Job Discussion Forums

[Lute451]

During an email correspondance with the liason for the school where my boyfriend and I accepted employment, I was told that it would be a good idea to bring a gift for the Headmaster and Vice-Headmaster of the school. This is not a problem for me, however, I'm unsure what to bring for them.

The liason suggested something inexpensive and small. We've purchased postcards from out home countries/cities for our students, but we didn't know if those would be appropriate for the Headmaster and staff.

Searching through the archives on Dave's, we didn't find much of any specific gifts that people recommended. Just pins, booze or cigarettes. We were hoping for different ideas than those. Anyone have any suggestions?

[tofuman]

Surprise,

I found that the one Chinese that I asked about American cigarettes said that he actually did not like American cigarettes, taste wise. As for "booze," they might prefer some of their local brews to Western. Chinese tastes can be quite different from Westerners.

It may be that the liaison is actually fishing for a gift for himself.

Be aware that the Chinese moral code is schizophrenic and hypocritical. While you and your "boyfriend" may have been hired, you could discover that you will be subject to criticism after you arrive. You may even be roughly treated and eventually cheated out of money, benefits, and so forth. These folks are eager to rip off Westerners. Being an unwed couple may provide them with additional justification to abuse you.

A lot will depend upon your particular institution.

[Lute451]

Yes, we have read that being unmarried might be against their honor or moral code, but I don't get a bad feeling from the school. We actually had to negociate two seperate rooms because they wanted to only provide us with one "hotel style" room. Being that we are both pretty tall people and like our personal space, we opted for two rooms. Once we pushed that, they gave us two rooms.

It was interesting that they wanted to bunk us together, even though we aren't married. They just also talk about us as a couple. Maybe they don't even know we aren't married.

Maybe the Liason is fishing for a gift, but he did say small and inexpensive. I was going to bring him one anyway, and his assistant. They have been really helpful with sending us our paperwork and rushing us documents at the last minute. We'll see what happens when we actually get there, but honestly, my gut feeling is that is will be OK.

We turned down other offers because something didn't feel right about it, but this one does. I'll definatly put an update up after we arrive in China next week. If things are bad, I'm sure I'll be here posting about it for advise or help.

[Songbird]

I'm surprised you had to push for a 2 room place- usually couples and families are automatically given a larger place, at least where it's possible. You'd be living on top of each other in a 1 room place, it would drive you batty!

If I were you I would actually wait til I arrived until I bought a gift, a. it's cheaper and b. it would be local so it would go down better. Don't worry about not having a gift to give the moment they greet you at the airport- in all the stress and panic of moving to a new country it's natural to 'forget' such a thing. Buy a box of local beer or better yet, some good quality biaoju (paint thinner!!) for them the day you arrive, without them around and give the next day. Don't buy local cigarettes here- they're dirt cheap anyway (they don't have taxes like in the west) and you'll just look like a cheapskate!

[tofuman]

The advice to give a cheap gift doesn't sound right. You may be surprised to find that the friendly liasion is actually not your friend at all. Face is extremely important here. A cheap gift might be perceived as an insult.

As much as I eschew alcohol, gift wise, a bottle of good baijiu is almost certainly to go over well.

I gave my "liaison" a bottle of good western liquor and he still became a near mortal enemy.

Good luck.

[7969]

i've been in china almost three years and never given a gift. just go there, do the job the way you're supposed to and that's all thats expected of you. noone i've ever met in ESL has come to work on day one bearing gifts.

[Tezcatlipoca]

I have never taken gifts for a job in China, but I did in Korea. The only thing I regret about the Korea situation is that I wasn't friendlier to my boss... she took me in as family, but I insisted on keeping everything very strict and professional.

I did bring gifts for friends and such in China. I brought little shot glasses that had my state's flag on them or other symbols of my home.

You might want to consider a laniard (sp?)... the long keychain that you can wear around your neck. I have had multiple people ask me where I got mine (which was bought in the States).

[Steppenwolf]

Steppenwolf feels that for an employer to demand "gifts" from their newly-recruited hirelings is tantamount to asking for a bribe. Sorry I can't help feeling that way since the exact same thing had happened to me in Kunming many moons ago, and the price I was supposed to pay was to bring a bottle of Cognac or a Calvin Klein gold pin.

Is your contract legal? Can you trust them to honour their obligations? No? I wouldn't want to pay upfront when I didn't know whether they were in fact going to house me during the entire contractual term! How many others fall for the same trick?

On the other hand, a gift might be a nice and friendship-enhancing idea; it should be discreet, though, and not look too imposing nor too cheap either. Photo albums? Post stamps? A handkerchief? Some other souvenir? Not that I believe Chiense ordinarily show much appreciation for such things...

[cj750]

how about a mug which sez...."World's greatest boss"

[KES]

[cj750]