It's quite different to visit a place and knowing that you are going to settle down there. Once you decide that you wants to settle down many things change. But of course those changes can be both good and bad.
When I decided to stay in China after high school it was really tough to actually start to try to adopt the culture so that I could integrate into society.
It was extremely hard and I felt completely lost many times. But today I wouldn't change this experience for anything, I have learned a lot by making it on my own in China. It has definitely pushed me to grow a lot more than I would have done if I stayed my whole life in Sweden.
But I'm going back to Sweden next year. I have already spent half my life in China so it's about time hehe
Did you lean Mandarin? I only heard it would be super hard to learn.
The thing about me and Thailand is: I really really like it here and I could see myself staying here for quite sometime but also I want to see more and not settle down.
The laws are not very inviting to build yourself something here anyways.
I hope you write an full blown 5 pages article over your China experience some day :-)
Swing by Thailand before you go back to Europe :-)