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Post by Nate M on Dec 6, 2004 18:46:04 GMT 7
So, I'm coming up on a two month vacation here, and was thinking about doing a winter camp to put a bit of money in my pocket. I'm in Tianjin right now, but I'm more than willing to travel around a bit, prefereably somewhere warm. Does anyone have any recommendations?
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Post by Raoul Duke on Dec 6, 2004 23:13:11 GMT 7
Yes: have your head examined. Those summer and winter camps are, IMHO, absolute nightmares to be taken on only in the most extreme circumstances.
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Post by Nate M on Dec 7, 2004 5:35:01 GMT 7
Suggestions for alternative money-making schemes?
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Post by ChinaGurl on Dec 7, 2004 7:22:13 GMT 7
Counterfeit is what immediately comes to mind.
Of course, you could rob a bank, too, but that's a little more risky.
Just get your Canadian relatives to send you some cash. The exchange rate is phenomenal right now.
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Post by Raoul Duke on Dec 11, 2004 16:49:33 GMT 7
Nate, there's always part-time teaching. Usually easy to find in most places, fewer strings than full-time gigs and, in context, a much better deal than the camps.
The camps are major gravy for the English mills...they make huge profits on these things by working the teachers (and the students) half to death over the holiday season. The per-hour rate you get usually sucks ass. And as I often point out, a lot of illegal migrant labor (ie no Residence Permit) gets hired for these things. Don't go there.
Aren't you in or near Beijing? Keep an eye on That's magazines. All kinds of interesting things bubble up in there from time to time.
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Post by Nate M on Dec 11, 2004 18:47:57 GMT 7
Great minds think alike, Raoul. I just went and submitted a want ad there before coming and reading this.
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woza17
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Post by woza17 on Jan 3, 2005 8:39:30 GMT 7
Nate I am also facing a 7 week unpaid holiday and am putting feelers out. One possible is in Guangdong 4 hours a day for 10 days, accommodation and food provided. This appeals to me I have done a couple of camps with the long hours at the hottest time of the year and won't ever go there again, as mentioned the hourly rate becomes ridiculous. One recruiter would like me to go to Shandong on the 28th 7 and half hours a day at 120 an hour. An English woman has also shown interest but as my experience has taught me in the past, they hire the teachers first and then hope enough students register to make the camps financially viable. Cheers Carol
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Post by Raoul Duke on Jan 3, 2005 12:30:37 GMT 7
Either that, or they enroll a vast pile of students and then about 3 days before class starts think, "Oh, yeah, we'll need teachers, won't we?" Hi Woozas!
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Post by George61 on Jan 3, 2005 19:00:51 GMT 7
Woz, where in Shandong would they like you to go?
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Post by Nate M on Jan 4, 2005 3:49:13 GMT 7
If it's the one I applied to, then it should be in Zaozhuang. I kind of let all job searching activities slide while I was doing finals, though, so I've probably missed out on this one.
Woza, if you decide to skip on the Guandong camp, feel free te send an email my way, as I might just be interested.
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Post by woza17 on Jan 5, 2005 6:21:30 GMT 7
Nate, that is the same city in Shandong that you enquired about, my contact's name is Odette. I am still waiting on an interview with the guy in Guangdong, I will let you know how that one goes and see how many teachers he wants. George judging by your smily Shandong is a so so place. We have had a cold snap for 2 days here in Guangdong and it was a bit of a shock to the system I may decide to stay south. Cheers Carol
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Post by George61 on Jan 5, 2005 8:33:30 GMT 7
No Woz...that wasn't a smiley...a double question mark--which I am wont to do-- produces that gloomy face. Actually Shandong is great, bloody cold at the moment, but with proper housing, it can be lived in.....I haven't got proper housing!!!
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Post by woza17 on Jan 7, 2005 16:07:31 GMT 7
Hi Raoul, sorry I forgot to say hullo before. I have decided to take the Shandong job. We will be staying in a 1 to 2 star hotel. I just tried to add a smiley which I have never done before and I got this. Anyway it's about time I roughed it. The guy in Guangdong still hasn't got back to us if he does I will give you his contact numbers Nate. George is their any snow up that way? Cheers Woza
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Post by woza17 on Jan 12, 2005 13:33:36 GMT 7
Nate for what it's worth here is the Guangdong contact. His name is Peter peterguy@teqp.net. We still haven't heard back from him. Cheers Carol
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Post by George61 on Jan 12, 2005 17:19:02 GMT 7
Probably not Woz...Zhaozhuang is a bit souther of Jinan, and we have none left. The G/Fs boss, a uppity Swedish Miss tells us she went skiing on the weekend in Jinan...artificial snow...then spent time at Paintball!!!!! My school has told me I will get paid holidays.. Bloody hope so, cos I will be broke after a flying trip to Aus.
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Post by Nate M on Jan 13, 2005 10:10:58 GMT 7
Hey Woza, looks like I'll be joining you in Shandong. I had been told, though, that the hotel was 2-3 star, not 1-2 star.
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Post by woza17 on Jan 16, 2005 12:01:25 GMT 7
The paintball sounds fun George, I have always wanted to do that. Nate, we sent off our photos on Saturday as requested, they are not hiring sight unseen. We will take it from there but if there is not a definite confirmation by Wednesday I may forget the whole thing. Did you ever follow up the Peter guy from Guangdong? Cheers Carol
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Post by Nate M on Jan 16, 2005 12:49:04 GMT 7
Yeah, I know. I actually went and had an interview with them in Beijing, in a very posh office across the street from the Beijing World Trade Center. They told me they'd sent the contract, but I haven't recieved it in the mail, yet.
I noticed they put up another ad on Asiaexpat, though, so they can't be through hiring, yet.
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Post by Nate M on Jan 16, 2005 12:56:18 GMT 7
And no, I hadn't gotten in touch about the GD job. Maybe I should, seeing how long this process seems to be taking here.
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Post by George61 on Jan 17, 2005 5:12:02 GMT 7
I will follow up on the paintball, Woz...I always wanted to try it too............the picture of a 63 year old idiot running (staggering?) through the Chinese bush, carrying a paint gun, does suggest senility.....but WTF!!!!
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Post by woza17 on Jan 18, 2005 14:32:11 GMT 7
Hey George can we get to choose the colours? Do you have walkie talkies and and infra red night vision stuff like that? Do you wear kaki thats not spelt right is it, I mean the material that looks like a babys nappy. Nate we heard back that she hasn't received our photos yet so we sent them again my feeling is that she would prefer to hire from Beijing, she meets the people and chooses fom there, anyway my friend is getting pissed off and is already composing a nasty letter to NZ head office. Bugger, I have 5 weeks ahead of me with nothing to do. I am not a good tourist I need to work and experience new environments to make me feel whole . I will keep you posted. Cheerfully yours
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Post by Lager on Jan 19, 2005 9:01:22 GMT 7
I love both travel and unemployment but it's catching up with me. Took last summer off and now looking at nos salary for Feb. No cash to travel and 6 weeks or so off. I'll be going to a new city so I'll learn my way around locally---can also be good.
Ggood luck to you 2---Shandong is OK and there are some "must see" things there .
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Post by woza17 on Jan 20, 2005 7:43:10 GMT 7
In one way you are lucky, lager, about the the travel without the luxury of work. For the first time in my life I have the time and money to go anywhere I want in the world but no desire. Anyway Dongguan has it all. Yesterday went to a state park 30 minutes away, pristine, then had dinnner outside in the open, relatively clean air, in a place that looks like Hong Kong 100 years ago. Not even Roger has discovered the beauty of Dongguan yet. I'm getting off the point here. Nate,. Odette the contact in Bejing rang yesterday and she has our photos said I was really beautiful ( you have to love this country) it's on. This week I will organise all my teaching material, I have four sets of monopoly and two sets of twister and I have to bring my toaster and lanchoo tea, have to sort out the dog, I really want to bring him I took him to summer camp last year and it was a great. the kids really loved him and were very gentle. See you there. Cheers
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Post by Nate M on Jan 21, 2005 22:25:05 GMT 7
So, a full week and a half after she told me she was sending me the contract, I get an email "I am sorry to tell you that school has keep 10 teachers with more teaching experience.", and so on. Christ, it wouldn't be so bad except that I feel like I was dicked around so much and wasted a lot of time expecting this to be a done deal. Now it's probably too late to find something else. Well, I can't say I wasn't warned on this. Thanks to everyone who's chipped in.
Be sure to let everyone know how this goes, Woza. Or at least send me a PM or something, to satisfy my curiousity. Take care.
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Post by woza17 on Jan 22, 2005 8:53:22 GMT 7
Sorry to hear about that Nate, I was really expecting that could happen. I was looking forward to meeting you. Do you have a plan B. I received the contract yesterday. I will keep you posted. There is one part of the contract I find puzzling, at the end of the course the students will evaluate the teachers performance and money (not specified how much) will be deducted. Buggered if I know what that means. Can't get train tickests will have to fly. Cheers
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