Job Discussion Forums

[Ozone]

For f**k's sake! Bertrand, get over yourself.

By the way, Roger, does my question about gifts really sound that suspect? "Gifts to bosses"??? I'll be housed with a family for four weeks and it's not unusual for a guest to bring a small gift for her hosts--in ANY country. I would do it even if it hadn't been suggested to me. If a tin of butter cookies constitutes a bribe, then well...but what do I know, right? I've never been there before.

Look, I'm not a moron; I'm not expecting this trip to be perfect or that this job will in any way resemble the sorts of ESL jobs I've had in Denmark or in Spain or in Central America...but it will still be an adventure, for me. Thanks for your tips.[/quote]

[Ozone]

By the way, now you've got me nervous: What does happen if you are caught working with an L visa? Fined and thrown out of the country? Beheaded? Sent to a reeducation camp in Tibet?.......

[Gray000]

Forced to attend a dinner party with Bertie.

[Ozone]

Hi Grey000,

I couldn't understand why your picture looked so familiar--I kept thinking that maybe I know you from somewhere....but the answer just hit me. I know where I've seen that face, but I'll keep your secret if you prefer. Cheers.

[AKA]

Thank you Dr. Bertrand for your corrections. Like your NESB students, I am indebted to you. The fact that you are hypercritical and hypocritical yourself can be safely ignored.

I've noted your superior vocabulary, as in your use of "superflouous"- I'm unable to find this in my dictionary, which must be so inferior to yours.

"At the moment I would have to say that you are not a native speaker of English." Again, you display your superior knowledge and wisdom. I am ashamed of the Cornish language my forebears spoke until a hundred and fifty years ago. My stylistic dropping of a determiner was sufficient for your razor like intellect to pounce on.

" This is not to say that there are no aspects of determiner use and determiner semantics that are still porrly understood within generative grammar. . " Again, my dictionary is inadequate, like my brain, and my geneology. What does "porrly" mean? Does this sentence convey your intended meaning, or in fact the opposite? What can I read into this deduction?

"But I do not think your problems with determiners stems from these poorly understood frames. " I know your deliberate noun/verb disagreement error was included to test me and see if I stayed awake in CELTA classes. Like any good teacher, you should now praise me, as I thrive in an atmosphere of superiority and condescension.
By the way, you can still use the EDIT button, even at this stage, as GRAY leads me to believe you've done before.

In short, "shut it, you ponce". [source unknown]

[Gray000]

Just your typical area man, ozone.

I dunno about the visa fines. However, part of staying legally in China is registering an address with the PSB. The penalty for not doing this is 10K and deportation I AM TOLD.

[Roger]

Ozone,
my answer to your question must by necessity be vague but anecdotal.
Today, I happened to come across a wall poster of the type that I used to see in Shenzhen to announce that the death penalty against someone had been applied.
This poster was in, yes, English (there also was a Chinese poster). It listed about ten regulations, which I summarise here as follows:
- Overseas Chinese, compatriots from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, and aliens (meaning you and me) on D, F, L, X, and Z visas must register with the Public Security Bureau in the nearest town within 24 hours of arriving, or 72 hours if they take up residence in rural Guangdong.
- Overseas Chinese, compatriots from.... Taiwan (not mentioning 'aliens') seeking employment in Guangdong must register for this purpose with the relevant authorities...

And so on, it was pretty straightforward and rational. What is interesting about this poster is that OFFICIAL RULES AND REGULATIONS are publicised this way; usually, the law made in China is only known to those who make it, and they alone decide how to apply it.

What about penalties? It does not say anything about them, but I have been informed by some that they faced deportation (at their own expense) and a stiff fine (several thousand RMB).
Do not forget that China is one of the few countries that can even "deport" its own people to other countries - so it certainly can deport "aliens".


Oh that poster was probably put on that wall during the SARS crisis...

As for the "gift": You may not be faced with a case of soliciting a bribe. Still, if my future employer mentions a "gift" from me to him I would feel that unfair pressure is being applied to me.

[Ozone]

Thanks for the information! I was wondering, though: when I cross the border into Shenzhen, I assume I'll have to fill out some forms about where I'll be staying, etc...does that "count" as having registered with the PSB--is it the same authority? What do tourists do when they are backpacking around--do they need to register everywhere they go...or is that taken care of via their hotels? Thanks again!

[Roger]

When you arrive at the border you fill in an Entry form, which asks, among other things, where in China you are going to stay; mere pro forma question as you can't possibly list all the hotels you are likely to stay at.
Consequently, this form is NOT your registration. Registration involves a trip to the police station with your passport, and you can only do that with your boss. In most cases, you won't have to do it by yourself. Your employer must apply for your visa.
HOtels ask you to fill in a registration slip, which will be given to the PSB after midnight. If you are on a Wanted list, they will know where to find you! In most cities, foreign travellers can only stay at specially designated hotels and guesthouses. In Peking, the rules are being relaxed, and in Shanghai they have in fact been relaxed to the point (it appears) that you can rent a flat without going to the PSB.
As hinted before, I doubt your boss is going to take you on board legally. Don't worry yourself to death. I would not want to do this - but others will certainly do it in the coming weeks!

[Michael T. Richter]

[AKA]

Well, that makes two model expats.
Maybe to extend the list......bought a pirate CD or fake designer goods? Are those REAL Adidas you're wearing at 750 rmb, or "real" ones at 100?
I suspect even farting without a permit is illegal. And bear in mind, it's the people who make, and supposedly enforce the laws who are the biggest offenders here.