4 reasons why I HATE living in China 

Hope you all enjoyed watching my latest video! Although there are a few things I don't like about living in China, it's not enough to make me leave! Next week I'll be dropping a video sharing a few things I love about being in China. One of the things I love is having enough free time for self-care and improvement. One way I'm working on bettering myself is through therapy. Wherever you are in the world, you should have access to professional advice from a licensed therapist if you are feeling like you need it. Check out BetterHelp by clicking my link here to save 10% off your first month! www.betterhelp.com/aleeselightyear

I agree with you 100%!!! As a South African living in China I’ve experienced all of the things you’ve mentioned.

Thank you for making this video!! My husband and I are watching and agreeing with literally everything you're saying.

Aleese, please do not apologise for the constructive criticisms. It is how some society move forward and improve itself and China is not an exception. It is good to do so and I am sure overtime the spitting will eventually stop as more and more of the older generations are told that it is not a good and pleasant sight. It is mindless and unfair criticisms that the Chinese will see that the basis is none other than racism. Stay safe and thank you for the video. Irrespective enjoy yourself and carpe diem in China.

I am learning a lot from you. ❤️ Thank you for mentioning important topics like mental health, and China’s perspectives on native English speaker over those that have been in their shoes, and can learn from each-other. I agree with you that English is an international language. ❤️

I definitely relate to the first problem. Even as a Chinese myself, it is also very difficult and expensive to find an appropriate therapist or any institutions that can help me on this. If you choose to go to these public hospitals, doctors there would just ask you to do some test forms and give you some medicines immediately.

om gosh ur so articulate! i enjoyed hearing ur comments about things you hate/dislike - there are reasons explaining why if we look at things in China context. There are certainly things for improvement for sure - having said that, its not consistent if you compare places in China & who you come across - it varies hugely depending on many factors. more and more ppl study or travel overseas, things will change in the way they look at the world/the diversity/the differences, etc. Thanks for sharing your experiences :)

Beautiful video 😍

Thanks for covering the issue with only native teachers being recruited by many companies! It is unfair, especially considering there are many native teachers that aren’t necessarily qualified or experienced in the area but get hired regardless 🙈😪

Brilliant opinions!! Nowadays fewer and fewer people dare talk about negative ideas publicly. We really need this kind of voice!

You have some good points here, no country is perfect. I hope you do enjoy the good thing staying there, all the best!

I think your video is really interesting. Lots of love from Monterrey, Mexico 💕

Hi Aleese, love your videos! Good to know from one of your videos that you are from Detroit. I’ve been living in and near Detroit for almost ten years. Due to covid, I also haven’t gone back home for almost three years. I totally agree with most of your “complaints” in this video, such as cutting lines, spitting and being way too “curious” about things or people without boundaries. Anyway, good luck for your time there! Happy Halloween 🎃🎃

Spitting is one of my biggest pet peeves as well. I almost threw up on a plane from Beihai to Shanghai because the guy beside me kept spitting into his cup. Seriously, that story about the bathroom is so crazy!! What the heck goes through people's minds...

You echoed my thoughts there regarding native level English speakers whose home language is not English. I am one of those. I always think that I am in a better position to teach English to non-speakers, precisely because I have the experience of learning English as an additional language, and had excellent teachers who did not just stick to the syllabus, but found ways of getting us to pick up the grammar naturally rather than through memorisation. I also actually did a one year university course called English Language Studies, as well as two years of English at university. which means that I know all there is to know about grammar, intonation and all the important goodies. That probably earned me a response, but I have no British or American accent. I sent a video to the school, in Korea, and never heard back from them again. I just assumed that my halfway British and half neutral accent was probably the reason they ghosted me. I think that grown ups (specifically Asians, in this context)trying to speak with an American accent, that they did not pick up as kids, sound really weird, and I find them harder to understand than an Asian speaking with an Asian or neutral accent. My country is regarded as having a neutral accent, and that’s why it has always been included, but lately it is not, probably because people/parents just want an American accent, even more than a British one. As for Australia!! I speak English fluently but often struggle to decipher the words when many Australians speak, thanks to their accent. It would be easier for everyone if they would just say that they want people of European descent, really.

Great video 👍

nice to see ppl talking about actual issues experienced in China its good to see ppl talk about good things, but the bad things should be talked about too, so that others can at least have a grasp of what china is really like

Haaayyyy.... I can really relate re: teaching jobs in China. Hopefully, that mindset of hiring "native speakers only" will change soon!

The native speaker point does not get brought up enough! You elaborated that so well! 💚

You got admit that life is pretty easy for native English speakers sometimes. You don't even need to know any technical skills but you can still find a job in Asian countries as English teachers. You don't even need a legit bachelor's degree. But you can still earn way more money than local people and the cost of living is way cheaper than their original countries. Local English teachers can only earn 5000RMB per month or less, and they also need to experience fierce competition before getting that job.

Thank you for sharing your Journey with us I believe things are going to get super better for you. I love your beautiful heart and personality and being courageous I think China has besides some it flaws has a certain beauty and uniqueness to it.. I'll love to move and live another country for a certain period of time (I have a natural high and desire to travel the world). I'm curious why you decided to move to China if you don't mind me asking?

Great video. Me and my daughter watch you videos nonestop. You are so honest and so lovely. you skin looks amazing can you do skin care routine please! you Taboo unboxing was so helpful for me. Love from me and my family.

totally agree all points! even I'm Chinese. luckily new generations are getting better and better

I FEEEL THAT last point!...Took a TEFL course before coming over(to accompany my wife for her work). And just because I'm holding a Singaporean passport, I was denied ALL sorts of teaching opportunities-.-

A fair assessment. Having watched your video and many expat videos... I still want to (re) visit China! 🚀

Great video as usual 😘😘. Aleese I have been wondering where you’ve been getting your hair done, cos I know it’s not easy for the Chinese to handle our Afro hair, so please take us on a ride these days when you go to get your hair done.

That's a issue, the mental health aspect because it is something I struggle with.

I am Chinese citizen living in China and I agree with every thing you said especially after living in US for 12 years. It’s just annoying

Hello. New subscriber here, love your personality.

I’m loving your braids. That’s crazy that you had those people recording you in the bathroom. That’s so wrong on so many levels. Especially with a glove on that they might have been washing the toilet out with.

The thing is that if you want to learn English, especially speaking English, you don't necessarily need teachers to know a lot of grammar knowledge or teaching methods, all the local verified English teacher in public schools are like that. Just by chatting and having casual conversation with native speakers, your English can still improve a lot.

I feel you😅

Good video

the thing is I don't stand out that much bc I look Chinese and speaks it, but the habits I've developed living here in the west (personal space etc) does gives away that I'm just a foreigner that looks Chinese.

I keep to myself and I don't like people touching me fr, so the personal space part would definitely be an issue. It's crazy how people think it's cool to walk up on you and start touching you and taking photos. Like, the bathroom incident... Hands would've been thrown and I would've went to jail!

Absolute agree what you saying in the video, especially the problem of lacking mental health problem. Sometimes Chinese parents do not treat depression as a mental health disease but a type of histrionic way to express 'unhappy' or 'complaining'. This is totally WRONG! However, thanks for the internet and the young generations, more people are getting noticed about the mental health problems, hope everything can be improved! Thanks for sharing your experience with us Aleese!

Funny, cool, and straightforward video.

The "native speaker" thing really gets me. Also a teacher in an international school here in China. So many of my colleagues are not native speakers and are excellent educators. But unfortunately China has just tightened its rules for professional work permits...and now if you don't come from Australia, USA, UK or Canada they will not grant you a working permit for your visa.

Yeah, personal space is definitely something one has to get use to. I was born in China, moved to the States at 12 years old. Going back to China now, I am still not really use to the concept of smaller personal space.

Watching a lot of your videos lately. Love them!! I'm a Chinese living abroad. I can't agree more about the spitting. I used to live in Beijing for 4 years and felt the condition is better in certain college-y districts where there're high density of young people. But splitting does happen a lot... whenever i witnessed one that just ruined my mood and I can't help but angrily glared at them haha

LOL I can relate some of your bad experiences when we were in China 2016-2017. For mental health issue, not sure in BJ, but you can find HK/Shenzhen University Hospital in Shenzhen. This hospital is running by HK University and private. It's very affordable for expats without insurance. Most of the Chinese you had encountered while traveling around China were old and not much of educated, was I correct? In SZ/Guangzhou/SH, people were going daily businesses without even notice who you are. There are so many expats on those big cities. Most of the younger generations in those big cities are very polite and helpful when asking for assistances. I think it will better for you taken a break and coming back to States after 3 years away from home. There is so much demanding of teachers now in CA and other states but preparing for shocking high cost of living! In short, it's good that you let it out in this video and nothing wrong with it, totally supporting you!

The disrespect of personal space would set me off. And I see you, getting that sponsorship! So happy for you 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

I love that you started off with talking about the mental health situation! It’s so true that it is looked down upon here. I just hope that soon China will be able to accept those with mental disabilities and have more resources available for them.

说的很中肯

Great video Aleese, from spitting to touching our hair, lack of personal space and the ESL industry being rigid.

Ohhhhhh I love your hair I need you to stay 2more years I was talking to my husband and seeing If I can come visit a week next summer?

lol my supervisor and I onced visited Beijing and went to the Forbiden City, he was asked to take photo with A LOT, and he joked that he's a celebrity now in China

fair enough

my husband is chinese and his and his families ideas on mental health issues is just bewildering to me everytime...

If you moved to live in Vietnam my native country, you would face the same cons. In Vietnam, people are curious about the differences especially about the hairs or skins. In Vietnam, personal privacy is not always respected, I hope one day you visit my native country. English teaching job in Vietnam is still good.

True ,good English shouldn’t be based on country but weather They took English as an official language in school 🏫

Some bond hell of honesty there. My worst is the loud throat-clearing in addition to spitting. I don't know what could be the cause but heavy smoking could be one of the contributing factors, especially among some elderly men. It's not very common among women and the younger generation who are non-smokers. I hope there will be an improvement in the future. Otherwise, China is such a wonderful country to be in.

Very true about HEEEEAAAAA.... DUUUU.... Can hear that everywhere

The 3rd can be avoid if you move to Shanghai. It's rare for a lot of Chinese ppl to see a foreigner, like my parents in my hometown may have never met people of other skin colors. and many old people have not received an education in the old time. Hope it can be better in the future.

Ur not wrong. OMG it's abolutely insane and sometime they don't cover when they sneeze or cough on you.

My dear Aleese.. mental health is taboo in the Asian pacific region period.. not just in China.. the issue is cultural.. i do not recommend any body to seek help in that part of the world if you have depression issue even if you can find a psychotherapist.. just avoid it.. their approach to mental health will make you feel worst.. i have bipolar.. i know what i'm talking about.. but than again that's just me.. but that insensitive physical touching sounds horrendous.. i'm so sorry to hear that.. but one can only hope it will get better as China opens up.. and foreigner no longer be looked at as something from outer-space.. they used to do that in other Asian countries a few decades ago.. but i think in China all that will recede much quicker.. may be before the decades ends.. in some place where there are plenty of foreigners its already a reality.. keep up the good work.. i always enjoy your very diplomatic video..

I am thankful that in the U.S., the conversations about mental health have increased greatly in the past couple of decades. I'm also thankful for technology that allows me to connect with my therapist. She is ABC, and she reminded me that the culture in China is to suppress negative emotions. While China is not the only country that has that tendency and while I don't agree with this tendency, it is helpful to keep that in mind when I am navigating and learning about how to live life in China. Temporary hate for me: Shanghai lockdown. Please end soon. Thank you again for your content and perspective!

I have also heard that some people from Russia or Ukraine who speak bad English but still pretending like native speakers and earn a lot of money in China. That happened a lot especially in small cities.

Intrusive and common sense doesn’t exist everywhere. I’ve been to several countries and have never experienced that. You are good I couldn’t do w

4 great points. Would have loved to see their faces when you lost it 😂 😂 they Out of order

Loved the video as always aleese! I agree about how nowhere is perfect and everywhere has its positive and negatives! I always wondered how their locals react to seeing foreigners when they are in lockdown and even though It sucks, I do kinda see where they are coming from. I also from ny btw! Hoping to one day to visit China as well!

lmfao very relatable XD

Re: Mental health, in many parts of the world there are significant and well resourced mental health systems, but they deal with severe mental health conditions that disrupt social function and daily living or pose a risk to life and safety. Not every culture sees relationship problems, dissatisfaction, or general anxiety as mental health problems, or view psychophaceuticals as comsumer products that should have a mass market. And this of course sidesteps massive cultural differences in what is "mental" health, what different conditions look like, etc.

In practice its "native English speakers" and/or those who look the way a native English speaker is 'supposed' to look like. The focus should be on qualifications, period. The ability to speak isn't the same as the ability to teach a language. I find value in a combination of native/non-native English speakers to be ideal. We have different strengths and insights to offer.

She glows🥰

All valid concerns :) You don't have to love everything about China - just tell the truth.

For your *#1* you are definitely not out of luck. Try traditional Chinese medicine, because the herbs they use usually contain the same stuff as the drugs used in modern medicine, except in smaller and natural form which usually means much fewer side effects, and if you are experienced I don't have to tell you the side effects are the biggest problem with stuff like antidepressants.

And I'd love to see you make one too: A few things I LOVE about living in China

Asia is a bit late in mental health awareness because it is not as prevalent in Asia, at least when compared to Western countries. In general, we almost always have the whole extended family and neighbors to talk to - grandma, grandpa, auntie, uncle, mother, father, sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews, cousins and everyone else usually live close together. That's one big support system. Families are close-knit and views on privacy usually is very different in the west. Such that it gets annoying at times. So there are people we can share our emotions with. Talking to neighbors is quite normal too and even a past time - neighbors are easily considered family and would gather around in the afternoons to just talk. Kids play in streets with other kids everyday and it is not considered weird. There are basketball courts in streets where teens go and play together. Neighbors know a lot about each other such that they are not considered strangers. But yeah, in urban cities where life is more fast-paced and people live away from family, it can be different - it gets lonely and people come and go. Social media is also keeping people out from engaging with people face to face now especially younger people, so that too is changing the landscape. No need to apologise Aleese! Asia is getting there!

Also, triggered by the bathroom attendant story…I got a full on BUTT GRAB while washing my hands in a mall I worked in 😤😩

Love y

Totally valid points. About spitting: Don't they have a lot of surveillance cameras around everywhere and facial recognition technologies? They should those into use for catching spitters and fining them! Also sorry about being treated as a spectacle - I wish I could make a Chinese video to persuade them not to do that....

Now, you know what it feels like to be celebrity. 😆

Couldn't stop laughing when you imitated the sound of your second point. I agree with you, it is extremely annoying and eyesore to watch someone spitting and making irritating throat sound especially in public places. Hope they can improved on these aspects through public awareness. Btw, enjoyed the video.

I love your honesty. The spitting…it’s a no for me. 🤪💦🚫

Omg I can totally relate to you about the spitting and over crowed place where some asian people are so rude an will run you over without even saying “excuse me”

These are like the four of the many things I hate about China too as a Chinese native lol.

I have gotten used to the spitting and the weird noises 'cause i have been here half my life ( Six years) this is my sixth year here in Beijing, China

Totally agreed. Spitting in public is absolutely gross. Fortunately, the younger generation in China has much better social manners than the elder's.

hahahahahahahaha And here I thought that cutting in line was a thing of the past and forming a single file was something people have learned especially in the age of Covid and Covid testing...

Yes, those things are annoying!

As for schools requiring native speakers, I think it is understandable. Because we have too many local English teachers already, what's the point of hiring English teachers from non English speaking countries.😂😂Personally when I'm studying English, I prefer native speakers as my teachers.

Four minutes out of a 12 minute vlog devoted to your sponsor IS excessive imho. Otherwise a good video that encapsulated some of my own pet peeves on living in China when I lived there pre-Covid.

Thank you for saying the truth, not a big fan of China tho.

I had to laugh about being the focus of attention for looking different. I'm white but have red hair-a magnet for whole families with or without cameras. Never got ganged up on in a bathroom, though. That would freak me out, too.

I love how you handle yourself with class and grace especially when placed or having to endure uncomfortable situations! Touching someone without their consent is not acceptable in any culture! SMH Tfs

😂😂😂I hate it too,I think only old people do this.4:05

Are you kidding it's a commercial....

4:37 Aleese come to Malaysia and Indonesia you will find the same 😂😂😂 lol. 7:17 lol well. People just amazed by how beautiful you are to be honest. I understand them, it's just cultural gap. not to belittle you and not respect you. Just amazed by you. In southeast Asia itself, if you don't respect people or underestimate someone, we will totally ignore that person, just like a garbage, not valuable. It's just the way of respond how people amaze to us is different. That's all I can say. And I understand how you feel annoyed by that. Hope everything will be oke with you. Have a nice day Aleese. 10:53 I think it is school's policy, not government rule. Lol Southeast Asia also do the same. But not Malaysian or Indonesian government who decide to only hire native speaker, but the school management arrange it.

Strongly hope you can join china's congress

China has been developing SO FAST in the time of ONE generation，so the public etiquette could not catch up with it， it is understandable

Must be nice if you are young and naïve, and are oblivious and unaware that you don’t have freedom of speech, or have a right to a jury trial if you accused of a crime. Put maybe you live in a isolated unawareness.

Lol. I’m 2nd generation chinese living in US. Spitting is soooo gross.

吐痰这个我也受不了，老一代的陋习

I would flip out as well if somebody with a cleaning glove stuck in freaking hair! That deserves a slap you are cleaning a toilet and you are touching me gross.

Sorry but you can't beat native speakers. You can tell the difference. Non natives just don't understand idioms, nuance etc. China is right to prefer native speakers.

还有部分中国人对外国人的态度，像参观动物园里的动物一样，很不礼貌。无论如何，现在中国的年轻人不断在变好

First of all, as a Chinese person that has been living in the US for 10 years, I want to apologize for the incidents that you have encountered. I wouldn’t be able to imagine how you go through situation like that. I know the problem of spitting and invading privacy do exist, I think it has to do with our large population, especially in cities like Beijing, Shanghai that the population density is too high. Another reason has to do with lack of education and manner, which is more common towards elderly people. You should look back our history, we had many struggles in the past, and we were poor and underdeveloped for a long time. We also achieved a lot of things, endure the struggle and came to this far. I believe younger generations, people’s age under 50 years old act much better than the older ones. And lastly, please understand that most Chinese people don’t have the chance to interact with foreigners at all, especially the older ones. When I was a little kid, I have seen foreigners came to visit my hometown, and it was their appearance their skin color that made me notice they are different. I was curious and excited to see people that’s different, just like many other Chinese people. I think most of the Chinese people are very friendly, tolerant and mean no harm to any foreigners. Some may not have good manner, but it’s not that they are evil. And once again, sorry for the incidents that you had with those rude people. Hope everything goes well with you in China.

100 years of colonial humiliation, civil war, become an illiterate society, experience a lot of hardship and suffering, During those hard times if compared to the westen world they literally falling behind in many ways, Understand bit more and have patience ,I'm sure they will improve and constant change ,think about it only been 40 years of development still a lot of room for improvement , Worry free they're quick learners that's why the government itself insist schools to hire as many as possible foreign teachers to teach them specially the young generation, you'll see in the near future China will become one of the prestige well respectfully society bec. they love to learn and improve !

Hehe it's like you're a star there and it's the opposite of racism 🤣 unless they are insanely weird about it. Either way, it's still very wrong for people to treat you like that. I don't get why it's even a thought for others to put their hands on someone just for looking different ! I hope china matures a bit faster in their public courtesy! Be safe out there girl 🙏