Job Discussion Forums

nighthawk · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 60 Location: USA

I've been teaching in Pusan, Korea for the past seven months, but I'm looking to make the jump to China. I like Pusan. It's about the size of Chicago. The public transportation is relatively cheap, and it gets you where you need to go. Food, housing, and utilities are cheap, and a lot of foreign English teachers here are making decent money. (I wish I was.) I also feel safe here.

Unfortunately, I just don't have a very good deal here. Every other foreign teacher I meet, tells me I'm getting screwed and that leaves me in a bind because I can't get another job from another school in Korea without a letter of release from my employer, which I wouldn't get. It looks like my employer is going out of business, and they want to take me down with them.

I'm looking for a comparable city (to Busan) in China to work in -- not Beijing or Shanghai. Basically, I want to live in a place that has things going on and a lot of foreign English teachers, but that isn't as expensive as Shanghai or Beijing, a place where I can save some decent money and where there are enough jobs for us foreign English teachers to go around; also, a place where I'd feel safe. To be honest, I don't know much about China, but I'm curious. So, any recommendations?

Stosskraft · Joined: 12 Apr 2004 Posts: 252 Location: Japan

Hey check out Nanjing. Not sure about the size defiantly smaller than Shanghai or Beijing but a really beautiful city with lots of expats and many cool places to see. Also the cost of living is cheaper than the other cities and Shanghai is only 5 hours away by train anyway.

struelle · Joined: 16 May 2003 Posts: 2372 Location: Shanghai

I second Nanjing, but Shanghai may not be as expensive as Pusan. When I visisted Pusan in 2002, the price of food was about 30% more, and taxis were at least 50% more. Then again, COL indicators are very subjective (see the other thread) so it's more what you make of it.

Another city to consider may be Hangzhou. 2 hours south of Shanghai, very relaxing, good scenery, food is cheap and plentiful, lots of teaching jobs, cool people. Give it a try, but best to ask someone who's living there (Kev and Senor around?)

Steve

oprah · Joined: 26 Apr 2003 Posts: 382

I would vote for Hangzhou also. Anyone have any experience on Ningbo, I was considering it for my next venture/

nighthawk · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 60 Location: USA

Nanjing and Hangzhou and possibly Ningbo. Great! Thanks. I�ll start looking through job ads. Do you know of any expatriate Web sites in those cities that I could search for job ads?

I also posted about the letter of release. In one person's response, she said that she needed one when she moved from southern to northern China. This concerns me. I�ve heard conflicting things about a letter of release in China. Can anyone give me a definitive answer? Is a letter of release required to change jobs in China? Can a teacher just quit a bad employer and start working for a better one? Do you have to leave the country? Basically what I'm asking is what happens if you find out that your employer is a scumbag and you want out? What are your options then?

Also, how common is it to work in China illegally? How much do you get fined if you get caught working illegally? How long do they prohibit you from reentering the country if you get caught working illegally?

Down another road, I�ve heard a letter of release isn�t necessary in Taiwan. Does anyone have any recommendations about good cities to teach in in Taiwan? That is, �good� according to what I specified as �good� when I started this post � a city around the size of Chicago with a public transportation system that�s efficient and inexpensive. Also, a city where food, housing, and utilities are inexpensive. (When I say "inexpensive," I mean inexpensive relative to the average teacher's salary.) I want to live in a place that has things going on and a lot of foreign English teachers, but that isn't as expensive as Shanghai or Beijing, a place where I can save some decent money and where there are enough jobs for us foreign English teachers to go around; also, a place where I'd feel safe. I�m also going to ask this question in the Taiwan forum. Thanks for your responses. Keep �em coming.

lagerlout2006 · Joined: 17 Sep 2003 Posts: 985

The above replies are all good. Shaoxing is another decent city in the same area...Qingdao might be a place to compare with Busan. On the coast--port city--with mountains and scenery--foreigners and jobs...Don't know about the save decent money part though...This is China after all...

I have finished my contracts here (very unlike me actually) so I don't know about changing jobs.Once you are under contract though you cannot just quit and go down the street to work.

Mister Al · Joined: 28 Jun 2004 Posts: 840 Location: In there

Guangzhou is big but it's a fantastic city. Hot weather all year, the best food in the world and a good expat scene.
Xiamen is a magic little island opposite Taiwan. Again great food, cool beaches, sub-tropical weather and a small chilled out expat lot. Recommended! Cool

bendan · Joined: 18 Jun 2004 Posts: 739 Location: North China

I've lived in Daegu (Korea) and Tianjin (China) and I don't think anywhere outside Beijing/Shanghai will have anything like as much "going on" as Pusan, nor will it offer the opportunity to save anywhere near as much. Sorry to sound negative, but from the sounds of things, you should try every possible avenue to stay where you are. Consider a "facilitation fee" for the release letter.