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3701 W.119th
Joined: 26 Feb 2014
Posts: 386
Location: Central China
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 Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2016 6:00 am Post subject: |
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I don't care so much about the wording of contracts here. I care much more about my relationship with the FAO and staff. The human side of things. I'm close to my bosses, I know them and they know me. We have good relationships. The wording of our employment contract shouldn't ever have any relevance. I don't even know what my contract states, from memory. I think I read it once, last year.
Privacy, as a foreigner living in China? It's a nice idea. Not happening.
Work for a school with a sensible FAO. Maintain good relationships.
Contract terms, are mostly irrelevant beyond the headline numbers. There are people behind these.
Privacy in China, as a foreigner? Not happening. |
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TeacherInChina
Joined: 17 Dec 2010
Posts: 206
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| Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2016 6:03 am Post subject: |
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| hz88 wrote: |
It really is open to interpretation. If things are followed as the law stands, any guest Chinese or otherwise should be reported. It largely depends on where you are as to how rigidly it is enforced.
What is for certain is that your presence will be noticed and somewhere someone official will be notified and likewise if a new face is detected in or around your living quarters be they private or school provided. Unless there is some reason to investigate it, it is unlikely to be followed up.
You could ask for clarification about this clause but as I said, dig too deep and you might find quicksand below.
A new hire at my school this year had similar issues to you. There was nothing in the contract about it but when he arrived at school obviously saw the notices and was nonplussed about it. He was simply told thats the way it is, take it or leave it. The school argued that he did not ask the question at interview and he argued it is unfair. The saga went on for a few weeks even to the extent of him wanting to find private accommodation only to be met with a similar brick wall from landlords. He just travels to his girlfriends city now rather than the other way round. He said that previously nobody had batted an eyelid about anyone visiting and for how long, chances are they did bat an eyelid but he wasn't aware of it.
Really, it seems to depend on where you are and how it is enforced. Hinterlands, backwaters and smaller cities seem to be more prone to it than the big cities. I would just accept it and later if you are having a visit, Chinese, foreign, male or female test the waters and if you feel it is not being noticed then don't mention it. If someone does mention to you then clearly you are going to have to tow the line. Either keep your mole hill or make a mountain.... |
I am not going to mention it. I have already sent my last round of contract amendments and such and ignored that part of the contract. I will play it out essentially as you have just described it.
What kind of wall did the landlord give ? I had a private apartment in a gated apart. complex and it was just like home. No one cared about me at all, though of course i'm sure people were hyper aware of me. The apt owner was in a different province and the apt complex security guys were usually sleeping or I just used a electric key to get in. Quite nice come to think of it...
I am in a 2nd tier city ,i think, ~ 3 million. So, no hinterland. Though, apartment curfews and locking down the apartment building and university front gates is a whole other kettle of fish that I will just ignore this time around (I didn't ask). It has been an exceptionally tough time to secure a position this year.
Many thanks to all those that offered their thoughts. |
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3701 W.119th
Joined: 26 Feb 2014
Posts: 386
Location: Central China
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| Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2016 6:18 am Post subject: |
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If you are a good teacher, keep yourself to yourself, then I doubt having your girlfriend over would ever be a problem. I know that a few of the FTs here have their Chinese girlfriends live with them. No problem at all. Mine does.
If you want to use your apartment to nail a parade of local ladies, then fair play to you. Hard to blame the school though.
You're just a bad man. Contract is irrelevant. |
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TeacherInChina
Joined: 17 Dec 2010
Posts: 206
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| Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2016 6:26 am Post subject: |
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3701 W.119th wrote
| Quote: |
| Work for a school with a sensible FAO. |
Unfortunately, one isn't always lucky enough to choose.
| Quote: |
| Contract terms, are mostly irrelevant beyond the headline numbers. There are people behind these. |
This is dicey for me. While there is a huge kernel of truth in that, I am slightly cynical by nature, as the honorable handshake, as it were, isn't taken that seriously by all parties in all places and at all times. I love to be pleasantly surprised though. |
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wangdaning
Joined: 22 Jan 2008
Posts: 3154
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| Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2016 8:45 am Post subject: |
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| Anytime anyone in China stays somewhere other than where they are registered for more than 24 hours they are supposed to register with the PSB. The clause is probably to cover their own asses if anything happens and avoid catching flak for it. |
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adventious
Joined: 23 Nov 2015
Posts: 237
Location: In the wide
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| Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2016 9:04 am Post subject: |
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| wangdaning wrote: |
| Anytime anyone in China stays somewhere other than where they are registered for more than 24 hours they are supposed to register with the PSB. |
| 3701 W.119th wrote: |
| Privacy in China, as a foreigner? Not happening. |
So much depends on where you are. What's the difference between privacy and no one cares? |
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wangdaning
Joined: 22 Jan 2008
Posts: 3154
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| Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2016 10:01 am Post subject: |
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| adventious wrote: |
| wangdaning wrote: |
| Anytime anyone in China stays somewhere other than where they are registered for more than 24 hours they are supposed to register with the PSB. |
So much depends on where you are. What's the difference between privacy and no one cares? |
Nope, this is how the law is, that it is hardly ever enforced is another matter. My mother in-law, Chinese, as well as my wife were finally caught up with to register. |
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Shanghai Noon
Joined: 18 Aug 2013
Posts: 589
Location: Shanghai, China
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| Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2016 11:36 am Post subject: |
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| I stayed on campus at one of the four jobs I have had. They never cared if I had girl(s) over. I'm still never staying on a campus ever again, for unrelated reasons, but I certainly understand why first timers do it. |
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bestteacher2012
Joined: 22 Aug 2012
Posts: 160
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| Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2016 12:08 pm Post subject: |
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| hz88 wrote: |
A new hire at my school this year had similar issues to you. There was nothing in the contract about it but when he arrived at school obviously saw the notices and was nonplussed about it. He was simply told thats the way it is, take it or leave it. The school argued that he did not ask the question at interview and he argued it is unfair. The saga went on for a few weeks even to the extent of him wanting to find private accommodation only to be met with a similar brick wall from landlords. |
If this happened to me, I'd be looking for another job. |
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doogsville
Joined: 17 Nov 2011
Posts: 924
Location: China
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| Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2016 12:24 pm Post subject: |
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Well, you seem to have two options. One, my preferred one, is to just ignore it. The chances of having it removed now it is there in black and white are pretty slim. Someone would have to admit it wasn't such a good idea, which would mean a loss of face.
The other is to seek clarification. What exactly do they mean by the night? The hours of darkness? Or is there an official mandate as to what constitutes night time? Does the person have to stay the whole night? What if they leave before sunrise? What if you decide to accommodate someone overnight outside of the normal public security organs office hours? Is there a hotline number you need to call? Do they speak English? Then there's the thorny problem of which definition of friend is being used. Let's say you meet a girl in a bar and decide to stay up all night talking to her. You won't know if you'll be friends until the next day, so does that count? You could tell them you'll happily sign the contract with the new clause included as soon as they provide you with written answers to the above questions. |
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mackidrei
Joined: 04 Apr 2013
Posts: 29
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| Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2016 2:49 pm Post subject: |
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| Shanghai Noon wrote: |
| I'm still never staying on a campus ever again, for unrelated reasons, but I certainly understand why first timers do it. |
can you explain? i live on campus and there are all kinds of pluses and minuses, but it isn't a deal breaker. i guess it does lead to closer monitoring, from both the uni and fts. |
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Shanghai Noon
Joined: 18 Aug 2013
Posts: 589
Location: Shanghai, China
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| Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2016 2:59 pm Post subject: |
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| Just give your security guard a bottle of baijiu like everyone else does. |
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TeacherInChina
Joined: 17 Dec 2010
Posts: 206
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| Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2016 3:03 pm Post subject: |
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| Shanghai Noon wrote: |
I'm still never staying on a campus ever again, for unrelated reasons. |
mackidrai wrote
Here is a reason. One day I was just relaxing on my couch au natural - because of the heat. All of a sudden, my department office manager and other office worker taps my front door once then immediately unlocks my front door and step in. I jump up and cover my self with a blanket while they are standing in my apartment staring at me. They came into my apartment unannounced and with no warning to "check my TV".
Last edited by TeacherInChina on Tue Jan 12, 2016 3:05 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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kungfuman
Joined: 31 May 2012
Posts: 1749
Location: In My Own Private Idaho
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| Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2016 3:05 pm Post subject: |
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| jimpellow wrote: |
I agree with Bud that a foreigner has always been tracked to some degree in China. In my first lao wai love pad, I would always position my bed to be at an optimal viewing angle to that one odd looking security detector in the corner.
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In my first school I went into the FAO's apartment in the same building as the FTs.
I peeked into his second bedroom and saw a little phone switchboard listening device with everyone's room number on it. He could - and did - listen to our phone calls from the room. That explained the clicks etc when I used my phone. |
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TeacherInChina
Joined: 17 Dec 2010
Posts: 206
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| Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2016 3:17 pm Post subject: |
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doogsville wrote
| Quote: |
| Well, you seem to have two options. One, my preferred one, is to just ignore it. The chances of having it removed now it is there in black and white are pretty slim. Someone would have to admit it wasn't such a good idea, which would mean a loss of face. |
This is the choice I made today.
| Quote: |
| The other is to seek clarification. What exactly do they mean by the night? The hours of darkness? Or is there an official mandate as to what constitutes night time? Does the person have to stay the whole night? What if they leave before sunrise? What if you decide to accommodate someone overnight outside of the normal public security organs office hours? Is there a hotline number you need to call? Do they speak English? Then there's the thorny problem of which definition of friend is being used. Let's say you meet a girl in a bar and decide to stay up all night talking to her. You won't know if you'll be friends until the next day, so does that count? You could tell them you'll happily sign the contract with the new clause included as soon as they provide you with written answers to the above questions. |
 Honestly, I think If i asked any of those questions, their head would pop. Though it would be quite amusing to see what they would say. I might use some of them if necessary. Questioning and asking for clarifications haven't been too well received in my limited experience here so far. I often come out of the conversation more confused by nonsense than before we began. |
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