What's Hefei like

[YetAnotherCanadian]

Good points, Mike.  But sometimes I find China so trying and it makes it difficult to continue to 'choose' to be a good person.  When I'm on the subway after a long, 12-hour day and people are staring at me (or at my wife, or saying impolite things to her because she married a foreigner), all the 'I'm going to choose to be a good person' stuff goes out the window.  And when it happens a couple times a week year after year, it becomes difficult not to just expect it to happen.  I am at this point now where I have very little patience with locals (I know, it's terrible and I hate myself for it as it is not the way I was raised and definitely not a very open-minded way of approaching the world).  I think this has developed as more of a defensive reaction than anything.  When you see people you love being threatened or disrespected time and time (...and time and time...) again, you build up bit of callousness.

[Hills]

Gentlemen,as u all must have notice this country is huge,I m not talking population wise,I mean size.People come from every corner with different doctrines and norms.Forget about all the development stuff thats being going on,we all know its basically material,this place still has a long way to go with regards to personnel development.Most people are from the rural areas or merely half-baked educated.

But still you wont reject the fact that there s alot of nice and understanding people around,same like you d expect even in jail.

The issue of discriminating against peoples,to the best of my knowledge is simply in principle and not really practical.Yes they ll write those things in their ads  like race ,gender,age but show your talented face,they  all face off and bow.

How can I be brought down by a comment coming from someone less cooler/talented than I am?

As Mike said
A successful person is one who uses their advantages and strengths and overcomes their weaknesses and disadvantages.

[fly72]

So are you saying life as a black man on Hefei is just too hard.

Is racisim so bad there? could you give me a example what you face as a black man

Hi Fly,
You are higly welcome to the beautiful city of Hefei, There are lots of nice guys here both whites and blacks from different part of the world,everyone is doing their

thing. We do get together sometimes and on special days.

     However as a foreigner and most especially as a black guy you have too many challenges ,Hefei isn't that open compared to big cities like Qingdao ,

Beijing,Shanghai and so on, you just have to over look some 'Heartbroken' comments from our local friends, we experience this everyday. I expect Hills to mention this

because it is better to know what you are coming to face rather than got stuck and wonder why you didn't know at first. And for the starring thing you don't have a

choice expect you wanna be working from home, I don't see how you will survive with that.
 
   Whenever you are in Hefei please 'Holla' we can meet and have fun together. Take care bro....

 

[YetAnotherCanadian]

Yeah, I'd also second the notion that Chinese don't see all foreigners exactly the same.

[ryan_madden]

How can I be brought down by a comment coming from someone less cooler/talented than I am?

Guess I'll have to try harder 

Yeah, I'd also second the notion that Chinese don't see all foreigners exactly the same.

To be fair, it may be wise to take into account the impression left by previous foreigners in Hefei. For example, if locals are death-staring you along Food Street in Hupo, and you're new to town, they may be considering regarding you as "one of them".

Even at my apartment block, I always hold the door open for the Chinese residents either coming or going, so that they can get used to a friendly 2 metre tall foreigner that they're sharing Hupo with. 

[ebby]

@ Hills, Of course you can't call the off road comments as challenges, that's far from the real challenges I am talking about. Life is a series of challenges - mental,

emotional, physical, and lifestyle, in a general term can be reffered to as those things that are imbued with a sense of 'DIFFICULTY' and 'VICTORY', though sometimes

some behaviors exhibited are intentionally provocative and expresses opposition.Also after all these years of open up 'DEVELOPMENT' here doesn't equate

to 'CIVILIZATION'.

   Moreover I haven't seen any special treat without any hidden motive,must be for a reason, after the so called treat if the result is nothing worthy, you can guess what

happen.

 @Fly, Life is never too hard anywhere,be focused,know your priorities,put on your armour (you will need it all the time).And here locals don't see it as racism, they

see it as part of the culture (being curious). I personally have nothing to worry about,not physically challenged, have a job to survive and have a family to look after. but the

truth must be said.

   However, Just like you said' GET YOUR STYLES WORKED OUT' I will go with that.


@Mike , You are so coollllllllllllllllllllllllllll

A successful person is one who uses their advantages and strengths and overcomes their weaknesses and disadvantages.

[fly72]

Thank you Hills & ebby for giving me some information about being black in Hefei.

They were very helpful.

please try and get more black people to either tell you their experiences of living in Hefei or get them to post their experiences.

The more diverse opinions I can get the better idea of life in Hefei.

Speak up guys