Job Discussion Forums

[Fud]

Anybody here have any experience the IH school in Qingdao? Is anybody in here currently IN Qingdao?

In my experience, IH schools are generally well run, but that's no guarantee as I know these things vary from country to country, continent to continent.

As for Qingdao, I know almost nothing about it. I lived in Shenzhen for roughly six months, but my stay there came to crashing halt when I was hospitalized for three weeks with micoplasmic pneumonia and a separate bacterial lung infection. I feel I have unfinished business in China--so much to see and do--but I'm not going to go just anywhere.

Thanks in advance.

[Roger]

We recently had a debate on the merits of Qingdao, and the opinions were severely divided. Millie will try to shoot me out of the sky with his negative comments.
Let me say that in my subjective opinion, Qingdao is a far nicer place than Shenzhen is. I have opinions on places I have actually visited or lived in, and I visited most cities in China, including Qingdao.

Summer is more bearable there than in sweltering Shenzhen, winters are colder and come with snow. The town is more attreactive although it is not as "modern" as Shenzhen with its grotty 20-year old high-rises and brand-new pseudo-marble topped houses.
Having said this, Qingdao is more provincial, more Chinese, more backward but also more laid-back and more welcoming than Shenzhen can ever be. Qingdaoers are natives that are happy to treat a guest, whereas Shenzheners are uprooted migrants who are mistrustful of each other and especially of foreigners.

I just don't know the school you mentioned.

[Old Dog]

Roger, for your information and edification, in English, Millie is a female name. It was a lady who shot you from your sullied perch.

[millie]

The total number of Chinese cities is 666 That is a lot of cities.
From: http://www.chinatoday.com/city/a.htm

And this is from information that is at least 8 years old, so the number would be greater now.

Roger wrote:

[Fud]

The school is International House, but I knwo they've only been there for a few years so maybe you haven't come across them yet.

I think I'd be inclined to agree with you about Shenzhen compared to Qingdao. Shenzhen had its merits, but I think it's impossible to have a "normal" day in that city. Either something completely freaky-weird-awsome will hapen, the complete opposite will. The whole time I was there I got the feeling I was living in pseudo-China--IN China, but not really.

So I'm mos def looking for someplace different to go back. Chengdu/Sichuan was the only other place I got to see, and I'd go back there in a heartbeat.

[Roger]

[Fud]

I'll take that as general recommendation then, Roger.

And as for your reply to Millie...I'll just assume there's some backstory and go on whistling as a walk.

[millie]

Hello Fud,

Shandong and Qingdao have been discussed recently here:
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?p=207898&highlight=#207898


I note you are in Spain now.
Forget any suggestion that QingDao has a temperate climate: winter is simply brutal and freezing. That has not changed.

The sea is still wet and salty … and grey-green. That has not changed.

Still, I cannot agree with the suggestion that Qingdao is an almost idyllic place by comparison to ShenZhen ....but that does not mean it may not be for some.

It is true the old part of QD has an area of often poorly maintained German style houses, also some churches etc. No doubt a nice place to spend a few days on holiday except in the months of winter when the icy wind whistles past your face.

However, I would be surprised if IH is situated in that part of town.

QD, like a lot of places in China, has changed a lot in the past few years and the ugly urban re-newal, high rise look a-likes, dusty wide roads and increasing numbers of freeways does (edit) NOT equate to an idyllic situation to me.

In regards to IH QD specifically, about 3 or 4 years ago a friend of my niece transferred to QD from another IH school in China and was happier in QD. I also spoke to the DoS there a year or so ago – a nice chap from Melbourne but he seems not to be there any longer. Sorry that my information about IH QD is rather vague but as you would understand, my intention at the time was not to gather specific details from these folks regarding how it was to work at IH QD. However, I certainly got the impression that there were no major issues there.


Keep whistling and happy teaching.

M

[Leondys]

Interesting to see someone else slate Shenzhen, I also think it's the inbetween of China and somewhere else.

I worked and lived in Wuhan for a year and after spending a whole year in Shenzhen I'm currently trying to move back to Wuhan.

Bottle of Singo beer = 1.5 yuan in Wuhan.

How much does it cost for beer in Qingdao?

[Fud]

Millie,

Thanks for that link--that was the discussion I was looking for!

As for having four seasons, one of which is cold...I could get into that. "Winter" in Seville is an odd thing: It's very sunny and pleasant during the day, with temps around 70 F, but at night it gets cold. Or, it FEELS cold. Because all of the habitations in this area are built to retain every ounce of coolness because of the summer when Andalucia becomes a frying pan, in the winter time your apartment is often colder than it is outside. And with no central heating, you feel it.

What I think is funny, though, is how Sevillanos walk around like they're about to go on an arctic expedition while I'm wishing I knew where my flip-flops were. Even funnier are some of the Brits who have been here for years and have been acclimatized. "Que frio!" they'll say, and I'll be like, "Ummm, you're from ENGLAND. Sack up!"

Qingdao sounds nice. But as of yet, I haven't heard anything from IH, so I don't think I got the gig. But I will keep it in mind.

Hope everybody had a good weekend.

[TEAM_PAPUA]

[cheekygal]

FUD, I lived in Qingdao for a year and a half and my friend was a DOS in IH there. Plus, I knew lots of teachers there as well. I used to work myself for BKC-IH in St.Petersburg, Russia, as a stuff.

I can't comment much on the timetable and attitude of IH in QD, but seemed teachers were more or less satisfied. And they normally have good accomodation in *Western* downtown (close to all major shops and bars and to the ocean).

IH itself is situated not in old part of Qingdao, but in more modern part of the Shinan district.

As for the place QD is. I love it. And I miss it. Unfortunately, for me, who is not a native speaker, after I quit my previous company, it was difficult to find a new job there. But if I could - I wouldn't leave.
Winters there are not that cold: it gets maximum to -10C in winter. It is cold mostly because of the winds during winter there. This winter the quite warm weather stayed till Christmas. And it is getting now warmer and warmer.

Foreign community in Qingdao is very warm and welcoming.

And if you are such a fan of beer: it's very cheap because it is made there. Tsingtao beer, biggest bottle, costs normally between 2-3 RMB. If you buy it from a keg in a plastic bag (something very normal in China), it is even cheaper.

to keep yourself updated on what's going on in QD, refer to www.myredstar.com.cn

good luck