Beijing- Each day Ortonville native Jane Kier Moore works, shops and enjoys entertainment’a lifestyle synonymous with most the United States.
Yet for Kier Moore each day’s subtle differences, like CNN’s frequent blackouts due to government censoring reminds her that life in Communist China is far from the freedoms of home.
Like thousands of other American citizens now residing in foreign countries Kier Moore, 51, is known as an ‘Ex-Pat? or expatriate. Since May 2000 Kier Moore and her husband Bruce, an actuary with Ernst and Young, a global company that assists businesses have lived in the Far East. With the exception of a stint in Tokyo in 2001 the couple has relocated to Beijing China.
‘We ex-pats have become a growing population’there’s lots of others living with their spouses in foreign countries,? said Kier Moore, a 1971 Brandon High School graduate who attended the University of Michigan earning a bachelor’s degree and later a master’s degree in Liberal Arts. In 1975 she completed her studies with a Masters in Business Administration from Georgia State in Atlanta.
Kier Moore, who has a part-time jewelry business, says living among the general population of Chinese during the past few years is still evolving.
‘People are getting more used to seeing foreigners in Beijing,? said Kier Moore. ‘Still there are some Chinese that come from the countryside that have never seen foreigners, especially Americans. They kind of stare at you and are surprised.?
Kier Moore says there has been a trend in Beijing to more of a corporate society.
‘Just during the past few years that we’ve lived here the old Beijing is fast disappearing,? said Kier Moore. ‘The city is working toward the 2008 Summer Olympics’it’s truly a metamorphosis.?
Locals tell her that more than one million people now live in Beijing illegally’attracted to the city from the countryside seeking construction jobs.
‘The communist government requires citizens have a permit to work either in the city or country,? she said. ‘Many come to Beijing to work construction and make very little just to avoid getting caught.?
Kier Moore continues to take classes learning the Chinese language and live among the general population.
‘As a corporation it’s very challenging to do business in China,? she said ‘But for us it’s been a very positive experience.?