According to the sixth national census of the People’s Republic of China published in 2010, 593, 832 foreign nationals have made China their new adopted country. North Korea, the United States and Japan are the nations with the highest numbers of expatriates in the country.

Creating a life on Chinese grounds for an extended period of time, despite being the second largest economy in the world, has not enticed some expats to stay put. Many have encountered ‘tell tale’ signs that prompted them to leave. Below are just some experiences that expatriates have had during their sojourn in Asia and their stories might give you an insight into how to better prepare yourself when that voice inside of you says, “Is it time for me to pack up?”

Knowing that you’ve entered the “saturated” zone

American expat Renee McKie realized it was timed to go the moments some things weren’t moving forward for her anymore. After living in Guangzhou for over two and half years, she felt: “the feelings that you had when you arrived are no longer there, it becomes increasingly difficult to laugh things off.”

During her tenure at an English language institute, cultural differences widened during the months leading to her departure. Disagreements, a lack of enthusiasm in class and her skin getting worse due to the environment were ‘clues’ for her to think about moving home. McKie now lives in Istanbul, Turkey.

Others, like Panamanian expat Koko Law, speak of the homesickness that started to kick in. He too lived in China for over two years and despite surrounding himself with locals and foreigners, as they became his extended family, factors like “learning to adapt, the distance between you and your loved ones, the longing for home, and the food that you miss and can’t find in China” were what led to his departure. Law, who is of Chinese-descent, came to Guangdong to learn about his cultural roots, but he found no connection with his parents’ background. Law is now living in Texas, USA.

In March 2014, new regulations regarding awarding permanent residency, or the Chinese Green Card, to expatriates was mentioned in a press conference in Beijing. However, the willingness for an expat to assimilate to an Asian culture – the good and the bad – is not for everybody.

“Little things started to irritate me, like simple miscommunications or things that I felt were “wrong” with the culture. [It] became too much for me to just accept, especially with children and the pressure to succeed,” says Gavin Canning who spent two years in Asia as a child educator. “I didn’t want to leave the country with a bad taste in my mouth.” These days, aside from working at a bakery and teaching art class in Toronto, Canada, Canning recently launched an online jewelry line – handmade wearable paper art.

If given the opportunity

Before making the leap permanently, McKie and Law wished they had travelled more in China. “China, in addition to its people, has lots of beautiful places to visit. I regret not visiting them before I left,” Law says. “Get in touch with the people you meet because we never know where the future will take us.” Law is currently waiting for a response to his application to a university in Germany to pursue his post-secondary degree in Business.

For Canning, who initially had set his mind on becoming a volunteer in a developing country, working and living in Asia was not his first choice. In due time, this opportunity had allowed him to immerse into the culture – although only partially.

“You are never fully accepted into the culture.  There are things you will never get to experience no matter how hard you want to, you will always be an outsider.  Communication barriers really suck too, but there is a lot you can get by on by pantomiming and being open.” For the most part, Canning regrets not getting a better grip on the language when he leaves a country.

Post-China

There are those who live in China for over 10 years and have made the country their permanent home by owning a business, marrying and raising a family; however, others don’t find a connection to its people, as is the case for Law and McKie. “When I realized that I’d soaked up everything I wanted, that’s when I realized that China had nothing more to offer me,” says Law.

For McKie and Canning who’ve been away from the East for two years now, time has allowed them to reflect on their experiences at a deeper level. “Go with an open mind and open heart.  Try hard not to compare your culture to the host country you are living in. Find the beauty in coming from different places.” Canning says. “You will have more in common with people in other countries than you have differences.  If you are too comfortable, you aren’t learning. Push yourself to do what scares you.”

Asked about her desire to return to the United States anytime soon, McKie remains unsure. “Personally, I've continued my personal progression by keeping up the good things that I started in China. Just be ready for anything because you never know what you will see and/or hear,” McKie says.

Subtle clues like the ones mentioned above can make any expat in China start to ponder whether they’re in it for the long haul or if it’s only temporary. The desire to return to your home country can occur quickly or slowly. Whether you like it or not, living overseas changes an expat if he or she allows it to happen.