Job Discussion Forums

[Netminder]

Would anyone reccommend living on the island as apposed to a commuting? I've done a cursory search on available flats, and the prices seem pretty good. Any major disadvantages to living on this weekend getaway?

[islanddreamer]

Cheung Chau is a pretty agreeable little place - beaches, walks, everything you need including an expat community. Major disadvantage though - all your students live there too (if you're teaching at a school there) and so at weekends there will be no getting away from it all.

[EnglishBrian]

I used to teach for the British Council and almost all the teachers there lived on Lamma and commuted to Admiralty. One guy did live on Cheung Chau though, and said he wouldn't live anywhere else.

However, if you're a Net, and that's where your students live 'cos your school is there - well, like Islanddreamer advices, perhaps think twice.

[dandan]

If your job is on Cheung Chau I'd definitely live there rather than commute. I've lived close to my schools in the past and OK a few kids and parents will say hello to you at the weekend, hardly a traumatic experience in my opinion.

I wouldn't bother living on an island like Cheung Chau and commuting to work every day, I'd rather just go to the beach on the weekend, but if you work there it's a no brainer IMHO.

[foster]

I agree. Living near where you work is not a big deal. I am in Shatin, a little bigger than the islands, but I still see kids on the weekends. I say HI, they say HI and then run off with their mates. The LAST thing they want is to be with me on the weekend....trust me.

If you want to get away, go to Central on the weekends, go hiking in Sai Kung, go to another island, stay inside and veg in front of a TV...there are more than enough ways to avoid students on the weekend if that is what you really want.

[shmeagain]

Both sides have good points.

I would like to suggest a third option. There's a hotel on the beach and they offer long stay packages. The Warwick Hotel - I think.

Why not try that for a couple of months and see if it suits you. If it does (and you'll probably know within a few weeks) then you just start looking for a flat.

I guess meeting students and parents wouldn't be that bad - but you never know as you might end up living next to some of them

[Netminder]

Wow- thank-you for all of your encouraging replies! I take all of them with due consideration, and I'm weighing the pro's and con's. If I am lucky, I will know by week's end whether Chuang Chau will be my destiny or not. Personally, I wouldn't find students saying hello that big of a deal, but as said, living next door imight be another thing. I did see some pictures on a website a young couple took of the island, and it looks very nice indeed.
Thank-you all again.

[ozman]

I agree with all that's been said so far.
However, you really do need to consider whether you WANT to be on Cheung Chau. It might suit some people, and I know people living out there.
You will be restricted by ferry schedules and perhaps when you are feeling bored with the small community and lack of choices in where to have a drink, and really feel you want to get over to TST or Central area, it will all seem too much effort.
I guess it depends on whether you are happy with just the quiet life, or if you want a bit more action and things to do after work mid week and weekends. Maybe you might want to hang out for a different location. Don't jump in too soon - too many people make that mistake. There will probably be other locations to choose from - unless of course you feel you are a Cheung Chau kind of person. Good luck whatever you decide.

[once again]

I think the hotel idea is the best so far. It will avoid having to make a decision too soon, and allows you a chance to check out how you like the place. I think it is a really great place. One thing to think about though is if your out of school behaviour, if seen by students, would cast you in a bad light with the school. If you smoke on the street and are seen by pupils it quickly becomes gossip. The same for being drunk etc. etc. Probably not that much of a problem, but just something to consider. But the island is a great place and well worth a try initially.

[Roger]

I lived on CHeung Chau for some while (not because I had a job there!), and I found the island really charming and life more enjoyable there (no motor vehicles except the fire brigade!).
I am missing those winding footpaths under canopies of trees, fragrant firs and eucalyptus - no diesel fumes, less air pollution to blur your vision. It was also ideal for jogging. Shopping was adequate (a Park'N Shop or Wellcome right on the water front). The beach was, however, less than inviting... and the Warwick has a name that comes with stiff room rents.

A downside might be the holiday makers on weekends. Some houses get really crowded with ten people piling into a bedroom for 3. Some landlords prefer not to rent out during the week or to long-termers - though by now this could have changed...

Anyway, those were the disadvantages. If you can't live away from town, from shopping malls and Delifrance, then CHeung CHau might not be for you. FOr me, it was alright but I have to admit I did commute quite alot by ferry. I don't know if I could spend a whole month there without ever venturing forth from it...

[Netminder]

Brilliant- you have all been very, very helpful with my situation.

I am fitness-minded non-smoker and married with child, so the island life sounds idyllic. On the other hand, I am going to apply to do the part-time MA in Applied Linguistics at the U of HK, which I understand requires me to be on campus Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings. Does this complicate matters, or is island-living still realistic?

[ozman]

I'm not trying to put you off Cheung Chau - believe me - but I do know 2 - 3 people living and working there. I'm just bringing up some of the problems they have. they have said too that they wished they'd got a school anywhere else.
Don't think that you HAVE to take this job in Cheung Chau. You could hang back and wait for another location.
Getting to the campus on Tues evenings might be a hassle. What time will you finish school? Will you have enough time to get the ferry and get over there? Then you've got to come back later that night.
Also, will your partner be staying home to look after your child? What on earth is your partner going to do every single day? It will soon get boring for him/her and commuting by ferry each day for a day out will soon become a drag. Cheung Chau is great. I enjoy going there - but just to spend a day.

[once again]

All of this makes the suggestion of a short term stay initially a good idea. If not the Warwick..there are other places...and the MA at HKU...Tuesday starts at 6 pm. If you cannot get the school to agree to let you go in time for that once a week..then they are not worth working with. From the ferry pier in Central to the uni should take a max of 15 minutes. Saturday morning would be no worse than all the other people who live a distance from the uni. ( and for that matter...nor would Tuesday)

You can try other places to live first...and then decide..or you can try the island first ...and then decide. As you have a job lined up...and your/partner does not..then the island option seems to be the easiest..but he great thing about HK is that the choices seem to be endless...
PM me if you like...
Best of luck...

[Netminder]

"I'm not trying to put you off Cheung Chau - believe me - but I do know 2 - 3 people living and working there. I'm just bringing up some of the problems they have. they have said too that they wished they'd got a school anywhere else."

Could you please elaborate on the specific problems the 2-3 people you know who worked there and "wished they'd got a school elsewhere"? That's just a little too vague to base an important descision on.

[ozman]

Basically what Roger said, and what I said previously.
The people I know DO feel rather isolated and have been looking to move to the island side - but then they still have the commute TO Cheung Chau each day. I guess it depends on what kind of person you are. If you enjoy just the quiet life and the isolation and you don't plan on rushing over to Central or Kowloon side for social activities on a regular basis, then it's fine.
I would be concerned myself about living so close to the students.
My friends often miss out on things because it's just too far to keep commuting - certainly not mid week.
You are restricted with the ferry times if you want to go out, and the getting back late is a real hassle.
It would be worse if there was a partner staying at home all the time - it would soon get boring.
There are a lot of schools out there and the EMB is going to find it hard to get enough NETS for the vacancies.
I made a mistake on my first contract of taking the first thing offered - in hindsight, I should have hung out for something else.
On the plus side, the rents will be cheaper at Cheung Chau and you'll certainly get a bigger place than you would on the island side or Kowloon side - and you won't have to live in a shoebox.
But as I said, it depends on the type of person you are. If you want to join clubs or organizations which meet / go out regularly, then Cheung Chau would be inconvenient. Perhaps for a family person, who doesn't plan to get out so much it would be ok.
I too have this "thing" about bumping into students every time I sally forth.Good luck.