National mourning for the Qinghai earthquake

China marked a day of national mourning for the victims of last week’s earthquake in Yushu, as the death from the disaster rose to above 2,000.

Flags flew at half across China and at its overseas embassies, marking one week since the disaster struck. All public entertainment, including live sports and entertainment programmes on national television and internet games were be suspended for 24 hours.

Three minutes of silence was observed in Qinghai province, where the 7.1 magnitude earthquake occurred.

Have you been to Yushu before? Do you know any related stories about this earthquake?

The changing lifestyle

When you have been studying in the UK for a while, your lifestyle will be influenced somehow. Here are some comment changes generated from a group of UK Chinese students.

Before studied in the UK	When study in the UK	During holiday in China
slept at 11p.m	chat with friends online or write essays until 2a.m	I sleep less in order to spend more time together with family and friends
I liked eating KFC, McDonald, beefsteak and everything from abroad	eat potatoes,cold dishes, sandwiches, and pastas	only like the home-cooked dishes
tried the most popular western hairstyle	do not have hair cut so often, or cut the hair by myself sometimes	no matter which kind of hairstyles,it is never expensive than a crew cut in the UK
was a proud owner of an HP computer	use three-inch SONY, which is small and handy	bring an Apple Mac back
used Renren.com (Chinese social networking site)	use Facebook	Facebook is blocked
always disagreed and quarreled with parents, and complained everything	only tell good news to parents to release their worrieshave not celebrated Chinese New Year with family for many years	it is a pleasure to celebrate festivals together with parents
liked drinking Fanta, Coke, and Sprite	bought Green tea from Chinatown	like all kinds of Chinese tea
said“Hello”, “Thank you”, and“Bye-bye” to foreign friends	used to say “How are you doing”, “Cheers” and “See ya” all the time	speak in Chinese mixed with English

Have you been changed as well? Share you experience with us!

Adventures in London

“When a man is tired of London he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.”–Samuel Johnson

It is a great pleasure to study in London, the most cosmopolitan city on the earth. Here I will provide the guide to help Chinese students enjoy their time in London.

Short stay–If you study in other cities in the UK, and come to London for a short travel, here are somethings you cannot miss!

10 Things You Must Do While In London

1.    Visit the Big Ben.
2.    Photograph the Thames River.
3.    Ride on the London Eye, the largest ferries wheel in the world.
4.    Immerse yourself in culture at the British Museum.
5.    Visit the Buckingham Palace.
6.    Hike up the geometric staircase at a St. Paul’s Cathedral tour.
7.    Take the London Underground: These trains have cushioned seats and there’s a nice LED display overhead that gives riders the estimated time for the next train.
8.    Tour the Tower of London, where you can see the very precious Crown Jewels.
9.    Set your sights on the beautiful architecture at Westminster Abbey.
10.    Buy gifts for friends and family at the over 300 shops located on Oxford Street.

Looking for more must do things, please visit http://www.virgin-vacations.com/101-things-to-do-in-london.aspx

Long stay–If you have studied or worked in London for a long time, you must miss Chinese food. A Chinese phrase said that “Food is the first necessity of people.” If you have already board with fish&chips or sandwiches, don’t worry, I believe you can find one of your favourite Chinese restaurants from following recommendations.

Northern Chinese food
Name: My Old Place
If you like spicy Chinese cuisine, this is the place to come. It serves amazing Szechuan & Xinjiang dishes.
Address: 88-90 Middlesex Street, London, E1 7EZ
Nearest tube station: Liverpool street station
Average price: £15-20/ per person
Popular dishes: Chicken and Lamb BBQ Skewers/ The ‘Husband & Wife’ (a white meat & red meat dish) /The Chick Stews /Mushroom / Stir Fried Cabbage in a Vinegar sauce/Fried Potato, Green Pepper & Eggplant

Mongolian Hotpot

Name: Little Lamb
Address: 72 Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D 6NA
Nearset tube station: Piccadilly circus station
Average price: set meal £18/per person
Popular dishes: Wonder Soup(a brew of herbs and spices)/ Beef and Lamb,
Fresh Seafood, Eastern Vegetables, Bean Curd, Exotic Mushrooms, Meatballs.

Cantonese

Name: HK Diner
Eating here is the most authentic Hong Kong experience in Chinatown
Address: 22 Wardour Street London W1D6QQ
Average price: &10-15/per person
Nearest tube station: Piccadilly circus station
Popular dishes: Roast Duck/ Barbecue Pork and Crispy Pork with Rice
(Char Siu and Siu Yo)/ Stir-Fried Rice Noodles with Beef/Bubble Tea
(cold, milky tea with chewy tapioca pearls in it)

Dim sum

Name: Crispy Duck
Address: 7 Gerrard Street,London,W1D 5PH
Average price: £8/per person, 10 percent student discount
Nearest tube station:Leicester square station
Popular dishes: Steamed Spare Ribs in Black Bean Sauce/ Steamed Rice Rolls/ Steamed Honey BBQ Pork Bun

Chinese cakes
Name: Far east
In 2007, Prince Charles visited this restaurant
Address: 13 Gerrard Street London W1D 5PS
Average Price: £5/per person
Nearest tube station: Leicester square station
Popular dishes: Red Bean Sesame Ball/ The Pineapple Bun/ The Wonton Noodles in Soup/ Twisted Cruller/ Uncongealed Tofu

Do you know any other good Chinese restaurants in London?

To stay or not to stay? (2)

Stay in the UK

Advantages:

UK employers are being encouraged to give Chinese students more work experience opportunities. The China-UK Internship Programme, devised by international consultancy Global Education Group (GEG) and the Chinese Embassy in the UK, is designed to help Chinese students, who find it difficult to get practical work experience while they study. Under the UK’s new immigration system, international students who graduated from a UK institution can apply for the Post Study Work Visa. Successful applicants will be granted permission to work in the UK for up to two years without a work permit. After that, you may be allowed you to stay and work longer if you have been with the same employer for six months and you pass a further point-based assessment. This is an outstanding opportunity for those Chinese students who want to work in the UK.

Disadvantages:

Although many countries including the UK claim they will not treat those foreigners differently, the truth is that discrimination is everywhere. The discrimination is not only related with the policies of government, but also about the local citizens’ attitude. For local companies, they prefer to employ native people who know the local culture and society very well. Take journalists as an example, ethnic minorities are still under-represented in media industry. In the UK, a large number of journalists, particular in senior positions are white, middle class and men.

I interviewed some of my friends for their working plans.

Mu He, having her Post Study Work Visa and taking an accountant job said that “If people are seeking equal opportunity, I would say that stay London is a better choice. In China, it is usual to know many people use their relatives or contact’s resources get a job, instead of through the competition of talents. Despite certain prejudices in the UK, as long as you can show your talents and competency, you will get equal treatment.”

“I will come back to China.I have family and many good friends in China. I can make friends in a foreign country, but those friends will never be as good as the friends I grew up with. Another reason is if I stay in China, English will be my greatest advantage. But, if I stay in an English-speaking country, I do not have confident that I can use English better they can!” Xuan Dong, a third year students from Goldsmith College expressed her different view.

Jingyi Lee plans to go back China after finishing his economic degree. “I can see the bright future in China, but not in the UK. UK is still in severe financial crisis, which means the unemployment rate tends to be higher and higher and can not be controled in a short time.” he said.

“As far as I am concerned, I will not immediately come back as the salaries are really much higher in the UK,” Laura Liang explained, “I mean, for all the years you studied and all the money you have spent, isn’t the best way to stay here to make your money count?”

Overall, the final decision depends on the actual working situation and which side is better for different individuals.

If you will graduate soon, are you going to stay in the UK or return China? If you are still studying, have you even thought about your future plans? Leave comments to state your opinion about this topic.

To stay or not to stay? (1)

One crucial choice that Chinese students in the UK have to consider is, after graduation, should we stay and find a job or just go back to China to contribute?

Go back to China

Advantages:

Attracted by the rapid economic growth in China, an increasing number of Chinese overseas students decide to return China to work. Many high-tech companies, international cooperation’s and Sino-foreign joint ventures are seeking for employees with good English communications skills and have western education background, and familiar with cultures of both countries. For overseas returnees, the most valuable things they have learnt abroad are the advanced concepts. When they study in the UK, they can receive an open, creative, and more all-round development. They have many chances to gain practical experience. Through different projects, they have developed the spirit of team working, concepts of leadership, and the way to manage a team. These capabilities are what Chinese students lack, as in China, sometimes the education is more rigid, traditional, and emphasizes a lot on learning and memorizing. With the expanding business market in China, setting up own company is another opportunity for overseas returnees to develop their career.

A website helps overseas returnees to find jobs in China

There has been a nationally heated discussion on Chinese talents outflow for several years. In recent years, Chinese government encourages overseas students return by providing various preferential policies that returnees can enjoy. According to the report from People’s Daily in 2009, China has started a nationwide plan called “one-thousand-talents scheme”, which promises top salaries and attractive funding to elite overseas students or researchers, who are willing to return the country with the aim of boosting China’s innovation capability. China will fully trust and give free environment to returned talents. Preferential policies will be further modified to help them solve difficulties encountered in life and work.

The tradition of focus on family value is also a factor brings Chinese students back. Confucius said “You should not go on a long journey when your parents are still alive, if you have to do so you must have reasonable reasons” Having studied far away from home for several years, working in China is much easier for overseas students to look after parents and get together with family. Homesick and missing Chinese food make students to pack their bags and head for home.

Disadvantages:

A large number of returned overseas students has diluted their competitive advantage in the job market. Consider about the diminished quality of studying abroad, the over high expectation for salary, it is not easy as before for overseas returnees to find jobs in China. Since returning home, many students have discovered that overseas experience cannot guarantee an ideal job. According to a survey from China Youth Daily, although more than 71.3 percent managed to find work within 6 months of their return, 10.2 percent have remained unemployed for a year or more. For some, added expectations and pressures from family and friends make the situation even more stressful and frustrating.

More than 20 percent of returnees have started their own businesses, but this is difficult as well. They have had to adjust to the rules of the Chinese market and the domestic business culture. The overwhelming influence of interpersonal relations among the Chinese business community and the imperfect legal system are two of the main problems. In most west countries, people are quite business-oriented, while in China people don’t discuss business directly.

To be continued

Stories from other viewpoints

Due to problems exist among Chinese international students, most reports of them by Chinese media are negative in. As a result, nowadays, this community group is stereotyped as rich and extravagant, lonely and selfish, ignoramus and irresponsible. These students born after 1980’s are regarded as the “lost generation”. However, this kind of judgement is only one-sided. Actually, there are still a large percent of Chinese students have become mature and aspiring during the period in the UK. They have done lots of meaningful things as well. In the previous articles, we discussed the phenomenon of gambling and luxury. This time, I’d like to share some stories that touched my heart.

Story 1
My friend Liang Liu attended the graduation ceremony of the University of Warwick in January, and told me an impressive story. In the ceremony, Warwick announced that it was to establish a special scholarship fund in honour of Li Xiaoming. Li was killed in Haiti while serving as a Chinese peacekeeper on 12 January, and he was due to be awarded his degree at the ceremony on 21 January.

Warwick’s Vice-Chancellor, Nigel Thrift, said: “The sudden death of a student brings great sadness to all those who knew them. Xiaoming was a compassionate, kind and caring individual, dedicated to his peace­keeping work and with many friends both inside and outside the University. Our thoughts are with Xiaoming’s family and friends at this sad time.”

Story 2
In the December of 2009, Lenovo’s held a Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge in China, and finally ten teams won 100,000 yuan as prize. One of the team is different, as it is consisted of Chinese overseas students. Their project is called Uni-union, aiming to establish an interactive platform for Chinese university students to share academic resources. At the same time, 80 per cent of the advertising income will be donated to the children living in the remote villages in China.

David Chang, the founder of the project from the Imperial Collage, explained his idea that “ I know many Chinese students cannot access to an efficient platform where provide enough information to meet their needs for both study research and interest development. I want to take advantages of Social Networking services, and contact the worldwide famous universities, institutions and organizations to help Chinese students build an academic social network online.” Ming Luo, the captain of the team is studying in the Cambridge University added, “Charity is another important aspect of our project. The education conditions and facilities in some rural areas in China are still very poor. I hope I could make some contributions to those children who cannot have the equal education as me.”

Story 3
In May 2009, the two confirmed cases of H1N1 flu on the Chinese mainland were both overseas students who came home on vacation, raising worries that the return of more students will increase the risk of the virus spreading to the mainland. Online debates have raged over whether it was right for a 19-year-old student Lu from a Canadian university to expose potential victims to the virus. Some Chinese netizens even criticized that these international students are lack of civic responsibilities and moral standards. Many overseas students felt angry and upset about these comments.

Though Chinese were a bit over-reacted about H1N1, many Chinese students studying overseas  delayed their trips back to China. Simon Zhang delayed his plans to go back Beijing from London, he said “We are in the flu-affected area, being more cautious is the right thing to do. I want to be responsible to our motherland and to my family.”

Story 4
2008 was a year that many significant things happened in China. Because the related actions taken by overseas students, from then on, previous negative attitudes towards these young people has started to change. When the Olympic flame arrived in London in April of 2008, thousands of Chinese students greeted and guarded the Olympic torch. When the Sichuan earthquake happened, Chinese students in London organized the activity to donate money and mourned for victims. The total amount of money collected from the UK was nearly 1.5 million pounds. Faced with the argument about do not love China, overseas students proved their patriotic minds.

Chinese students attended the Olympic Torch Relay in London

Chinese students mourned for earthquake victims

Students made a Chinese map by candles and sent flowers

I hope these four stories can present another aspect of Chinese students life in the UK, and the long-existing misunderstanding of them could be reduced.

Education as luxury

Chinese in the LV shop in Selfridges

According to the World Luxury Association, free-spending Chinese pushed the country past the United States last year as the world’s second-largest consumer of luxury goods, taking up 27.5 per cent of the global market. In the global luxury industry, China is the hero at the moment. Similarly, in the UK market, a large amount of Chinese students are luxury consumers.

A Chinese newspaper in the UK reported that in recent years, Chinese students are filled with luxury trend. They buy LV, GUCCI as school bags, they drive BENZ or BMW, and they go to major shopping centres with VIP credit card. This seems more like a British version of Gossip Girl, but actors are replaced by Chinese.

Angel, a Chinese girl just over 20 years old, studying at the London College of Fashion, bought a house located at the Barker Street in the early of this year. Angel paid three million pounds in cash. When she entered the estate, the staff thought the young girl was crazy. Until she took out the deposit, the estate realised this was one of largest deals they made this year. Angel’s father is a famous entertainer in China.

Maybe Angel’s story is just a special case, but buying luxury cars is popular among Chinese students. A manager of a car company in London said, “Just a few days ago, an Chinese student only came to the UK for one month bought a new BMW. Some Chinese students even choose Ferrairi or Porsche.” He explained that even middle class in Britain paid as loan or instalments, but Chinese always purchased with full payment.

Having luxury handbags, shoes and clothes are much more common. Usually, the exclusive shops of  famous brand are full of Chinese students. British consumers were found more rational than the Chinese. I am curious about what are the motives of purchasing luxuries for Chinese students.

In the first place, it cannot be deny that luxury goods follow latest fashionable style and have high quality. It is a way to reflect lifestyle and taste. What’s more, the price of luxury goods in the UK is less expensive than in China. For example, the price of LV in Bicester Village is 40% cheaper than in China. With the decrease of the exchange rate between pounds and yuan, it is more valuable to buy branded products in the UK.

Beyond these points, many Chinese overseas students are referred as “the second-generation rich”. Generally, these students are from rich families in China that can afford expensive costs in the UK. Some of them form a small group that compare and show off the luxury products with each other.  Someone bought a LV limited edition, other one will carry a new GUCCI. Even certain students from normal families skip classes because they want to go work and make money in order to buy luxury things.

“Luxury” has become a label of Chinese overseas students. People have different attitudes towards luxury consuming. Some criticise these young people just waste money, while some think this behaviour is not a big deal.

Are you in favour of luxury goods as well? What is your opinion?

Gambling addiction

As the craze interest of studying abroad, the age of Chinese international students becomes younger. The mental health issues associated with young students are crucial. Gambling is a typical problem of certain Chinese overseas students.

In 2008, the news about a couple of Chinese students were killed in Newcastle shocked both Britain and China. According to the UK police’s inspection, these two victims might have been involved in an international football Internet betting scam. Actually, I heard about many gambling stories from Chinese friends, and this is a really serious phenomenon in the UK.

A casino near China Town with Chinese slogan

Steven Wei told me that two of his friends study in the Lancaster University keep gambling. “They drive to the casino in Blackpool every Friday, it is like a routine thing for them. Sometimes they go there twice a week. Usually, they spend 3,000  to 4,000 pounds for gambling once a time.” Another story is about a Chinese guy betting on basketball and football, he once earned 7,000 pounds, but has lost 5,000 pounds at a time as well. “If you go inside any casino in Leicester Square in London, it is full of Chinese students,” Wei said. He also talked about his opinion towards gambling. “ Some people just try it for fun, it is a different experience and may meet different friends.    However, if you are addicted to it, it will not only         
affect studies, but also waste money from parents.”

In terms of gambling, the house always wins. In China, we said that if you try ten times, you would definitely lose nine. What are the factors cause Chinese international students, a special community, addict to gambling?

On the one side, gambling itself is a speculation—the price of high return is high risk.  People hold the beliefs of luck and perseverance. Once you won some, you have the illusion of control and look for more.  On the other side, we have to consider the situation of Chinese students. There is no doubt that loneliness is the most common feeling of Chinese students in the UK. They are far away from family and friends, and havn’t build up good friendship with native people, some students go to casino to spend time and reduce loneliness. In addition, faced with high pressure of study in the university, and unrespectable difficulties of living in a foreign country, gambling is regarded as an exciting activity to release anxiety. Some students even give up their studies and use up all tuition fees for gambling. For these young people, they still lack of the money and time management abilities, and cannot resist the temptation.

Casino Empire attracts Chinese people

However, quit gambling is not as easy task. Parents should pay enough attention to their children’s mental health, but not only supporting money. These students have to think about the consequences of their actions, and find  something else to do immediately.  Healthier habits could be developed such as travel and sports. Meanwhile, they have to try to make friends with people from different countries and attend regular lectures and activities.

In London, the Chinese Mental Health Association has started the “Chinese GamCare Project” to offer support to people with a gambling addication. About this project, there is a short film clip called Take A Chance .

Is gambling a problem of your friend? What is your opinion about gambling?

Famous Chinese people studied in the UK

Not only ordinary students dream of studying in the UK, many famous Chinese people also choose Britain to enrich their study and life. In the following, I would like to briefly introduce someone who once shared the same experience as us.

Xu Zhimo (1897~1931), he is a modern poet and essayist. In 1921, he went to study in Cambridge University where he fell in love with English romantic poetry, and translated some into Chinese. He was one of the first Chinese writers to successfully naturalize Western romantic forms into modern Chinese poetry. He promoted the form of modern Chinese poetry, and therefore made tremendous contributions to modern Chinese literature. In 1922 he went back to China and became a leader of the modern poetry movement. In 1923, he founded the Crescent Moon Society.

One of his representative work is called Saying Good-bye to Cambridge Again.

Very quietly I left
As quietly as I came here;
Quietly I wave good-bye
To the rosy clouds in the western sky.
The golden willows by the riverside
Are young brides in the setting sun;
Their reflections on the shimmering waves
Always linger in the depth of my heart.
The floatingheart growing in the sludge
Sways leisurely under the water;
In the gentle waves of Cambridge
I would be a water plant!
That pool under the shade of elm trees
Holds not water but the rainbow from the sky;
Shattered to pieces among the duckweeds
Is the sediment of a rainbow-like dream?
To seek a dream? Just to pole a boat upstream
To where the green grass is more verdant;
Or to have the boat fully loaded with starlight
And sing aloud in the splendor of starlight.
But I can’t sing aloud
Quietness is my farewell music;
Even summer insects heap silence for me
Silent is Cambridge tonight!
Very quietly I left
As quietly as I came here;
Gently I flick my sleeves
Not even a wisp of cloud will I bring away

Deng Yaping, is a Chinese table tennis player, who won six world championships and four Olympic championships. She is regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. She gained a master’s degree from the University of Nottingham, and received a PhD degree in Land Economy at the University of Cambridge (Jesus College). Her thesis title is: The impact of the Olympic Games on Chinese development: A multi-disciplinary analysis.

Deng Yaping at her PhD graducation ceremony

Tang Wei becomes a popular star because her excellent performance in Ang Lee’s Lust, Caution (Winner of the 2007 Golden Lion Award). For the role of Wong Chia Chi, she has won the Best New Performer Golden Horse award, and nominated for Rising Star Award, BAFTA, etc. In 2008, it was reported that some of Tang’s commercial sponsors had dropped her television and print ads due to her performance in Lust, Caution. A Chinese media ban had been imposed. In 2009, during her absence from the movie industry, Tang studied drama at the University of Reading in the United Kingdom. Recently, she returns for her new movie Crossing Hennessy.

The poster of Lust&Caution

Do you know anyone else who also studied in the UK? Please tell us!

Why choose to study in the UK?

A large amount of Chinese students give up the comforts of home, and brave the UK’s food and weather, finally consider the UK as an ideal country to seek a bright future. Why the universities and colleges in the UK can attract lots of overseas students?

Firstly, it is obvious that as the cradle of English, UK is the best choice for Chinese students to improve their language in an entire English environment. The British accent is regarded as authentic and decent. One classical actor line in a famous Chinese film said that it is dignity if you could speak in British accent.

Secondly, the good reputation of UK’s education appeals students who are pursuing advanced studies. The UK universities are known for their high quality of teaching, great education facilities and wide range of offerings combined with the flexibility to accommodate individual student needs. Generally, the three popular courses among Chinese students are Accounting&Finance, Business&Management, and Economics&Mathematics. In recent years, there are also an increasing number of Chinese students start to choose some new and creative courses, such as media. Kevin Zhao, who graduated from Imperial Collage and returned China to work, said that alumni of British universities enjoyed a level of professional success. Compared with universities in other countries require four years for undergraduate degree and two years for master degree, the short length of studying is another advantage of British education. Students and their families can save both time and money.

Thirdly, the different teaching model in the UK attracts Chinese students as well. The characteristac of education in the UK is to encourage independent thinking, creative ideas and critical evaluation. Most courses combine theory modules  and practice modules. However, students in China focus on theory and emphasise rote learning. They are told to accept professors’ ideas. In contrast, in the UK, professors prefer to let students ask questions, discuss and generate their own ideas in tutorials. Only in this kind of academic environment could students develop original opinions and find proper solutions to problems independently.

The dramatic economic growth of China with a more open society is also a reason why Chinese students drawn to Britain. Tom Lin who has already studied in the UK for four years explained, “Chinese young people like me want to make a contribution to this rapid process. Therefore, we want to study in the UK to learn better western technologies and experience the western culture and do the best I can.” In addition, more and more Chinese family can afford the high expense to send their children abroad. Usually, it costs £30,000 to study and live in the UK.

Apart from academic learning, Britain is a country for cultural adventures. Not only the native, local and popular cultures, you can explore a variety of western culture in both London and other cities. You could access to all kinds of events, festivals and exhibitions, with the world’s finest museums in Britain. Furthermore, travel to other Europe countries is convenient for students. One Chinese old saying is “Travelling is more eye-opening than reading.” Take myself as an example, I visited Italy, Greece, and Switzerland with friends, which has become unforgettable memories.

Many Chinese travel agents offer services for flights, visa, and group tours in Europe

People may have various motivations to study in the UK, as long as you have a good plan, you can be sure of enjoying a unique and wonderful life.

Why you decided to study in the UK? Leave a comment!