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Share your<br />
experience!<br />
Send an email to<br />
qingdaoexpateditor<br />
@yahoo.com<br />
Photo: Jenny Ek<br />
A Summary of a Year in <strong>Qingdao</strong><br />
<strong>Expat</strong> Stages<br />
Maria, Henrik and their two kids Emelie and Wilma will soon leave <strong>Qingdao</strong><br />
and move back to Sweden again after a year here. With mixed feelings they<br />
have started packing their stuff and prepare to go back “home“.<br />
How long have you lived in <strong>Qingdao</strong><br />
Since September 2011.<br />
What brought you here<br />
Henrik is working for Bombardier<br />
with the testing of a new high<br />
speed train. The factory is located<br />
here in <strong>Qingdao</strong>.<br />
What were your thoughts before<br />
you moved<br />
It was not an easy decision to make.<br />
We discussed it for a few months<br />
and weighed both pros and cons<br />
before we decided to move.<br />
How long did you plan your move<br />
After we made our final decison it<br />
took only two months before we<br />
moved. So we did not have that<br />
much time to plan and prepare<br />
everything.<br />
What was your expectations for<br />
this year<br />
We hoped to have an exiting year<br />
with many new experiences. We also<br />
wanted to learn some Mandarin and<br />
learn about the Chinese culture.<br />
And with the answer in your<br />
hands - Did this year meet your<br />
expectations<br />
Most of our expectations , but it<br />
has been hard to find the time<br />
and energy to do everything we<br />
wanted to and planned for.<br />
What has been the most difficult<br />
this year<br />
To adapt to the Chinese culture<br />
and the everyday life.<br />
Have you learned any Mandarin<br />
Maria: I have studied Mandarin<br />
twice a week for a few months<br />
with a private tutor in my home.<br />
Henrik: I caught a few words and<br />
phrases, but I did not have time to<br />
study regularly.<br />
What do you miss most from<br />
home<br />
Henrik: The Swedish nature.<br />
Maria: Most our family and friends,<br />
but also Swedish food, nature and<br />
fresh air.<br />
How has it been for the children<br />
It has been pretty good but it has<br />
taken time for them to adapt to<br />
their new pre-school, the Chinese<br />
food and all the attention that they<br />
get here.<br />
How does it feel to be moving back<br />
home<br />
It feels good. It will be nice to be<br />
closer to our family and friends<br />
again. But of course we will miss<br />
<strong>Qingdao</strong> and all our new friends<br />
here.<br />
What will you miss most from<br />
China<br />
The cheap taxi-fares and to go out<br />
for dinner that often.<br />
Do you have any tips to share<br />
with the newly arrived expats in<br />
<strong>Qingdao</strong><br />
Try to connect with other families<br />
who have lived here for a while<br />
to get tips and advice. Be patient<br />
and tolerant and try to learn some<br />
Mandarin.<br />
By Jenny Ek<br />
<strong>Qingdao</strong> <strong>Expat</strong> Magazine - 4
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