Job Discussion Forums

cheekygal · Joined: 04 Mar 2003 Posts: 1987 Location: China, Zhuhai

It's interesting. I think the discussions on how much China *sucks* or how great it is would never end. Neither they would end regarding other countries. I guess, the truth is that there is no only good or only bad. And it is quite difficult to measure the amount of positive or negative of China per se, since we are in this country. Despite all negative experience people undergo in China, there are always some bright memories and I have never heard from anyone saying: *I will never come back to this country* and really meaning it. All of my friends who went through unpleasant and rather humiliating situations in China still miss it. Definately not cause they love trouble. But cause there are so many positive things as well. I wouldn't give any example because I am sure there is something different for each and every one. Something still keeps us, oh the complaining ones, in here. I have been also working for the same employer during all the 2 years I spent in China [and planning on spending more]. I was absolutely un-prepared for Chinese reality and faced lots of horrible situations. There was even a time when I was cursing the world and myself for throwing me into the *dark dangeons of absolute ignorance*... Time passed. May be I grew more matured or just adjusted better and tried to understand certain things which were bellow my understanding. I missed China when I was back home in summer! I couldn't believe myself.
Honestly, I think I can write a longer message on the job journal about my *adventures* in China and nationalism I faced and face till now. But where didn't I face it? Everywhere we go there is always *something wrong* with the place. I guess, there is no *perfect place* as it is but the one we build within ourselves Smile

-cheekybabe

Gray000 · Joined: 14 Apr 2003 Posts: 183 Location: A better place

Lest y'all mistake my meaning - I didn't mean that more teachers should bail on their schools. Not at all. I mean that we let 'em get away with a lot and keep on working. This is not a good thing. I have taught at 3 different schools here in China. At two of them, ALL of the foreign teachers refused to work when certain liberties were taken vis-a-vis the letter and spirit of the contract. A compromise was reached.

I most certainly don't mean 'stop whining or go home.' I mean everybody's easier to screw when you lie down and take it.

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

Today I went to the Education Bureau in charge of the college where I had worked until last month, with two of their contract samples (not identical!), 7 timetables I had been given in as many weeks (two or three were more or less "identical"), and a three-page letter of mine listing my complaints to the president of said college.

The reception I got at the Education Bureau was quite cordial and sympathetic. The man agreed at once that my college was in breach of several key points:
- failing to live up to their legal requirement to legalise my sojourn in
the country, and, especially, in the domicile they provided for me
off-campus (a couple of hundred meters from a PSB);
- the frequency of alterations to my timetable was deemed unreasonable;
- the refusal to pay according to oral promises was disingenious;
- the withholding of medical insurance, and the fact that they were
paying me hourly wages rather than a regular monthly salary was illicit.

But, he continued, there was nothing THEY could do except to remind them of their legal responsibilities.
Any dispute I would wish to take to some higher authority would have to be initiated by myself; the only place to settle such issues is - a court in faraway Peking!

What's that famous Cantonese saying?
"Peking is very distant; we are our own emperors!" Or something like that...

Guest · Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2003 10:43 am Post subject:

My School is great so far - I admit I have only been here 3 months but I cannot fault them in any way. There are 4 foreign teachers here and we are all happy. There are 2 old girls from Australia and 2 younger American guys.

I cannot fault the staff, the accommodation, the hours, etc.

The only thing I could complain about - and it is minor - is that fact that you are not told when your schedule is changed because the kids are having an exam or whatever. You are only told about 10 minutes before you are supposed to attend a banquet dinner or whatever. There seems to be a lack of planning and thinking ahead when it comes to the Chinese people in general.