The Must Have Book if You're Moving to Beijing

2012-02-19T11:02:00.000-08:00

This is the book I wish I had known about when I moved to Beijing.
For some reason, before moving, I thought I had done my homework and researched enough about the huge city that would become my new home. I was wrong... as they say, hindsight is always 20/20.
While nothing can completely take away culture shock, this book certainly would have been a big help! This easy to read guide can also be used as a reference tool for specific situations. I really liked the practical and realistic suggestions offered when an expat might find themselves in the inevitable, uncomfortable jam expats tend to find themselves in when cultures collide.
This book includes information on transportation, finding an apartment, what to do if you are bringing your children with you, day trip ideas, shopping, and more.
For other China Books I reccommend, see my list.

Arrested in China

2012-02-13T10:33:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite blogs, Seeing Red In China, has had a series of posts this week on plight of Ge Xun (See: Part One, Part Two and Lessons from Ge Xun’s forced disappearance). He is Chinese, now a US citizen, and was detained and interrogated on February 2, 2012 for his association/support of causes the Chinese government doesn't like while he was visiting Beijing. He was on his way to visit the Tianamen Mother, Ding Zilin, and had created a site that supports the blind lawyer, Chen Guangcheng (who as of yesterday was reported missing along with his wife and young daughter). Ge Xun was interrogated through night about his activities, all which occurred outside of China, was beaten and then was deported the next day.
As I was reading the posts, I couldn't help thinking what one can do when picked up and forced to accompany police down to the station in China. The answer really is, nothing.
During my time in China, I had only one encounter with police that ended up costing me an entire evening and a heart stopping moment when we discovered I wasn't registered with the local police station. (All foreigners must register with the police and provide ID and a physical address if staying more than 24 hours in one location. My husband's boss forgot to register us. Fortunately, after a lot of apologies and hours of questioning, I was allowed to return to my apartment and was escorted home by the police.) It turned out well, as best as it could have, for my husband and I. We were allowed to stay with a warning not to forget to register again or we would risk deportation.
The US State Department has a pretty clear warning about US citizens who are arrested in China:

While you are traveling in China, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own. There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States, and you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States. If you break local laws in China, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not wherever you go.

China gives the police the authority to detain and deport foreigners for a wide variety of reasons, including engaging in prohibited religious activities and soliciting prostitutes. If you don’t have your passport with you, you may be taken in for questioning. China has strict laws against driving under the influence of alcohol that can lead to immediate detention on a criminal charge.

If you are arrested in China, the U.S.-China Consular Convention requires Chinese authorities to notify the U.S. Embassy or nearest Consulate General of your arrest within four days. If you hold the citizenship of another country, including China, and entered China using a passport of that country, Chinese authorities are not required to notify the U.S. Embassy or a U.S. consulate of your arrest. Typically, the police will not allow anyone other than a consular officer to visit you during your initial detention period, including your family or even an attorney. Bail is rarely granted in China, and you can be subject to detention for many months before being granted a trial.

So, what really happens when someone is taken in for questioning?

It depends on who you are, where you're from and how big of a threat you are perceived to be. It sounds strange to say, but it also depends on how good of a mood the officers happen to be in.

Foreigners may be questioned and released without any penalty. Other foreigners I know of have been questioned at length about their activities in China and why they are there, like Gu Xun was. Some have been allowed to contact their embassy, others have not been allowed to. Foreigners who have been deported can be given anywhere from 24-72 hours to leave the country.

What about Chinese nationals who are arrested for activities the governenment deem a threat to national security?

Activists, lawyers, journalists and even common citizens are subject to surveillance and extra questioning sessions by secret police. They may disappear for days or even months at a time; kept in jails or under home arrest without access to the outside world. Mistreatment is common.

There's one thing you can always count on with China: You can't count on anything. The "rules" are subject to change at any time on the whim of the government.

OMG MeiYu (OMG 美语): Teaching American Slang to The Chinese Masses

2012-02-11T13:17:00.000-08:00

Here's one person on the growing list of Foreigners Who Speak Awesome Chinese... A friend sent me a link to a story PBS News Hour did about Jessica Beinecke, VOA journalist and former China expat who writes, produces and stars in her own show teaching American slang. She has over 500,000 followers on weibo (Chinese Twitter).
I have become addicted to watching it myself, it's very entertaining and neat to see what slang Chinese people want to learn about. Her personality is so bubbly and personable, it's no wonder she is so popular with English language learners!
Here's the clip of her on PBS introducing herself and the show:

For more OMG Meiyu videos, go to the OMG Meiyu YouTube Channel

Interactive Expat

The Must Have Book if You're Moving to Beijing

Arrested in China

OMG MeiYu (OMG 美语): Teaching American Slang to The Chinese Masses