Ezra AndersonABOUT two years ago I decided I wanted to travel to China to experience a different culture and way of life.

　I have been studying martial arts for a good part of my life and I always wanted to study them in their place of origin. I decided that Henan Province, in Central China, would be a great place to start.

　It took me a full year to raise enough money to pay off my debts and be able to start my journey to the East.

　I bought all the essentials I needed. Then I started off on a fantastic journey that would change my perceptions forever.

　Coming from the West I always imagined the orient to be an exotic amazing place.

　As it turned out, I was right. I was greatly satisfied with what I found when I arrived. The hospitality and warmth of everyone, the new experiences every day, and the things I could learn by just being here, all made me feel very welcome.

　The school in which I started teaching was the perfect place to start. My students were great, well-behaved, friendly, and easy to teach because they paid attention and were interested in learning English. I taught middle-school up north for about eight months before I decided to come to the south to get a different view of China.

　I found Shenzhen to be a very modern city, with hustle and bustle everywhere. Every person I met seemed to think that Shenzhen was the place to be. A place where they could make a lot of money and secure their futures. I tend to agree with them.

　For me it was very easy to find a good job in Shenzhen. In fact, it seems to be quite easy for most foreigners to find good jobs and enjoy a high standard of living.The moments I don’t enjoy are when people try to take advantage of me, lie to me, or cheat me.

　I get very frustrated and discouraged when taxi drivers take the scenic route, or fruit sellers give me the “foreigner price.” Businessmen lying to my face for their own gain really makes me angry too.

　I don’t understand why Chinese people seem to think that every Westerner living in China is rich.

　My greatest moments in China are when I teach my kindergarten students. I get to contribute to their growth, and they repay me with their smiles and laughter. Their happy faces will be ingrained in my mind forever. I’m only cheated once or twice a month, but on the average day, I get to see 300 students smiling at me.

　My advice to someone interested in coming to China is to open your mind, learn new things, and embrace any experiences, good or bad.

　Don’t hesitate. Come and enjoy Chinese culture. This is a great place to live.