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tail (Teo 2003, 2007). Between Leaving and Staying During the course of my research with PRC immigrants in Vancouver I realised that, even as I was considering how previous circumstances in China had influenced their
Journal of Ethic and Migration Studies 811 initial decision to immigrate to Canada, the contemporary context of China was also shaping their present experiences in Canada. In other words, to fully understand their integration in Canada, I had to look beyond Canada. Respondents frequently contrasted the quick pace of change in China, particularly Shanghai, with the stagnation they perceived in Canada. ‘With change’, Cheryl enthused, ‘there are opportunities. If things remain the same, there won’t be any opportunities, right?’ Huiling concurred, ‘There are so many job opportunities in China, with the WTO, Olympics and so many other good opportunities. Rather than wasting their time here, the PRC immigrants might as well go back for development. Many people have returned’. To appreciate their sentiments, it is useful to remember that many recent PRC skilled immigrants have faced considerable settlement difficulties in Canada* especially in finding professional employment*presenting a common scenario of former engineers, teachers and doctors working as dishwashers, factory-workers and janitors, earning the minimum wage of CA$8/hour (Teo 2007). When asked about their future plans, a common refrain was that they would ‘take one step at a time’ (zouyibukanyibu)or ‘wait and see’. After describing the plight of several Canadian immigrants who reluctantly remained in Canada, a reporter for Nanfang Dushibao (a Southern China newspaper) wrote: From these different stories, we can see each person’s dilemma. On the one hand, they are facing a better overall environment abroad, and finding it difficult to completely relinquish their hopes for, and pursuit of, a better life. On the other hand, they cannot help but face their roots and networks. Thus between the two choices of ‘leaving’ and ‘staying’, more people are choosing ‘not to choose’: ‘we will see; we will talk about it again; who knows what may happen in the future?’ (Zhang 2002). While finding that a sizeable number of respondents were indeed choosing ‘not to choose’, the dilemma that they had sketched for me*which I will discuss later*was somewhat different. It is useful to note that Ny.′ri’s (2001) observation of discursive patriotism in the media is reflected in the tone of the reporter’s conclusion: If it is good, stay on; if not, then return immediately! After all, we have the same ethnic blood flowing through our veins no matter whether we are working hard together in the same place or looking across at each other from different shores. There will always be an inviolable bond between us (Zhang 2002). At times, I detected echoes of official discourse in the speech of a few respondents, especially those who were slightly older and had worked in the state unit. Orina, 40, declared: Now China is more open-minded. It is more supportive of talent moving around for in fact when zhongguoren (Chinese nationals) walk towards the world, no matter whether it is to study abroad or to immigrate, it is beneficial for China. Now there is talent mobility, eventually there will be talent returning. This is an exchange between Eastern and Western culture, and will bring new dynamism back to China.
812 S.Y. Teo After studying and working for a few years and getting t