The gap between ideal and reality: a survey of the life of returnees after 1980s.

The gap between ideal and reality: a survey of the life of returnees after 1980s, reported on August 28th. Photo courtesy of CFP

In the tide of returnees, it can be roughly divided into two torrents, one is the overseas students who went abroad in the 1980s, and the other is the overseas students in the new century. The former is mostly "post-60s" and the latter is mostly "post-80s".

At the end of 1990s, there was an upsurge of studying abroad. At that time, returnees were still a respected name. After 10 years, the reality suddenly changed. According to the data of the Ministry of Education, in 20 10 years, the number of returned students in China reached about 500,000. As a group of returnees, the demand exceeds the supply, and the gold content of the brand "returnees" has rapidly declined, and the "happy time" of returnees has become a thing of the past.

When the aura on the head faded, where did the returnees return after the 1980s? In reality, what puzzles do they face? We intercepted four samples, hoping to draw lessons from them in the future.

Life in China seems to be "acclimatized"

At the end of last year, 28-year-old Zhao (all characters in this article are pseudonyms) returned to China.

Before returning to China, Zhao Yuan had a pretty good job in Melbourne, Australia. He is a software engineer in a software company, and his annual income is equivalent to RMB 500,000.

In Melbourne, Zhao Yuan leads an unremarkable life: she goes to work at 9: 30 in the morning, leaves work at 5: 00 in the afternoon, and spends most of the evening surfing the Internet at home. Two days off a week, one day cleaning the room, going to the supermarket, and one day watching movies and fishing with friends.

Zhao has adapted to life in Melbourne. He said it might have something to do with his personality. He likes quiet, and the living environment in Melbourne suits his mood very well. Only sometimes, Zhao misses his family and his parents. Sometimes, listening to the other end of the network talking about how challenging the domestic work is and how rich the nightlife is, Zhao's heart will itch.

Due to the repeated urging of my parents, I returned to China. Zhao Yuan is the only son in the family. His parents want him to return to China, get married and have children. This is also an important reason why a considerable number of post-80s returnees finally chose to return to China.

Of course, Ye Zhao has his own ideas: "Life in Melbourne is very calm, very calm, but subconsciously, I always hope that life can change a little. When I return to China, I will have a sense of identity and belonging, which is a practical feeling."

On a holiday before returning home, Zhao Ceng returned to Ningbo and approached a bank. However, in the second interview, he chose to give up on the grounds that "the work concept is too different".

At the end of last year, he returned to China and successfully got the opportunity to work in a Fortune 500 company in Shanghai.

In fact, for a person who has lived abroad for 9 years, life at home is real and a little strange. Zhao said that when he really settled and lived in Shanghai for a period of time, he found that everything in China was very different from nine years ago. This difference includes two aspects: material and concept. Zhao had to sigh that during his nine years of living abroad at leisure, his motherland was developing at an unexpected speed.

Although Zhao's work unit is a foreign-funded enterprise, it still has distinctive China characteristics in his eyes. For example, working overtime, "I have to work until 7 pm almost every day."

The intensity and pressure of work here make him feel breathless. "In Melbourne, there is tea time every afternoon. Before coming off work, he can also go to the table tennis room to play table tennis. Now, even if I receive a personal call during work hours, I will urge the other party to speak quickly. " This makes him often miss Melbourne, a city with blue sky and slow days. ...

Sometimes, Zhao also laments that the cost of living in China is too high. He calculated the account for the reporter: "In Shanghai, a cup of Starbucks coffee costs 20 to 30 yuan, and I earn 60 to 70 yuan an hour, which means I can only buy 3 cups of coffee an hour; In Melbourne, a cup of coffee costs 3 Australian dollars, and I can earn 30 Australian dollars an hour, which means I can buy 10 cups of coffee an hour. " Not to mention the house price. "In a slightly better location in Shanghai, 40,000 to 50,000 square meters per square meter, 100 square meters of houses need 56 million. You can buy a villa in Melbourne. "

Once, an old returnee from the company patted Zhao on the shoulder at the dinner table and said, "If you want to find a good wife in Shanghai, you must be a person with a house and a car ..."

Zhao didn't ask himself: If you don't rely on your parents and work hard, your annual salary before tax will be 250,000. How many years does it take to own your own house?

"In fact, just think back to the reality you will face: finding a wife-having children-supporting the family. You will feel that as a post-80 s who has been abroad, you can't keep up with the pace. How can you work hard and support your wife, children and family easily? " Zhao said helplessly.

In fact, Zhao has no clear plan for the future. "Maybe he will go back to Melbourne, maybe he will stay, get used to it and accept everything in China." He was silent for a while and said, "Who knows!"

Live within the system.

In 2009, the financial crisis. When Wang Yiheng flew to the other side of the ocean, there was one thing: since it was hard to find a job at home, it was better to have a rest and go abroad to recharge.

At Warwick University, Wang Yiheng majored in labor relations and human resource management. Referring to the school he once attended, Wang Yiheng's tone was still a little proud. "This school ranks fourth in the UK, and my business school ranks in the top 20 in Europe."

The reason why Wang Yiheng studied this major was also taken into account. "At that time, domestic human resources were very hot." He even imagined a future for himself: to return to China after graduation and find a job in a foreign-funded enterprise in Beijing or Shanghai.

In Wang Yiheng's class, there are nine foreign students from China. Later, when I got acquainted, I found that everyone's thoughts were basically the same: after finishing my master's degree in the UK, there would be more and better job opportunities.

But things are not as beautiful as everyone thinks. After graduation, there is almost only one way before everyone: returning to China. "In those days, the competition for finding a job in Britain was fierce. Even the unemployment rate of British natives is high, not to mention leaving seats for us foreigners. " Wang Yiheng told reporters.

20 10 June 10, Wang Yiheng returned to Ningbo after graduation, entered a university and lived a life within the system.

In fact, before Wang Yiheng went abroad, he didn't want to enter the "system", but when he came back, he found that his work was envied by many people. In fact, in recent years, more and more young people in China have pinned their hopes on being squeezed into "institutions". This is what Wang Yiheng didn't know before he had been focusing on his research.

Now, Wang Yiheng works in the Youth League Committee of the University and teaches several elective courses at the same time. He is more and more satisfied with the current situation: although his income is not high, he is stable, well-being, secure and secure. "These are all relatively expensive factors at present." Sometimes, watching former British classmates constantly jump from one foreign company to another, he will feel a little lucky and strengthen his original choice.

When asked how the experience of studying in the UK helped his present job, Wang Yiheng thought about it and said that when teaching elective courses, he also borrowed English teaching method, which is why his classes are very popular with students. "More than 200 students have taken my courses." Besides, he seems to find no other advantages.

However, this year, Wang Yiheng's universities enrolled several "returnees", which gave him hope. "In fact, when a university becomes more and more international, I think returnees will become more and more useful."

The world outlook and love concept have changed a lot.

After returning to China, Zhang Kai avoided talking about marriage. In the eyes of his father, he is an unfilial son who makes his old father cry. His family sent him abroad so that he could have a good life in the future. But unexpectedly, this naughty and lovely child became silent after staying abroad for more than ten years. The biggest problem is that 30-year-old Zhang Kai refuses to get married.

Zhang Kai went to New Zealand as soon as he graduated from junior high school. At that time, it was 1999, and the upsurge of studying abroad had just arisen in China. Zhang Kai's family is well-off, and she is a group of overseas students who were sent abroad by her parents in the early days. Although there are relatives there, it is difficult for Zhang Kai to adapt to the completely unfamiliar environment and language, and the food that is difficult to swallow. "The first year or two was a complete ordeal. My English is not good, and I can't even order. The school is a completely new classmate, and the language barrier can't afford to cultivate feelings. " Zhang Kai said that although there were many China people in New Zealand at that time, there were few international students of his age, so he went out for several years and failed to make a close friend.

Three years ago, Zhang Kai returned to Ningbo after graduating with a master's degree, but his work problems didn't bother Zhang Kai too much. After returning, he immediately went to a well-known foreign company as a small supervisor. Zhang Kai said that the director of the company made him a junior director because his years of overseas study had developed a foreign mode of thinking. But after staying abroad for a long time, my world outlook, values and love outlook have all changed. Although this brought Zhang Kai a good job, it was also a double-edged sword, which made Zhang Kai single.

Zhang Kai told reporters that he had been in love abroad, and the other was a New Zealand girl born in China. They got along very well. But after a long time, the problem came out. After all, Zhang Kai grew up in China, and there are still many differences in their values. They broke up in the noise.

However, after returning to China, Zhang Kai felt that domestic girls and his values were different. "Domestic girls are very effeminacy, what's the problem is best for her boyfriend to solve. They always want boys to be capable so that they can rely on them in the future. But I like the independence and ability of foreign girls. " Zhang Wei said.

After coming back, he also tried to find a girlfriend, but there was always no suitable one. Parents are also very anxious, and frequently ask relatives and friends to find a matchmaking agency, trying to find a girl who meets his requirements for Zhang Kai. In the past few years, Zhang Kai has been kissed more than 20 times, but every time the woman asks him about his work unit, annual income, whether he has a house and so on. Zhang Kai immediately with a straight face. More than 20 blind dates, almost every time ended with Zhang Kai turning away.

Not long ago, Zhang Kai was taken to a matchmaking agency by her parents. When faced with the impassioned introduction of the matchmaker in the matchmaking agency, the 1.8-meter-long boy said nothing, but looked at the matchmaker with his head tilted. Then, he firmly said that he had no idea of falling in love and getting married for the time being. "I'm only here for my family."

When asked about his future plans, Zhang Kai said coldly, "Let it be." This young man who claims that he is not China still believes in fate. He said that many people abroad don't get married in their forties and fifties because they haven't found true love yet. At present, he also hopes to find his true love at home, but it is not so easy for him.

Zhang Kai now laughs at himself as a foreigner in China's eyes. In the eyes of China people, foreigners have their resolute and orderly way of doing things, but they also have their opinionated and demanding ideas. "I think, when I live in China for a long time and absorb more domestic values and love, maybe I will find a suitable girl and get married."

"Returnees" came back and almost became "waiting for the sea"

Many people didn't expect Sun Fan to go abroad. In the eyes of family and classmates, Sun Fan has always been a good student with excellent academic performance. After graduating from high school, he was admitted to Huazhong University of Science and Technology (Weibo). He was a top student in school for four years and got a scholarship every year. Several units competed for him.

In May 2006, two months before graduation, Sun Fan insisted on flying to Australia. In his eyes, he despises those units that vie for him. In his mind, the ideal starting point is at least the top 500 enterprises in China or even the top 500 enterprises in the world. The purpose of going abroad is to study in gold plating. Sun Fan believes that with his own abilities and diplomas of foreign graduate students, he will definitely find the ideal unit.

In order to help her son realize his dream, Sun Fan's mother spent all her savings and mortgaged her house. When Sun Fan was in the sixth grade, his parents divorced, and he lived with his mother since childhood. Growing up in a single-parent environment for many years also made Sun Fan's self-esteem and competitiveness much stronger than other peers, which may be one reason why Sun Fan insisted on going abroad at all costs.

Sun Fan entered the top ten universities in Australia and studied business administration, which has nothing to do with his chemical engineering major in college. During the two years in Australia, other international students have a leisurely life. They can spend a lot of time surfing the Internet every day and even have a short holiday to travel. Sun Fan is very busy. While studying hard, he found a part-time job as a tour guide in his spare time, which basically solved the problem of living expenses.

"My family is not as good as other international students, and I can only complete my studies in Australia by my own efforts." Sun Fan said that unlike other international students, he is still trying to stay abroad or return to China. From the day he set foot on a trip abroad, Sun Fan had a goal, that is, to learn more and see more abroad, to enter a big-name enterprise after returning home, and then to get ahead.

As Sun Fan planned, studying in Australia taught him many management concepts that domestic universities never had. However, the situation after returning to China was not as smooth as he imagined.

On June 5438+ 10, 2009, Sun Fan returned to Ningbo after graduation. June 5438+ 10 is just the intensive time for various job fairs and talent exchanges. Sun Fanben thought that he could enter the ideal unit with a diploma, but he applied for six or seven units in a row, and the results were gone.

Sun Fan said that among the enterprises he applied for, many applicants had his academic background and "returned overseas" background. Some employers don't even look at their resumes and let them go back and wait for news.

"How high is the gold content of' returnees' now? Is it that what you have learned abroad is worthless in the eyes of the recruiting unit? " A series of setbacks in job hunting made him a little depressed, and he began to doubt whether his original beliefs were too idealistic.

Sun Fan stayed at home for more than a month because he couldn't find an ideal job at the moment. During this time, he claimed to be the lowest tide in his life, and his self-confidence and superiority at school disappeared. Sun Fan said that at that time, in fact, he had lowered many requirements. It doesn't matter that he is not a top 500 enterprise as long as he is well paid and has great room for development. But in spite of this, Sun Fan still failed to find a satisfactory job.

After staying at home for two months, Sun Fan finally joined a foreign company as an assistant to the general manager with an annual salary of 6,543,800 yuan+200,000 yuan. This job was introduced by his mother. He said he wanted to rely on his family after he came back, but he didn't expect to find a job by his mother in the end.

Last year, Sun Fan resigned from his former company and started his own business, starting from scratch. Many people around him don't remember Sun Fan's returnee background. In the eyes of others, he is no different from ordinary college students who graduate and start a business. However, Sun Fan thinks that studying abroad is a valuable asset in his life. Without this experience, he could not have quickly integrated into the work of a foreign company in just two years and accumulated so many resources to support his career.

"Studying abroad has enriched my life experience. Although I am more difficult than others, I believe that with this experience, my future road will be smoother. " Sun Fan said.