Poll: How long will you stay?

[lilongyue]

Related to my first poll, I was also curious how long people plan to stay in China.  There's probably a correlation between people's ages and how long they plan to live in China.  I'm keeping these polls anonymous, by the way.  The poll won't reveal who voted for what.

[lilongyue]

This was accidentally posted before it was ready. I made another poll, but can't seem to find it. Perhaps the mod is working some magic.

[muyongshi]

Maybe deleted the second one seeing as you already had the first one...

[lilongyue]

Hmm, but this one doesn't have the actual "poll" in it. The other one did . . .

[roddy]

Hmmm, I think someone may have deleted the wrong one . . .

You might be able to add it via this link

http://www.chinese-forums.com/poll.php?do=newpoll&t=20044

but not sure if you'll have the necessary permissions. If not let me know what the options should be and I'll do it. Or just start a new topic and then I'll kill this one. Hope I don't miss this time . . .

[lilongyue]

OK, everything seems to be working now. Forgive me if some of the questions are a bit cheeky . . .

[muyongshi]

I'm already calling unfair on one of the questions. I am long term here whether I marry a chinese or not and there is no option for that! Also I don't like the word assimilation due to recent discussion here. So for the moment I can't vote....

5-6 years is way to short and I don't have in-laws....

[Senzhi]

Yep Muyongshi,

I agree with you ... I'm going on strike on this one, unless I see an option 'eternally' (regardless of in-laws, love etc.).

[muyongshi]

Eternally huh?????

I could just go for lifelong and be happy (don't get me wrong...I hope the love part works out but regardless....)

[lilongyue]

OK people, reeeelaaaax! It was a joke, no need to get your panties in a twist. I was just looking for something to say that might be more entertaining than "Option 1 . . . Option 2 . . . Option 3."

[cdn_in_bj]

I voted 2 years because that is pretty much a given, but I hope circumstances will allow me to stay longer. I basically came here "by accident" and now that I've decided to stay, I'm giving myself another 2 years to "make it or break it" (this includes improving my Chinese proficiency). By then I should know if my future lies here or back in Canada.

[sthubbar]

Haha, I thought the first option was "Hey, I just bought a ticket and cameL: Uncertain" I was racking my brain trying to figure out why buying a cameL would have anything to do with my stay.

[Shadowdh]

I love the word assimilation its so Borg like... resistance is futile... (yeah I know its a valid term used in cross culture communication type classes and social sciences too)

I but 1 year study as thats all I have this time... I will be back but probably only for work purposes with some short bursts of study, not liking being away from the wife and kids that much...

[gougou]

I'll be staying till pollution gets me (hoping that that is 5-6 years).

[muyongshi]

Is 3-4 four years like bad luck or something?

I find it interesting that it is 1-2 years of 5-6.... very interesting...

[simonlaing]

Staying here awhile there is a 18 month 2 year defining point. If you have been here longer than that usually you will stay 5 years or more.

Usually it depends on the person's satisfaction with studying or teaching English. A one year study course is what most students come on. If they stay for 2 years and can support themselves with odd english teaching jobs they usually stay until they get a good non teaching job. Just some observations I have found.

Also 3-4 years ago would be around the time of SARS, if you lived through SARS you can live through most things that China throws at you.

have fun,

Simon:)

[lilongyue]

After this semester, I'll probably stick around for 2 more, so about another year. Come January, I'll have been here three years. So, it looks like I myself will be around for about 5 years.

Health is a big issue, given the rapidly growing toxicity of the environment here. Besides my own health, and that of my wife, I have a future child to think of. Bringing a child into the equation changes everything. Health care, education, cultural issues, growing up in a free country as opposed to a quasi-socialist-whatever-china-is-these-days country . . .

I would like to continue living in Asia, just not Mainland China. My wife's Chinese passport makes it difficult to go anywhere, even Hong Kong, so a lengthy stay in the U.S. until she gets her American passport is looming in the future. If she can get into America, that is . . .

[lilongyue]

Oh yeah, one more thing. Writing "assimilation" was done tongue-in-cheek. I also thought of the Borg from Star Trek, as well as the Daleks from Dr. Who, if anyone remembers that show.

[adrianlondon]

as well as the Daleks from Dr. Who, if anyone remembers that show

It's still going strong in the UK!

[cdn_in_bj]

Health is a big issue, given the rapidly growing toxicity of the environment here.

Yes I did not mention it but it is definitely a concern for me as well. It is truly scary the amount of pollution here. Though 2 nights ago we were given quite a treat, the strong winds during the day had blown away the smog/crap and left us with the clearest skies I can recall ever having seen here. Heck, you could even see the stars. It got me thinking as to how much more pleasant it would be to live here if it were like this all the time.