The Case for Not Having Kids in China

Don't get me wrong, I love this country, but along with the many things that I love comes a variety of things that are unsatisfactory. China is a developing country, you can't expect all the western privileges that we were born into, but that's still not something that I would consider compromising for my idealistic imaginary family.

Air and environment
First and foremost, the quality of the air in Beijing is unquestionably going to effect on peoples' health. I have found myself short of breath and with black dust on my hands after venturing out in Beijing. It's a product of Beijing's rapid development, and one that unfortunately isn't going to see any improvements soon. Living here, I sometimes feel that it's a risk I am taking with my health, and one that I am not willing to take on my future children's'.

The health scares
After the san yuan melamine health scares last year, another has recently been publicized in the English language media. According to the Beijing Evening News, there have been cases of students suffering with headaches and fainting after guzzling down Sprite.
Food and drink products are ones which we put an enormous amount of trust into, wherever we are in the world. And when things like this happen, it scares me.

The schooling
As a foreigner in china, your children will undoubtedly require dual-language schooling, which requires an international school. Unless you are an expatriate family living and china, in which case you'd probably receive free housing and schooling for your children, you are looking at 20,000 pounds a year school fees. Incredible! I know unqualified English teachers who know little more about teaching the English language than being brought up in a country speaking it who work in these schools. So is the money really worth it?

Of course, no city or country is without its flaws. I'm taking a very idealized view of my 'perfect' imaginary family and the kind of Walton style lives we'll have. But it begs to question, where we should position ourselves to give our children the best advantages. Is coming back to the UK the best decision all round, or should we venture elsewhere.

So, I put it to you; Where is the best place to raise a family?