Job Discussion Forums

[nashboroguy2]

I have fallen in love with China. Yes, there are many things not to like. Daily, I tell myself TIC "This is China". And, I have to warn myself about getting too negative about things. After all, this is China...not a western nation. With that said, my top 5 good and top 5 bad. You can fill in the ugly part.

Best 5:
1. The people are friendlier than in the Southern part of the USA. Granted, in the larger cities and where there are large migrant workers, not so much. But, you get into the smaller communities...WOW...hospitality can not be beat.

2. Muslim noodles and the food markets. I know they are not the safest things in the world. But, in today's world or preservatives and additives, what food is truly safe any more. Give a potato that still has the dirt on it any day.

3. Transportation may be a nightmare to most foreigners here. But, I love the bus and trains. I wish I had a car. But, I can still get around the country with ease with the transportation system they have here in China.

4. This really should have been number 1 on my list. THE KIDS!!!!! I love the kids. Yes, they can be naughty, undisciplined, and a pain in the ass. But, they are my kids. And, they show their love and appreciation to me daily. They are the reason I am here. They are the reason I stay.

5. The work. How can anyone really complain about their work. Oh, I know we do not like the large classrooms, being used as advertising monkeys, and all that jazz. But, we have such easy jobs, compared to back home. I get free housing, free food, free medical care, and so many other benefits. All the while, I am only asked to work 20-25 hours a week. And, the pay is really good.

Worst 5
1. Chinese need to be westernized. That is said in jest actually. It is hard some times when Chinese are just being themselves and do things against my beliefs and customs. TIC: This is China.

2. The scammers. "Look. A foreigner. You know he has lots of money. Let's see how much we can cheat him out of". I get so tired of the scammers and swindlers.

3. China's 1st tiered cities: I know many FT love them. But, I did not come to China to live in a metropolis that resembles many big cities of the world. I know too many FT that work in them and never get outside of the city. They say it is too hard and time consuming to get out. I love my third tiered cities and rural communities.

4. The government. I am not a fan of Communism, Marxism, or whatever watered down version of this government you want to call it. I do think Xi Jinping is doing some interesting things for the betterment of his country. But, I have decided that, for the most part, he is a wolf in sheep's clothing. I do not envy his job. He had 1.4 billion people to look after, while trying to keep his party politics relevant. Not an easy thing to do.

5. Dishonesty. Chinese people may be some of the friendliest people I have ever met. But, they are also some of the greediest, dishonest people I have known too. I know it is all culture based. They don't know any better. They leadership has shown them the way for too many centuries. It is in their DNA now (joke).

One final GOOD: I love the idea that I can walk anywhere in China and not feel like my life is threatened. No guns. No thugs and gangs. Of course I do not live in the 1st or 2nd tiered cities. But, I have seen how Chinese men fight. I can handle myself easily in most situations. Even if they have a knife. I feel much safer here than I do in the USA.

And one final BAD: Foreigners with negative attitudes. OH my God. If you do not like it here and think it is so bad, LEAVE!!!!! I am amazed at how bad some foreigners talk about China. I am not talking about the debates we have sitting in a pub. I am talking about the ones who have absolutely nothing nice to say. It is bad enough that I have to try to understand and conform to the Chinese culture. Now, I have to deal with all the other nation's cultures and opinions. I know my country has its problems. But, so does your country. I know Obama and Bush are dirtbags. But, let me try to say something bad about your leadership and government, you take immediate offense. Get over yourselves. We are all in the same boat here. Instead of backstabbing each other, we should be uniting and be friends. Because of this, I usually refrain from hanging with foreigners. It gets to be too much like high school drama time. In some cases, it is like kindergarten antics.

[kungfuman]

The best part is - Being in China

The worst part is - Being in China

[roadwalker]

[Hatcher]

I was in Korea for a long time and these issues are all the same as 10 years ago there.

When I was in Korea, I thought foreigners and Koreans cant work together.

I think China is more open to change than the Koreans.

[Scrabble King]

[direshark]

I consider teaching in China (specifically, university) to be a life hack. Travel, see the world, learn a new language, work in a multicultural context, extremely low hours...It's nuts for me to think about how many people would kill for this lifestyle but just have no idea it exists.
But you have to have the right mindset to enjoy the benefits, I think. I've met more than a few people here who, well, I don't know why they're in China. If you're going to come over here and try to replicate living at home as much as possible, well, you're not going to enjoy it for what it is. Which would be a shame, but I see it all the time. People complain and stew in their own negativity over the damndest things...

As far as the worst part goes: for those of us who don't see this as a permanent career, there's some insecurity at the end of the tunnel. Make sure your future ambitions are in line with what you want to do here.

[Fergie]

[Hatcher]

One great part of China is the demand for privates. If you want the work it is there.
If

[katia04]

Best:
- Food (I cannot stomach Chinese food in America anymore...ick!)
- Friendly, eager students
- Teachers are generally very well-respected in the culture
- People are willing to help a sometimes very confused foreigner
- Cheap, efficient transportation. Where I live, I do not need to own a car, and I LOVE it because I have always thought cars were a pain in the ass.
- The kids are amazing and eager to do well.
- Crime rate is very low.
- As a teacher, I feel I learn as much as the students, even though it might not be in a classroom
- Great vacation time
- Public healthcare is great, especially in my area. This is always a surprise to people I talk to in the US, who expect Chinese healthcare to always be third-world, North Korean-style. My friend spent eight days in the hospital with an infection once and I was thoroughly impressed with the professionalism and care - and the price!

Worst:
- Pollution. I go home once a year in part because I want my lungs to clear out
- Chinese drivers put Italians to shame
- Money is like God here. I find it irritating that life seems to revolve around it, much more so than even the USA. Status is EVERYTHING.
- Some people are very self-interested and don't seem to care about doing the right thing
- City planning. Oh, how I hate deep potholes, uneven sidewalks and streets, floods when it rains, and constantly fixing things in my building because it was built on the cheap.
- People around town always want to practice English, which is generally flattering and a great way to meet people, but every once in a while it can be obnoxious. I usually speak to them in Spanish if they're behaving too rudely (especially forward men).
- Great Firewall. Even Google and Instagram are blocked now, and it makes it harder and harder for my students to do their papers because I require English sources. Also, if I want to do pretty much anything on the internet, I need a VPN nowadays; even if you can get to Western websites, it takes FOREVER.