Know your pats
We’ve known since arriving in Shanghai that there are two types of waiguoren out there: the ones with the chauffeur-driven cars, portly bellies and a company villa in a hermetically-sealed Jinqiao gated community; and the rest of us. Not that Shanghaiist is bitter or anything, in fact, we quite like the directionless romantic bent of our life at present. Which is why we’re suspicious of labels, such as this one, dug up by John at Sinosplice from All Roads Lead to China:
halfpat: also known as a “local hire expat.”
Attracted to China by either a sense of curiosity, or a strong belief in China’s potential, the halfpat (including overseas-born ethnic Chinese) is generally a recent graduate or young professional who have moved to China without a predetermined career path.
It kind of makes us feel more secure in our somewhat rudderless journey. Though something along the lines of "boho-jive-ass-hipster" would be more fitting, surely.
Image from jp.metawiki.com.

