[aaronwidd]

I knew a very talented engineer who was a US expat, he studied in China during college and spoke fluent mandarin. He moved to Beijing about 10 years ago, couldn't stomach it for more than a few months at a stretch, and ended up settling down in Taipei instead.

Even though he was committed to full immersion in China, something about Beijing was just too gritty and he left. I feel that other westerners would have the same reaction. If there's a new explosion of innovation centered in Beijing, Westerners may not have much of a part in it

[tostitos1979]

Agreed. China will undoubtedly play a big role in the next century ... I know many friends who have tried to immerse themselves in Chinese culture (including ethnically Chinese people who were born in the West) and it is not easy. At least I'd like to make sure our children can speak Mandarin in addition to English.