Job Discussion Forums

[garlic and basil]

Why leave Cambodia for China? The filth (garbage in the streets, low standard public aesthetics), poor selection of reasonably priced Asian food (except a handful of restaurants), low wages (hovering around $10), severly compromised P4P scene, plus a very gossipy and socially retarded ESL teacher milieu in Phnom Penh is getting to me. So I've narrowed down China destinations to...

1. Zhuhai

2. Guanzhou

3. Haikou

All have or are close enough to western amenities plus have decent wages (well, Haikou sounds marginal, but I was there once I liked the place). My question is where to look for shared accommodation once I hit the tarmac. I can't afford to live in a hotel while I am waiting for a contract with apartment.

So this is a clarion call to teachers living in those cities. Is there a community centre, bar, notice board etc in these cities where teachers advertise shared apartments/houses/barges/treehouses? Are homestays available? One of the few things that bugged me about China in my forays was that cheap accommodation places likes flophouses, pensiones etc in big cities barred foreigners. We must be 'protected' from cheap living.

[virago]

[virago]

[garlic and basil]

Yuck, that's an ugly looking word. I think I'll start using American spelling!

Your comment suggests that those negative factors of the capital of Cambodia also apply to some cities in China.

My point was how to sleep cheap while looking for the best job(s). In Saigon, Bangkok and Phnom Penh I can take weeks to choose jobs because guesthouses are so cheap ($2-5), whereas in China in even provincial capitals I recall paying $25-40 a night. I was barred from guesthouses except in touristy destinations like Dali. Shenzen was atrocious value.

You see, I'm seriously considering jumping on a plane to Zhuhai or Guangzhou but can't afford to live high on the hog while job hunting. And I don't want to take the first job that comes along if it's not suitable.

[vivalgos]

Sure is!! Try spelling it like this: `[i]facetious`. This is one of those funky words where all the vowels are contained and in order! Cool! And it is not the American spelling.. just correct spelling. Cheers!
Hope you find some place to sleep.