Originally from Belgium, Kristof found himself deciding to move to and live in China because of its expanding economy. Here he tells us what he likes and dislikes so far about living in China, and gives a few tips on the things to consider before moving there.	Kristof

-Where were you born?
Belgium

-In which country and city are you living now?
Hangzhou, China

-Are you living alone or with your family?
Alone

-How long have you been living in China?
About 3 months

-What is your age?
31

-When did you come up with the idea of living in China?
Living in many different countries the past years, I choose to live and work in China because of its expanding economy.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?
For China it was not that difficult, thanks to my employer.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?
No, private insurances can be obtained everywhere.

-How do you make your living in China? Do you have any type of income generated?
For me, finding a good job is always the key before actually moving to any destination. Some expats take the risk to find a job on the spot and actually succeed in doing so ; but after many years, I learned it is best to find a job first and then move. And I guess the internet is probably the best medium to find a job. For China, it took me about 2 months to find a job.

-Do you speak Chinese and do you think it's important to speak the local language?
I don't speak Chinese, but i am willing to learn the basics. It always helps, especially in China. Not all Chinese people speak English, especially outside the big cities and even then.

-Do you miss home and family sometimes?
Home has different things to offer than China; I guess China is a bit back to basics when it comes to recreational activities.

-Do you have other plans for the future?
A pc, a remote connection and a beach.

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?
A standard apartment (separate bathroom and separate bedroom) can be rented for 3000-5000 RMB, the only differences from other countries is that the rental period will always be at least 6 months, if not 1 year. Renting an apartment for 1 month is hard to find.

-What is the cost of living in China?
Life in Asia is generally speaking cheap. I'd say, depends on your lifestyle.

-What do you think about the Chinese?
Chinese people have a lack of creativity, but they are very warm.

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in China?
Pro's: China has some beautiful places, tourist attractions, travelling around China is cheap and jobs are not that difficult to find.

Contra's : the language, the weather and recreational activities.

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in China?
Try to find a living inside the big, international cities: Shanghai, Beijing or Hongkong. If not, learn Chinese first.

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about China?

http://www.dpuniverse.com : Internet Marketing and Optimization of websites for the search engines.
http://www.discoverybkk.com : Travel guide Thailand
http://kristof.dpuniverse.com : my blog about China and other trips
http://www.china-reis.com : Travel guide China (Dutch)