Finding Freedom in China: An American’s Story

Hey my fellow travelers!

As many of you guys know, I’m an American who lives in China. And, when it comes to the concept of “freedom”, I’ve got a pretty unique perspective to share with you about in regards to this big red giant we call China. You might think it’s strange for an American to talk about freedom in China, but I’ve found some amazing freedoms here that I didn’t have back home in the USA.

Disclaimer: This isn’t about saying one country is better than the other; it’s just about sharing my own experience.

Since moving to China, I’ve felt more free in many ways. It’s not just because of China itself, but living here has let me do things and be myself in ways I couldn’t back in the States. People from America (and other countries) often get special “foreigner benefits” over here, and that’s something that I’ve taken advantage of on many occasions.

One of the coolest things about being in China is I can be myself more easily. For example, you often see foreigners dressing in funky unique ways without worrying too much about what others think. I once saw a guy with bright blue hair (looking like a Dragonball super saiyan character), looking like he was on lunch break. I guess nobody at his job seemed to mind his hair, likely because he’s a foreigner and the normal rules of dress decorum often don’t apply to us here. This kind of freedom to express yourself is really special and very different than what I experienced working in corporate America.

Back in the USA, I felt like I had to act a certain way, especially because I’m black. People expected me to fit a certain stereotype, which wasn’t me at all. Here in China, I can reinvent myself every week with a new style of clothing without anyone giving me flack. It’s been really freeing.

Another thing I like is not having to worry about the gender wars happening back in the USA. Here, things are a bit more traditional, and that’s made life simpler for me. I don’t have to keep up with all the debates and arguments happening back home. And it really takes the guesswork out of dating, because you already know the woman you are talking to is probably looking to play the traditional female role in the relationship.

And let’s talk about work. In China, I haven’t had to do a regular 9 to 5 job for over 10 years. I teach English, which is in high demand, so I have a lot of power to choose when and where I work. This has given me so much freedom to enjoy life and explore this big city. *It’s something I wish more people could experience.

Living in China also means I don’t have to deal with the constant news and safety worries that I had in the USA. Sure, China has its own rules and limits, but I never really feel like I need to watch my back when I’m moving around China. And I certainly never feel the need to watch the Chinese news to keep up with the daily happenings here!

So, what do you think? It’s pretty cool to see how different life can be in another country, right? I’d love to hear if you’ve found freedom like this anywhere else. Send me an email and let me know!

That’s all for now. Thanks for listening, and I’ll see you next time!

*P.S. If you are interested in learning about English teaching, click this link, and you will be taken to a page where you can get a FREE Quickstart English Teaching Guide that I made. If you are looking to get overseas as soon as possible and start making money, this might be the path for you!