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Post by alexis on Jul 5, 2004 23:56:12 GMT 7
I would really like everyones input on the following:
What do you consider the top 3 places in China to work and live? We have three teens that are coming with us for two years and are hoping to be in an area that we can survive off of 10000Y per month, have limiting teaching hours, 3 bedroom apt that isn't a dump and be in a relatively safe, culturally stimulating area. I really appreciate everyones help....
Alexis
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Post by Raoul Duke on Jul 6, 2004 1:55:18 GMT 7
I wouldn't answer these questions the same way. Top places to work? The biggest cities, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou. Top places to live? Suzhou, Dalian, Xiamen, and Qingdao. Best compromise? My vote here is Dalian or Tianjin.
The answer to this question is really very individual. It will depend upon the type of work you seek, salary requirements, preferences in weather, lifestyle issues such as a good "bar scene" or plentiful foreign luxuries, and so on...plus just plain luck.
Note- some places like Kunming are legendary as great places to be. As a result, the jobs in such places tend to pay crap and yet are still very hard to land. I'm not considering them here. I'm talking about places where you might actually find a decent job advertised.
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Post by alexis on Jul 6, 2004 2:51:42 GMT 7
I had thought about Dalian but where is Qingdao, Tianjin and Kunming? Have you ever visited them? If os, what did you think? Also, I am curious how long you have been in China? Where do you teach and how do you like it? Did you come to China with the intention of teaching english and where are you from?
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Post by Raoul Duke on Jul 6, 2004 3:08:37 GMT 7
Qingdao is in Shandong Province, east central. You know the big peninsula that juts into the Pacific south of Dalian? Qingdao is on the tip of that peninsula.
Tianjin is a municipality (no province) just east of Beijing.
Kunming is way out southwest, up in the mountains of Yunnan Province.
I've been to the first two and liked them. Kunming is on my list.
I've been here continuously for three years now...but this isn't my first trip. I first saw China in 1987. I teach Marketing and Management at Shanghai University. I love the teaching when I get good students but hate the program I'm in. I came here as an English teacher but it's been quite a camel ride since then. I'm American and I grew up in Oklahoma.
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Post by alexis on Jul 6, 2004 3:48:57 GMT 7
Did you meet your wife in china? Are the locals excepting of your marriage? I am wondering about my daughters dating....
Do you have a master's? I am actually actively getting my masters in business through a university online but will not be finished for a while. Do you have any connections at the university where we could apply for positions? My husband also has a B.A.
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Post by Dr. Gonzo on Jul 6, 2004 5:46:13 GMT 7
I'll just chip in for the good RD here. Shanghai University runs a joint program with the University of Technology Sydney [UTS], which prepares the spoilt, rich brats for study in Oz. I successfully interviewed there, but ultimately turned the offer down, as it gave me no great improvement in conditions compared to my current school, also in Shanghai; which I'm leaving on Saturday, BTW. Recruiting for both these places was completed quite some time ago. They pay better than average, and both ask for an ESL qualification if teaching English. An MBA is cool if teaching business subjects though. So Alexis, your timing is out as far as picking up decent public school jobs in Shanghai goes.
I haven't worked in Qingdao, Dalian, or Tianjin, but they are large, well developed cities in the NE. Qingdao is the one that appeals to me: some nice beaches, moderate climate, old German buildings, and very clean.............for China.
As I've said elsewhere, few schools will have 3 BR apartments. You'll need your schools help to get a place that's kosher with the authorities, and then you'll probably have to find the rent yourselves.
Have a close look at Suzhou whilst you are there. Its a lovely little city and very close to Shanghai. I was offered a 5,000 job there a few years back. Two of those would set you up comfortably, if not regally.
PS As for culture, it is one of the top places. To be born in Suzhou, live in Hangzhou, with its famous and beautiful West Lake, eat in Guangzhou, and be buried in Liuzhou, where they make the best coffins.
Liuzhou's a dump otherwise.
Other essential places for Chinese to visit are Guilin and Beijing. Salaries in these places are paltry, however.
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Post by beerdang on Jul 6, 2004 11:11:18 GMT 7
Did you meet your wife in china? Are the locals excepting of your marriage? I am wondering about my daughters dating.... Do you have a master's? I am actually actively getting my masters in business through a university online but will not be finished for a while. Do you have any connections at the university where we could apply for positions? My husband also has a B.A. There is no such thing called dating for chinese teenagers if that is what you are wondering about. They do date in private away from parents and teachers' scrutiny. Sex education is almost nonexistant in high school. I have pointed it before that chinese teenagers live very unbalanced lives. But if your daughter finds someone she likes, they can date. But it won't happen in a "normal" way. She just needs to learn to deal with frustrations. |
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Post by Raoul Duke on Jul 7, 2004 0:41:41 GMT 7
Alexis also sent this as a PM and I answered her there...
Beerdang is spot-on with the dating. 7-day-a-week, 14-hour-a-day study schedules seem to overcome even raging teenage hormones. Once in college all hell breaks loose...except in the classroom. If one isn't married by 26 one is considered at risk of being an Old Maid.
My students here may be mostly unimaginative voidoids with no comprehension of world-standard educational methods, but then to my knowledge none of them are pregnant out of wedlock, smoking crack, or packing heat, either.
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