120 CultureShock! ChinaMany hotels, coffee shops and restaurants have installed
wireless networks. There is a running tally of them on expat
websites listed under the Resource Guide at the end of
this book.SAFETY AND SECURITY
Most Chinese cities are far safer than their global counterparts.
The only part of China where petty crime seems to abound
is south China, where reports of muggings, home theft and
road piracy seem to abound.
Most crime is initiated by the desperate in China, rather
than hardened criminals. Many families dream of the
opportunities provided by a provincial capital and use all of
their savings to relocate. Once they arrive in the cities, they
are unable to secure jobs. They then resort to petty crime in
order to support their families.
Places where you are prone to theft are train stations,
buses, subways, hypermarkets and tourist attractions. Take
care as you would with any large city and make sure your
bags are closed and tightly attached to your body.
When choosing a place to live, spend time on the streets
to understand the relative wealth and level of care that
the people living there exhibit. Is it a community where
people watch out for one another, keep their homes clean
and lead comfortable lives? Be wary of living in rundown
neighbourhoods. Even if your compound seems an island
of luxury and modernity, if it exists in a very poor area, it
may only serve to rub in the disparity of wealth and make it
a target for the desperate and poor.
Most modern apartment buildings and compounds provide
excellent security. If you are comfortable with the level of
diligence paid to protecting your household, the only other
concern you will have is from the level of trust you can place
in your domestic help. When trusting your home and children
to an ayi, it is important to have
solid references from other
families that have employed her.
Pay her adequately—often she
has the highest earnings in herBe discreet with money, counting
it inside your bag or in a private
place, as what may seem little to
you is a year’s worth of earnings
for the poor in China.