If you were in love with an Asian man that went back to the country of his birth/origin (mainly Asia) would you go with him (or marry him and go with him) if he asked you to?


If I were in that situation and had a chance, I would do it definitely...

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I'm no chic but here's how I see it - GO FOR IT! This is my experience from living there 5 years... You have nothing to lose. Why? Asia is becoming a powerhouse of economies powered by manufacturing, electronics, and innovations from Japan. You won't miss the west cause everything (most everything) the west has Asia has as well. Asia is not Asia 40yrs. ago but much of urban china is becoming like HK was 15 yrs ago - consumerism powered by bustling economic development and skyrocketing property prices. Hell, I was surprised to find out Wal-Mart will have Super centres in major chinese cities next year!

Material goods
Heavy reliance on Japanese based products. Japan was awarded the most innovative nation of the last 50 yrs by the economist. Any new products flowing out of Japan will hit asia/china/hk first before being exported to the west. Never worry about being backwards versus the west. Rather the west is envious of the east when it comes to building a better mousetrap with foundations based on western ideas.

Media/entertainment
No worries here... Whatever you used to see in the US you will see in asia. NFL, baseball, racing, academy awards, mtv music awards, etc. are all broadcast on the local English channels in HK. Satellite was available 15 yrs ago in HK with Warf cable being the first.

Internet/Cyber technology
It’s asia after all... Need I say more? LOL. Just watch out for fakes. If something is too cheap, there's definitely something wrong... lol like finding 400 HKD Boy London watches for 50 bucks... Yea, right. Oh yea, don’t be enticed by street vendors cause they sell colorful stuff cheap. That's exactly what it is - cheap as in dollar store quality. If you buy them, make sure it's just souvenirs and not something you would use everyday.

Housing
Get used to not having much clothing accessories. Most apartments are friggin expensive and the size of a shoe box. 15x20 ft bachelor is considered large - and expensive. Want to buy an apartment? Have money talk. No money no talk. Try several million HKD!! Then that's typical anywhere you live with world property prices heading up and vertical. Housing is not the like west - all done for you. Here, you buy a concrete block or shell which is your apartment. Damn!! Then you need to hire contractors to renovate the place as you wish which adds another $100K HKD on top of the price, depending how nice you want it to be.

Medical
Not exactly the standards of the west but getting there. Everything is pay medicine unless you have medical health coverage through private insurer. No such thing as universal health care. Like housing, have money talk. No money no talk. Don't get sick as they say...

Weather
Fucking hot!! Get used to it because the weather won't change for you! LOL. Very humid, hot conditions like 90-100F all day. It's cool about a month a year from mid December to mid January. HK weather coldest is about 0-4 Celsius, it may drop -1 sometimes. It is wet cold so it can get very cold to the feel. Why? There is no central heating like western homes. Here, you're apartment is just a concrete shell - that's it! Forget central air or heating. You can buy electric radiators which is basically good for one room so you might need several. Lol.

Language
Prepare yourself to learn asian languages as least at a conversational level. I cannot stress that enough. You must have a need or a want to learn the language, customs, etc. Everyone in asia knows english or enough to get along for business purposes but foreigners don't take the time to learn the local 'isms' which will put you at an extreme disadvantage. Knowing english is only a big deal at the office but away from it there is really no use. Everyone speaks asian language outside so english doesn't really help unless you work as a translator, foreign teacher, etc.

Overall? You need MONEY to live in asia. There really is no social safety net like the west. If you get bad luck, can't work, physically disabled, etc. You’re shit out of luck. There is no welfare, UI or govt stipend for the very poor. That's one of the big reasons why families in asia live together with generations in the same household. It's more economic than familial ties like the west seems to think. That's what happens in growing powerhouse economies and inflated living costs. People live together for economic benefit 'needs' as opposed to 'wants'.

My advice? For westerners, HK is the best place to live. It is most western of all the asian locales. English and western way of doing things is accepted. Due much to the colonial powers of the British that kept HK under the monarchy for last 100 yrs and military bases of the British and Americans near by. So westerners are tolerated if not immersed into local society. After all HK is an international tourism area.

Hope this helps. I know, bit long winded... hehe.

Long winded but well said and very informative.

Hell Yes!! I would do it in a New York minute.

I think I could do it. I would have to check it out first.

let me put you up to speed in my country

people will be staring at you everywhere you go
uber hot
no air conditioning
heavy traffic
always cold water without shower, you have to use a pitcher
different foods
big chance of kidnapping
big chance of getting raped

any questions?

Wbirkin, are you in the advertising business? (JK)

Unless you're up far north, it's gonna be hot in Asia. But, New York is the same during the summer months and we don't have AC in the underground subway stations. As far as kidnapping, I would think they only kidnap people who are worth a lot of money. Most of us aren't worth their time?

If I spoke the langauge fluently, had some sort of degree, had some financial backing to support me while I was looking for a job of course. But all in all I would have to know him and his family for a while.

Now I have no questions anymore

God NOW I know why I was always scared to visit Asia even though I'd be interested in that continent.

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WARNING: I cannot be held responsible for the above, as apparently my cats have learned how to type.

Mellow, im talking about philippines

Petra, If you really love someone, i think there is a space in your heart for these kinds of downside. Agree?