Job Discussion Forums

Ciara · Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2004 3:14 pm Post subject: Shanxi Province

Hello,

Looks like I'm heading to Shanxi instead of Hunan! Anyhow, my parents are getting super scared for me...

So, anyone heard of Yangquan Foreign Language School? A guy by the name of Jin Rong-Kun.

How's Shanxi? I heard it sucks from what I just read....any GOOD things to say?

Much thanks.

ContemporaryDog · Joined: 21 May 2003 Posts: 1477 Location: Wuhan, China

A bloody tip according to Mrs Dog, and she's from Wuhan.

Its very poor, polluted and miserable. See the film "Blind Shaft" for further evidence thereof...

cheekygal · Joined: 04 Mar 2003 Posts: 1987 Location: China, Zhuhai

well, some people do teach there. the province is interesting culture and history-wise. but it is rural. on the other hand you will be able to experience *real* china Smile

Louis · Joined: 02 Jan 2004 Posts: 275 Location: Beautiful Taiyuan

Shanxi is very real. I've been to Yangquan, it's sort of a miniature Taiyuan. Very industrial, but in a strange way, scenic. Except, don't expect to find Pizza Hut, or even McDonald's... I wouldn't doubt that you would be one of very few (if any) foreigners in town. There's lots of dust, except when it rains, then there's lots of mud. You can get a very cool experience from Shanxi, I find that these are very friendly people (moreso than the other places I've been to... Shaanxi, Henan, Shanghai, Shandong, Liaoning, Beijing.) That's *if* you can tolerate non-stop staring, hellos, and undeserved attention. There are some of China's best (no joke) attractions here at Wutai Shan, Pingyao, and to a lesser extent Jinci.

It all depends on what you want out of China. If you want expat friends, hamburgers, and all things normal, this isn't it. Shanxi will never let you forget that you're in China. However, for the sake of your sanity, I would shoot for something bigger than Yangquan; Taiyuan, or Datong at least.

Ciara · Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2004 3:12 pm Post subject:

Thanks, I think I might feel a little better. LOL.

Well, the school is really interested in getting me there (I assume it's hard to attract a teacher in a little town like that...) and they've already begun the whole process of getting the documents. I would feel bad if I backed out now. I'm signing a 6 month contract first, then if I like it, the next 6 month Smile

As for sticking out....I could probably blend in until I open my mouth Laughing

However, I am quite beautiful (j/ks).

Maybe someone would come visit me....LOL.

tarzaninchina · Joined: 16 Aug 2004 Posts: 348 Location: World

I've been in Shanxi for over a year now. This province is noted by all Chinese as the most disreputabe one for doing business with. Yes, the pollution is incredibly bad here given the fact that this is the coal province of China.

In contrast to one or two others, this is the least emotionally expressive place and most unfriendly towards foreigners anywhere I or my foreign friends have been in China. All of my Chinese friends are from out of province.

Tarzan in China (@yahoo.ca)

Ciara · Posted: Sun Aug 22, 2004 10:46 pm Post subject:

Guess I'll stick it out for a few months and if it really sucks and there's nothing to keep me there, I can always bail. As for the coal...did you know that is one of the methods that they use to treat alcohol poisoning? They pump in charcoal up your ass so it will absorb the alcohol! LOL.

Cheers....

lagerlout2006 · Joined: 17 Sep 2003 Posts: 985

One quick word of advice. Stick to your idea of 6 months. Possibly they will try to get you to agree to longer. Just have a story and stick to it.

Last year I flew to Beijing and went on overnight train to Taiyuan where I was supposed to be employed. They wanted me to move to another branch in Jinan. That was fine with me considering the location of that school. Along with being outside town it was a mile walk on an unlit unpaved road to get to the school. So I spent 3 days there and can't say much about it. It was fairly strange---even for China. I did get to Pingyao -one of those "world famous in China" places. It was very good-actually the best touristy thing I have seen here. Better than Forbidden City maybe. Speaking of which there is some express train that gets to Beijing in about 6 hours. Qingdao is a good 12 hours and Xian I dont know how far.

My opinion is that if you are ready for China you will like it anyhere. Good luck...

cheekygal · Joined: 04 Mar 2003 Posts: 1987 Location: China, Zhuhai

I was told not to expect double-cheeseburgers in Taizhou... But they even have good coffee beans! Smile

So, you never know... Cool

Ciara · Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2004 10:51 am Post subject:

It's an old post, but I must set some stuff straight here about Shanxi Province.

Perhaps it's because I didn't really have high expectations of the place, but being in Yangquan at the moment (smaller than Taiyuan), it's kinda cute. I don't live far from the city and am glad that I don't live in it since I could barely BREATHE while I was in town (that's one thing that is accurate about Shanxi, pollution!), but there're many shopping centres, I saw a KFC (!) - all at the shopping district. I wouldn't mind a Starbucks, but hey....it is Shanxi.

So I like it here so far. I don't stand out (I'm Chinese), but my students find it soooo interesting that I can speak Cantonese (more so than English, but I guess it's because they already knew that).

I didn't need to "scrub my floors" in my flat like someone suggested. I guess some people make it sound sooo much worse, and I suppose either I'm lucky, or of course, due to different perspectives. I'm a city girl, but I think I can handle this.

Although I wish there was hot water everywhere else in the flat aside from my shower. It is getting kind of cold...what's the weather like around here?

Happy in Yangquan *for the moment*

Louis · Joined: 02 Jan 2004 Posts: 275 Location: Beautiful Taiyuan

Stupid hot in summer (like all of China for that matter.) Winters aren't all that cold, I was here in February last year and I don't think we got much worse than -10 C. There's little precipitation, and it's usually in the form of rain, not snow. You'll still need a coat and gloves. The downside is, buildings are generally poorly heated: I wore my coat in school last winter. A space heater for your apartment might be a good idea.

Ciara · Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2004 10:21 am Post subject:

Heh, the heater was waiting for me in the apartment Wink

, also a pure water cooler system (with hot and cold water), dvd, t.v, free internet and telephone (well, it's 100 RMB subsidized), tape recorder and it's clean! Did I mention that I have a cook!? hehe. But I don't think he wants to cook for me anymore since I can never finish the food (really, he makes too much for one little person).

I was in Taiyuan today getting my expert card, I could hardly breathe there too! I did pick up a couple of books at the Foreigner's Bookstore though.

Hearing stories from people about terrible stuff, I think I lucked out Razz

Hopefully they pay me on time! The school is government run, maybe that's why.

So if any of you are in Shanxi, come visit. I am kinda lonely....LOL.

kinglamus · Joined: 17 Sep 2004 Posts: 5 Location: Taiyuan

Woop! I'm new to China, new to teaching and new to DavesESL but I'm in Shanxi with six other teachers and we're always looking for more people to hang out with. Actually, I should say I'm in Taiyuan with six other teachers...the recruiter I work with is based out of Datong and has two more teachers working there (as well as some in various other provinces - but that would take me off topic now, wouldn't it Smile

) that we try and visit when time allows. That makes eight of us, so don't feel too lonely - we'll come visit! Also, if you ever need to come back into Taiyuan you'll always be able to reach someone to just hang out...of course, a couple of my buddies may force you into every media store you pass looking for DVDs or CDs so if you're short on time you may not want to take me up on the offer.

benno · Joined: 28 Jun 2004 Posts: 501 Location: Fake Mongolia

i stayed in Shanxi for about a year, yes it was polluted and yes there were not many foreigners, but i liked the city, it had real character, non of this tourist sh ite you get in beijing, and the people were friendly
pingyao is a must see for anybody in china, even though its bloody hard to get a clean toilet
wutai shan is also cool
da ching caves have very big budda statues
and there is a good few discos and bars in taiyuan that are worth a look
so i think taiyuan and shanxi are not too bad

Madmaxola · Joined: 04 Jul 2004 Posts: 238

Wow I hope you like coal!

in Shanxi people don�t have grass in front of their house, or trees, but mounds of coal. I swear.

The sky is a wonderful brew of coal soot.

Mmm coal see. Like living inside a giant furnace... ahh Shanxi how I miss thee.

Start planning now on how you will escape...