When hai gui 海归 become hai dai 海待

Since I stopped travelling on projects, I finally began to look for a new job in Singapore. I was warned that the process could be mind numbingly slow here (3-6 months), given the time of year, the small market and niche that Singapore occupies vis-à-vis the rest of Asia, my decision to switch out of a consulting/finance career, and the lower compensation that comes along with it. All of the above did come to light, but what I didn't expect and didn't fully appreciate, were the occasionally unreasonable biases that overseas returnees like myself would face after spending years abroad.

Many Asian cities have seen a reverse brain drain in recent years. In the past, overseas students like my hubby, siblings and I would find a job and settle abroad in pursuit of greener pastures. Many still do but a growing number don't - trading in their foreign education and experience for unique opportunities at home. This wave of returnees are dubbed hai gui (海归), a pun on the sea turtles (海龟) that swim to home shores to lay their eggs. As the returnees failed to find good work, they became hai dai (海待) or floating seaweed (海带).

It's a shame to see this negative phenomenon in cities like Singapore, Shanghai and Hong Kong where a meeting of supply and demand is not only needed, but beneficial for both sides. Overseas returnees are perceived as arrogant, unrealistic in their expectations and unfamiliar with the Asian market. Furthermore, locally-based companies claim to be more pragmatic than foreign companies, in that they demand "value for money," hence, every new hire must have what it takes to do the job from the get-go. A few local managers and headhunters have also admitted that it's hard for overseas returnees to fit in given their brash manners, awkward accents and foreign outlooks. There might be a sliver of truth in these arguments BUT:

1. Arrogance goes both ways. Some locals might feel envious of/intimidated by overseas returnees or have a misplaced superiority complex given Asia's rapid growth. This is particularly true for those who lack exposure to the global economy or racial, political and cultural diversity.
2. Manage risk, not avoid it. The world's best companies don't use pragmatic as an excuse for being risk adverse. Instead, they compete by reinventing themselves, attracting and recruiting diverse talent with both potential and experience.
3. Protectionism and colonialism alienate the wrong people. Not only do overseas returnees deserve the same respect and acceptance accorded to both locally born-and-bred folks as well as foreigners, they possess the understanding and ability to bridge these "we know best" and "white is right" camps.
   

At the end of the day, those who succeed are the ones who adapt. When in Rome, let's do as the Romans did in successfully assimilating the best in culture, art, science, philosophy and people from its territories worldwide. All Asians should take note. As for her overseas returnees: Be patient and persevere!

Related articles of interest:

• March of the 'hai gui'
• China's 'sea turtles' returning to home shores
  
• How do 'sea turtles' turn out to be 'seaweed'? (edited title)
• 'Sea turtles' losing the job race