Job Discussion Forums

[Steppenwolf]

[Bayden]

[Gregor]

I haven't posted in a while,
But I think that if you search out my posts, you'll find that I had a pretty positive time so far (past four years, minus a few months back in the States). That was with two different schools, one company. I was often accused (quite falsely) of pandering for the company, and I suppose I should have expected it, since I am the DoS for these schools.
Still, I had a positive experience with them (the same company) in the U.S. and in Indonesia, so when they offered me the DoS job in China, with excellent benefits (good bennys for teachers as well, but awesome for the DoS), I didn't hesitate to take it. That was four years ago, as I've said. So there you go.
I'm not going to get into a fight with the detractors here today. But if the OP (or anyone else, really) cares to send me a PM, I'd be happy to steer you towards a very likely good experience in China. I won't promise anything, because there are some schools in this company that are better than others, but I know one or two personally that are good. So. Write me, take my advice, and you'll do OK.

[Steppenwolf]

[nolefan]

[atruelove]

[abusalam4]

I believe we should always speak the truth....

China has changed tremendously in the past 15 years. When I first came here in 1990, it was still very much the "old" communist country with a somewhat inefficient state-run economical system. Foreign teachers at that time (there were much, much less FTs than there are today!) did not have to face problems with dishonest schools and recruiters that should be avoided like hell. I won't claim it was much "better" then but the possibilities for private profit-making on the back of others and getting FTs nto trouble cerainly did not exist to the extent as today. With a profit-oriented economy developing rapidly s today, quite normally also the chances and the market for crooks, cheaters, liars, criminmals also has grown in number. As anywhere else in the world, China these days is a country with many "contradictions".

In this perspective, quite normally also there are foreign teachers who have more pleasant and others who have made less pleasant experiences.
All of these experiences in their diverse backgroundas are reflected in the Board postings here. Following the postings in this thread here gives me the impression of a "division": Some posters here seem to suggest that FTs do not have the right to critisize and complain in reasonable and well-founded cases, and other seem to suggest exactly the opposite.

Not complaining/critisising because it is China? Is China a holy cow not to be touched at all and "sacrosanct"? I think this is the wrong approach. As a FT in Vhina, you have to protect yourself and your own interests in certain cases. And there are situations where you have to react in a clear and decisive manner. I have had several such situations in Henan Province in 2003 when I came a second time back to China. None of those posters who are so critical of China-related complaints here in the Board ever cared to offer some support then and I had to sort it out all my myself. So, please don't you tell us any bullsh... here! Perhaps you do not know what you are talking about:
- a school run by two "Chinese businessmen"whom I would call criminals; they were involved in illegal transfer of Yuan RMM abroad (for which youi can be sentenced to death in China) and training Chinese youngsters to be "smuggled" abroad (illegal immigration to Australia and other places).
I was appointed "Director" of that "school" at that time and when I found out, I talked to the other foreign teachers (Australians),a dn we decided to leave immediately - we do not want to be mixed up with such a place.
- Contrary to contract, we were placed into a dirty hotel with prostitutes calling in the middle of the night offering their "services". They were "sent" to us by these nice Chinese businessmen.
- When we decided to leave, we almost got into a fight with those who tried to prevent us from leaving the "hotel".
- I could easily have left by myself without cariung at all about the the other two young Australian teachers. I knew Chinese to get by and to call for a taxi that would take me to Zhengzhou. It was more difficult to inform the other teachers and when they also decided to leave to organise a number of other taxis to take us together to Zhengzhou. A larger group of people also naturally attracts more attention than a single person leaving secretly under some "false" prentences.

That this was the right thing to do was also later confirmed by the fact that these Chinesde guys running the place were later arrested and are now inm prison where they rightly belong.

So, my dear friends who would not admit any criticism on China and its circumstances - if you like or not, it is always corect to keep your hands clean from any dirt that certain Chinese criminals want you to involve in. And in such case you should be grown up and mature enough to help yourself when the situation seems to get out of hand as happend in the case when they tried to prevent us from leaving the "hotel". And be mature enough not to keep your mouth shut and do all you can to report to the Chinese authorities and get them to do something about it. In case of bureaucrats, take a clear stance and let them know that you are not prepared to take everything they may have as a surprise for you. Simply, be yourself, and in doing so you eventually may also help others - Chinese, FTs... who knows......

[Steppenwolf]

[vikdk]

sorry step, almost 4 years now, still doing the same thing - and not even the whiff of a big mac or the obnoxious Colonel S - which reminds me I see, in another thread, a copy of a certain 2003 "lying back in the sauna sipping red plonko" post has just reappeared - now why wasn't the poster of that able to continue in such a luxurious vain
as for -

[upchuckles]

stepp: Ankle biter! Perfect analogy!