Job Discussion Forums

[Javelin of Radiance]

I'm copying this, with some modifications, from another thread on a different part of the forum, as I thought it was interesting, especially since one member is currently having problems getting things fixed in their flat. Plus I'm bored and want to try out this poll thing.

1. Do you live on or off campus?
2. How much do you pay for rent?
3. If you pay, is it good value for the money, or is it over-priced?
4. How many rooms in your apartment?
5. How is your internet service?
6. If you need something fixed, does your school or landlord fix things promptly without moaning about it?
7. How far is your apartment from your normal workplace?
8. How far are you from the nearest department store or supermarket?
9. Are you close to an inter-city bus or train station?
10. How close are you to the nearest airport?
11. Would you say its safe or not safe in the area where you live?
12. Anything you dislike about your apartment?
13. What else do you like about your apartment?

1. On campus.
2. No cost to me.
3. ---
4. Living room, kitchen, bathroom, three bedrooms, balcony. Good for singles, or husband and wife with possibly one or two other biological units.
5. Fast, reliable.
6. Yes.
7. Five - seven minute walk.
8. 10-20 minutes by bus. 30-60 minutes on foot.
9. Less than 30 minutes by public transit.
10. 1 hour.
11. Aside from the normal pickpockets and terrible drivers outside our little bubble, it's very safe.
12. Faces the wrong direction, not enough natural light and sunshine. Great in summer (keeps me cool), not so great in winter (keeps me cool).
13. a. Because it's free I've saved tons of money that can be used for other things.
b. No weirdo room-mates.
c. It feels like home.

[roadwalker]

*On campus.
*No rent, I do pay for water/ electricity. No gas.
*-------------
*2 bedrooms, living, kitchen, bathroom. Balcony off one bedroom.
*Free (campus) internet slow but reliable. I paid for DSL. Usually faster.
*Yes, will get right on it if something needs fixing or replacing.
*Depends on teaching building. 5 min walk or 20 minute brisk walk/7 min bicycle ride.
*5 minutes from three smallish supermarkets, 10 minute walk to a bigger one and 30 minutes by bus downtown to a mega-store.
*25 minutes by bus to train and bus stations. Another 25 to the G-train.
*By car, about 2 1/2 to 3 hours to airport.
*Very safe area.
*Don't likes: apartment is dark and sometimes colder than outside. Has some water damage with mold in a room I don't use for that reason. (Climate partly to blame- humid summers and damp winters.)
*Likes: Location is great. Seldom problems with things not working.

[D-M]

1. Do you live on or off campus?

In a fairly quiet residential area away from main roads.

2. How much do you pay for rent?

Its part of the job. Electricity, water and internet are also covered.


4. How many rooms in your apartment?

Its a shared place. I just have a private lockable room with shower and WC.

5. How is your internet service?

Not great. Its very slow as everyone in the building uses the same line.

6. If you need something fixed, does your school or landlord fix things promptly without moaning about it?

Yes. They are pretty good at fixing things TBH. I feel cheeky because they will happily send someone around to replace a light bulb.

7. How far is your apartment from your normal workplace?

Its a walk of less than 3 minutes.

8. How far are you from the nearest department store or supermarket?

We dont have a department store or Carrefour type supermarket in the town. Both are hours away.

9. Are you close to an inter-city bus or train station?

The bus station is about 25 minutes walk. We dont have a train station.

10. How close are you to the nearest airport?

About an hour from Guilin airport by car.

11. Would you say its safe or not safe in the area where you live?

I think very very safe. I have never heard of any assault or threats and have always felt secure. Some people have lost bicycles here but thats about it.

12. Anything you dislike about your apartment?

Its a bit too cold TBH. As others have mentioned ... it is normally colder inside than out. Another problem is noise from a neighbours dog ... I have got used to it but it still can wake me at 4am with its barking sometimes.

13. What else do you like about your apartment?

I like the convenience really. Whilst it isnt ideal I really dont want any of the headaches or hassle associated with renting on my own. My employer would give me an allowance if I chose to do so, but Im happy to just take their accomodation.

[mw182006]

1. Do you live on or off campus?
On

2. How much do you pay for rent?
$0 - all utilities paid

3. If you pay, is it good value for the money, or is it over-priced?
N/A

4. How many rooms in your apartment?
1 + kitchen + bath

5. How is your internet service?
Bad. DL speeds are around 125 kb/s

6. If you need something fixed, does your school or landlord fix things promptly without moaning about it?
I told my Dept head I had no microwave when I started 2 months ago. I walked in last week to a strange box on the floor. Microwave of course.

7. How far is your apartment from your normal workplace?
2 minutes

8. How far are you from the nearest department store or supermarket?
10 minute walk

9. Are you close to an inter-city bus or train station?
10 minute walk

10. How close are you to the nearest airport?
30-45 minutes

11. Would you say its safe or not safe in the area where you live?
Very safe

12. Anything you dislike about your apartment?
Shower leaks due to bad caulking. Tibetan mastiff on the ground floor loves to bark.

13. What else do you like about your apartment?
Faux wood floors in the bedroom. Can see mountains from my window.

[choudoufu]

1. on campus, in the "experts bldg" with all the single teachers.
2. no rent. water+electric+intertubes included.
3. n/a
4. 2BR/huge living room/tiny kitchen and bath. one bedroom with balcony
set up as office. (no office in admin bldg=no office hours) approx 80 square
meters.
5. super fast unless streaming from outside china.
6. call campus maintenance direct. they'll usually be over within 30 mins to
fix anything. they'll also come by appointment if i'm in class.
7. 3-5 minute walk.
8. 5 min walk to hospital, 7 minute walk to supermarket.
9. 10 min walk to long-distance bus station. 5 minute bus ride to the
super train station. one hour to haikou for shopping, 90 minutes to sanya.
only 45 mins by city bus to the beach.
10. 45 minutes to the super train stop, lower level of haikou airport.
11. safe
12. basketball court below my bedroom window, but department had a
sign installed -- b-ball between 9am and 8pm.
13. all furniture and appliances were new when i moved in. visited the school
prior to signing, requested new paint, got new paint and new curtains.
can stay in apartment with utilities still covered during spring break and
summer vacation (if re-upping).

great area, no pollution, warm weather year-round, 5-10 minutes by
bicycle to the countryside, light traffic.

small AC unit in the sleeping bedroom will lessen the worst heat and humidity
in the entire apartment, or really chill the bedroom. no heating system.

cooking gear was new but chinese standard. wok, rice bowls and chopsticks,
ricecooker, more chopsticks. no plates or dishes or cutlery.
taobao proviced microwave, blender, teflon, oven, pizza pans, and so on.

spent about 1500 rmb setting up.

girls at the nursing college next door don't close their curtains.

[kimo50]

I gotta have the worst apartment ....

16th floor of a building constructed for the workers of a failed chemical plant
Elevators not reliable (yes - 16th floor!)
Toilet needs to be operated manually**
Hot water lasts about 1.5 minutes**
Wall is wet paint peeling appears to have a leak somewhere inside
Window handle broke off first time used**
Washer on the fritz**
All fire detection and escape features inoperative (lights, alarms etc.)

complaints about conditions yield the following solutions:

'This' is China hehe
I need to pay for repairs **