(!!! Bear in mind, this episode was recorded prior to the height of the COVID-19 outbreak !!!)

 

Forsythia and I have a very raw, in-depth conversation about life in Shenzhen, China. She explains why she chose China over South Korea, how she truly got out of her comfort zone, and how the alluring photos of foreign countries on Instagram drew her into expat life!

 

She compares and contrasts teaching children in public schools vs. international schools in Shenzhen, and how the latter represents a much more fulfilling experience. She also describes dealing with country's overbearing censorship, praising the virtues of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).

 

We also confront some of the less savory aspects of living there, such as explicit racism, language barriers, significant cultural differences, bug infestations, pollution and smoking in restaurants. We wrap up with Forsythia offering very insightful advice if you ever consider relocating to China in the future!

 

(Note that due to our inability to record a non-timed session, we had to rush at the end! Thanks Chinese censorship laws...)

 

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