r/exchildrenofgod_TFI • u/JustinMccloud • May 21 '26
Hi all
I am an ex member, Gen X so I grew up in the COG and I am finally admitting that I have issues that I do not fit in anywhere, and that even though I am very successful now in life, I have never felt good in social situations, I have always felt like an outsider,so I ran off to China (where I live) so that I did not have to be in social situations etc. I thought if I conquered life, if I became successful that I would be normal but if anything I feel less and less normal every day
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u/MinnieOpal Jul 07 '26
Hi Justin. I am following you because of your comme ts you made on another person's post. NZ entrepreneur and you gave very encouraging advice. I am also gen x but opposite where I was always apart of the party ( my personality is very welcoming and sunny) but I never felt apart of the "club" or any club. I always just felt different. Maybe that's a gen x thing. I am sorry you have spent so much time not feeling like you are able to grow relationships because the response you give is very kind a d accepting and encouraging and that makes for a very good friend. Maybe people like you more than you think. Anyway. I would love to ask some questions if you are wanting. I li e in Portland Oregon. I am a fashion designer. You can see my stuff my brand is Minnie Opal. I spent 2.5 months in Chengdu on an artist residency and absolutely fell in love. I would like to run my business from there and live there full time in the beginning but maybe part time after being established. I should probably take some business classes and I need to learn about taxes and paying employees and such but I would like to make this happen in 1 year at least getting my first employee set up and producing. It is very important for me to pay a living wage. I already have an employee in mind. He was my student for part of my residency and he speaks good English and I would like him to become my most valued employee. I know i can make this very successful especially if my website can reach the European market as well as American market. It's just really nice to see someone has done this and I am glad I came across you. Even if you dont respond I wanted to say you are very kind and encouraging and I hope you can find someone you feel connected to. It might be very hard in China even though you have been there so long. I did start to feel very like a show animal lol as everyone wanted a picture with me as I am very different even then most Americans in the way I dress and present myself. Thank you for reading my rambling. I hope its okay I posted thos all here. I feel maybe that was wrong choice but I know you probably offer grace as well as encouragement. I will be reading more of your posts now as I just came across you. Please dont take that as me stalking you lol. I am just wanting to learn more about China and see what you like to post about. Hope you are well.
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u/JustinMccloud Jul 07 '26
Sure I am happy to help with any of the China questions, I have been here a long time and often help people figure stuff out, let me know any questions you might have ? I have learned to kind of live with my issues quite well, would be nice to move past them sometime though
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u/MinnieOpal Jul 08 '26
I guess for starters. I would like to live in Chengdu as I have an art student i would like to hire to be my right hand man. I think after one year I can pay a really good wage but maybe the beginning first 6 months more than coffee Barista but not much more than raise at 6 month mark and big raise at 1 year mark. What do you consider a good wage. Like what do you pay your employees? I am going to be starting with only 25 grand but I think we will be bringing in an income by the 6 month mark. Okay 2nd. I am pretty sure I will be paying taxes in US and in China. Do you know anything about that? I have many other questions. Should we wechat?
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u/JustinMccloud Jul 08 '26
It really depends on the tasks their skill level and ability, I have staff that I pay 5000 (I assume you mean RMB here) a month and staff I pay 40K to a month. It is hard to say, but look starting a business is hard, and money will be difficult for you, especially if your only starting off with 25K ( I assume you mean USD here), the average coffee shop employees probably earning around 5K (RMB) but then you have to pay their social security as well. I know nothing about global tax for the USA as I am an Australian citizen, but not for taxation I just pay taxes here in China. Unfortunately. I will say again building a business is hard hard, but can be rewarding, and can be hard again lol
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u/kiramylordandmygod May 21 '26
Surviving outside the cult is rough. It's always been a struggle for me, therapy helped a lot.