Millennials in China

In this episode Chris and Hope sit down to discuss a big topic for the new world order we live in - Bitcoin. Hope is a huge crypto enthusiast who has been involved in the Bitcoin scene since 2016, and shares his insights on Bitcoin, why it has tremendous value, and why it was (is) so popular in China. For most Millennials living in this digital age, Bitcoin and crypto should soon be the norm rather than the exception.

Show Notes:

• Chris and Hope's simple explanations of what Bitcoin is and what value it provides.
• Digital money and common misconceptions about value.
• How Hope came across Bitcoin a few years ago, more or less out of necessity.
• Why banks are so draconian and why that will be their downfall.
• The future outlook for social trends and why that is bullish for Bitcoin.
• How does a newcomer go about buying Bitcoin?
• Hope answers the age-old question of "is it a good time to buy Bitcoin now?" and why short term price should not be a deterrence for a long term view.
• Altcoins and Bitcoin "maximalism", and why Hope does not recommend holding altcoins for the long term.
• Best places to find educational information about Bitcoin.
• China's early "glory days" and vibrant Bitcoin community, and the PBOC ban that quieted things down.

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/millennials-in-china/id1503870294

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0MwEJZnnZ2sNWje7wP0GaW?si=tWqgkgwoQCueTrEfeI3-6g

Listen on Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cDovL21pbGxlbm5pYWxzaW5jaGluYS5jb20vcnNz

Listen on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm6jqVbJ1SR_g9iTLFxyF1g

Podcast Website: http://millennialsinchina.com

Podcast Facebook: https://facebook.com/millennialsinchina

Podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/MillennialsCN

Chris' Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChrisWood1821

Hope's Twitter: https://twitter.com/hope_freiheit

Hope's Instagram: https://instagram.com/hope_freiheit

Hope's Newbie's Bitcoin Guide Blogpost: https://hopefreiheit.com/2020/06/07/how-to-buy-bitcoin-a-beginners-guide/

The /Bitcoin Subreddit FAQ Post (one of the best resources for learning about Bitcoin): https://www.reddit.com/r/Bitcoin/comments/i19uta/bitcoin_newcomers_faq_please_read/

In this episode we interview Jay Thornhill, Co-Founder of Baopals, a one-stop service for expats' online shopping needs in China. Jay's entrepreneurial journey started in his friends' apartment in Shanghai 5 years ago, where they bootstrapped the business from the ground up. Baopals now has over 30 employees and is the leading service provider for expats in China to shop on Taobao and JD.

Show Notes:

• Jay's China journey - starting with a one-year English teaching contract that turned into a 12-year stay in Shanghai.
• Jay came to China for the experience, but stayed for the hustle.
• What is Baopals and how does the platform work.
• How Jay and his two co-founders (also best friends) came to the idea of Baopals.
• How Jay and his co-founders bootstrapped Baopals from their apartment, without outside funding nor a real office.
• The biggest early challenges the team faced at Baopals, and how they overcame them.
• Baopals' plans for international expansion, and whether or not Alibaba will buy them!
• Jay's insights on managing people and building a positive and productive company culture.
• Baopals' transition to full remote working after the pandemic, and how Jay did it.
• Taboos about working with your best friends, and how it was not a problem for Jay and his co-founders.

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/millennials-in-china/id1503870294

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0MwEJZnnZ2sNWje7wP0GaW?si=tWqgkgwoQCueTrEfeI3-6g

Listen on Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cDovL21pbGxlbm5pYWxzaW5jaGluYS5jb20vcnNz

Listen on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm6jqVbJ1SR_g9iTLFxyF1g

Podcast Website: http://millennialsinchina.com

Podcast Facebook: https://facebook.com/millennialsinchina

Podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/MillennialsCN

Chris' Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChrisWood1821

Hope's Twitter: https://twitter.com/hope_freiheit

Hope's Instagram: https://instagram.com/hope_freiheit

Hope's Blog: https://hopefreiheit.com

In this episode we interview Byung Koo Mulder, an experienced Korean-Dutch financial advisor who has spent more than a decade working and living in Hong Kong and Shanghai. We explore important issues relating to personal finance and building wealth, especially in terms of the many predisposed challenges faced by the Millennial generation and how best to overcome them. We also talk about stock markets, day trading vs long term investing, and more.

Show Notes:

• Byung Koo (BK) moved to Hong Kong on an assignment from the Dutch bank he was working for, and after his contract was up he decided to stay in Asia and relocated to Shanghai.
• What BK's job as a financial advisor entails, and what kind of clients he works with.
• Why are Millennials in general so financially troubled, compared to older generations when they were at the same age?
• Bad timing + instant gratification, and how Millennials must act to catch up and get ahead financially.
• The difference in mindset between European investors and Chinese investors, and why do Chinese people love to buy properties.
• The Chinese stock market and how it can be so different from Western stock markets.
• China's obsession with speculation, and the retail investors' flock mentality.
• Why day trading and short term trading is on the rise, whereas decades ago people used to buy and hold stocks.
• How BK allocates his personal portfolio.
• BK's advice for the average Millennial to start saving, investing, and helping their future self.

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/millennials-in-china/id1503870294

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0MwEJZnnZ2sNWje7wP0GaW?si=tWqgkgwoQCueTrEfeI3-6g

Listen on Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cDovL21pbGxlbm5pYWxzaW5jaGluYS5jb20vcnNz

Listen on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm6jqVbJ1SR_g9iTLFxyF1g

Podcast Website: http://millennialsinchina.com

Podcast Facebook: https://facebook.com/millennialsinchina

Podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/MillennialsCN

Chris' Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChrisWood1821

Hope's Twitter: https://twitter.com/hope_freiheit

Hope's Instagram: https://instagram.com/hope_freiheit

Hope's Personal Finance Blog: https://hopefreiheit.com

Byung Koo Mulder's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/byungkoomulder/

In this episode we interview Henrik Kragh, China's regional marketing head for Grundfos, a Danish multinational hydro pump company. Henrik brings a different perspective from what we are used to on this show - instead of entrepreneurs, hustlers, and startups, we get a taste of how it's like to work as an expat in a large multinational company. As well, Henrik has also been running the Shanghai Vikings football (soccer) club for many years, which is another huge part of the expat life fabric.

Show Notes:

• Henrik's China story - how a bonding trip to China with his father made him totally fall in love with China.
• Henrik's journey with learning Mandarin, from struggling in class in Copenhagen to becoming incredibly motivated while living in Beijing.
• How Denmark's strong expat community, and its football club in Beijing, helped Henrik land his two jobs in China.
• Working for a large global corporation like Grundfos, and how different it is from doing startups.
• Henrik's "traditional marketing" job at Grundfos, and his funny stories about taking Chinese clients to experience tours in Europe.
• Scandinavian business culture.
• The importance of localizing experiences for clients - Chinese food and time for shopping are very important for Chinese clients abroad!
• The importance of being part of an expat community such as the Vikings and the camaraderie and network it provides.
• The "Viking Cup" and the Vikings football institution across Asia!
• The challenges of organizing the Shanghai Vikings and keeping the 25-year tradition going.

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/millennials-in-china/id1503870294

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0MwEJZnnZ2sNWje7wP0GaW?si=tWqgkgwoQCueTrEfeI3-6g

Listen on Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cDovL21pbGxlbm5pYWxzaW5jaGluYS5jb20vcnNz

Listen on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm6jqVbJ1SR_g9iTLFxyF1g

Podcast Website: http://millennialsinchina.com

Podcast Facebook: https://facebook.com/millennialsinchina

Podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/MillennialsCN

Chris' Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChrisWood1821

Hope's Twitter: https://twitter.com/hope_freiheit

Hope's Instagram: https://instagram.com/hope_freiheit

Hope's Website: https://hopefreiheit.com

In this episode of the Millennials in China podcast Hope and Chris share advice for apartment hunting in China (mostly Shanghai). Renting an apartment in China can be an extreme sport with many hurdles and scams to navigate, but don't fret because your hosts are here to expose all the tricks of the trade, including what you should watch out for when dealing with rental agents and Chinese landlords. If you are moving to China, this episode will save you headaches and probably lots of money.

Show Notes:

• Initial steps to take when moving to a new city in China and looking for apartments.
• Low budget apartments in Shanghai - shared accommodation.
• Best platforms to find apartment listings in Shanghai, and common sales tricks by rental agents.
• When renting in China, you will almost never interact with a landlord directly - whether you like it or not, you have to deal with middlemen.
• Advice for taking over leases directly from other foreigners who are moving out of their apartments.
• Rent payment structures in China - more deposit upfront or more months' rent paid at once?
• Typical amenities in rental apartments and the big difference in quality between apartments targeting foreigners and those targeting locals.
• Always DYOR (do your own research) and check everything thoroughly.
• Hope's story of confronting an agent at their office to reclaim a rental deposit that the agent refused to give back.
• Crazy rental terms in third tier cities - Chris' experience of renting an apartment that asked for a full year's rent upfront!

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/millennials-in-china/id1503870294

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0MwEJZnnZ2sNWje7wP0GaW?si=tWqgkgwoQCueTrEfeI3-6g

Listen on Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cDovL21pbGxlbm5pYWxzaW5jaGluYS5jb20vcnNz

Listen on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm6jqVbJ1SR_g9iTLFxyF1g

Podcast Website: http://millennialsinchina.com

Podcast Facebook: https://facebook.com/millennialsinchina

Podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/MillennialsCN

Chris' Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChrisWood1821

Hope's Twitter: https://twitter.com/hope_freiheit

Hope's Instagram: https://instagram.com/hope_freiheit

Hope's Website: https://hopefreiheit.com

How do you get about being an opinion leader in Shanghai's expat community? In this episode of the Millennials in China podcast we interview Cristina Ng, former Editor at That's Shanghai who has been living in China for 12 years. Cristina talks about how she made the transition from teaching to HR and eventually following her passion to become a food writer and editor at one of Shanghai's top expat magazines, and all the perks and quirks that come with it.

Show Notes:

• Cristina's journey from English teacher to Director of HR and freelancing writing about Shanghai's food scene.
• How to go about getting a freelance gig as Cristina did, and the power of a network in Shanghai.
• Cristina talks about what it's like to sample and write about food for a living, and the pros and cons that come with it.
• The burnout of having your hobby as a full time job.
• Solidarity and the importance of keeping a community going strong, especially during tough times like COVID-19 and now (borders closed and number of expats dwindling in China).
• Cristina's current project, Own What You Eat, and how it explores the sources, processes, and social impact of the food we eat in Shanghai.
• Parting advice for anyone who's looking to pick up a side gig doing something they enjoy - not necessarily writing!

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/millennials-in-china/id1503870294

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0MwEJZnnZ2sNWje7wP0GaW?si=tWqgkgwoQCueTrEfeI3-6g

Listen on Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cDovL21pbGxlbm5pYWxzaW5jaGluYS5jb20vcnNz

Listen on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm6jqVbJ1SR_g9iTLFxyF1g

Podcast Website: http://millennialsinchina.com

Podcast Facebook: https://facebook.com/millennialsinchina

Podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/MillennialsCN

Chris' Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChrisWood1821

Hope's Twitter: https://twitter.com/hope_freiheit

Hope's Instagram: https://instagram.com/hope_freiheit

Hope's Website: https://hopefreiheit.com

How can foreigners eat well and stay healthy in China? In this episode of the Millennials in China podcast Chris and Hope discuss a variety of matters related to diet, oily Chinese food, gyms and wellness, as well as hospital visits in China. While China likely doesn't offer the same level of comfort and healthy options available back in your home country, there are increasingly more and more solutions available now for an expat to keep a healthy and happy lifestyle.

Show Notes:

• Chinese food in China vs Chinese food in the West, and how everything is so oily.
• Beware the "digouyou" or "gutter oil" in China, and be vigilant when frequenting small local restaurants.
• Healthy eating options in China - vegan and vegetarian options, imported meat and dairy, and how to get them.
• Gyms in China, and how they are now found everywhere.
• Different types and classes of gyms in China and how much you can expect to pay for a gym membership.
• Getting sick in China and the unpleasantry of dealing with Chinese hospitals.
• Chinese local hospitals vs international standard hospitals - massive difference in service and of course, price!
• Nitty gritty details of Chinese local hospitals.
• Sports and recreation in China, and advice for staying active with a sport or hobby you enjoy while here.

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/millennials-in-china/id1503870294

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0MwEJZnnZ2sNWje7wP0GaW?si=tWqgkgwoQCueTrEfeI3-6g

Listen on Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cDovL21pbGxlbm5pYWxzaW5jaGluYS5jb20vcnNz

Listen on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm6jqVbJ1SR_g9iTLFxyF1g

Podcast Website: http://millennialsinchina.com

Podcast Facebook: https://facebook.com/millennialsinchina

Podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/MillennialsCN

Chris' Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChrisWood1821

Hope's Twitter: https://twitter.com/hope_freiheit

Hope's Instagram: https://instagram.com/hope_freiheit

Hope's Website: https://hopefreiheit.com

How hard is it to learn Mandarin Chinese? In this episode of the Millennials in China podcast Chris and Hope dissect the approaches one can take to conquer this seemingly impossible task. Mandarin, although difficult for Westerners due to its entirely different language roots and logic, can be learned and mastered with some determination, persistence, and smart learning methods.

Show Notes:

• Chinese is widely seen as a tough language to learn and even tougher to master, but learning it will open a whole new set of doors in China.
• Hope's perspective on speaking Chinese as someone who was born in China but spent most of his life in the West.
• The best cities for picking up Chinese culture and learning Mandarin - not Shanghai!
• Chris talks about having a Chinese wife and what effects that has on his Chinese skills.
• Chris shares his methods for learning Chinese, and how long it took to get the hang out things.
• Chinese characters - reading, writing, and how they are actually easier than speaking.
• Keys to immersion and fast Chinese learning - having a good private tutor, practice with locals such as taxi drivers, and spend time with Chinese friends!
• The logic of the Chinese language and how different it is from Roman languages.
• The most difficult part of learning Chinese - the four tones.
• Good practices for learning Chinese - consistency is key.

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/millennials-in-china/id1503870294

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0MwEJZnnZ2sNWje7wP0GaW?si=tWqgkgwoQCueTrEfeI3-6g

Listen on Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cDovL21pbGxlbm5pYWxzaW5jaGluYS5jb20vcnNz

Listen on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm6jqVbJ1SR_g9iTLFxyF1g

Podcast Website: http://millennialsinchina.com

Podcast Facebook: https://facebook.com/millennialsinchina

Podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/MillennialsCN

Chris' Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChrisWood1821

Hope's Twitter: https://twitter.com/hope_freiheit

Hope's Instagram: https://instagram.com/hope_freiheit

Hope's Website: https://hopefreiheit.com

In this episode of the Millennials in China podcast Chris and Hope discuss a very popular China topic - teaching English! Having first come through China as a TEFL teacher, Chris has a wealth of knowledge on the topic of teaching in China, and he shares his insights on all the nitty gritty of landing a well paid English teaching job in China while avoiding scams.

Show Notes:

• Why teaching English in China is a well paid opportunity and why it makes sense for many people, especially young graduates who struggle with job markets in the West.
• Preparation steps for coming to China to teach English, including getting a TEFL certificate.
• Getting a teaching job and sorting out all the details - don't be afraid to be annoying and ask lots of questions, leave no rocks unturned!
• Housing options that come with many teaching jobs.
• Different types of teaching gigs in China and the different types of schools - international schools, local schools, training centers, etc.
• Transitioning into freelance teaching and building your own network of clients to make big money!
• Typical salary rates for teaching jobs in China.
• How are the interactions with Chinese student parents like?
• What do recruiters look for when they are hiring foreign teachers?
• Final words of encouragement - teaching may not be for everyone but it can be very rewarding both in terms of developing your confidence, public speaking skills, and remuneration.

Resources:

TEFL courses:https://www.i-to-i.com/ The one I did. Pretty accessible. Not the deepest or most "academic" course out there IMO but certainly functional and has a nice pace of professionally put together content. 

https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/teaching-english/teaching-qualifications/celta/ (the mack daddy of TEFL courses, expensive but having one puts you above the rest)

Recruiters:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonmanolies/ - best in the industry IMO. Very professional and a wide network. Well known dude.

https://www.tefllemon.com/ - Also a great recruiter and has a fun community that shares ideas and teaching resources.

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Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/millennials-in-china/id1503870294

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0MwEJZnnZ2sNWje7wP0GaW?si=tWqgkgwoQCueTrEfeI3-6g

Listen on Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cDovL21pbGxlbm5pYWxzaW5jaGluYS5jb20vcnNz

Listen on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm6jqVbJ1SR_g9iTLFxyF1g

Podcast Website: http://millennialsinchina.com

Podcast Facebook: https://facebook.com/millennialsinchina

Podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/MillennialsCN

Chris' Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChrisWood1821

Hope's Twitter: https://twitter.com/hope_freiheit

Hope's Instagram: https://instagram.com/hope_freiheit

Hope's Website: https://hopefreiheit.com

In this episode of the Millennials in China podcast we go back to just Chris and Hope, having a conversation revolving around Tim Ferriss' famous book "The 4-Hour Workweek" and the digital nomad trend it set off. Hope dives into Amazon FBA, one of the most popular online business models, and gives his own insight and anecdote on setting up an FBA business and living the digital nomad life.

Show Notes:

• Chris brings up "The 4-Hour Workweek" by Tim Ferriss, which he had just read recently and is immensely motivated by.
• Hope's experience reading Tim Ferriss' book and how that set him off on the "digital nomad" path back in 2016.
• Trading time for money vs. automated income. Should you start a side hustle while working full time?
• How Hope took the plunge into starting an Amazon FBA business, and how to overcome "paralysis by analysis."
• How much starting capital is needed for setting up an Amazon FBA business?
• Hope talks about living the digital nomad life and how it has its pros and cons, and how he sometimes prefers to have a "homebase" where he can establish a routine in order to be productive.
• How the Amazon FBA and e-commerce landscape has changed and you can no longer just throw up a generic product and make a profit.
• Hiring virtual assistants and when it's necessary.
• Product sourcing and niche selection tips.
• Final words of wisdom for aspiring digital nomads.

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Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/millennials-in-china/id1503870294

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0MwEJZnnZ2sNWje7wP0GaW?si=tWqgkgwoQCueTrEfeI3-6g

Listen on Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cDovL21pbGxlbm5pYWxzaW5jaGluYS5jb20vcnNz

Listen on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm6jqVbJ1SR_g9iTLFxyF1g

Podcast Website: http://millennialsinchina.com

Podcast Facebook: https://facebook.com/millennialsinchina

Podcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/MillennialsCN

Chris' Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChrisWood1821

Hope's Twitter: https://twitter.com/hope_freiheit

Hope's Instagram: https://instagram.com/hope_freiheit

Hope's Website: https://hopefreiheit.com