Job Discussion Forums

[casimpson]

If you want to get to know real China then Fuzhou may be what you are looking for.

Fuzhou in Jiangxi is not to be confused with Fuzhou in Fujian Province. The latter is a fine, well-developed provincial capital city and, if Starbucks, MacDonald�s and clean streets are an essential part of your life-style, that is probably the place for you. Fuzhou in Jiangxi is a small, relatively undeveloped city in a poor area of China. The streets may be dirty and there are no chic coffee-bars but the air is clean, the local people are friendly and are unlikely to cheat you. And the cost of living is cheap.

I have been in China for more than 2 years, have worked in a few places and visited a few more. Of all the places I have seen I would recommend Fuzhou to anyone who wanted to get to know how the ordinary people of China live out their lives. At Donghua Ligong Xueyuan [East China Institute of Technology to you and me] you have the benefit of living on a beautiful campus and at the same time being in a city where foreigners are almost as scarce as rocking-horse manure. While you are on the campus you will be looked after [and spoilt] by the staff and students � but when you are outside you can be on your own. Whenever you step out of the gates you will be eyeball-to-eyeball with local Chinese people, Chinese life and Chinese behaviour. You don�t go to Fuzhou for the fine architecture, the ancient sites, or the super-slick look of �New China� � your rewards are of a different kind. To get the most from Fuzhou you need a sense of humour and perspective, to be adaptable, have some initiative and be prepared to meet people at least halfway.

Western food is very limited; there are a few restaurants in the city which do imitation western food, there is a CBC [a Chinese version of KFC] and a KFC has opened recently � but these are all expensive places. However, there is no shortage of real Chinese restaurants where you can eat well for 10 yuan per head or even less.

Although Fuzhou is a small city with a population of only 200,000 it has a distinguished record in the field of education. In the past, many of the great scholars have come from this rather non-descript little place; Rao Yutai, Cheng Xiaogang, Wang An Shi and others. Even today, many of the students who leave the middle schools in Fuzhou go on to study at Peking University and Qinghua University, the two top seats of learning in China. At present, of the listed top 100 Middle Schools in China three of them belong to Fuzhou; quite an achievement for such a small place in such a big country. Fuzhou No. 1 Middle School has been in existence for over one century and is known and respected throughout China; it takes in local students and others from further away and recruits one foreigner each year.

Many foreign teachers have been here, a few left quickly but others didn�t want to leave at all. It�s not the place for everyone, but for those who want to live in China, rather than view it from a distance, it can provide a very rewarding experience indeed.

[KES]

What a nice, glowing review; especially for a first posting.

It's our loss that you didn't share the other positive things you have encountered in China during your previous two years here.

Welcome to Daveseslcafe.

[Zero Hero]

Well, it is certainly 'glowing', but then what would you expect for a (thinly disguised) job advertisement?

[casimpson]

Glowing? Certainly. As the title says I've had a good experience there. After the previous jobs it is a breath of fresh air. No cheating from the college, no boundary-shifting, no back-stabbing amongst the FTs. And I WOULD like a few other decent FT's to go there too, there is no secret about that. But a job ad? Really? Where are the hours, the salary, terms & conditions and other details? That is out of my hands and will be something for you to sort out between yourself and the employer.

[lowes13]

I�ve seen this time and time again on this forum and it astonishes me; a positive review of a former or current school is immediately condemned by someone, why?
Isn�t it conceivable that someone has a good experience and should feel like sharing that?
Or is it the case that when some FT�s find a good job they keep quiet about it because they�re afraid someone might take their place?
It�s OK to share the good news too!

Yes it�s also conceivable that the poster is canvassing to help the school attract more FT�s but either way I feel the review is reasonably balanced in a descriptive sense. I�ve also had a positive experience at my current job, although I haven�t advertised the fact, and anyone who cares to know more can contact me.

I�m probably creating a rod������ but the life of FT�s here in China is not all doom and gloom, we�re not all plagued and harried by recruiters, not every FAO is evil personified in fact life is, dare I say, good.

[tom selleck]

I agree there is too much unneeded negativity at times on the forum.

Strategy: Review the postings of those quick to condemn. The tone of their posts will quickly clue you in.

Thanks, OP.