Is The Future Bleak For Expats?

Yes, the future is bleak. At least it is if you ask artist Benoit Cezard. His ongoing online photojournalism project depicts his idea of China in 2050 – a world where foreigners provide the manual labor. The images show hauntingly familiar sights around Beijing with a twist. To be honest, they kind of creep us out. Cezard believes that “China’s migrant workers will be replaced by westerners, so they have to get used to it in advance.” He’s not alone in speculating that China may soon not be a good place for expats. An article on Businessweek.com entitled “Looking to Get Ahead? China Doesn't Want You” says it all. But not all expats seem to be afraid of living a less luxurious lifestyle ...

We found some interesting blogs from expats who are connecting with the migrant lifestyle. Check out Living a Dream in China by Sara Jaaksola, a Finnish student in Guangzhou who is in a relationship with a Cantonese migrant worker. If you want a different view of the experience check out what is going on with blogger Tricia Wang, who is spending a year in China to follow migrants and see how they use digital technology. You can find her blog, Bytes of China, here.

Come to think of it, this could become the next big parlor game for expats: "What job would you have if you were a migrant worker?"

Photos: Benoitcezard.com, Cavstheblog.com