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The Black Asian Ja shares her experience living and teaching English in Zhengzhou, Henan, for four and a half years. She describes arriving in June 2018, feeling overwhelmed by a city of more than 10 million people and at first feeling like the only foreigner. A friendship with a local woman helped her navigate the city and discover local culture. She chose to teach adults and found the work rewarding. The account also covers her reasons for moving, her adjustment and her encouragement to explore life and work opportunities in China.
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Adjusting to life in Zhengzhou
The Black Asian Ja looks back on four and a half years living in Zhengzhou, where she taught English. She came from Jamaica and found the scale of a city with more than 10 million people overwhelming at first. The culture shock was real: in the beginning, she felt as if she might be the only foreigner around. Her experience changed as she began building relationships. A friendship with a Chinese woman gave her practical help and companionship while she learned how to navigate the city. Through that connection, she found places to visit, discovered food and shopping, and gained a more direct introduction to local life.
The story of how she moved is also part of the reflection. A friend’s positive experience in China and her own wish for a change in life helped shape her decision. She arrived in Zhengzhou in June 2018. When choosing work, she decided to teach adults, a path she describes as rewarding. Her account does not set out a universal route for moving to China, but it gives a personal example of how a new city can become more manageable through friendships, work and time.
Work, relationships and finding a rhythm
For someone arriving in an unfamiliar place, local relationships made a clear difference in her adjustment. A friend could help with communication, show her around and introduce her to experiences she might not easily find alone. The Black Asian Ja stresses the value of connecting with locals or other expatriates after arrival. Those relationships can provide support while a newcomer learns the city and develops a routine. Her own story shows this in concrete terms: friendship helped her feel less isolated and opened ways to experience Zhengzhou beyond the first impressions of its size.
She also speaks positively about teaching adults and about the possibilities she sees for people who want to work in China. The video mentions opportunities in different fields, while encouraging viewers to consider what might fit their own goals. Her message is rooted in her personal experience and her decision to build a life there. She encourages people to explore, seek fulfillment and make their own choices, while acknowledging the challenge of arriving in a new culture. The result is a reflective account of Zhengzhou expat life, centered on a move from initial uncertainty toward friendship, work and a sense of belonging.
FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)
- Q: How long did The Black Asian Ja live in Zhengzhou?
- A: She describes four and a half years living and teaching English in Zhengzhou. She arrived in June 2018.
- Q: What helped her adjust to Zhengzhou?
- A: A friendship with a local Chinese woman helped her navigate the city, find places to visit and experience local food and culture.
- Q: What kind of teaching did she choose?
- A: She chose to teach adults and says she found that work rewarding.