Part 2: Things I Wish I Knew Before Moving to Chongqing

There's no sight better than hindsight! Especially from someone who lived here before they built Raffles City...(the building that looks like the one in Singapore because it was designed by the same architect)

This video is for you if you're considering a visit or a move to Chongqing. If you're just curious about what real life is like for a foreigner in China's top tourist destination, this is for you too!
This is the video I needed in 2017 while I was researching, and finding nearly nothing about Chongqing in English. I hope this is helpful for you!

The one thing I left out was, *people void in public occasionally.* It's usually children, and I've accidentally caught it on camera a few times but obviously, I'd never post that online. Several times, I've seen both grown women and men squat down. or whip it out on a public street. It's jarring, to say the least as there are free public restrooms everywhere. In the metro stations, near bus stops on the street, in public parks, there's no reason to do this in public anymore... but just like the smoking and spitting from part 1...old habits are hard to break. This issue is part of the "Be Civilized" Campaign.


_____________________________________________
Get TEFL certified with LIFETIME job search assistance! Use THIS link to get in touch with my advisor at ITA:

Cameras I use:

[nickb]

So interesting to hear your perspective of living here! China is an amazing place. You’ve lived such a cool life already, so adventurous and you clearly have no regrets, which is how more people should live their lives. So many people stay in their comfort zones… and how boring is that 😂

[donnajordan]

I thoroughly enjoyed this video. Great understanding your perspective on the stares from natives. How awesome it was that you learned enough of the language to realize your hyper vigilance was actually a safety mechanism. You are phenomenal queen.

[evergreennj]

Thanks again for continuing to share your experiences and reflections. Sometimes, we are set in our ways and even when faced with much social pressures, we persist in living life the way we want. It's good that the world (and cities like Chongqing) are large enough, diverse enough, and tolerant enough, with parts that can comfortably accommodate our individualities.

[dustinbauer]

Great vid, most don't even want to try and cover both sides of their experience in china. Especially in the same video.💘

[worldwidewally]

I love that you provided visual examples of everything you were explaining to us. This is great work. Thanks for sharing!

[rhatid]

NIce video. Indeed one has to realise that a lot of the people that one will come into contact with are bumpkins, country bumpkins and other bumpkins. The people of China have move at the speed of light from the 19th century to the 21st (some would say the 18th to ...). The physiology and infrastructure have changed dramatically but the mind and psyche change only slowly. So correct to say, Chongqing is a village masquerading as one of world's metropolis.
It has got to be a great experience and it great that we can see/hear your analysis - you have good eyes, good brain informed by a good heart.

[jamessuzhou]

Sorry that you had this experience. I lived in China for quite some time nearly 2 decades ago, and it was exactly the same. Even in many parts of Shanghai, the staring and gross comments - and the occasional touching - were shocking. The part that was really, really defeating and depressing was how many people made excuses for it. I visited Korea while in China and it was worlds better. Being in Korea for that brief period really made me think, and eventually I left China in a mixture of disgust and regret, because there were so many other things I found wonderful. I have been back to China since then, mainly Shanghai, and I tend to forget things like this. Despite China's supposed "respect" for teachers, kids do it if you are a dark skinned teacher, even very young kids. I started writing this meaning to tell you to keep your head up, but on reflection and feeling your 100% understandable frustration, I can remain speechless. Chongqing isn't some backwater city just rising out of the Cultural Revolution, it is modern metropolis and it is 2024. Good luck to you and you are indeed strong. As for me, despite studying Chinese with gusto, making close friends that I still adore, and falling in love with so many things about the country, the thought of China being that backwards, "othering" and racist towards black people (no way to sugarcoat) turns my stomach.

[wyndommin]

I want to live there for a few years, it’s such a surreal human experience to live somewhere so populated

[GnomicLev]

About the village - it was my impression as well. Love it though.

[ReporterTorizo]

5:04 I've been waiting 20 years for someone to say this.

[Colin-from-BHAM]

I've been in China for over 5 years and I'm still not used to the staring.

[travelaroundlife]

Thanks. We all see CQ differently, don't we? I will miss living in Raffles when we decide to go. Such luxury might never come again my way but that's life. I will miss my ¥16 tomato-egg-meatball noodles down the street and the lady that cooks and knows my order w/o asking. So I will probably miss the small interactions with the folks who make up the city the most. And the noodle dish...

[adotfelipe]

Hey, thank you for this video. I just heard about this city and your videos have been very informative and fun. Thank you for your honesty about your experiences. I’m in America and sometimes I still have the stares and the whispers. But we continue to live, God bless!

[rob]

Hi I am from Australia. I also live in Bishan. I love Chongqing….welcome! I have never seen any forms of violence drug use or supply. I have seen one and only one homeless man. I find the locals very friendly and I am constantly asked to take a picture with them. My wife is a Chongqing local.

[mrseeya]

I like the way you make videos 🙃 I would be happy about more Chongqing Volgs :)

[noahmyavon]

Love your honesty. I livevin laos for a long time now. I really dig your vibe. I am Daniel, originaly from Boston.

[Fordance]

Great video. I can clearly feel your love for the city despite certain unpleasant things.

[kaylamichelle]

Body shaming and staring was outrageous in Guangzhou as well… After my fifth month I was able to tune it out thankfully. Finally I’m returning soon, so I’ll see how it goes this time around.

[bobbylow]

Of course they're staring at you. You're so beautiful!

[Ufiles]

Now im scared to go back to China, because when i visited 4 years ago i was slim, but not anymore.