Job Discussion Forums

virago · Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2005 10:56 pm Post subject: Maybe Goodbye - for a while

I am think seriously of returning to Australia to regain my previous real working life.

After 2 years in China with nearly most of that time teaching english and business I have realised that I will not make a decent living in China compared to back in Australia. In the short term anyway.

I realise now I understand alot more about security of job, medical care, superannunation etc that is really lacking in China and also because I don't have the personal network that is so vital in China you cannot make a decent business living more than just survive.

Back in Australia I had a great job high 6 figure package, company car and alot of other perks which is difficult to really get used to not having this around. I could possibly get a post here as an expat in a couple of years.

It's also embarrassing when you enter a company to do english or business teaching and they talk about my past and they refer to my, what they call 'impressive resume'. It's like a sock in the mouth of 'why the MOD EDIT are you here!' type comment.

The difficult thing is going to leave my wife, dog and apartment that we have set up in China and only return probably twice a year. My wife cannot join me for business reasons but may be able to join me in a year or so depending on the success of her business. She has put too much effort to stop and give, just yet. If she was earning a decent money in China then I could afford to live here, learn the language properly and develop something of a small business myself but I can't see that happening in the near future.

Anyway that's my story. What do you think? Should I or shouldn't I? I think we have already made the decision but have you done this or heard of others doing this?

virago · Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 12:25 am Post subject:

Sorry I was formally known as 'burnsie' and have been active here for about 1 year.

SillySally · Joined: 26 Jul 2005 Posts: 167

Putting money above family is never a good idea.

Stick around and finish what you started. Nothing has changed from when you decided to get into this situation, except your perceptions of reality.

If you cannot work it out together, what makes you think you can work it out far apart?

Be patient. Perservere. China is a land of opportunities. Make your own. You have a wife and child to take care of here.

There once was a framer who left the countryside and family to work in the city to make more money. When he returned to the countryside another man was plowing his furrows.

virago · Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 1:31 am Post subject: Re: What are your priorities?

Mideatoo · Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 2:24 am Post subject:

Are you slowly but surely divorcing...?

virago · Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 2:33 am Post subject:

Chris_Crossley

Don McChesney · Joined: 25 Jun 2005 Posts: 656

Somebody wise once said "You go back to find out why you left." and that is so true for many situations, many people.
You detail about your good job and prospects etc in Aust before you came here, think carefully why you left.
You can read about lots of FT's who go back 'home' and can't wait to come back ASAP, China has a strange way of becoming a part of you. Why stress your marriage for the sake of 'maybe . . .'?