Social Status

            In Shanghai we are extremely privileged to live the life that we do.  When I say that I don’t mean to sound boastful, I'll to give a clearer picture.  It is easy to see what the draw is for many Western people that choose to relocate their entire families to China or other Asian countries. 

In the United States being a teacher is a double-edged sword.  We get time off in the summers and at holidays to travel at our leisure but with the sub par income we get, it is difficult to do much more than road trips and camping.  You would never see a teacher with a driver and a nanny in the states.  Teachers are typically average Americans with family priorities and that is very admirable. 

Moving to Shanghai also meant a move up the social ladder.  Here, we are catered to in countless ways.  There is a large Western expat community in Shanghai and they are not moving here to do grunge work.  They (we) have drivers and housekeepers, security guards, masseuses etc.  We also moved here knowing little to no Mandarin.  When we expat call places they give an English option or answer the phone saying Hello rather than Wei.  We have very little difficulty getting what we need despite our language barrier and different cultures.  I have been thinking lately about how there is very little resentment towards us.  We have been met with nothing but accommodating, helpful locals.

 My question is; if the situation was reversed and there were swarms of foreigners moving to the United States and those foreigners made far more money than the average American, would they be welcomed or hated?  History does not side well on assuming that Americans would be as welcoming and accommodating as the Chinese.  I am afraid that our American egos are too large to have the roles reversed.  Thoughts?

Bri