|
Post by Miss Motz on Jun 12, 2006 7:37:40 GMT 7
Hi All, My plans have changed slightly, I've decided to try and get a job in Beijing first ...before braving the freezing winters of the North East , wont head up that way till Septemberish.http://photobucket.com/albums/v647/saloonsmile/ao.gif[/IMG] . I'm looking at leaving in Early January (like first couple of days if I can swing it). I realise that most jobs wont start till after spring break, but any thoughts on if it will be possible to get a short term (really short term) gig till after spring break?? I'm tempted to travel for the time frame between when I leave here and spring break...dunno. Thanks in Advance for the ideas. Motz
|
|
|
Post by Miss Motz on Jun 12, 2006 7:40:59 GMT 7
I'm thinking to head North East next September, after I aclimatise a little
|
|
|
Post by Lotus Eater on Jun 12, 2006 9:07:06 GMT 7
Beijing can get awfully cold in winter too! You are still looking in the minuses (av. -2/-5) around the time you plan to come. True it's still not the - 15/-22 of Harbin - but for an Aussie girl - it's still BLOODY cold.
|
|
Ruth
SuperDuperMegaBarfly
God's provisions are strategically placed along the path of your obedience.
Posts: 3,915
|
Beijing
Jun 12, 2006 14:58:36 GMT 7
Post by Ruth on Jun 12, 2006 14:58:36 GMT 7
Should be some winter camps going on during the Spring Festival. These aren't the sit-around-the-campfire-and-sing-songs camps. Camps here are intensive English lessons crammed into a two or three week period during summer or winter holidays. Not sure I'd want to start my China experience that way, though. It's a way to make reasonably good money for a short period of time. If you survived.
|
|
|
Beijing
Jun 14, 2006 20:15:45 GMT 7
Post by Dajiang on Jun 14, 2006 20:15:45 GMT 7
You could have a go at some of the language mills. They prefer longer term obviously, but they take people whenever they need them.
I've got a contact at Badaling if you're interested, but this is about an hour North of Beijing (half hour by express bus). It's at a private university (big difference with public uni), and I had a great time when I was there in 2003.
Don't worry about the cold too much. I know you're from Oz and not used to much, but they've got warm clothes in Beijing (buy most of them there cheap), and the heaters generally work well. That's a difference with the South for instance, where it also gets cold, but no one has central heating. Lots of people there leave the doors and windows open as well, just sitting inside with their jackets on...
Plus it's great to walk over the ice at the Summer palace, go skating in Yuyuantan, and see the great wall covered with snow.
Dajiang
|
|
|
Beijing
Jun 15, 2006 12:17:32 GMT 7
Post by Raoul Duke on Jun 15, 2006 12:17:32 GMT 7
I go with Lotus on this one...Beijing isn't Harbin or Changchun, but it still gets damn cold in the winter. You can handle it but be prepared.
Also second Ruth...I can't recommend a camp (winter OR summer) as a way to start out. A lot of people do, but a lot of them quickly go home disillusioned and exhausted. Of course, I never recommend camp work, even to seasoned veterans. However, some people seem to like them.
Be aware that Beijing is NOT a cheap town to live in. It's better than Shanghai but still not cheap. I would turn down any job paying less than 8K plus free apartment, with a derisive laugh and a contemptuous sneer. One chooses Beijing because of all the cool things to do and see there...and it takes money to do and see them.
Working for a private English mill is always an iffy proposition, but one big one I can recommend you avoid is the Modern English school. I loved my students there, but I also got to experience exciting new frontiers in teacher neglect and broken promises. It's the one school I've simply bolted from in the night.
|
|
|
Post by Miss Motz on Jun 16, 2006 7:23:39 GMT 7
Next question, does it matter what are of Beijing youwork/live in?? is there one better/worse than most???
|
|
|
Beijing
Jun 16, 2006 12:22:42 GMT 7
Post by cheekygal on Jun 16, 2006 12:22:42 GMT 7
There is difference. If you really want to come to Beijing for short term - check www.thatsbj.com and www.thatsmagazines.com for job adds. I will tell you all about it but not right now - I have to sit down and gather my thoughts as they are actually all over the place!!!!
|
|
|
Beijing
Jun 16, 2006 14:35:13 GMT 7
Post by Miss Motz on Jun 16, 2006 14:35:13 GMT 7
We're thinking to start with a 6 month contract if possible and go from there, I realise that it will affect the pay and bonus conditions but I just don't feel comfortable commiting to a 12 month contract at the moment, especially for a first contract. Cheeks any info at all will be great, I wait with eager ears... or should that be eyes....... or mind..... hhm dunno, its' friday and my brains a little on the mushy side due to lack of use over the Uni holidays
|
|
nolefan
Barfly
Quod me nutrit, me destruit!
Posts: 686
|
Beijing
Jun 16, 2006 15:47:52 GMT 7
Post by nolefan on Jun 16, 2006 15:47:52 GMT 7
i hate the cold but i think that Beijing's temperatures are not that extreme in winter. Nothing a good jacket and an extra layer of longjohns won't take care of. Cheeks has lived here about a year longer than i have and can tell you a bit more. I have not exactly been searching for teaching gigs here but i come across plenty of them all the time. If you're looking at 6 months, then i suggest a job that provides accommodations. You do not want to be dealing with rent, utilities and landlords if you're here for 6 months only.
Haidan district is home to a high number of universities and will remind you of anycollegetown,USA with bars, cheap eats and what not. Chaoyang is the expat district by excellence. home to Sanlitun, China world Center, most of the embassies and so forth... a real money blackhole but it's got everything. The outskirts are not too bad but they impair your ability to get around because you'd be relying on taxis and going anywhere will cost you a pretty dime ( 30 to 50 RMB on average)
|
|
Chian
Upstanding Citizen
Cool Raoul, Relax Max, Lucky Mary, ...
Posts: 120
|
Post by Chian on Aug 6, 2006 16:02:43 GMT 7
<Offensive content removed by Raoul at the request of the target.>
|
|
|
Post by Raoul Duke on Aug 7, 2006 3:45:04 GMT 7
And what does this mean, exactly?
If you're going to leave a comment like this hanging out there, in the Library no less, you'd damn well better have more to back it up.
|
|
|
Post by cheekygal on Aug 7, 2006 11:24:34 GMT 7
heh indeed - bring it on, i am all eyes
|
|