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Contemplating China. Need advice
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The Internationalist



Joined: 26 May 2012
Posts: 110

PostPosted: Fri Jun 01, 2012 11:46 am    Post subject: Contemplating China. Need advice Reply with quote

What is the best way to go about getting a decent job that pays for your flight? btw I hold a business degree and a short time teaching in Korea.

Also generally speaking, how much can one save a month with going out and having a few drinks 1-2 times a week? (salary would for a newb with a bachelors)

Would like to go teach in China while I do an online program.

Thanks
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rogerwilco



Joined: 10 Jun 2010
Posts: 1549

PostPosted: Fri Jun 01, 2012 11:52 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Jobs in China typically pay for a round-trip flight only after the completion of a 10-12 month contract.
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xiguagua



Joined: 09 Oct 2011
Posts: 768

PostPosted: Fri Jun 01, 2012 3:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If you know how to scrimp and save then going out a few times a week will save you SOME money......but not a lot. I dunno about where you guys are, but here, going to the bar and getting a bottle of (usually fake) whiskey runs about 400 yuan or more. Say if you're making 5k per month, going out twice a week can be 1k yuan per week easy......that's 4k a month. Not gonna be saving enough to do anything spectacular.

And yeah, any job that you should consider taking will pay for your flights.
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dean_a_jones



Joined: 03 Jul 2009
Posts: 1151
Location: Wuhan, China

PostPosted: Fri Jun 01, 2012 3:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

xiguagua wrote:
I dunno about where you guys are, but here, going to the bar and getting a bottle of (usually fake) whiskey runs about 400 yuan or more.


I hope you are paying with fake notes.

For university jobs you will usually get an airfare reimbursement. Look out in the contract for how much this is, what you need to provide (if anything) to recieve it and when you are likely to get it. As others have said, you will have to pay up front (at least for the flight in). Some schools reimburse twice a year (i.e. October/June) which might mean you get half of your allowance earlier. You will likely have to wait for the second half, if not all of it, until May/June.

As noted above, if you are drinking two bottles of fake whisky a week things might get expensive. If you are happy to drink the local stuff (i.e. relatively poor quality beer) then dinner/drinks with fellow teachers might set you back 40-50 RMB. In the expat bars here (where I am) imported beers tend to be pricy (25 - 60 RMB, more for draught) but plenty of places also offer good deals (and the local beers are usually 10 RMB or so). As always, one person's idea of fun/value may seem boring/expensive to someone else. Once you figure out where you want to go, check out the expat forums/websites if they exist and see what is being discussed, i.e.: http://www.wuhantime.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?fid=19
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The Internationalist



Joined: 26 May 2012
Posts: 110

PostPosted: Fri Jun 01, 2012 5:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yea cheap beers is all I need.
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cfocpamba



Joined: 18 Sep 2010
Posts: 22

PostPosted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 10:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

If you enter China the proper way, I believe you have to have an SAFE approved contract providing return airfare. As this is China, variations are possible although they are probably unapproved. Regardless, there is really no reason not to enter the country with a proper contract covering round trip air fare.

As to the savings question, the savable income is from $ 500 to $ 2,000 per month without night life. This amount could disappear as quickly in Mongolia as it could in New York City. Note, there is no end-of-the-contract social security/pension payment like Korea in China.
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Miles Smiles



Joined: 07 Jun 2010
Posts: 1294
Location: Heebee Jeebee

PostPosted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 10:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Your best bet is for one to do some research instead of expecting others to do do it for you. That includes visiting job websites. That will give one a good idea of what to expect from schools in China. Another good font of advice is the search engine here at Dave's ESL Cafe. You might not find the exact answer you need in the first few search results, but you'll find other information that you might not have even considered.

Apply for a few jobs. Find out what jobs in different schools and different types of schools offer in various locations offer. The best way to find out anything is to find out for yourself.

You will need to be resourceful to live and work in China. If you aren't self-reliant and resourceful now, you should start practicing. Your mother probably doesn't live and work in China.

Sorry if this answer seems harsh, but if you can't find this information and figure out the answer on your own, you'll be completely lost when you get to China.
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Trebek



Joined: 30 Oct 2003
Posts: 401
Location: China

PostPosted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 11:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The Internationalist wrote:
Yea cheap beers is all I need.


They have plenty of cheap beer. Taste is generally not bad. 2.5 percent is the norm. Goes good with dumplings!
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Aristede



Joined: 06 Aug 2009
Posts: 180

PostPosted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 11:08 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Miles Smiles wrote:

You will need to be resourceful to live and work in China. If you aren't self-reliant and resourceful now, you should start practicing. Your mother probably doesn't live and work in China.

Sorry if this answer seems harsh, but if you can't find this information and figure out the answer on your own, you'll be completely lost when you get to China.


It is extremely harsh. The guy said he has taught overseas before. You have no idea how old he is, and for all you know, his mother is no longer alive, which would render your comment even more unpleasant. The Internet is a resource and so are these boards, so to come here and ask questions is taking a form of action. I don't see anything in his post that indicates he wants other people to do everything for him.
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choudoufu



Joined: 25 May 2010
Posts: 3325
Location: Mao-berry, PRC

PostPosted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 12:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

the assumption is recent graduate, little to no work experience,
and six months in k-land.
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Aristede



Joined: 06 Aug 2009
Posts: 180

PostPosted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 12:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

choudoufu wrote:
the assumption is recent graduate, little to no work experience,
and six months in k-land.


Or "newb" to China with little teaching experience. Neither circumstance justifies chastisement for seeking advice.
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zactherat



Joined: 24 Aug 2011
Posts: 295

PostPosted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 12:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

6 months?

I think we can assume broken contract in K land.

I imagine people that break contracts in Korea are very likely to follow suit in China.
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scholar



Joined: 18 May 2012
Posts: 159

PostPosted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 2:24 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Why not drink soft drinks or spring water? Alcohol clouds the mind both in the short term and on the broader emotional-mental perspective. Why not go alcohol-free? You could save money and improve your life. I suggest you to go this route.
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choudoufu



Joined: 25 May 2010
Posts: 3325
Location: Mao-berry, PRC

PostPosted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 3:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

scholar wrote:
Why not drink soft drinks or spring water?


Have you ever seen a communist drink a glass of water?

Vodka, that's what they drink, isn't it? Never water.

On no account will a commie ever drink water. And not without good reason.
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The Great Wall of Whiner



Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Posts: 4946
Location: Blabbing

PostPosted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 3:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

zactherat wrote:

I imagine people that break contracts in Korea are very likely to follow suit in China.


Debunked.

I and my friend both broke contracts while in Korea. I also stayed in China at the same school for nearly 9 years, while he did a 3-year run in Japan at the same place.
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