August 7, 2023 ASIA / PACIFIC THE ASIAN REPORTER n Page 3 Young Chinese opt out of the rat race and pressures at home to pursue global nomad lifestyle By Yucheng Tang The Associated Press ANGKOK — Shortly after China opened its borders with the end of zero-COVID, Zhang Chuannan lost her job as an accountant at a cosmetic firm in Shanghai and decided to explore the world. “The cosmetics business was bleak,” said Zhang, 34, who explained everyone wore face masks during the pandemic. After being laid off, she paid $1,400 for an online Thai course, got an education visa, and moved to the scenic northern Thai city of Chiang Mai. Zhang is among a growing number of young Chinese moving overseas to escape the country’s ultra-competitive work culture, family pressures, and limited opportunities after living in the country under the strict pandemic policies for three years. Southeast Asia has become a popular destination given its proximity, relatively inexpensive cost of living, and tropical scenery. There is no exact data on the number of young Chinese moving overseas since the country ended pandemic restrictions and reopened its borders. But on the popular Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu, hundreds of people have discussed their decisions to relocate to Thailand. Many get a visa to study Thai while figuring out their next steps. At Payap University in Chiang Mai, around 500 Chinese began an online Thai course early this year. Royce Heng, owner of Duke Language School, a private language institute in Bangkok, said around 180 Chinese inquire B each month about visa information and courses. The hunt for opportunities far from home is partly motivated by China’s unemployment rate for people between 16 and 24 years old, which rose to a record high of 21.3% in June. The scarcity of good jobs increases pressure to work long hours. Opting out is an increasingly popular way for younger workers to cope with a time of downward mobility, said Beverly Yuen Thompson, a sociology professor at Siena College in Albany, New York. “In their 20s and early 30s, they can go to Thailand, take selfies, and work on the beach for a few years and feel like they have a great quality of life,” Thompson said. “If those nomads had the same opportunities they hoped for in their home countries, they could just travel on vacation.” During the pandemic in China, Zhang was cooped up in her Shanghai apartment for weeks at a time. Even when lockdowns were lifted, she feared another COVID-19 outbreak would prevent her from moving around within the country. “I now value freedom more,” Zhang said. A generous severance package helped finance her time in Thailand and she is seeking ways to stay abroad long-term, perhaps by teaching Chinese language online. Moving to Chiang Mai means waking up in the mornings to bird songs and a more relaxed pace of life. Unlike in China, she has time to practice yoga and meditation, shop for vintage clothes, and attend dance classes. Armonio Liang left the western Chinese city of Chengdu in landlocked Sichuan province for the Indonesian island of Bali, HELP FOR PEOPLE AFFECTED BY GAMBLI NG Habit Check Habits can bring positive momentum to our lives. They help us do regular tasks without devoting too much mental energy to them. But for the same reason, habits can cause us to prolong behaviors that no longer serve our best interests. If gambling has become a habit for you — or a loved one — help is available. Change Your Habit s w it h OPGR If you want to change how you gamble, reach out . Oregon Problem Gambling Resource (OPGR) has trained counselors who specialize in supporting people affected by gambling. They can help you explore new choices and get you back in the driver’s seat when it comes to gambling. Call, text or chat . You can feel better about gambling — starting today. GLOBAL NOMADS. Chinese Huang Wanxiong, a free diving instructor, practices his skills in the sea around Bohol Island in the Philippines, in this April 16, 2023 file photo. A growing number of young Chinese are moving overseas, frequently to Southeast Asia, to escape their homeland’s ultra-competitive work cul- ture, limited opportunities, and family pressures. There is no exact data on the number of young Chi- nese moving overseas, but on social media, hundreds of people have discussed relocation to Thailand. (AP Photo/Shaoxu Wang, File) a popular digital nomad destination. His Web3 social media startup was limited by Chinese government restrictions while his use of cryptocurrency exchange apps drew police harassment. Moving to Bali gave the 38-year-old greater freedom and a middle-class lifestyle with what might be barely enough money to live on back home. “This is what I cannot get in China,” said Liang, referring to working on his laptop on the beach and brainstorming with expatriates from around the world. “Thousands of ideas just sprouted up in my mind. I had never been so creative before.” He also has enjoyed being greeted with smiles. “In Chengdu, everyone is so stressed. If I smiled at a stranger, they would think I am an idiot,” he said. Life overseas is not all beach chats and friendly neighbors, though. For most young workers, such stays will be interludes in their lives, Thompson said. “They can’t have kids, because kids have to go to school,” Thompson said. “They cannot fulfill their responsibilities to their parents. What if their aging parents need help? They eventually will get a full-time job back home and get called back home Continued on page 4