Job Discussion Forums

[ShapeSphere]

Peggie,

Again I understand your good points.

I think you misunderstood my point. I said we are NOT indispensable. I agree with you on that item.

But if a boss needs to bring in a new or replacement teacher, it takes time, effort and money - so we have more clout than back home. Our scenario is vastly different.

Tradinup says the idea of a Union is 'highly amusing'. Couldn't agree more. No need for such drama. My previous posts urged just some resistance but not revolution.

This thread could just run and run.

[bdawg]

[ShapeSphere]

Bdawg - you'd love pantomime then!

Is he right kids?

Oh yes he is!

Oh no he isn't!

But so glad you have learnt something. If only Chinese students could say the same.

[yamahuh]

Butt there are those who take less than 3,000 RMB - in cities like Beijing!

There are even people coming here for nothin.

There are even people paying for the privalidge of coming here!

W H Y ? [/quote]

Dude if you can make 14,000 a month with spelling like that show me where to sign up.

[peggiescott]

I'm sorry ShapeSphere,

I'll need to read your posts more carefully before I respond.

And I agree with what you say too. I'll sure be looking for a few more bucks next year and expect to have whatever's needed to justify a raise.

Peggie

[Roger]

[Socrates]

Dude if you can make 14,000 a month with spelling like that show me where to sign up.[/quote]



Not to be a stickler, and not to piss anyone off,
but:

Dude, if you can make 14 000 a month with grammar like that, show me where to sign up.

Or,

Dude, if you can make 14 000 a month, with grammar like that, show me where to sign up.

Cheers. Socrates

[tradinup]

Your first suggestion is right. You don't want a comma breaking up a single point in the sentence. The idea is just to give the reader a break during long sentences, or to list items.

[yamahuh]

Well, I was actually talking about spelling not grammar, but I guess the correction still applies.
Fair Dues.
Commas can be so definitive.
A good illustration of the point is the tale of the panda who walks into a brothel, performs cunnilingus on his 'date', ejaculates and walks out.
The girl says "What the hell was that?"
Her workmate says "I think it was a panda"
The girl looks up panda in the dictionary and comes up with the following description "Large bear like mammal, native to Tibet and China with black and white markings, eats, shoots and leaves.."

I know, I know

[Socrates]

He he he...
Cheers, Socrates

[ericcjensen]

Hi,

This is a really interesting thread/discussion topic, but I was wondering if anyone could comment on differences on the cost of living throughout China.

I've heard that Shanghai and Beijing are a lot more pricey living-wise than the more Western, rural parts of China. So I suspect that 3500 rmb monthly would go a lot farther in the smaller towns than in the larger cities...just as there's a big difference between earning 30k a year in Hickville, Wyoming vs. New York City. But I haven't been to China myself, so these are just educated guesses. Could anyone comment on whether this is the case?

Like Richie, I'll be soon going to China on a 3500 rmb salary. While some may call me a fool (although anyone who tells me to 'stop f***ing the job market, wake up' should have remembered to bring their valium from home, I suspect). However, the other foreign teachers at the school I'm going to (Shangqiu Normal University, in a moderately small city in Henan Province) tell me that this amount is more than enough to live comfortably.

Anyway, I'd really appreciate any feedback (assuming it's non-inflammatory).

Thanks! --EJ

[ContemporaryDog]

3500 will probably be OK there. But If I were you I'd check out the rules at that school. I've seen some bad reports about schools in Henan. There is one person on Dave's Job Journal who was at a school where he could NEVER leave the campus at ANY time!!! Not even to go to the shops!!!

[peggiescott]

Hello Eric,

I live in a smaller city, probably much like the one you will be in. I can easily live on 2000 RMB a month. The larger cities are more expensive to live in, true, but the other factor is that they offer more ways for you to spend your money. You won't find a Starbucks in your town so you won't even be tempted by a $3.00 Mocha Grande.

It's usually not the cost of living that eats up your paycheck. It's the other obligations you have or recreations you choose. If you have $200 (sorry, if you're not from the US, just substitute your own currency.) in student loans or credit card bills then you'll be sending half your paycheck home. If you plan to go home for the winter holiday or travel extensively you'll need to save quite a bit each month.

It's not often mentioned here but the difference between a 10 and a 12 month contract can be quite significant. If you are making 3500 a month for 12 months at a public school that gives you a 2 month summer holiday then you are "earning" 4200 a month for the months you work. There are many opportunities to work during the summer if you choose to.

Peggie

[ChinaEFLteacher]

ericjensen, 3500rmb is okay and you can live comfortably. however, if you would have bargained with them you could have made more.
salary in china is totally subjective and you should never believe them when they say they can 'only' pay you so much. they can usually afford more in most cases. the chinese are expert bargainers and will give you as little as possible, so you have to work to get more.
if you do get more, and you probably could, you'll be able to save for travelling during the vacations. although 3500 is enough to save for travel, more money means having more options for types of travel. for example, tibet is expensive to go to, and you'd really have to live frugally to save enough to go there on 3500, but if you had more you wouldn't have to worry about finances as much.

[millie]