Loneliness and the language barrier

Few people find it easy to acclimatize to life in another country, but middle-age parents who accompany their children overseas find it especially difficult.

Beijing resident Wu Ping, who has spent more than a year in the United States with her 15-year-old son, said displaced parents usually encounter two main problems. "One is the language barrier, and the other is the loneliness engendered by long-term separation from families back home," the 46-year-old said.

Wu's words rang true to Tang Xiaobing, who accompanied her 14-year-old son to the US in 2013.

The history graduate speaks little English, so she relied on her younger sister, who lives in the US, to communicate with the school about her son's performance.

"I tried to learn the language by listening to tapes, but I made little progress. My poor English kept me from making friends with foreign people, and my only friends were the owner of a Chinese restaurant in town and his family," said Tang, who has now returned to China.

Wu's proficiency in English has saved her a lot of trouble, but she has other concerns. "It's extremely lonely living far from home," she said. "I feel sorry for my husband, who works and lives alone at home in China. He needs my company and care."

She's also concerned that a long separation from his father could cause problems for their son. "Young boys need a lot of love, guidance, and support from their fathers. I'm worried that a long-term separation may result in my son becoming estranged from his father," she said.