Job Discussion Forums

[jimpellow]

[Listerine]

The best gift I ever brought to my schools was the desire to do my job as adequately as possible and not rock the boat. In the case of the training centers this meant helping the owner put millions of RMB in his pocket, or the universities giving the FAO as few headaches as possible. They always seemed appreciative of this.

The only time I ever actually brought a gift (bottle of Chivas Regal) for the boss...(first ever teaching gig in Korea - newb)...he turned out to be an unbridled thieving *beep*. Wish I'd kept the booze myself to take shots of each time before having to see his ugly, rat face and inhale the reek from his decaying, skunk breath.

I dunno, man...you're here as a salaried employee, not a guest or friend. Would you give your boss back home a gift for hiring you for a job?

Better to save the space for an extra pair of shoes or block of cheese for now and then later once you have a bit of a better personal relationship going with the boss or co-teachers you interact with *then* bring them something back from one of your trips - pointless yet novel souvenirs, chocolate, cheap booze if it's a guy. I gave my FAO a packet of kangaroo jerky, some moisturizer (she'd dropped hints about the brand) and some fancy cookies when I went back to Australia in February. It all cost less than $20, but seemed appreciated.

I *do* agree with the others too that being seen as too nice in Asia can often mark you as the batty boy who will wind up doing the unpaid stuff, making up classes for the others, speech competitions, english corners etc.

Your heart is in the right place, OP, but (having lived 20 years in Asia) I would personally hold off for now with the gifts.

Good luck with the gig anyhow.

[buravirgil]

I'm throwing in with the clown and Pellow. Gifts of introduction are as often expressions of status (or straight up graft) as a Hallmark moment. You might not know it yet, but a pack of smokes will have greater currency and more dependably engender good will. Even among women, but not as...

Perform well and then offer gestures that reflect who you are and what you value.

[asiannationmc]

as a gift you could just sing "Bring in the Clowns" when asked to belt out a lil' diddy ...and believe me .. you will

[Russoregon]

LOL, now I'm having second thoughts about bringing gifts. I'll do it anyway, and if it turns out to be a mistake, I'm sure it will be the first of many, and I'll say to myself, "I should have listened to those veteran guys at Dave's".
Thanks again everyone.

[Non Sequitur]

I agree.
I think it's a good idea but should be something that isn't readily available in China. A special preserved fruit ie Kiwifruit. The sort of thing you buy in the gift shops at the touristy hotels at home. These are usually OK for export and import, but ask the shop.
My previous Chinese director gave me a special tea as a thankyou for getting the school out of a hole.

[Timer]

[Hermosillo]

maybe a gift when you leave, for someone, who pulled a paperwork miracle or something like that. Appearances are everything in the workplace, especially in education, and especially in Asia. Do you want it to appear that you are seeking special treatment? Do you want to appear that you've never worked at a school before? Usually, the job they just hired you for is vacant for a reason.......

[Non Sequitur]

Of course you are seeking special treatment.
TIC!

[3701 W.119th]

I gave the FAO in my new school some sweets (candy) from home in the UK when I came back after summer.

Just nice to give people gifts.

Makes me a super green China noob. Whatever.

[Shanghai Noon]

[fpshangzhou]

Definitely hold off from giving gifts as you will likely get screwed by one of the receivers. These people are trustworthy as a joker in a deck of cards.