Job Discussion Forums

LarssonCrew · Joined: 06 Jun 2009 Posts: 1308

The lunch break thing for me doesn't really count because you can't do anything in that time. If you have an hour for lunch you eat lunch, you can't go to the gym, you can't go shopping. You're still in the mindset that you need to go back to work.

If the school provided him an office where you could relax for an hour it might be better, but even still, in my mind the working hours are 8-3:15 because you don't really have time to do anything else or accomplish anything except eat.

I meant 6:30, I'm not sure why I wrote 5:30. Even if he'only 30 minutes on the subway from school or by bus, he needs to a)get there 10-15 minutes before starting work [get there 7:45], b)wake up have a shower c)walk to bus stop/subway d)eat something f)maybe check emails or something, so I think an 8 am start would have you waking up at 630, especially if you're sharing with 3 or 4 other people.

Shanghai Noon · Joined: 18 Aug 2013 Posts: 589 Location: Shanghai, China

Even so, it's not like waking up at 6:30 is going to knock you on your ass for the rest of the day.

Jmbf · Joined: 29 Jun 2014 Posts: 663

LarssonCrew · Joined: 06 Jun 2009 Posts: 1308

It may be true that 6:30 is not too bad for working, perhaps because I'm a night person and prefer to study and watch movies later on 6:30 is a bit of a shock.

Still, if you are doing alot of part time or plan on doing so, most will begin after say 6, maybe 6:30 or 7 after dinner. Imagine teaching a 7 year old at 7-9 having woken up at 6:30. For me that's exhausting, maybe not for others.

Jmbf · Joined: 29 Jun 2014 Posts: 663

LarssonCrew · Joined: 06 Jun 2009 Posts: 1308

I think the earliest I ever taught a primary kid was around 5pm.

Another thing to bare in mind with the younger students is that they tend to only want 1 hour of class, you then have to factor in travel time of at leawst 30 minutes in big cities, so you're essentially doing 2 hours of work for an hour pay.

Anyways, regardless of this, I honestly think if you plan on living alone in Beijing the upfront costs of renting a place [5 months plus long term bills like yearly internet] is just huge, maybe 30000+ rnb, over 5000.

I think the OP may be slightly delusional to think anything in Chaoyang will be available for 1500, the other guy said he lives in a house of 5 for 2600 and that's just a room.

If you want to live with just 1 or 2 other people I would think 3500 or 4000 is nearer the truth and you'd probably still have to chalk up 4 months of rent, that means another cool $2500-3000.

chuckMC · Joined: 15 Apr 2015 Posts: 75

I was given this website to look for rooms to rent :

http://bj.58.com/chaoyang/hezu/k4/?utm_source=link&spm=m-37944990901783-pe-f-802.psy_3&PGTID=0d30000a-0047-6d7e-0035-0aaf24b7e001&ClickID=1

As you can see, it's only in Chinese. Therefore, most foreigners can't access this. Anyhow, it seems like I can find a decent room for the price of 2000 rmb a month.

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

http://www.thebeijinger.com/classifieds/housing
Rolling Eyes

LarssonCrew · Joined: 06 Jun 2009 Posts: 1308

The reason there are no rooms for 2000 is because it's one of the top 20 most expensive cities in the world. Would you get a room in London or NYC for 3000 dollars? Especially in the district you'll be teaching which is the most expensive place in Beijing.

It's like looking for a room in Chelsea in London for 300 USD a month.

You have to up your budget which also means your initial outlay will go up too.

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

There are 34 rooms currently listed on the above website, in the 'up to 2000pm' group.
I have no idea of Beijing geography, so can't say if any are near the desired location.

creeper1 · Posted: Thu May 19, 2016 9:38 am Post subject:

Jmbf · Joined: 29 Jun 2014 Posts: 663

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

I absolutely agree that the OP is drastically underestimating the upfront costs
That and seemingly unable to basic research on English-language sharing options.
To post complaining about Chinese only sites, when I found an English language one in one Google operation. The one I linked to above, allows selection by monthly price points.
Makes me wonder about people's readiness for China.

creeper1 · Posted: Sat May 21, 2016 9:44 am Post subject:

LarssonCrew · Joined: 06 Jun 2009 Posts: 1308

In a salaried position you get paid.

If I teach at a university I needn't 'be' in school for my lunch and with only 14 hours a week I probably have 3 hours a day maximum, which means I can go in, teach and leave.

And actually Beijing may be more expensive as an upfront expense than even my hometown, London.

In London you're looking at $1500 for a bedroom in a nice place, plus a months deposit, so $3000. Also bills needn't be paid until you've already used those resources.

In Beijing you've got 3 months +1 + 1 month needed on a place that might be $10000, plus all your bills must be paid upfront [except maybe community fee, I'm not sure.]