Job Discussion Forums

[lagerlout2006]

Dajiang I agree the train is more fun (if you can get soft class which seemss to be impossible these days) but he will be in Beijing airport with bags. It will not be FUN to haul suitcases through PEK and navigate a way to the rail station and then fight your way through ticket touts and try to get a soft seat. I'm no expert but it's been difficult to get soft seats for a long time time now. I don't know why. It's not because of foreigners anyway.

Should be easier for him to fly. I would guess 400 RMB. And to the OP not DOLLARS -----Yuan. 400 Yuan. Buy it here . Xian? No Xian! Worry about Xian later!

[Daphne]

I hate to inform you that once you arrive in Jinan you'll find out that signing up to teach in an AES branch in Shandong is not the best or safest of career moves-- the "school" that your working in was one of three in the province till a couple of years ago, but now it's the only one remaining .
There is technically a branch in Qingdao but it basically does not hire native speakers on a full-time basis due to lack of students and it's "managed" by Jinan (a few hundred kilometers away!.)

That the Qingdao branch is in this state despite having a prime downtown location in a city of roughly 8,000,000 souls is telling enough

[cranberrycranberry]

I've picked Jinan and I'm excited. Thanks for all the info!
I will fly from Beijing to Jinan (not the train <what is soft cell?> as I think haulin' suitcases ain't so cool). What 400RMB? Sweet! That's good. I'll purchase it the day of! AES said I should bring a phrasebook so I can get a ticket. Plus, I 'll get somebody to write out some phrases for me prior to my departure.

To the forumer who suggested flychina.com - the prices are still steep. I think purchasing the tix at the airport is better. I just hope there are many flights a day. I don't want to be in Beijing overnight.

Thanks for the precautionary tips! Closing down Shangdong branches may not be a bad thing...hopefully!

Yes, money is an issue. I reallly need to know how to convert my dollars!
ie: to purchase my plane ticket.

Apparently, AES will give an ATM card in China.
btw, I asked lots of details about my teaching situation. I'll be teaching 18 kids w/ a translator on the side.

cheers

[Captain Yossarian]

[jg]

I liked Jinan. Its great for biking, and though polluted, there are lots of shady little side streets with interesting shops and GREAT food. Near the Sofitel there are two quite nice Korean joints (I mean the eating kind, not smoking). The people there were very nice, I much preferred them to the Shanghainese. There are two main foreigner bars within walking distance of each other - Pyramid and a laid back, well appointed place. Thats not a knock against the other bars, some of which are dandy in their own right. Those narrow alleys full of food kiosks and trinket huts are all over the place too.

It gets hot as a mofo in the summer but there is a really nice tradition of sitting on these little wooden stools outside, drinking cold brewskis and eating mudbugs (xiao long xia) and peanuts and green beans. There are some good bookstores in town, and there is a nice pedestrian mall in the downtown area, its new and well-maintained. Ah, Jinan!!

AES has (had?) a dormitory on the grounds of a private school thats a 30 - 40 minute bus ride but a 20 minute bike ride. The building is nice, though it does suck to have to wake up the guard to get in late.

When I worked for AES i chose Jinan over other cities because I wanted to see "real" China, and I have never regretted my choice. For me, Xian was sleazy and overrated. I spent a week there, and that was a week too long.

Its super easy to get from Beijing to Jinan on the train, just be sure to go to the right departure station. Lastly, I would like to say that Jinan being sleepy has its advantages - after the late-evening you will have the streets to yourself! Then you can get housed and ride your bike around town in relative safety, wheeeeeeee!

I hope you have as much fun in Jinan as I did!!

[Daphne]

I would like to inform the Captain that there was not a single lie in my previous post regarding AES branches in Shandong, and if he thinks there was,then he should prove it