I’ve been asked many questions about my life in China since coming to Shenzhen in 2008, the most common being the all-encompassing “What is it like living in China?” I’ve always tried to answer in a way that satisfies everyone’s curiosity. I talk about the crowds, the cultural differences, the ways of doing business that differ, and many other idiosyncrasies to which I have become accustomed. But I must confess I usually do not answer this question with complete honesty. The truth is I don’t really live in China. I live in the Special Economic Zone in a first tier city that borders Hong Kong. I live in a city where Dairy Queen, KFC, Burger King, McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, Papa John’s, Subway (sandwiches), Baskin Robbins, Haagen Dazs, Starbucks Coffee, Pacific Coffee, Costa Coffee, 7 Eleven, and
... read more