Living in a Foreign Land 74.0% of Youth Students Surveyed "Report Good News Rather Than Worry" to Their Families

Approaching the Spring Festival, for many people who live away from home, hometown has always been a concern in their hearts. For young people living in a foreign country, will they communicate their true situation with their families at any time? Recently, a survey of 1158 young people surveyed by the Social Survey Center of China Youth Daily (wenjuan.com) showed that 74.0% of the youth surveyed would "report good news rather than worry" to their families. Increasing income (79.1%) and enriching interests (57.0%) are the main ways that young people surveyed believe they can make life in a foreign country better.

56.7% of the young people surveyed are experiencing life in a foreign land

In the survey, 56.7% of the young people surveyed were experiencing life in a foreign land, and 40.9% of the young people surveyed had.

"Because I'm still in school, I don't have to worry too much financially. Socially, I'm more adaptable. Liu Xintang, a post-95 whose hometown is in Henan, is currently studying in Beijing. Although life in a foreign country is still relatively smooth, but occasionally encountering things that are not very happy, it will also make her feel a little depressed, "for example, when preparing for the exam, she will miss the delicious food made by her parents, and when it is cold, she will miss home." When you're in a bad mood, just call your parents or friends and cry your nose."

Sha Sha (pseudonym), from Xinjiang, who has lived in Beijing for nearly 10 years, feels that the difficulties she has encountered are not too many, "probably mainly in terms of the economy, if you want to buy something, you have to earn money by part-time, and you don't want to ask your parents for money." I want to study graduate school in Beijing, and since I have chosen, I must stick to my dreams."

"When you're sick, you get homesick." Liu Xu, whose home is in Hebei, is a 2021 master's degree graduate of a university in Nanjing, he feels that he is going out to study, without the meticulous care of his parents, when he encounters illness and discomfort, his heart will be a little uncomfortable, "but also try not to tell his family, will be better, only to tell them that I was sick a few days ago."

The data show that in terms of the main difficulties encountered in living in a foreign country, 56.3% of the young people surveyed chose to be under great economic pressure, and 52.9% of the young people surveyed chose to lack companionship and feel lonely when they were sick or depressed. Others include: worrying about the physical condition of their parents (43.5%), thinking differently from locals, difficult to integrate (41.9%), not accustomed to local eating habits (37.0%), language communication barriers (34.5%), etc.

Mou Haokun, who lives in Shandong, is a 2021 graduate of a university in Wuhan. Mou Haokun said that living away from home, whether he encounters happy or unhappy things, he will tell his family, "for example, if you get a reward or honor in the internship unit, you will share it with your family, and when you are sick, you will complain to your family."

Liu Xu said that he is a person who only reports good news and does not report worry. "If you have such a happy thing as taking a scholarship, you will immediately tell your family and make them happy." But when you encounter things that make you anxious, such as facing the double pressure of thesis and job search in the graduation season, you just face it yourself and don't tell your family."

Sasha feels that if it is a more troublesome situation, hiding from the parents will not solve the problem, "for example, like the physical condition, you can't wait until you have to be hospitalized or have major surgery before your parents get the news." If there is any situation that must be told to them in advance, it is also a kind of responsibility for them."

According to the survey, 74.0% of the young people surveyed would "report good news but not bad news" to their families, and 21.5% of the young people surveyed would depend on the specific situation.

56.1% of the young people surveyed are willing to stay in a foreign country despite their desire to return to their hometowns

"If you can contribute to the cause of education in Xinjiang, it is the best." Sasha wants to go back to her hometown and become a teacher. But she feels that she still needs to improve her professional quality and accumulate experience, "so I want to study in Beijing, improve my ability and then go back to my hometown to struggle."

Liu Xintang has considered returning to his hometown after graduation, "My parents hope that I can work close to home and be safe and stable." I also feel that I love the culture of my hometown more."

The data shows that 14.9% of the young people surveyed have not thought about returning to their hometown and are very willing to work hard in other places, 56.1% of the young people surveyed still want to stay in other places, 12.1% of the young people surveyed are already preparing for returning to their hometowns, and 16.9% of the young people surveyed said that they have not yet thought about it.

"Living in other places, you may be more socially free, you can live at your own pace, and if you are at home, your parents will be more disciplined." Mu Haokun has not yet thought about returning to his hometown for development, he feels that there may be more opportunities in cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, and "I want to work hard outside for a few more years."

Mu Haokun looks forward to having a stable job, reaching the ideal salary level, and improving the happiness of living in a foreign country.

How can I live better off the other side? 79.1% of the young people surveyed believe that it is necessary to increase their income and increase their sources of income, 57.0% of the young people surveyed suggest enriching their interests and daily activities, and 55.9% of the young people surveyed suggest meeting new friends and expanding their social circles. Others include settling down locally (49.3%) and maintaining contact with their families (45.0%).

Liu Xintang believes that knowing more about the local culture will help to better integrate into the city, "to accept and enjoy people and things that are different from home can bring a good feeling." Let your life be full, and you will naturally feel happy."

"From the perspective of the social environment, I think cities should be more tolerant of young people from other places, and introduce some policies to benefit the people in terms of housing and medical care." In addition, Liu Xu feels that for young people living outside, they also need to adjust their mentality, "on the one hand, if you want to understand the purpose of staying in a foreign country, harvest happiness through down-to-earth efforts, and at the same time, you must have reasonable expectations."

China Youth Daily, China Youth Network reporter Sun Shan, intern Yang Zhe Source: China Youth Daily

Source: China Youth Daily client