![[Updated] Xinjiang riot leaves scores dead](http://shanghaiist.com/assets_c/2009/07/xinjiang-thumb-110x110-370521.jpg)
[Updated] Xinjiang riot leaves scores dead
The Xinjiang Riots: What's happened so far
Around Shanghai: No more airplane temperature checks, but we're getting a Wall St. Bull and Linkin Park!
"Oracle Bone" essayist fails gaokao, but gets into Sichuan University
Preview Photos: Eyes wide shut at the July 4 Party
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.
add to digg
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
tweet this
post to facebook
"a hermetically-sealed Jinqiao gated community"
aah, I like that
And those are the expats that are the first to spout off how much they know about China, though few if any have ever ordered ma la tang from a street vendor.
Hmm.. "halfpat" has such a boring ring to it. Open the boards for new suggestions.
I'd suggest Xpats, but I may be on the tail end of the "Generation X" category and a lot of the recent grads out here may feel like they belong more to whatever generation comes after X.
Fussell used "X" to describe a group of people who want to pull away from class, status and money in society. Because the characters in Coupland's book fit that description, he decided on the title "Generation X."
The media found elements of Coupland's characters' lives in America's youth and labeled them Generation X. This stereotypical definition leads society to believe that Generation X is made up of cynical, hopeless, frustrated and unmotivated slackers who wear grunge clothing, listen to alternative music and still live at home because they cannot get real jobs. It is a label that has stuck, stereotypes and all. (Outpost)
And then the Xers escaped to China.
How about F.O.P. for "Fresh Off the Plane". I've mentioned this a few times to friends, with quite a pleasant response, and what a better time to throw it out there for the public. Just keep me in the credits though.
Parents were FOB's back the the 70's.