In pursuit of a brighter future

[Photo/China Daily]

An increasing number of midcareer Chinese are seeking greener pastures by furthering their studies overseas, but life has not been all fun and games for some of the spouses who have tagged along

For Zhang Dida, her new life in the United States is a stark contrast to the one she had back in Shanghai where she was constantly bogged down with work.

One of the many Chinese citizens who hold onto the F-2 dependent visa, meant for spouses and children of F-1 student visa holders, Zhang was presented with the opportunity to take over her family business but decided that she would instead follow her husband, who wanted to pursue a master's degree in Business Administration at Boston University. The couple arrived in the US city last August.

Zhang says that she is now able to enjoy a slower pace of life which has allowed her to spend more time doing what she is fond of. She has taken up English lessons, joined a dance team, cooked for her church members and participated in volunteering work. She and her husband are also expecting a baby in August.

"I wanted to show support for my husband who was keen to further his studies in order to secure a promising future for us, and that's why I decided to come and start a new life," says the 29-year-old.

"It is actually quite common to see fellow Chinese walking through the campuses in the US, which is the top choice of my husband and his course mates who harbor strong ambitions to achieve more in life."

Her husband is planning to find a job in the US following the completion of his studies and Zhang says that she is also contemplating whether to follow in his footsteps.

"My dream would be to stay home and raise the kids while my husband holds onto a stable job. He could drive us out of the city for short trips on weekends and we will also adopt a dog and let it be a companion for our children," says Zhang.

Over in Texas, Vincent Ye's five years in the country has been filled with more pressure than excitement. Ye has resorted to being a driving trainer in the day and a restaurant waiter at night as his wife is still a PhD student in traditional medicine.

F-2 visa holders are only eligible for enrollment in vocational or recreational courses and are prohibited from working in the country.

Ye and his wife plan to settle in the US and will start looking for jobs after the latter graduates later this year.