{"id":56757,"date":"2026-02-15T20:09:57","date_gmt":"2026-02-16T01:09:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/they-moved-to-china-for-a-new-adventure-their-3-kids-gained-independence-and-mom-has-time-for-hobbies\/15\/02\/2026\/"},"modified":"2026-02-15T20:09:57","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T01:09:57","slug":"they-moved-to-china-for-a-new-adventure-their-3-kids-gained-independence-and-mom-has-time-for-hobbies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/they-moved-to-china-for-a-new-adventure-their-3-kids-gained-independence-and-mom-has-time-for-hobbies\/15\/02\/2026\/","title":{"rendered":"They moved to China for a new adventure. Their 3 kids gained independence \u2014 and mom has time for hobbies."},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\n<\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<ul class=\"mb-4\">\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Elisa Orsi, David Sleight, and their three kids moved to China from Qatar in 2024.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">They live in a 4-bedroom apartment in Hangzhou that costs about $790 a month.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"ml-4 list-disc\">\n<div class=\"\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Orsi says daily <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/american-living-in-china-hard-to-relate-friends-back-home-2025-4?utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_medium=syndication&amp;utm_source=yahoocom&amp;utm_source=yahoo\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:life in China;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\">life in China<\/a> feels very safe and allows her children a high level of independence.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">After five years in Qatar, Elisa Orsi and her husband, David Sleight, knew they were ready to leave the desert behind.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">They had <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/founder-moved-from-australia-to-san-francisco-hacker-house-comparison-2025-10?utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_medium=syndication&amp;utm_source=yahoocom&amp;utm_source=yahoo\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:moved from Australia;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\">moved from Australia<\/a> to the Middle Eastern country in 2019 with their three kids \u2014 all under 6 \u2014 after Sleight accepted a job there.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Already big travelers before they had kids, the couple used school holidays to see the world after starting a family, before later leveraging Sleight&#8217;s <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/moved-to-china-live-abroad-guangzhou-teach-english-gen-zers-2026-1?utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_medium=syndication&amp;utm_source=yahoocom&amp;utm_source=yahoo\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:teaching career;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\">teaching career<\/a> to travel even more.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>The family moved to Qatar from Australia because they wanted to experience more of the world.<span class=\"copyright\">Provided by Elisa Orsi.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;Usually when people have children, it deters them from travel, but we went completely the other way,&#8221; Orsi, 37, a stay-at-home mom, told Business Insider.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/move-to-qatar-better-quality-of-life-family-thriving-2025-3?utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_medium=syndication&amp;utm_source=yahoocom&amp;utm_source=yahoo\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Life in Qatar;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\">Life in Qatar<\/a> felt safe and comfortable, and it served as a base from which they could explore the region, traveling to places like Jordan, Turkey, and Egypt.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Gradually, the couple found themselves looking for something new.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;By the time we came back from our summer holiday in 2024, we said, &#8216;OK, we&#8217;re done. We need a change,'&#8221; Orsi said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">In August 2024, the family packed up their bags and <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/china-work-culture-love-hate-relationship-tech-worker-relocation-2023-12?utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_medium=syndication&amp;utm_source=yahoocom&amp;utm_source=yahoo\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:moved to Hangzhou;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\">moved to Hangzhou<\/a>, a bustling city in eastern China.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl\">Moving to China<\/h2>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/chinese-american-couple-expired-visa-left-america-reunited-guangzhou-china-2025-9?utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_medium=syndication&amp;utm_source=yahoocom&amp;utm_source=yahoo\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:China had been on their radar;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\">China had been on their radar<\/a> for a long time, though neither of them had visited before.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">It wasn&#8217;t until Sleight came across an online job ad for a <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/moved-england-to-china-teacher-9-years-relocation-comparison-essay-2023-12?utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_medium=syndication&amp;utm_source=yahoocom&amp;utm_source=yahoo\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:teaching role;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\">teaching role<\/a> in Hangzhou that they began looking into the city.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"A couple in front of a temple in Shanghai.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"720\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/ViCz2kLo9y7B.nS0GnJRng--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTcyMDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/business_insider_consolidated_articles_886\/51d4e7caf0e87ef4912f0fa0a38a44bd\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>The family had traveled through other parts of Asia and always wondered what life in China was like.<span class=\"copyright\">Provided by Elisa Orsi.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;I was impressed with the natural beauty and how modern the city appeared. I knew China was very well connected by the railway infrastructure, so I wasn&#8217;t overly concerned about the location,&#8221; Sleight, 45, told Business Insider.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The couple looped their kids, who are now 11, 9, and 7, into the conversation about <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/millennial-moved-back-to-china-shanghai-work-identity-search-fund-2026-1?utm_medium=syndication&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=yahoo&amp;utm_source=yahoocom\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:moving to China;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\">moving to China<\/a> early. &#8220;We wanted to give them lots of time to process and to get an understanding of what was happening,&#8221; she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;We have a philosophy that we talk to our children, and we keep them informed about the decisions we make,&#8221; Orsi said.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"A woman and her three kids in China.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"1280\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/22DW11gCwI6rZEk6W9kF9Q--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTEyODA7Y2Y9d2VicA--\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/business_insider_consolidated_articles_886\/afb4c0861c2379c30f2108eff800ecfb\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>The couple involved their three young children in conversations about the move early on.<span class=\"copyright\">Provided by Elisa Orsi.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">To ease the transition, they showed their kids YouTube videos about China and the school they would attend.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">When they <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/alibaba-jack-ma-packaged-food-ready-meals-china-tech-crackdown-2023-11?utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_medium=syndication&amp;utm_source=yahoocom&amp;utm_source=yahoo\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:arrived in Hangzhou;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\">arrived in Hangzhou<\/a>, Orsi said their first impressions quickly put any lingering nerves at ease.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;We were actually quite shocked to see how clean, how modern, how organized, and how convenient everything is,&#8221; Orsi said. &#8220;Sometimes you watch videos, but unless you&#8217;re actually in it, you can&#8217;t really understand it to that degree until it affects your life.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Their children attend an international school, and Sleight teaches English in the school&#8217;s bilingual program.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">House-hunting was a breeze because the school put them in contact with a real-estate agent ahead of their move.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"The living room.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"720\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/Vmdiakt5iFcW4fypBNn6vg--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTcyMDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/business_insider_consolidated_articles_886\/ce58314619cb078c1f20a4e43483ec4f\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>They live in an apartment about five minutes away from the school.<span class=\"copyright\">Provided by Elisa Orsi.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;We wanted to have a bedroom for each of the kids, and we were looking for amenities,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Most importantly, we wanted to be close to the school.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Within 10 days of <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/american-living-in-china-hard-to-relate-friends-back-home-2025-4?utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_medium=syndication&amp;utm_source=yahoocom&amp;utm_source=yahoo\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:arriving in China;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\">arriving in China<\/a>, the family moved into a four-bedroom apartment. It&#8217;s about a five-minute drive from the school and roughly 50 minutes outside the city center, in a neighborhood dominated by local Chinese families.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Rent is 5,500 Chinese yuan, or about $790 a month, and is covered by the school as part of Sleight&#8217;s employment contract.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"mb-4 text-xl font-bold md:text-2xl\">Life in Hangzhou<\/h2>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Moves like the couple&#8217;s have become more common in recent years. China&#8217;s latest national census shows that 845,697 foreigners were living in the country in 2020, up from 593,832 a decade earlier.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Even with a growing foreign community, the transition isn&#8217;t always easy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The biggest challenge has been <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/moved-to-barcelona-english-speakers-downsides-left-2025-6?utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_medium=syndication&amp;utm_source=yahoocom&amp;utm_source=yahoo\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:the language barrier;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\">the language barrier<\/a>, though translation apps have helped. Orsi is learning Mandarin through online apps, while the children learn it at school.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Sleight relies on support from bilingual teachers and staff, and many parents at the school speak English.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;During staff meetings and presentations, I wear an earpiece and listen to a live translation provided by the school&#8217;s professional translator,&#8221; he said. Sleight added that parents and staff also communicate through a messaging app with built-in translation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">In China, the family also had to get used to a system in which nearly everything, including payments, is done <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/alipay-wechat-pay-china-mobile-payments-street-vendors-musicians-2018-5?utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_medium=syndication&amp;utm_source=yahoocom&amp;utm_source=yahoo\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:on a smartphone;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\">on a smartphone<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Despite those adjustments, Orsi said safety has been one of the most striking aspects of life in China. She said she&#8217;s often asked about the presence of surveillance cameras, but sees them as a positive.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"A man and his three kids eating their first meal in their new neighborhood in China.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"720\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/fj4VJHi_9j_ld_4CULk0iQ--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTcyMDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/business_insider_consolidated_articles_886\/e2a70cc1ab35d0c377d6a6e998a1ec07\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>Orsi said the level of safety in China has given her children more freedom to move about on their own.<span class=\"copyright\">Provided by Elisa Orsi.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;If anything were to go wrong, the issue would be resolved very, very quickly. So the children, they can be outside on their own,&#8221; Orsi said. She added that she probably wouldn&#8217;t feel comfortable giving her kids the same <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/mom-taught-kids-how-to-take-care-of-themselves-freedom-2025-3?utm_medium=syndication&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=yahoo&amp;utm_source=yahoocom\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:level of freedom;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\">level of freedom<\/a> even in Townsville, a city in North Queensland, where they lived before moving to Qatar.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">It&#8217;s also common to see children wearing kid-friendly smartwatches, which let them be more independent.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;You can see their location, they can call you, they can pay for things, and so they can go anywhere. They&#8217;ll <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/why-a-landline-helped-my-kids-make-their-own-plans-2025-12?utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_medium=syndication&amp;utm_source=yahoocom&amp;utm_source=yahoo\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:organize their own play dates;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\">organize their own play dates<\/a> and go and meet their friends,&#8221; she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">As a woman, Orsi also feels safe walking alone, including from the train station late at night. &#8220;I have not thought about it twice. I wouldn&#8217;t do it in Australia. And I wouldn&#8217;t do it in Argentina, where I&#8217;m from,&#8221; she said. Orsi moved to Australia in her teens and later met Sleight while working at a telecommunications company.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"Two kids along the Great Wall of China.\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"1440\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/PHZQuvd.GjPHXx3.ArMJmQ--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTE0NDA7Y2Y9d2VicA--\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/business_insider_consolidated_articles_886\/0fb36025bc4e6b90b2d0dbb4a84a9629\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>The family has been using school holidays to travel around China. In this photo, two of her kids are strolling along the Great Wall.<span class=\"copyright\">Provided by Eliza Orsi.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">It took a year, but Orsi says the family finally feels settled in their new home. Most of their social circle has grown out of the school community, including other parents and foreign teachers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">The longer school days have also given Orsi more time for herself. She said she&#8217;s picked up new hobbies, including learning to play the piano, going to the gym, and focusing on <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@TheWorldnUs\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:content creation;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\">content creation<\/a> for their YouTube channel, where she and Sleight document their family life in China.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Sleight is on a three-year contract at the school. As for what comes next, Orsi said the family hasn&#8217;t made any firm decisions.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">&#8220;I think we would probably like to move elsewhere and go to another country when our contract is up, but that could change,&#8221; she said. &#8220;We may very well decide to <a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/moved-america-to-china-feel-lonely-find-dating-difficult-2024-1?utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_medium=syndication&amp;utm_source=yahoocom&amp;utm_source=yahoo\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:stay in China;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\">stay in China<\/a> and move to another school or experience a different city.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><em>Do you have a story to share about relocating to a new city? Contact this reporter at <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/lifestyle\/articles\/mailto:agoh@businessinsider.com\" data-ylk=\"slk:agoh@businessinsider.com;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\"><em><u>agoh@businessinsider.com<\/u><\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Read the original article on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.businessinsider.com\/family-moved-china-kids-teacher-safe-independent-rent-abroad-hangzhou-2026-2\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Business Insider;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Business Insider<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/lifestyle\/articles\/moved-china-adventure-3-kids-234501728.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Elisa Orsi, David Sleight, and their three kids moved to China from Qatar in 2024. They live in a 4-bedroom apartment in<br \/><button class=\"read-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/world\/they-moved-to-china-for-a-new-adventure-their-3-kids-gained-independence-and-mom-has-time-for-hobbies\/15\/02\/2026\/\">Read More &rsaquo;<\/a><\/button><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":56758,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/FxRFpyQmunSHJxNpMUfRDw--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyMDA7aD05MDA7Y2Y9d2VicA--\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/business_insider_consolidated_articles_886\/343a74362f42210f486f5ea3d4c58252","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56757"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=56757"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56757\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/56758"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=56757"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=56757"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newssprinters.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=56757"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}