I am plotting and scheming to make your transition a bit easier than it should be.   If you are looking for someone to walk with you through the initial stages of this crazy new adventure of moving to Beijing, you’ve found one.

What is a Transition Accomplice?

The Transition Accomplice service provides you with a veteran expat coach to introduce you to the basics of living in China.  Before even arriving in Beijing (or as soon as possible after), we will have an initial 30-minute Skype call to meet and give you a chance to ask whatever questions you have at that point.  The call will also be when we schedule our outings.

Depending on your package, you will have anywhere from two to four outings (possibly five if you’ve added the networking day on the side).  We won’t have to schedule them all right away, but we will schedule the first two.  Each outing will be about five hours and includes time to eat as we’re out and about.  Each outing centers around introducing you to a particular aspect of expat life.

Please note: Though I pride myself on being able to help people transition well into the expat lifestyle, I do not have all of the answers.  I cannot promise to know everything or to never make a mistake.  I do my best to work from current information, but things in China change at the speed of light, so sometimes our information may be outdated.  Also, the Middle Kingdom and I take no legal responsibility for the outcome of your transition.  I can show you the ropes, but your success depends ultimately on you and your choices.

What a Transition Accomplice isn’t:

• An expert to answer all of your possible questions.

• A master of the Chinese language.

• An alternative to doing any work— be prepared to be a bit uncomfortable and to put some real work into your transition.

My Chinese isn’t great, so what we accomplish during our outings, we will accomplish with minimal language and lots of creativity.  I can’t help you set up your phone line or get your water heater fixed, but I can show you just how much is possible without good Chinese and with lots of motioning and pointing.  You will learn some key words in Chinese, though, and will practice using them with someone to cheer you on.

Different situations call for different exploration.  If you are moving to Shunyi (aka “Little America”), you will need to learn a different set of tricks than someone moving into the heart of the city.  Some of the basics are the same: get a bus card, ride the various forms of public transportation, explore a Chinese grocery store.  But some things will vary greatly from location to location.  The trick to living in Beijing is being adventurous—being willing to explore things—but we are aware that you may not feel able or ready to do that on your own.  With an accomplice, you can begin that process with someone by your side.

What You’ll Get:

• Learn to use the Beijing public transportation with confidence

• Order simple dishes at a Chinese restaurant

• Find your local grocery store and import food store

• Find your bargaining technique

• Begin to find your own rhythm for living in Beijing as an expat

You may want an Accomplice if…

• You are planning on moving to Beijing soon or have just moved here.

• You have no experience living overseas or in China specifically.

• You can’t speak Chinese (yet).

• You, for any reason, feel uneasy about navigating this new adventure on your own (at least to start).

 Aren’t sure this is what you want? 

Download our Newcomer’s Guide and read through it.  You may find that you want to tackle your transition on your own.  Great!  We hope to see you at a Middle Kingdom meet-up sometime and hear how it’s going.  If you’ve read the Guide and still aren’t ready to go at it alone, though, look through the Accomplice packages and email us with any questions you may have.

If you already know you’re ready to embark on this adventure with an Accomplice, chose your package and follow the links to PayPal.  You will hear back from us within 48 hours to schedule a Skype meeting and nail down dates for our first outing. 

Basic Package (2 Days)

• Initial 30 minute transition consultation via Skype 

• 1 Day of Chinese groceries and Chinese food, exploring your new neighborhood 

• 1 Day of Exploration on the big three forms of public transportation: bus, subway, and cab

• Beijing Life packet with MK Newcomer’s Guide, a readable map of Beijing, your very own metro card, recipe ideas for making western food in Beijing, and a collection of the local expat magazines.  

• We are also happy to provide a copy of Immersion Guide’s Mandarin Phrasebook, our favorite language tool for newcomer’s.  

$389 USD

Advanced Package (3 days)

• Everything from the Basic package (Skype consultation, grocery day, transportation day, Beijing Life packet, Mandarin Phrasebook) 

Plus…

• 1 Day of Expat Goodies; Export stores, restaurants, and hangouts.

$489 USD

Advanced Package Plus (4 days)

 • Everything from the Basic and Advanced Package (Skype consultation, grocery day, transportation day, expat goodies day, Beijing Life packet, Mandarin Phrasebook)

Plus…

 • 1 Day of Bargaining and Shopping; Explore several large markets or some specialty ones, depending on what you’re looking to buy

$589 USD

 What to Expect:

• Approximately 5 hours of exploration per day (we will split the cost of any taxis we take)

• 1 meal each outing (I’ll pay for my own food, and you’ll pay for yours).  

What is required of you:

• A willingness to explore and, in some cases, look foolish.  (You’re going to have to do this with or without an accomplice, but don’t worry—it’s not as difficult as it may sound.)

Schedule your Transition Accomplice Package today.