How I Survived China for 14 Years
Vložit
- čas přidán 2. 07. 2024
- Being the first person to post CZcams videos out of Mainland China has led to all manner of adventures, ups and downs but how did I get to this point?...
Watch Stay Awesome, China! here:
• Stay Awesome China - F...
If you'd like to see the original stream with the full Q&A (over 2.5 hours long): • How I survived China f...
For a deeper dive into China's Propaganda influence and soft power, watch our liveshow ADVPodcasts: / advpodcasts
Support Sasha and I on Patreon: / serpentza
Bitcoin - bc1qxfjp2t6x5dpslv59u0jl89m6k643hcn8h2jsvp
Ethereum - 0x6Da150a2A8529110017Ed4db68B3dF0084900280
Paypal: paypal.me/winstonsterzel
DOCUMENTARY LINKS:
Conquering Southern China:
vimeo.com/ondemand/conquering...
Conquering Northern China:
vimeo.com/ondemand/conquering...
Stay Awesome China (my new documentary): vimeo.com/ondemand/stayawesom...
For Motorcycle adventures around the world, and a talk-show on two wheels go to ADVChina every Monday 1pm EST
/ advchina
For a realistic perspective on China and world travel from an American father and a Chinese mother with two half-Chinese daughters go to Laowhy86 every Wednesday 1pm EST
• Chinese People Won't T...
For a no-nonsense on the street look at Chinese culture and beyond from China's original CZcamsr, join SerpentZA on Friday at 1pm EST
/ serpentza
Join me on Facebook: / winstoninchina
Twitter: @serpentza
Instagram: serpent_za
Music used: (FREE) City Pop X Funk Type Beat - Easy Prod. BigBadBeats
• (FREE) City Pop X Funk...
Thank you for being a part of this incredible adventure, you're all so fantastically awesome!
Watch Stay Awesome, China! here:
czcams.com/video/mSie5A3LWgI/video.html
If you think you may have seen this before, I did livestream this but immediately made it unlisted as the livestream was over 2.5 hours long, I edited this, added some relative media and re-uploaded it, if you would like to watch the original 2.5 hour unlisted stream, here's the link:czcams.com/video/mBhDtpkBCQ8/video.html
Thanks for posting the link to the whole thing. I was a bit bummed that I missed it.
I survived a lightning strike and even a shark attack but the cigarettes have won
Hi
You are a great story teller
please stop. ok? you guys are so boring these days. same topic, same story again and again since 2020. man....do sone research...show people how xi , ccp and china destroying the world.
Lmao, can't imagine how revolutionary the PSP traveller concept was back in the day. It's crazy to think how far we've come in such a short time, mainly technology wise.
@LeoTheBritish-Eurasian ok boomer
Watching Winston back then means everything today. 👍
Every generation feels the next generation is going to be a major fup. But, this time even gen Zers are saying that too. Crime have gone up considerably since the pandemic and protests as well.
Let's hope for the best and do our part right.
@@roshill2010 not where I live buddy leave the Democrat states we in the south Texas Florida and Alabama didn’t even realize we had a pandemic and no major outbreaks or anything
technology wise yes but not socially
To think I've been watching you almost since the beginning. I was 12 years old when I found this channel and I only happened onto it because I was into the PSP modding scene and you happened to be one of the only people on CZcams who was showing off the camera which wasn't available in the US at the time. Here I am twenty eight still following the journey.
oh man this is such a cool fucking comment lol
Awesome!
Sure buddy
Ur old buddy
@@redrush-hp9li28? Old? Oh buddy do i have news for you..
Your filming in China is legendary. Especially regarding the Conquering China series. You guys made a full out Motorcycle Diaries style documentary in China that has never been done before and cannot be done again. The balls you guys had to go to the places you visited and show it exactly how it is in a country where that's not allowed and just being there with no cameras at all can get you arrested and far worse. I'll bet you're so glad you did it when you still could and we all are too. I also remember when you lived in China that you were extremely fair towards the Chinese people even about situations that were really unacceptable in my view. Now you're exposing how things are going sour under the current leadership. Lately it's often a sad story but one we really need to hear. Thank you.
Has never been done before and cannot be done again? Are you serious?
“a country where that's not allowed and just being there with no cameras at all” a a a ....?
@@zcsensor9675 Yes, he is correct
Man I can sit and chill and listen to you for hours. You're such a great story teller and everytime I feel stressed and out of something good to watch I find your content very soothing.
Also no, you've hit a million subscribers thanks to YOU. You're a legend and badass.
P.S: I started my first video using PSP camera too lmao!
I started a factory in Shenzhen about 8 years ago and “escaped“ to Taiwan about 2 years ago. I can vouch for every word you say about China, the good and the bad. Sadly it is getting worse very quickly under pooh bear!
Have u tried California?
Man it must be great to have money and do such things
@Wencer Calzado California is great!!!
@@AndreAndFriends Taxes are high in California
@@AndreAndFriends Have you tried shut up CCP putin bot?
My favorite video from Winston's "olden days" is one titled "Village Crawl - I Almost Died".
In that video, he buys an old Kawasaki bike and has to ride it back home one night in the rain and in the dark. I guess you might call this a "stream of consciousness" video, because it is just Winston alone, and as he pushes on and on through the long, dark, and dangerous night, talks about the bike, about his younger days in South Africa, about his current life in China, and about things that he misses. It is a harrowing ride, because the bike has no lights, an overheating problem, generally in really bad condition, and with the rain and the dangerous traffic, he readily admits that it is extremely dangerous.
In the end , as he finally approaches home, he says that he is glad that we, as viewers, were along for ride WITH him, kind of like partners helping to see him through this challenging adventure. The whole video has a "noir" quality as well, shot at night, in the rain, with several stops and problems along the way. I bit of a classic, if I might say. And it just goes to show that sometimes, some of your best work happens organically when you would have least expected it to be so.
I always look at the "views" count shown underneath the title on that video, wondering how many of those views are my own repeat watchings ! Quite a few actually.
Congratulations on the 1M subs, Winston, from a big fan who has been with you from the beginning here at YT. Cheers.
I very clearly remember that night and yes I could have very easily died many times! Thank you for being along for the ride and keeping me company!
That was a heck of a video 😬🙈
@@serpentza I had a similar experience in Leyte, Philippines back in the day (2004 when I was age 39?). I rented an XR to drive from Ormoc to the southern and round to then up into the mountains and a typhoon hit. The locals had to help me carry the motorbike out from the knee deep mud, then I was riding back in torrential rain without any raincoat nor windshield nor helmet nor googles. Then I ran out of fuel. Had to wake up some Filipinos in the middle of the night.
@@indiasuperclean6969 your'e joking right.
@@adelyaakhatova8228 LMAO!!!
Wow, what a story. My first time going to China was 2007. The last time I went was just before the pandemic, a solid ten year run. I have so many memories of the wonderful people and places I went, but every time I went, I could see and experience the government control tightening. It began to really creep me out, even though I never had any really bad experiences. I feel for the beautiful people of China. It's hard to know where this is going to go but I don't think the surveilence state and the repression is sustainable. The only question is how it ends. Hopefully, for everyone, not violently.
@user-mk6nx5wk7o 意识形态方面啊
Glad you have been sharing your experiences!
Been watching you and C-Milk for a bit over 2 years now.
Please never change
Congrats on a million! Your 14 years gave you a career, a community of supporters, a beautiful family and the man you are today so a wonderful investment! Wishing many happy years on this next chapter here in the US!
He's a journalist. What he did is what the word means. He went there, he lived there and he shared his journey on media.
@@Leo23XR Hello jealous
@@Leo23XR Those are very funny drawings, well done.
Wait does that $10 mean you donated or something? If so not even a thank you, charming
@@McNab1986 he hearted the comment xd
I truly believe some channels on CZcams should be archived and preserved for their importance and contribution to the world. Yours should be one of them.
Fantastic job overall. You're truly doing something important here.
Come on. You mean this sinophobic channel fueled by ground-less generalizations, allegations, claims and opinions stated as truths. Good content made to satisfy the sinophobic westerner’s need.
unfortunately it's more likely the channels will get taken down and all the videos deleted
Well, why not buy an external hard drive and archive all the videos, just in case?
Such an interesting story! CZcams has dozens of westerners that live in Japan and do videos about Japan, but you're the first western CZcamsr I've seen that has lived in China!
From how China is, is that really shocking?
@@honestfriend767 nope, but he didn't say it was shocking
Isn't that also because most Western sites are simply not accessible (or not very easily) from China?
I even have to watch what I write or say to friends on WeChat, so as to not get them into hot water.
The Serpent ZA back story... I can't imagine being homeless in a country where you don't speak the language. For that matter, I can't imagine learning to become fluent in Chinese, it's so completely different than English. The personal stories that you and CMilk tell, provide such a unique "look into China". Thank you, because right now the Chinese people need voices outside the country to tell their story, more than ever!
Which these guys do not provide. Great
@volusiasorange Clearly you're a communist Chinese sympathizer 😂 Your bs comments won't work here 😂
The Chinese probably don't need foreigners to tell "their" story.
Yes, they do. @@diewahrheituberfakten4800
@diewahrheituberfakten4800 They kind of do in order for those who don't speak Chinese to receive their stories, unless they can speak/write in foreign languages themselves.
Serpentza was a huge reason I went to China when I was in my early 20s. Chengdu was amazing and really enjoyed my time. Stayed around 6 years and what he says is truly correct and on point. There was a big change towards foreigners and visas became harder and harder to renew. Also back in US, the economy got really good for a time and that for me was what brought me back home. So thank you amigo for motivating me back then and your videos really helped me out so much to navigate my initial travels in China! Big cheers with a modelo beer and keep making great videos!!
Chengdu? Jellyfish? True colors? Lan gui fang? Haha was there for 2 years, 2011-2013. Good times.
been there too! But only three months cause of covid. Got there on 03/2020
When did you first go to China and when did you leave?
Interesting
Did you hate being white? It's okay to hate being white?
Listening to your story is like like reliving coming to Taiwan 18 years ago as a 24 year old, being totally broke after a while. I had nothing left, overstayed my visa for 3 months was about to get banned from entering Taiwan. Good fortune shines when you need it the most & here I’m being a permanent resident of this beautiful county … Well done Sir you deserve all of it specially considering not only did you have to deal with the Chinese trolls along with many of the CCP shills stabbing your back .. Once again well done man 💪💪💪
I'm jealous of you Martin. Visited Taiwan just before lockdown, still in love with the country.
Wish someone would do a Taiwan video channel like Winston and Matt did for China. Ive always wondered about Taiwan. It would seem more western and open and free...but maybe thats all wrong on my part due to lack of info.
@@Daehawk check out YGZ Taiwan.
Sad that people still believe propaganda from the chinese government and blindly believe in it
God damn it, I get shadowbanned when I write a comment
Congratulations on reaching a million subscribers! You’ve done a great job!
You've been on some crazy adventures, so I'm glad you made it out in one peace tbh. Your videos have always been great and I admire how you've persisted with telling the truth despite the troubles it caused you. Great work 💪
I went to China in 1997 for the first time. Your channel is by far the most accurate and interesting about China I have found on CZcams.
Really appreciate your work.
It's pretty damn crazy being homeless half-around the world, not speaking the language... But you pulled through and no doubt it laid the foundation for the success you are today!
@@indiasuperclean6969 lmao 🤣
@@indiasuperclean6969 lmao India is about as clean as your teeth
@@maryagyemang9870 what tha fuck is this chanel, china hating, out of reality people....hahaha, INIDIA clean
@@indiasuperclean6969 are you trolling or really mentally unwell and weird?
@@indiasuperclean6969 BEST.TROLL.EVER. Don't ruin it!
What a great adventure and insight into your highs and lows in China. Thank you for persevering so that we can all enjoy your channel today. God bless you and your family on your future adventures from the US. Awesome channel!
My heart breaks for the people of China. Most everyone you have ever featured seems to work hard and want a good life for their family. It’s such a shame they have no real freedom to express themselves. The people you met in the rural villages touched me the most, my grandparents were farmers and that way of life is so pure and real. I was born and still live in the USA, I’m so glad you have brought your family here and I hope your daughter gets to experience every good thing America has to offer her.
Not anymore and if you ever fall for their tricks you are done.
so you are saying the people in the U.S. has the freedom to express themselves? Sure, when they did express themselves, they were put down by the police, and some even could "breath no longer". The U.S.A is not as bad as it seems and China surely is not as bad as this Serpent snake describes. Serpent venom only gets you sick and the smart way is avoid drowning in it.
Doye, amazing, you sound so nice, yet you are so brainwashed about China. When the pandemic is over, try actually going there and seeing for yourself what lies this guy tells.
you make the assumption that everyone wants freedom of political expression. Actually, most people don't care. The number 1 priority is economic freedom.
@@jin_asap Good luck having economic freedom when you cant even afford to speak
You're the man, never stop doing this, ignorance is truly our worst enemy
well said .. keep an eye open for small details!
What an irony lol
@@alexnguyen4814 elaborate
I’ve been to China a couple times on business trips. On my 2nd trip I got a Chinese visa for 10 years until 2029. When I was there I never got a chance to travel around much because of work. Since my visa is still active until 2029, I’ve been thinking about doing another trip for pleasure. After watching your videos, I’m becoming disillusioned. I wondering if my feeling is true or not. Kindly send me your recommendation to confirm if it’s worth it. By the way, I’m Vietnamese American. There has been a lot of tension between the U.S vs. China and also between Vietnam vs. China.
Hi. I am a Ugandan who lived in China for about 9 months between April 2008 and January 2009. I was on some volunteer programme that should have gone on for 2 years but was cut short because of funding issues related to the crazy financial meltdown that happened that year. Anyway while watching your video 2 things resonated with me.
The first was how that initial trip has stuck with me all these years and I had every intention to go back to China in my own because I was so enthused by what China was at the time (at least Beijing where I was based) that I felt I had to be part of it for a longer time.
Anyway life happened and I never got to go back. But the vibrance and positivity in the air at the time was intoxicating. China was a nation on the ascendency and 2008 being the Beijing Olympics year just dialled all that up to 100.
I had heard so much about how terrible China was from the western media that I was a bit scared when I landed but truth be told there is not a single day I felt unsafe as a black man in China for the time I was there. May be it was because all my documents were in order and I am generally an easy going guy.
A lot of what some of the black guys I met there attributed to racism and harassment I usually found was just a case of cultural misunderstanding and also because some of them had dodgy residence status.
I was a curiosity as the only non-chinese person on my neighbourhood, in Deshengmen Beijing and when I say non-chinese I don't mean I was the only black guy. I was the only non-chinese guy of any race. This meant I attracted a lot of attention but I embraced it and I soon became a bit of a local celebrity with whom locals wanted to take pictures or practice English.
Anyway I have kept up with some of the people I met back and I have generally tried to keep abreast with Beijing issues whenever I could and it seems the Beijing of 2008 is not the same as that of 2022.
For starters many of the lively (lovely) Hutongs that I used to walk or cycle through do not exist anymore.
Sanlitun, ohhh lovely and fun Sanlitun, that was the "United Nations" or bar and night club district that us foreigners used to meet and interact with happening locals no longer exists. It exists but all the fun dive bars and all night fun venues are no more.
Slot of it sacrificed at the altar of what the authorities consider the proper image of a world superpower
Anyway, thanks @SerpentZa your video brought back some good memories and I have been reflecting on those lovely months in Beijing since I watched it
Serpentza is a paid MIS-INFO WAR-PROPAGANDA by Western INTELLIGENCE.
Considering Chinese are mostly made of a single race, the racism against you isn't too bad. Human nature doesn't like new things or surprises. Here in the US, racism is much much worse. It's between black and white, black and Latinos, black and Asian for taking free rides on civil rights, local vs illegal immigrants, between H1B workers from different nations, etc... Sexism is another issue. One interesting example, most Asian migrants hold master+ degrees so the kids are super smart but when they apply for colleges, the bar for Asian kids are set super high. For ivy league, their average SAT score must be 400 higher than black and latinos, 200 higher than white. U. Calif can't handle it so it stops taking SAT to discourage all Asian kids. Statistically speaking Asian girls have much better opportunities due to more tricks? lol
Sure, some of it can be attributed to cultural differences. There’s a lot of friction that occurs when cultures meet. However, I have to disagree with the overall sentiment of your comment. At the very least I’d call the discrimination against black people in China classism. Mainly because other races experience that discrimination as well. It’s all about wealth in China and the (or seemingly) closer in proximity to wealth you are the better.
I lived and worked in China for several years and you can see this mentality in job ads, when you talk to agents and so on. Ads saying “Europeans only” , “blue eyes” or “blonde hair”, only Obama black . And the reason why I said seemingly was because for the most part they look at white people as the ones that have money. There’s a saying “ white skin is better than gold “ or something like that. So you are automatically looked down upon because of your darker complexion.
This affects your dating life, your social life and your finances in China. I’ve spoken to university agents who’ve outright told me they want more students from Europe as it would boost the impression of the schools. In a University of mostly black or brown foreign students they will pick white models for promotional videos.
A job agent once told me that the when she introduces a black person to a potential employer, they immediately slash their salary and have to convince them of their credibility. Which is not the same for their white counterparts. I hate to be that guy that makes comparisons between white and black but differences are made for me on a daily basis. I just vocalize them from time to time. The one that was particularly egregious to me was a university student who was told to forego an award he had won and give it to a person who wasn’t black just so the school would look good in front of its leadership. I could go on and on but one thing I’ve learned is to listen to people when they talk about their grievances. Some might not be the best at articulating their experiences but their feelings are routed in something. China was a trip and there’s a lot of craziness that I doubt I’ll ever see experience elsewhere in the world that I experienced there.
Chinese people are still very closed minded. They don't have access to free international news. They are censored heavily. They are superstitious and unscientific. That's why they still have to go to study in the West, and hack. China is not advanced with science and technology. They welcome foreign investment and business dealings do that they can steal the industrial secrets. Don't be fooled China is advancing. They are not. Many villagers are even worse off than the African counterparts. No electricity, clean water, and toilet. You have to take everything Made in China with a grain of salt. You're right to assume everything there is propagandalistic including the citizens. They are ignorant and harmful.
Everywhere you go in the world white skin opens doors because they wrongly believe all white people are very rich.
Winston, thank you for your videos. I dream of doing what you’ve done. The draw for adventure is so strong with me. I dream of living in a different country like you. Thank you for keeping it in my mind.
I hadn't watched this yet, so glad I was with you back when. Bless you Winston ❤️🍀🐨
"You know what China's not as bad as you think. It's actually really fun and interesting and vibrant."
~Winston, 2008
That statement did not age well.
We all learn.
Who stays stuck in one way of thinking?
It would be weird if his views of china didn't change as he learnt more about it...
I mean. It is...in the places that make it fun and interesting and vibrant DESPITE the efforts of the CCP.
Hi Winston, I was in tears when I heard your closing words in this video. I'm very glad that I was part of your adventure in Shenzhen, China, because I was one of the students when you taught English in Tencent. I totally understand and resonant with the stories in your videos, no matter the good memories or bad ones. I can feel the complex feeling you had toward China. I'm still working and living in Shenzhen. I hope you could come back and visit Shenzhen one day, where there are still so many kind people, so many positive stories and more. As always, stay awesome! -- one of your students from Shenzhen, China
作为中国人，你为什么要支持反华分子
I love these videos! Some even bring tears to my eyes.
I met my with in the US in 2009.
We moved to Shenzhen in 2010. Had great times there. Are daughter and son were both born there.
I knew though they we would not stay and I had to get the kids out before they were ready for school.
We left in 2014 to visit my parent and have been in the US ever since.
Also being in IT, I found a job within two weeks and we never returned.
Recent changes in China are scary. Can't imagine how bad things would be for us if we were still there.
You're awesome, and like you say, stay that way!
Halfway through but excellent story and great storytelling! I lost count of the number of times I said wow, oh my and what!?! out loud. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Viz. English speaking Chinese who are educated. I own a ZTE Cymbal phone (flip phone). I called the customer service number and had a five minute conversation with a young lady. It was evident English was not her first language. She was clear, she understood everything I said, I could understand her. At the end of the call I complimented her on her English. I told her I know how hard it is to learn English and her grasp of the language was excellent. And I thank her. I don't think I've ever heard someone more grateful for a compliment like that. She was very professional, but I could hear her light up.
Did she open up?
When I was a kid, I was pretty enthusiastic about the Asian culture, especially Japan n China, and your channel has been one of the most insightful videos I've watched on CZcams particularly on China n it has taught me lessons of balancing passion n wonder with caution n self awareness.
Just because you might like some aspects of a foreign culture doesn't mean the people will necessarily like equally. Some are friendly and nice, some are indifferent, some are hostile n outright cruel with not just foreigners but their own people.
It shows that I've grown up n realized the complexity of different country's agenda in relationship with foreigners, so have you to thank on this interesting perspective.
Congratulations on hitting 1 Million subscribers, dude. It's well deserved
Yup, people are people no matter where they are. Every country has nice people, bad people, geeks, jocks, etc
hen Nixon went to China I was very happy for the Chinese people and saw
the country embracing capitalism,(but not the free market[which I failed to notice]
and joining the world community Deng was a good man.
I remember back in the day how prevalent pro-PRChinese documentaries were and I thought "China" (I didn't know any better) was having it good. Then 2017 happened...
@@theotherohlourdespadua1131 What happened in 2017?
@@rick-be Found out how murderous they are...
Wow, awesome video, fascinating story, I am hooked, I have been to China once, and I love it but also know the downside, cant wait for the other videos
Thank you for sharing your true life storyline. I can appreciate and empathize your struggles and your successes. Awesome video!
Congrats on the million subs. Keep up the good work telling it how it really is, unfiltered and unapologetic.
Unfortunately, some random people in the comment section believe that Serpentza is a propagandist and a liar.
Sad how people only believe the lies of the CCP
I'm so glad yours is an overall happy story and you're here to tell the tale.
@@bettyvanderhooven-schmaasc4235 He said China has no birds, but try watching the video with the below title to see the most amazing birds right in Shenzhen, China, I don't know who to believe.🤔
4K Nikon P1000 Birds in the parks, Shenzhen, China. 尼康 P1000 深圳洪湖公園觀鳥
He didn't mention his masonic connections. It's not just what you know. It's who you know.
@@hanfucolorful9656 布袋木偶
Considering how much you've experienced in your time at China, it might be a good idea to try to capture some of that in a book, one day, presumably when you start finding it more difficult to come up with content for your YT channel, should that day come. I can tell you right now that I'd be happy to give you $20 for such a book, and I'm sure there are thousands more out there who'd do the same.
Totally agree 👍🏻💯
He doesn’t need to wait for it to become difficult. There’s a huge population that hasn’t ever or probably won’t ever see his channels but would buy his book.
This!
@@spartancrown I'm well aware that he doesn't "need" to wait. I figure he has enough on his plate right now, to keep providing this channel with enough valuable content, and providing it often enough, to keep it growing.
We all only have so much time and energy, to get only so much done, and things like "burnout" are always a risk when taking on too much at once.
Fuck yeah
Great videos Serpentza----- very informative , insightful with a dash of dry humor.. Keep up the fine work
I’ve watched many of your videos and found them to be fascinating and insightful and. Dry intelligent and actually quite compelling
Congrats for you reaching 1M subs, you deserve every success in life.
Even though you've covered some or all of these experiences in your videos, it was good to see it all put into a timeline. Much love from Australia mate.
I try to remember the first video I saw of yours...I was so happy to finally "learn" about China. I haven't been disappointed. Both C-Milk and you make the videos so personal. Love the work, Winston.
On motorcycles
Keep it up!! I really appreciate your time to vlog your videos on ur YT
Listening to your early struggles in China reminds me of my own in Japan in the first half of the 90s… down to being alone, not knowing anyone, running out of money, and having a poor grasp of the language. I returned after a three year break and stayed for another decade running my own language school. Visa trips to Hong Kong, Guam, Thailand and Korea. Kindergartens in remote areas. Teaching lovely people and kids who didn’t want to learn English. I survived 15 years during my two stints there. Many struggles and tears. Long hours and often felt like a slave in a prison. I think Japan has changed a lot since I left in 2009. I struggled to adapt to such a foreign culture but I succeeded. Being there taught me a lot about myself and changed me for the better.
Respect, that takes courage to stick it out so long and really embrace the experience
>another decade running my own language school. Visa trips to Hong Kong, Guam, Thailand and Korea.
Does this mean you were on a tourist visa and you were doing visa runs each time it was about to expire?
It’s too bad you were alone. My mom was a missionary in Tokyo for many years and I have a brother who was born there🎉 and lives there even now. I don’t know how they deal with visas but never seemed to have any problems. I grew up there and left after I graduated from high school. They would have been glad to help you.
Congratulations on 1million Winston! You deserve it. Ive watched you and cmilk for years now, i love your content. Thanks 😊
I moved to China in 2008(in the northeast) and stayed there for about 7-8 years. I always loved China. Back then, it was VERY chaotic. But in a good way. Every street was random stuff, you didn't know where anything was, but it was an adventure. China started growing so fast back then. It was beautiful to be part of that. Like Winston said, it's very easy to get into a relationship. I met a girl on the train from Beijing to where I lived in the northeast. Back then, most people had never seen a foreigner in their life. You feel like a superstar! I spent most of my 20s there, and it wS an amazing place ro live. There were alot of hardships, but it was VERY hard to be a foreigner, because of the government. I had to register my cell phone number with the local police, and it got phone tapped. I never did anything illegal, but it was annoying anyway. There was alot of bribing, extortion, and cheating back then, especially towards foreigners.
I did speak mediocre mandarin, but just enough to get by. I learned very quickly, because I didn't hang out with foreigners that I came across.
Clubbing and bars were a great place to meet locals, and learn about the culture, and make "friends". I use quotes, because mostly it was just because they wanted to be seen together with a foreigner.
Although I did have fun amongst the chaos, being a foreigner was very hard, as you were constantly being monitored. And if anything happened between you and a local Chinese person, weither a simple argument that got out of hand, or a vehicle accident, the foreigner was ALWAYS at fault. Foreigners didn't have any rights. Nevertheless, I still had a great time. I met my (now) ex-wife, but I highly reccomend not to get into a serious relationship for awhile.
In the end, I'd say it still was a great place to live for 7 years. As I never got online and made myself known, so I stayed under the radar. For the most part.
Unfortunately, I would highly discourage any foreigner from moving there at this time, because the government(and the people to some extent), are now very anti-foreigner, mostly because of covid, and the propaganda around that.
Everyone, have a great day, and remember....stay awesome
Being required to register with the local police station and having them wire tap and monitor you just because you’re a foreigner, along with foreigners having no rights or protections or even having natives win automatically against you just because you’re a foreigner would be dealbreakers for me alone, let alone the government oppression to natives and foreigners alike.
What do you do nowadays?
I have a hard time believing why a "liberty" loving foreigner or westerner such as yourself would even PUT UP with being monitored and tapped and then turn around and say stuff like I loved China? I'm sure you would NEVER EVER put up with being tapped and monitored by the government of your own country. Don't quite understand the hypocrisy there. But then westerners are just strange. They hate their own government doing horrible things, but find it EXOTIC and ACCEPTABLE when the Chinese government does the same.
Thank you for creating this excellent channel and for making vids like this one! Great stuff!
Im so happy to discover your channel! Thanks a lot ❤
Great video, I really liked how you summarized your whole life in China and reflected on it. Again, congratulations for a million subscribers and keep on making awesome content!
Not sure how your video ended up on my feed, but as a expat, I felt a certain connection. Life is a journey that when looking back sometimes you realize you could have done some things differently. But that is life! Keep up the good work and even though I have not seen your pass videos, I look forward to your future updates!
wow thanks for the footage from past days in Shenzhen street. I missed the back days so much in there but didn’t catch some photos. Great jobs ❤
You're one of the best person ever ~ keep doing video like those, they are very enriching
This is definitely one of my favorite videos on CZcams now! Thank you for all that you do!
I discovered you at the end of 2018 when I had both hips replaced, worn out from climbing mountains, not from some weird disease lol, and I am super glad to see that you're still around and have grown so much. I've lost count of how many people I've told about you. Please keep it coming.
Your story is fascinating! Thank you for sharing!
Happy forthcoming birthday SerpentZA !
Hey Winston. I've been watching you since 2012. It's been awesome watching you grow and evolve. I still go back and watch your old videos now and again. I am still planning on moving to China and you have prepared me for that journey more than you could know.
Enjoy the videos (especially when you guys were in China). But one thing I've realized after watching a while is Serpentza has been in hundreds of sketchy situations, but is never the sketchy one himself 🤣 definitely some cool adventures though, so Conquering docs look unreal
Never the sketchy one… That WE know of 🤔😏 lol, joking but still funny to think we only hear one side.
Yeah I just though it's really tacky how he calls the guy in the beginning a scumbag for taking 40% of his salary while HE put himself jnto that position! Like come on! You don't go to a foreign country on a minimal budget and waste all your money on hotels for 30-5$ a night till you become homeless! He should be greatful cause that guy saved his ass! Yes his visa was illegally on a tourist visa but he accepted it for the chance he was given of a roof over his head and someone guiding him to take care of his affairs. 40% for a place to stay at even if a shitty one and someone translating the main things you literally need to get around is not a bad deal imo if you were fucked on the streets with no perspectives, not knowing the language and no chance to reach out to anyone.
Like sorry but he was definitely the scumbag himself at that point. Today they are called begpackers lol. Then he accepted to work for a guy he only refers to as rapist now but again - it's not him who did any wromg 😆 Like I do love his channel but he is pretty hypocritical. Talking about "how he SURVIVED 14 years somewhere where no one forced him to stay.
He'd live in a dictatorship and then cry when he gets backlash for publicly speaking out against the CCP like what did he expect?! Must be a fool thinking that you wouldn't get yourself in trouble like that
@@JustLIkerapunzel in the video he says he stopped working for him when he found out he was a rapist and even attempted to get police involved
He looked sketchy enough as a youngster though, probably why he was in the situations. Gotta be those sunnies ahaha 😂
@@JustLIkerapunzel exactly!! This serpentza CC snake is an ungrateful loser childish scumbag hypocrite!! He is always ready to stab you at your back! Watch out for people like him!! Hahaha...
Thank you for staying true to yourself and always being honest, open-minded and fair
I've been watching this channel since probably around 2013 or 2014. It's amazing how far you've come, Winston! Keep up the good work mate!
CONGRATULATIONS ON A MILLION SUBSCRIBERS! You 100% deserve every one of them. Love your videos so much, thank you Winston!!!
I found you in 2016 because I was a vipkid teacher meeting all these awesome Chinese kids online and I wanted to know more about their world. I loved the motorcycle ride videos so much. When their gov't shut down foreign teachers and essentially fired over 100,000 vipkid teachers last year, it really wasn't a surprise to me because I knew you and cmilk had been saying that nationalism was ramping up and you saw stuff like this coming. So thank you for a view of China I've never seen elsewhere and for keeping it real. I think I too acquired fond memories and a broken heart in China.
Yup it's very unpredictable in China. I enjoyed my 2 trips in in 2017 and 2019 but I alway had an uneasy feeling about the government Lol 😆😂. So I enjoyed my vacation travels and left the country I satisfied my curiosity about China and have no plans of returning again. I made it home to the West in one piece 🙏😅🤣😂
Have you been able to find other work teaching online, out of curiosity?
@@Girrrrrrrr no, I got a part time librarian job instead. You?
I loved those videos also and was surprised to find out how much I really liked the Chinese people. I realized thanks to you that you can't judge a people by their government.
So amazing! Will check our your documentaries - I do ADV biking, and would dearly love to see China.
Absolutely one of my favorite channels. Stay Awesome Winston. Peace!
14 years+ language and political barriers+ starting a family. This guy plays his life in HARD mode
Well he got a career out of it so not all bad, but yes, China is the last place i'd choose to start a life.
@@Grandmaster-Kush Winston started before Xi Jinping took power and slowly crashed the economic miracle bus.
@@indiasuperclean6969 VERY SAFE 😍😍 I LOVE INDIA WOMEN IN INDIA ARE SO SAFE 👍👍👍 INDIA IS REALLY CLEAN BEST COUNTRY FOR WOMEN AND WHITE WOMEN
@@Grandmaster-Kush There is no amount of money 💰 anyone could offer me to live in China. I love so much freedom😂🤣😅 in our imperfect western world ❤️, these were my leaving thoughts boarding my departure flight on my 2nd trip and probably last trip to China in 2019 Lol 😂😂🤣. The people are okayish did the tourist tour around Beijing which was amazing fun with a lot of rich history about ancient China .
@@indiasuperclean6969 Trust me freedom is the greatest wealth any human being can have. They don't have that in China you are being watched 24/7 with eagle 🦅 eyes 👁️ by the communist government Lol 😆😂.
You are one of the first channels I subscribed to more than 10 years ago! l loved following your journey and learning more about China, your videos on Shenzhen, made me explore more of the city. Congrats on the 1M and hope life is well.
Thanks for sharing your story, I felt like time just passed away listening to every word you said.
My dad travalled a lot to china back in the early 00's, many of his stories fits yours, even though that he only was there for business trips, so 2-3 weeks at a time.
I've been watching you since very very long times ago, maybe 8 or 9 years ago? My friend and I were at University together studying Mandarin Chinese and we both became huge fans of your channel. Its been wild all the characters that have shown up since you began, like Beer Girl, C-Milk, and even random haters youtubers with their nonsense channels talking about yours, I feel like your space is an entire universe in a sense. Its been an incredible ride.
Thank you for joining me on this crazy adventure
Beer girl was back around when I started watching too. It's been interesting watching it turn from some casual travel vlogs to these in depth talks about serious issues. Serpent I think I actually found your channel from a video where you discussed what it's like to drive in China, must have been 10 years ago. I've never been an avid watcher of anything on CZcams really but I always end up back here and really enjoyed this one
He’s had his channel this long and for some reason it’s never been recommended to me and I’ve never heard of it until a few days ago. Love personal journeys like this. I follow lots of people like this and always have that’s why I’m surprised it’s never been recommended.
Thank you for sharing your life story, it is really moving after watching it！
謝謝你分享人生故事，看完真的很感動！
Congrats on reaching one million subscribers！
You did a really great job！👍😄👏
LOVED your channel back in the day when it was just going out for chill scooter rides in the country and wrench turning!
When I first discovered you, I liked your videos. I've stayed a subscriber because you actually tell the truth of what you're seeing in China. Keep on trucking, baby.
Congrats on the 1 million! I've loved your content for a while - I'm glad to see others are becoming aware of how great your channel is!
Winston, my belated congrats to you for reaching this milestone! And, a great video topic for this moment...
You’ve shown and educated a lot of people about China (both good and bad), in ways no one else has ever managed to do!
Til you hit the diamond award - cheers mate!!! 🎖🎉
following u since long time ... rly true inspiration!
Story rocks! I'm a new fan and loving the inside China view.
Exactly the video I was waiting for. Made me nostalgic and I’ve never even lived in China. Thanks Winston!
I wonder if I will ever get tired of listening to Winston's amazing, down to earth recounts of his life's adventures. Well, clearly not any time soon. Thanks for yet another amazing video Sir.
Great clip, you have a good talent for telling a story and shooting video. That always seems the way, when times are good someone comes around and mucks it up.
That was really, really interesting. You're a great story teller!
I found your channel sometime after 2010 and been watching all your videos! Thank-you for sharing your amazing stories! One day your kids will grow up and get to see you retell your life through these videos, and I’m sure that it will be priceless story that they will continue to carry through out their life just like all the viewers get to experience it now.
Thank you very much for this video. I have watched quite a few of your videos, over the years, but intermittently, and out of order. After a while I saw that you had gone through an evolution. This video puts that evolution in context, and I am going to try to get some other people to watch it.
Best of luck
I remember watching all your videos from the early days . I really enjoyed the easy going climate of your early videos .
I can relate so well to your experiences with having travelled through 65 countries on a tight budget , hitch-hiking , bussing , cheap trains and flights , military zones , deportation as a military spy because I didnt fall for bribes etc. But what an adventure , absolutely mind blowing . The nature and beauty of our planet is beyond comprehension. It truly makes one feel alive. Ive been an eco tourist as most cultural /political history does not interest me. Even now after 38 years Im still yearning for more . Can never get enough soul food .
And by the way , I am also an ex-Capetonian.
Been following you for several years. Your story of your first year or so in China, so dire. You are a survivor, and your perspective on China is so valuable to our world today.
Congrats on the million subs been following you since 2011 keep up the great work m8
Subbed.
Love listenting to your stories and experiences... but really have to go to bed.... Monday coming up... will be back tomorrow 😀
Loved this video. Loved the country and so I am going to have to find the ones you did. Thank you for uploading
before watching the video, i just want to tell you i appreciate your work mate.
Congratulation on hitting 1 million. The way you tell the story just make the video more compelling. Also, as young guy, your story is like a motivation to go out there and explore the world. Stay Awesome.
Listen, I've been watching your videos forever. Thank you sir. They are just as fun now as they were back then.
good video. I think you've outgrown your 'stay awesome' closer
I'm so happy I found your channel a few months ago! I live just a few hundred miles away from the Chinese border, but I've always been ignorant about how it works and lives. Even my couple trips to Hong Kong weren't as illuminating as your videos) It's lovely to see you get the recognition you deserve, and I'm sorry China let you down. If you ever want to do more travel, I'll be happy to show you around Almaty and Kazakhstan in general! Thank you for your work and the best of luck ✨🎉
I am a long time watcher of your channel and I have lived vicariously though you for years. I did beat 'cha to China however I made dozens of trips there for work in the mid to late 1990's to Guangzhou and HK. I love China and it's people. It is terrible the dystopian nightmare of a place it is becoming.
bro I saw some of your videos when you were at China when I was younger, back in the days I thought you were one of those paid content creator, but recently I found your videos after you left and I learnt that you are as real as it can get, keep up the good work man.
I remember when I first started following you years ago I had more subs than you but I always knew your channel would grow way bigger than mine. Great to see you surpassed 1 million subs 🎉
You must be a hero to live in that for 14 years and tell people the truth, respect
He didn't go off the deep end for the first 12 though. Only the last two years were any kind of struggle.
@@yikyak4249 was it about COVID19 suspicion that made the CCP scare him away? 🤔
fleed from South Africa is already a hero thing. CCP is bad , doesn't mean China is dangerous in public safety. New York, Paris, London is 100 times dangerous than any china's city.
Real heroes don't wear capes, they wear motorcycle jackets and a gopro 😜
I found your channel in 2017 when I was looking for information about China when I was preparing for a short study visit there. It helped me a lot to understand what Chinese life is like. I always like to watch your videos to get an understanding of what goes in there. I feel like many of the issues you talk about are rarely covered in mainstream media. Congrats on the 1 mil! Well deserved for the quality of your content.
These adventures you explain are gold. Your content is of the best of yt I have ever watched.
I was in China in 2008 when I was 11, visiting factories and cities around (because of my dad's job) and I was left with a weird feeling, everything was being "cleaned" for the Olympics but it really all felt quite fake-ish glam. I was too young at the time to really see through the spectacle, but I will never forget those factories, the looks of people to us as if we were from another galaxy (which they were right, we were normal western kids not working 12h a day for 120 euros a year). My dad told me that those were in fact the factories with the best "human conditions".
We entered a chemicals factory (they used to paint plastic toys there) and they suited us up with protective equipment while the people working there were barely wearing masks. My dad told me that for people working there life expectancy was around their 30s.
On the business dinners the woman were very, very superficial, almost all had undergone surgery on their eyes to look more westernized. The men would get utterly drunk, as my dad told me that this is how you signed a business deal in China.
I was so shocked that all that was going on in there, is different to be told than to see it with your own eyes, and it really bittered my perception of the world since then. Watching this channel made me realize that I was just seeing 0,01% of it... but wow I am so glad that we are getting to know more of what is going on there. Thanks man, massive respect for you and your channel.
I have been following you and your friend lawai 86 for a while. I lived in China from 2009-2018. Keep it up man!!
Being enamoured by the city only to be "kicked out" and unable to get back in for a while is a very interesting story! A gated city is such a weird concept to me
Loved this video, I thought I’m getting old I was 13 in 2007. Being all alone in a different county that’s just terrifying glad your okay now.
I just watched your channel. This made me sub. Going now to watch the rest of your vids. Thank you.
Great video, very comprehensive!