I’ve lived in a “second-tier” city in China for over three years now and the attitudes toward foreigners has generally become more and more hostile. I can speak Chinese and used to enjoy overhearing the somewhat naive and curious comments of the Chinese pertaining to my “foreigness” when among them in public spaces where they assumed I couldn’t understand them to overhear. Now, the majority of comments are overtly racist and denigrating.

Also, the night-time environment is downright dangerous as drunken Chinese who used to greet foreigners with jovial and curious remarks are spouting the newest “injustice” served upon China by foreigners. Minor disagreements or cultural faux-pas that would have been used in the past to light-heartedly educate the blundering foreigner now easily escalate to violence. Many foreigners have been physically assaulted or injured in this year than the two years prior.

After successfully doing business here for some time, I am seriously considering relocation.