the know.

For many folks in this world, having access to good information makes them feel more justified to bait others and manipulate them. It is dangerous to be too empathetic when working in a strange place so far away. Nobody should be shafted and be taken advantage of like so many teachers who have posted on here.