[echevil]

This is mostly just human nature. When a westerner goes to an China for either work or study, a lot of them end up doing the same thing. The culture barrier makes it very hard to really bond with locals and they hang out in bars that are popular only among westerners. They feel lonely and find China a really boring place. Most Chinese immigrants also find America boring for the same reason.

I would say people from other places usually have less of such problems mostly because the culture differences are smaller. When Chinese people goes to Japan or other Asian countries, they blend into the local culture much more easily.

On top of that, a lot of Chinese immigrants are not seeking immigration when they came here for study or work. They'll go back eventually, and what they what out of being abroad is just a degree or some work experience. What's the point of mingling with locals if that's hard thing to do and will eventually be useless?

[jpatokal]

> When Chinese people goes to Japan or other Asian countries, they blend into the local culture much more easily.

Err, no. Yes, appearancewise, some Chinese are not easily distinguishable from Japanese, although the locals can often tell each other apart based on clothing, haircut, makeup etc. But rest assured, the moment a Chinese person in Japan opens their mouth, they will be every bit as much a gaijin as a blond and blue-eyed Caucasian, if not more so since the associated stereotypes are more negative.

[patall]

You mean like a Polish guy coming to Germany, a Brit in France, a Spaniard in Switzerland or even a guy from Texas in New Hampshire. Of course there are differences and they may be much bigger in asia than in europe but still it is not comparable going from country to another and going from on continent to another.

[chillacy]

I think you're right, but imo it comes down to "what is easy vs what is right". I think traveling and mingling with locals in another country can give a valuable glimpse of another way to live, allowing the traveler to reflect upon their own culture.

[echevil]

I agree that is good, but people can travel with all kinds of purposes. Getting to know the local culture is merely one of many.