Three H-1B failures: A Harvard grad’s return to China

Fang’s path to the US began long before his master’s degree. As a student from Nanjing who spent time in Oregon as an exchange student, he developed a deep appreciation for the American emphasis on individuality. During his time at the University of Minnesota, he found himself surprised by the relaxed academic expectations and the spontaneous kindness of strangers, experiences that stood in sharp contrast to his early life in China. Yet, his return to China in 2024 revealed how much he had changed.

After years in the American workforce, Fang found himself struggling with the subtle power dynamics and hierarchical cues embedded in Chinese social interactions. He describes feeling less sensitive to authority than his peers, a trait he attributes to his time in the US. Even his employment at an American tech firm in Beijing has invited scrutiny from relatives, who often question his loyalties through the lens of ongoing US-China tensions. Despite the friction, Fang has found a sense of community that he struggled to maintain while chasing a visa in California. He now balances a healthier work-life schedule, appreciating the intricate web of mutual support that defines his current life in Beijing.