A
female
age
36-40,
anonymous
writes:We're an American expat couple who've been in China since 2018 when my husband got a promotion and we moved there for his new job. No kids, just us two.I'm a "trailing spouse" and legally can't work. Well, I could work under the table but we'd be kicked out the country. Doesn't mean that I don't want to work, if I could I would.My husband is trilingual; English, Spanish and now Chinese, since his employer paid for courses from 2015 to 2017 to train him for the role.The recent lockdown is the big issue. My husband's semi-depressed because he can't work; his job involved meeting a lot of new people, taste-testing with focus groups, and Chinese business etiquette.He works for a snack food/cake company who are well-known in a part of my home state, not a household name like Subway or McDonald's, but some of you will be familiar with their snack foods.None of his work can be done remotely. Well, not according to company policy.I'm missing out on a bit too. Obviously I can't work, but I had friends at an American expat social club in our big city we live in, I was involved in a curry club for women learning how to make food with local Indian expat women, open to all nationalities, we did that once a week, and helped plan social activities for the American expat club.None of that can happen for God-knows-how-long.He's hated the other lockdowns that happened 2 years ago.We both enjoy it here. I've got a mixture of American, Brit, Aussie, Indian friends, no local friends though.This is in contrast to my husband who does have locals as friends, perhaps because he speaks their language and I can't.For me, being bilingual in English and Spanish is enough (I'm Latina) and Chinese was difficult to learn, plus I didn't need it for my job anyway.Now my husband's having a crisis of conscience, wants to return to the States, get a new job with a similar employer in a different state, perhaps a Sun Belt one.We're originally from the Midwest.He's also been emailing various local officials, asking for the lockdown to end, telling them Zero Covid is impossible, daily, but not heard back. Where do you draw the line between an enquiry and stalkerish behavior? Google's blocked here so I can't translate them, but that's what he told me. I don't think they'd like a random American emailing them, plus, isn't China's government notorious for surveillance etc.?However, what's stopping us returning to the States is his contract to work here doesn't expire until 9 June and we've no idea when the lockdowns will end, or what his new job role post-9 June will be.Neither of us are enjoying the lockdowns and extremely strict measures the country's got, it's as bad as the UK in 2020 or Australia.My husband said he wants help, but how can he get it, especially here in China? Plus, with all the Internet censorship etc. it'll probably be more difficult too.We need some advice on things... just want to know how to cope.
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female
reader, RubyBirtle  +, writes (3 April 2022):
I agree with HoneyPie. Just try to sit it out for the next few months. If you've been living in China for the past couple of years you're going to to need a bit of time to get things organised anyway.
And as HoneyPie also suggested you can contact the US embassy.
Or perhaps the Swedish embassy....
A
female
reader, Honeypie +, writes (3 April 2022):
 Hi there,
Might have to wait it out until the contract ends. It's "only" 2 more months. I would presume it's possible to leave China once his contract is over. BUT... It's impossible for most people to know what you guys can do.
However, IF I were you I would contact the Embassy and see what kind of help/support they can offer.
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