Working and living with other Westerners abroad in a distant land from home can be real nightmare.

The same situation when I taught in Oman, in the gulf. Some of the ex saudi crowd were well adjusted, and polite people. Others were dipsomaniacs devoid of any social or teaching skills at all. [edited]

I'd agree in China it can be a nightmare also, and it can sometimes mean you end up alone or making chinese friends.