Job Discussion Forums

[Leon Purvis]

In an unexpected move, the Foreign Languages Department in my school sponsored a three-day trip out of town during the holiday by campus bus. Chinese teachers and FTs are invited. I signed up as soon as I heard about it.

I expected there to be some cost involved. Nothing is free. Then I learned that the cost for transportation will be 100RMB plus 100RMB per night hotel plus another fifty per day for food. (No, we're not going to Beijing or Shanghai, so the hotel expense is in line with where we're going).

That's about what I'd expect to spend if I went on my own, perhaps a little less, so it seems like a good deal. The four FTs signed up and paid up-front for the trip.

Then we find out that the Chinese teachers will pay nothing for the trip. (I don't think anyone is joking. One source is reliable and somewhat sympathetic).

None of us will complain about it, but we think the whole affair is a bit dodgy as if maybe we're subsidizing the Chinese teachers' trip.

Has anyone else experienced something like this?

[7969]

i've been on this kind of trip in the past. a weekend outing with chinese and foreign teachers. i showed up at the meeting beforehand and from there we had to get on the bus to leave (we didnt know we were leaving so quickly so didnt even have a toothbrush with us).

overall the trip was good, but you should expect to visit several scenic spots and a school or two during your time out. its quite rush rush as far as my experience was. the best part was an all night party at the home of some other FTs who lived in the area where we travelled.

we didnt pay anything on our trip.

7969

[Steppenwolf]

My employer organises a weekend outing every term; the invitation is extended to all of us FTs plus a few trusted Chinese (though the FAO is none too eager to join because for him this represents nothing but extra work!).
Those trips are always free and include an overnight stay at a tourist hotel and some entries to places of interest.
One time I watched as the money changed hands; the cost was very low (and didn't excdeed 200 kui per person even though the published room rates of the hotel we stayed at was 300, i.e. 150 kuai per person if they shared a room. Tickets to attractions had cost some 50 kuai and then there was the trifle of a chartered tourist bus complete with tour guide and driver.

Another trip I made in a different school was by plane, then 5 days of bus travelling and staying at select hotels en route; the school paid the lion's share of the costs but we all had to contribute 500 kuai - which I felt was reasonable.

But recently I heard of a school in SW China that organises excursions for their Chinese teachers every term for free; some Chinese teacher asked whether their FTs could join them; the Principal answered her that they were welcome to join - but they must pay the costs in full...

Yes, sometimes foreigners are discriminated against.

[OGFT]

it would seem that you would embrace this form of double standard as you have often championed the Chinese teachers plight as to lower pay for the same job done by an FT...

maybe this is just an "evening out" based on your communicating to the Chinese staff that you understand the inadequacy and the unfairness of the two tiered scale system...and they, knowing that you understood decided to make it more fair by charging the high wage earner and by subsidising the low wage earner...see your mouth may have got you into this double standard..your sympathy for these matters may have come back to haunt you...have a good time...but maybe you should remember the first rule of the FT..what is Chinese should stay Chinese and what is foreign stays foreign...

[BlakeS]

[cj750]

While I may not agree in the method that OGFT said what he did. I do understand the necessity of keeping cultures separate...and racism is just a perception when it comes to cultural division...after all it implies a position of power and the FT has little..

I to prefer to keep cultures separate...and this doesn�t mean to not involve yourself with Chinese. I do have a lot of Chinese biker friends. What this implies is that benefits offered to Chinese will not be forthcoming to the FT and the Ft should not expect them as they have other advantages separate and far from the normal Chinese person...

[China.Pete]

In my expeience at universities, the FTs are in for at least one complementary team-building type lunch per semester. Depending on the location, I've also been invited to an annual buffet dinner, complete with professional-level entertainment, at a fairly swank hotel, organized by the Foreign Experts Bureau. Except under special circumstances - as in, you've got to sit with and entertain (meaning, speak English with) the FTs - CTs were never invited to these functions.

Of course, the CTs do have outings on occassion. Maybe there was a sense that the FTs felt left out. Heck, maybe they were just thinking about you. So, they figured they'd invite you along. Now, money's awfully tight in most schools' travel budgets, so the FTs are asked to pay for what seems to everyone - including, apparently, the FTs - "like a good deal." My advice: be glad for the chance of an interesting cultural experience, and if it's not your cup of tea, don't go next time.

[kev7161]