Economic Reflections on China vs US

[zacb]

As I mentioned previously, I just got back from a trip from China and other places, but I wanted to focus on a few things (mostly China related). Not to act ala Tucker Carlson, but the value of the Dollar in Asia goes further, but I was shocked at the attention to customer service in Asia. To start, China Southern Airlines was world class. Outside a delay on the tarmac in Manila (that was super hot), they were world class. Free wine (and meals), making sure you got to the gate, and just niceness overall, I would say China Southern is world class. Also the people in China were really nice and helpful. It is funny in the US sometimes Asians are hit or miss, but in Asia they seem super nice. Also the Chinese TSA was courtesy. The other thing I noticed with my ill dated tour into Guangzhou is that interest rates on bank accounts are almost half that of in the US. Outside the pollution, it was surreal. Overall though people were nice. Also banks still do toaster giveaways and the like. With the savings the Chinese have and tight monetary policy, I think they will do decent.

As for Bali, Manila, and Davao, I have a few observations. Grab was way ahead of Uber. They have Grab lounges to chill at. Also the hotel I stayed at had a bell boy (paid 30 some but usually costs 24 a night) and had a super affordable breakfast. Service was top notch. Davao was a well run city and may make that part of my five flag plan, but need to research it more. I plan to do a follow up trip, but overall the people were down to earth and helpful, even when I was a goof.

[hb2345]

I once got a free tool box from a bank for opening my bank account. Made in China, of course. Shit was so weak it literally broke in my hands. I wouldn't trust a free Chinese toaster. You're risking a fire.

The reason Chinese in the service industry are so polite is because their job is on the line and they can't afford to lose it.

It's funny how you're teaching others to live independent of the system, yet jizzing all over yourself over modern day conveniences and amenities that "THE SYSTEM" provided. Go fu ck yourself, consumerist phony.

[Shemp]

@zacb: the economic center of the world is rapidly shifting to China, with both Koreas, Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, India working to fill gaps left by China (especially labor intensive low wage activities), and much of the rest of the world (Russia, Persia Gulf states, Africa, North and South America supplying raw materials. Problem for you is that all these labor markets, but Chinese in particular, are competitive. English teacher is one possibility but bad future because of AI. There continues to be opportunities to arbitrage by importing from Asia to USA to compete with expensive USA products/services. Medical tourism is a fine example. As an American citizen, so you might have an advantage in marketing such medical tourism to other Americans.

Otherwise, USA military might work out. As USA collapses economically, it will become increasingly belligerent militarily. But USA isn't stupid enough (or at least I hope it isn't) to attack anyone its own size. That was why Trump was put in power, precisely because that idiot Blinken (who was in charge of foreign policy during Biden's last few years of senility) was challenging Russia, which is a peer size military opponent. Instead, USA will likely go after Cuba, Venezuela, Canada,, Greenland, Mexico, etc plus maybe some action in Algeria and Libya. If you can arrange to be an officer in the rear echelons, should be secure career and little danger. One risk until recently was having to serve under a tranny or lesbian senior officer, but Trump fixed that. Still have the risk of a senior officer who hates you. But that's life. Military is the ultimate conformist organization, so keep a low profile: the nail that sticks out get hammered down.

[zacb]

@Shemp Yeah I am under no impression about competing with locals for jobs, just using the English teaching to get in the door and starting a business. The military seems more like a good opportunity for a VA loan + college (extra masters, honestly more for my ego than anything), but I might look for remote finance jobs too, even book keeping, just so I can get out of dodge. I have been reflecting on the job market and in between more competition from people moving out of state, thin slice judgement due to my personality (and people seeming to not like my introverted nature), the covid BS with jobs in 2021 and 2022, the increasing outsourcing of upper end jobs, DE&I, most work seeming like paper pushing, and general economic fuckery just make me question after 2 years whether it is worth it. I am getting a 95% on my Masters so far, and so if that can't find a high paying job (post inflation), then I don't see the point. I also have two properties, and I know the one could at least pay for an accommodation abroad, so in terms of the economic calculations, it seems to be turning against having a job (stateside at least). I only mention that jobs are moving over there because if there are less jobs, we may start to look like Europe employment wise more and more.

I wish I got my payment issues sorted out and had more time in China, but at least it has its 240 our visa policy, so I can explore suppliers, markets, and the like more. I did go to the second hand electronics market in Guangzhou. Bought a laptop for $110 for an i5, so that seemed worth it. The rest seemed like DJ equipment, fridges, TVs, etc. but would like to check out the first floor and then go to the other places on my list. Did not see many desktops. Regardless, I do see some potential. I was slightly more potential off the bat in the Philippines, although it might be easier to set it up on the ground in Asia. I am hopeful with more research I can find something. I am also keen on the Cybernetics/ Ops Research and Financial Engineering classes in China ($2,500 a year) and Peking University for an MBA, but that is more as a side note. I still need to research, but I am also working on projects now Stateside (mostly programming) so I am not relying just on teaching or whatever. I do think there is potential, but need to dig in. I just don't see most the places as places to live, but to date and start businesses. I still like Bogota/Paraguay as more of a home base.

[yick]

China has changed a lot since the beginning of COVID. Still night and day prosperity wise compared to the west but we are looking at a slow downward spiral from here. The same problems that affect the west are now here, the people who are doing the jobs the kids don't want to do are old - you never see young cooks in canteens or young people digging ditches - these are all - at least, middle aged and some are actually elderly, very few young Chinese people want to dig a ditch or sweat over a stove for low pay so one day, China will be bringing hard workers from India and Africa like they do in the west.

Doing a degree or a masters degree is still good value for money in China, loads of courses in English all over the country, teaching English is still profitable and your earning to savings ratio is still the best deal there is. I am here in China for the long run, well, for another 12 years which will take me to 65 and I will have to leave by law but I am happy to do that until I am retired.

[yick]

As for the Chinese dating scene, whatever advantages western/white males had have gone. If you are handsome, tall, well dressed etc you'll get someone but it will never be like it was 20 years ago. The plus is the stupid crap attention has gone as well, it is very rare nowadays the sight of you will get a catcall of 'herrrrooooo' off some idiot, 99 times out of 100 no-one will take a blind bit of notice which I personally prefer.

[zacb]

Hey message me when you have a chance @yick . I only had a layover day in Guangzhou and was not able to visit as many places due to payment issues, but even with the downsides, China does seem to be ok for savings, learning (college), and maybe business. I did also visit Bali and the Philippines, which seemed slightly better for dating (had a few girls want to date me, so got their contacts). It would be nice to pay down debt and maybe buy a place in Bogota, as I really like Bogota, just not as a place to earn money or other things. I would still rather live abroad than rot away at a desk.

[yick]

Hey message me when you have a chance @yick . I only had a layover day in Guangzhou and was not able to visit as many places due to payment issues, but even with the downsides, China does seem to be ok for savings, learning (college), and maybe business. I did also visit Bali and the Philippines, which seemed slightly better for dating (had a few girls want to date me, so got their contacts). It would be nice to pay down debt and maybe buy a place in Bogota, as I really like Bogota, just not as a place to earn money or other things. I would still rather live abroad than rot away at a desk.

My plan is somewhat similar to yours, work the rest of my time here in China and then retire to Peru, I am a citizen there so no visa issues. I will be able to live there for the rest of my life though saying that, I do love Colombia but I would probably live in a smaller city in El Eje Cafetero like Ibague or Manizales. I will drop you a line sometime for sure!

[zacb]

Smart idea. The US seems hard right now to find a job with excess cashflow. Post 2022 it has been hard to advance and if I can't find anything I might go the teaching route/military. I could probably buy a place around Bogota after a few years of savings and do one more major investment in addition to the properties I do have and be able to have the quality of life I wanted without worrying about the state of the US economy. I am willing to give the US economy the benefit of the doubt, but if my Masters does not yield anything, I don't see the point of trying to compete. Right now my current job is really being nitpicky and my industry is just so weird. It reminds me when I was in the rustbelt and needed connections for basic jobs. If I can start a side hustle with teaching English, my standard of living would go through the roof, even though the pay is not much. To me a job is a way for me to get capital, but in the US outside maybe the Dakotas, Oklahoma, and Texas, it seems like just enough to live, but not invest etc. . It seems like it is so hard to work your way up post covid. Before my pay went up maybe 20%, but now Californians and others moved to cheaper cities and not the pay just is not the same (plus monetary debasement). The pay where I currently am up to 2020/2021 was good, but I want to move on and have been looking in Texas and elsewhere, but so far no bites. If this goes on for another year (and I finish my Masters), then teaching English seems like a no brainer, especially with the free time. Also the military too, but need to fix health problems first (which is cheaper in Asia).