I have experienced all the things you write about. You don’t want to be absorbed in all the nonsense again….the trivialities that are sooooooo important to others make you shake your head when you remember what the really important things are to people in places like China–food, shelter, education, the rules rules rules. Yet, it invariably happens….you get caught up….and it sucks.

Seriously it is interesting you have just commented above espeically i agreed with you on "I don’t want to be an outsider. It’s difficult.", however i am still an outsider here in England too. I hope i would take your suggestion to keep my mind open instead of narrowing it into specific issues as to why people here are different from myself. good blog, may i add you as friends?

Hi, iv been living in Changchun for 3 years and Im back in the UK for christmas but I will be going back in a couple of days, I agree with the things you have wrote!! Im the foreign DJ at the flying disco (now called sos) so if any brits are in Changchun stop by and pay me a visit, good brits are hard to find
leigh

the love of my life is in china. she will be home in a year. i have printed out your info in hope it will ease her return. thank you.