Job Discussion Forums

[GS1981]

Thanks for the advice Nathan Everything has seemed pretty kosher so far I have to say. It's about 20hrs a week so I figure that's ok. One question, what is an average utility bill/month in China?

[NathanRahl]

I'l have to be honest, I am not sure. My company told me the average was 500 a month. However, I take this with a grani of salt, for I have heard different numbers from others. I think it has to do with where you are living, and just plain how much your on that computer. I recommend rebooting it instead of keeping it on between uses. Be frugal with your energy. Also, don't heat up your shower water until an hour and a half or so before your shower, an do remember to turn it off. Things like this will save a lot. Then, just wait for the bill. Your pay is not bad, I am making 5,000 for no more then 20 teaching hours, though I am only teaching 17. You may find the same, that your teacing hours are not a full 20. Anyhow, good luck, but keep a wary eye, and don't take anything on faith, not over here. Later.

[no_exit]

I doubt your utilities will run 500 a month in Ankang (which, being a small town, should be cheaper in theory than a larger place).

In Kunming (also a relatively inexpensive place) I pay no more than 100RMB a month for electricity, but usually closer to 50RMB. Water is between 10 and 20 RMB a month, and gas depends on how many of your household appliaces run on gas. Internet can be a bit pricey -- it comes out to about 100 a month here if we don't split a line with the neighbors, and I don't have a ground phone line in my apartment, I just use my cell phone. I talk on my cell a decent amount and the fees still only come out to about 100RMB a month. Anyhow, Appliances aren't really that big an expense.

I think 3800 airfare reimbursement is pretty fair for only a four month contract. More and more schools want teachers to sign a year at least, and only give a bit more than that anyhow. It sounds like this could be a good first job for you, and if you don't like it in the end, at least you only have to deal with it for four months. That's my take anyhow, if I were new to China I'd probably go for it.

[hangzhouvice]

the money u'll spend on electricity can double or triple once the weather gets cold, which for Ankang should be in about one month...

Bucklands used to offer all utilities paid, it's a sign of the times that they're no longer doing this. Though some teachers are going to abuse this benefit so maybe a 200 kuai stipend would be fair..

I worked for Bucklands, electricity was free on the contract but my school ripped me off by deducting 2000 rmb from my final salary for using the AC too much in the winter. It was -5 degrees and the apartment was a freezing block of concrete.

Most buckland positions are quasi-legal. So be careful.

I'd ask to be paid up till the end of January and receive holiday pay for Spring Festival, something very important that the other posters have overlooked. U could end up looking for another job mid-jan with no more work or income availible till March...a very bad situation to be in.

[GS1981]

Ok, so I'm anticipating it being pretty damn cold when I get there: I'm hoping that by getting lots of blankets on my bed and wearing warm clothes I can keep my costs down a bit, does anyone else have any good tips for surviving the chinese winter?

[Mydnight]

I worked for Owen Buckland before in the 03-04 school year. I did a year with him and had half a year in a good place, and then when I changed he lied to me and sent me to h-e-l-l.

Good points:

1. He wil back you up for the most part if something goes wrong. He is on your side.
2. For the most part, they will be honest to what they say in their contracts. You have to be a stickler for the finer points, though.
3. If you call him, he will more than likely answer the phone and help you as soon as he can.

Not so good points (daresay, bad):

1. They will send you in the middle of no where without remorse and lie to you about how it really is there or even where it is exactly. Dongguan was a city that was supposed to be "15 minutes away" from Guangzhou when he first started pitching it to me. That's about 1 hour and 15 minutes away from the truth.
2. As with the typical agent-type company, they will be dishonest about certain things. Blatent dishonesty is the way of the Chinese businessman, I guess.
3. He will take you to Yangshou to learn about "Chinese culture" when Yangshou is about 99 percent different than ANYWHERE ELSE in China. This will leave you with wrong impressions as to how China really is.
4. He claims to understand much about Western culture when he really doesn't know that much. I say this because sometimes he doesn't understand why certain problems are problems.

Overall, he is better than most agents, I think, but he is the only one I dealt with for a long-term. He will care much about your thinking in the beginning but it will fade after a while. I guess he expects you to get used to the life in China...it sorta leaves you feeling unimportant, which in a sense, you are. He gets paid when he turns over contracts so each new endeavor is more important than his last.

[7969]

[GS1981]

Mydnight> thanks for your post I think I can cope with those problems, but it's good to hear from people who have had experiences with a prospective employer, and that told me most of what I need to know about him. I've also been in touch with a current employee, so I'm getting an idea of what it's like in Ankang

7969> for the record, I'll be taking notarized copies of my certificates with me, I just don't dare take them somewhere like china where things can potentially go very wrong, although I'm happy to have them scanned etc. for proof of their existence