What if you had a great social life in the UK and hot girls to date? Would you have still left or stayed? Do you ever wonder that?yick wrote: ↑September 1st, 2021, 4:55 amI was unhappy there because the UK could never offer what I wanted - tropical weather, tasty food, exotic birds singing in the trees, white sandy beaches, the happy-go-lucky way of people and the lack of cynicism and sarcasm and a more interesting existence - that isn't to say the UK isn't a good place to live because it is in a lot of ways, it is a first world country and there are lots of opportunities for people to get on and it has a strong enforcement of law and there are standards to the place in regards health and consumer rights - you don't have to bribe policemen and you are protected when you buy property, you get great health care for very little/nothing - lots of good things about it but it wasn't for me - it is for a lot of people.Winston wrote: ↑September 1st, 2021, 4:27 am
But Yick, don't you have to be unhappy in the UK to leave it? Did you fit into UK culture? Or are you just adventurous by nature? Or do you get off on being a novelty in a foreign country?
Momopi once said that some are like trees, others like grass, and others like clouds. The tree people like to settle where they grew up and plant roots and nests. The grass people move to greener pastures to settle down. The clouds hate settling down and like to flow like the wind, which they consider to be freedom, without attachments, they are unsuited for marriage or careers, unless their partner is a fellow freespirit too.
I didn't fit into UK culture and I much prefer it in Penang/Ipoh Malaysia and the Coffee Triangle of Colombia - very similar places to be honest, I like the gentle politeness of the people, the nice food, the infrastructure, the climate but I am adventurous by nature - yes. I don't need other expats to live my life, I am happy to live it here in the middle of China on my own whereas most expats go mad without an expat social circle to hang around with.
To be honest, you stop seeing yourself as a novelty after a year or two anyway and the people around where I am are now used to me - they don't give a shit but I find most of them are kind in their dealings with me. The novelty factor wears off over time.
Momopi is a wise person and is quite right.
Is it easy to make friends in the UK? Can I just show up there and make friends like you see in the movies? In the movies it look so easy and natural to make friends. Why? How come real life isn't like that? In real life, people are closed off unless they want something from you.