Job Discussion Forums

[jonathanj]

I currently live in Tokyo but I am moving to China with my Chinese girlfriend in April. We have no jobs or apartments set up for when we arrive. We have decided to live in Fuzhou or Xiamen. Can someone help me decide on the following factors:

1. Which is cheaper in overall living costs?
2. Which city would be easier in finding a teaching job once there?
3. Which would be easier in finding an apartment once there?
4. My gf speaks fluent Japanese, English, and Chinese. She wants to find a job where Japanese will be used. I assume Xiamen would be more suiting in this dept due to the amount of tourism compared to Fuzhou. Would this assumption be correct?
5. Which city has more amenities for sports or entertainment (gym, movie theatre, etc...)
6. Class availability to learn Mandarin.

Thank you very much for this info because I really could use the help. I need to make a decision soon. Thanks again.

[Itsme]

aint never done been to no Fuzhou but I has been to Xiamen.
Got a nice indoor water play center by the university. ewwwww weee!
Botanical garden is great.
The buses are fun to ride but they play this weird stuff over the speakers.

What was the question again?

[jonathanj]

[jeffinflorida]

Been to Xiamen a bunch of times, Fuzhou once.

Big difference in the cities.

Fuzhou is a big city, pretty unfriendly, in the Northern part of Fujian. Lots of shopping, decent buses, plenty of opportunity for work.

Xiamen, a nice clean city. Above average shopping ( 2 Wal marts, Carrefour, Metro, Western delis) higher standard of living. Maybe a little more expensive.

Xiamen is a better place to live.

But Fuzhou may give you more choices for work.

However, I have found that work can always be had if you look and network hard enough.

Chose Xiamen for the better living standard.

[jonathanj]

Thanks for the response. Are there English newspapers that will publish ads for teaching positions ( making it easier to know what schools are hiring at the time)?

[jeffinflorida]

Your best bet is to try and hook up something before you arrive, but if not then network or pave the pavement and look around.

I've picked up allot of side work just by meeting English speaking Chinese that need training for their business or themsleves.

[jonathanj]

[Steppenwolf]

Xiamen has more economic assets than Fuzhou - it's a special economic zone with many foreign dirct investors, including Japanese ones.

It boasts a number of privately-owned training cnetres and schools. Fuzhou? Nothing to write home about! Big, yes, and morphing into a major city but Xiamen still beats it hands down.

[Mister Al]

Never been to Fuzhou but Xiamen is one of my favourite places in China. Jobwise shouldn't be too difficult if you are both suitably qualified/experienced. Cinema was generally Chinese movies and occassional big Hollywood with English subtitles. There are good beaches around and you can swim in the sea (never did me any harm!) Great food, enough nightlife, reasonable expat scene, apartments not too expensive. Generally, a good place to live.
There was a website/mag (whatsonxiamen) but site may have moved/gone. You could look at www.amoymagic.com

Good luck

[englishgibson]

i see that the well EF knowledgable mister al has been to the xiamen cinemas as well as he has swum in the big xiamen sea...way to go al ..yes, xiamen is nice

[Itsme]

Mr. English.

Is that a new DTD I aint never heard of?

Iza heard of the <p></p> and Iza heard bouts the <li></li> but I aint never done heard about da

[englishgibson]

you might be right there

cheers and beers