Job Discussion Forums

Guest · Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2003 12:37 am Post subject:

Roger

Thanks very much for that, I have emailed them - maybe they can help me with the two babies who badly need surgery. Anyway, they can give me some ideas about how to start up the "weekend fostering program" that I want to establish when it gets WARMER around here.

Marlene

Freaky Deaky · Joined: 13 Feb 2003 Posts: 309 Location: In Jen's kitchen

Oh, I LOVE the fact that the Chinese don't give a straight answer. Often it gives me a ton of flexibility - 'Oh, but you said maybe, not definitely, and as I haven't heard from you I made other plans'. Work at the weekend? No thanks. I would get informed on Friday afternoon and I would say 'Oh, but I'm off to Hangzhou - I've got the train tickets and booked the hotel. Why didn't you tell me on Wednesday? Anyway, have a nice weekend. Byeeee!'

I know three Chinese girls who have newish jobs as PA's in Foreign owned companies. All of them have told me how their respective bosses are nasty to them, then I get all the facts and find they're saying sht like 'Maybe' or 'I don't know'. That would drive me up the wall...

Guest · Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2003 11:40 am Post subject:

I JUST CANNOT BELIEVE IT - THIS TAKES THE CAKE!

I called into the office today to show some photos around and I was casually told that I would have to give my children EXAMS. Now, I only have tomorrow, Friday and Monday, Tuesday and part of Wednesday next week to give the exams. I was not given any warning at all and it left me wondering just when they were going to tell me - if I had not dropped into their office unannounced!!!

THIS IS WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT - IT REALLY DEFIES BELIEF!

Freaky Deaky · Joined: 13 Feb 2003 Posts: 309 Location: In Jen's kitchen

Rhonda!! Fer chrissakes, woman!!

Just bloody tell 'em. Say, no, not enough time, no enough warning, no can do. They will say something like 'But the students are waiting for you'. Tell 'em 'Well, you should have given me enough warning, ya bloody idiots!!'

Then, shake your head in disbelief and storm out.

fat_chris · Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 3198 Location: Beijing

I'm with Deaks the Helicopter Boy on this one.

Don't get mad, get even. Show that you are professional and demand to be treated so. Show that it is "impossible" for you to meet a request without the proper amount of preparation time. Continued denial of fulfiling their requests on too short a notice should learn 'em.

Hopefully.

davis · Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2003 4:10 pm Post subject:

Freaky and Fat C are right. You need to put your foot down. I had to. I think everyone should. I had to refuse to go to a couple of meetings and a couple of classes. My reasoning was" I have a schedule,my contract says afternoons and evenings and I'm already working some mornings and nights. I will continue to do this for you but any further changes and I must have at least two days notice." It works, I think they both respect and loathe that you would be so bold.

struelle · Joined: 16 May 2003 Posts: 2372 Location: Shanghai

Guest · Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2003 4:28 am Post subject:

Latest Saga

Today 18/12/03 My phone rang at 12.15 p.m. to say that my 1.40 p.m. class had been brought forward to 12.50 p.m. Okay, so I hurried up and dried my hair etc. and raced over to the office.

At 12.45 I turned up at the classroom only to be told by a Chinese teacher that my class had been cancelled due to the children having to prctice for something or other.

I rest my case

Freaky Deaky · Joined: 13 Feb 2003 Posts: 309 Location: In Jen's kitchen

Rhonda.

Write a list of bullsht things your school CANNOT do to you. Enforce your rules upon them. I once had a class cancelled and I insisted on payment, to which the school owner said 'no'. I told him he'd better cancel the rest of the week's classes as I shan't be coming.

He paid.

struelle · Joined: 16 May 2003 Posts: 2372 Location: Shanghai

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

At some point to do have to learn to say no. Otherwise you are not doing anyone any favours.

i do know exactly what Rhonda is saying. My movie class...the test was scheduled for last week Thursday afternoon....week 16. It was already planned out that I would have two clasrooms and the help of two Chinese teachers to monitor the three classes who would be tested together. Then I get a call from the FAO saying..why didn't you teach your Thursday morning movie class. Well, I said, the schedule says the class ends on week 16. I was told...I could make up my missed classes and teach next week. Excuse me, I did not miss any classes. I am having the final today, and the teaching part is finished. Oh well , you all know what
SNAFU means , yes?

senor boogie woogie

Rhonda,

Where are you at in China? I live in Zhejinag, south of Hangzhou. I have been interested for a long time about doing what you are doing, going to the orphanages and whatnot and looking at the children and maybe teaching them some English. I love children. Chinese children are beautiful.

How about getting some of these kids adopted and out of that place? There are many websites that advertise adoption of Chinese children on the internet, and it would be a good way to help some of these children out, and maybe get a financila reward for yourself. You are familiar with the system and i am sure that you speak some of the language.

In my experience, Chinese people are usually good, kind people, but generally a pain in the ass to deal with, they look at things one way and one way only.

If you want to e-mail me, please do,

[email protected]

SENOR

Chairman Roberto · Joined: 04 Mar 2003 Posts: 150 Location: Taibei, Taiwan

Deaky's right...sometimes the Chinese utter inability to make schedules and plan ahead can work in your favor. We were supposed to get three days off for a Sports Meet. Which week, I asked. Oh Lord, I'm not exaggerating when I tell you the date was changed a dozen times. So I finally said "Screw it", booked a ticket to Guangzhou, and see ya later. OF COURSE the days off were changed again, so my classes were supposed to be in session those three days. Too bad, suckers, maybe getting your sh*t together would be in order. AND I got an additional three days off the following week.

BUT they still had the NERVE to tell me "Roberto, you really must inform our office if you're going to take a leave of absence." AAAAAARGH!!! I told them in the politest way to stuff it where the Rays of Socialism's Liberation can't shine.

Oh, I forgot to metion the month's worth of classes cancelled plus the final exams being hiked up two weeks early...the foreigners were the last to know, naturally. Right now we're waging a battle to post all announcements in the English Department in, uhm...English? Now there's a thought. But why the hell would anyone want to actually USE English? Its only use is to pass that friggen *!@%#!! CET-4. But now I'm off on a tangent.

I'm with you, Rhonda. If it wasn't for the message board, I'd have a perforated ulcer by now. Whew! I feel much better. Thank you! Very Happy

Your orphanage works sounds wonderful! Keep up the good work, and don't let the *beep* grind you down. As for me, I'm getting even by telling everyone I'm off to Taiwan...oh, the looks on their faces are priceless. Twisted Evil

Roberto

Guest · Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2003 6:59 am Post subject:

Senor Boogie Woogie,

I only speak 6 words of Chinese and one of them is Kangaroo - which is not too useful out in the public arena I have found. So, at the Orphanage I have been visiting regularly for the past 4 months, I do not speak to anyone. The babies understand me and that is all I care about.

I have sent you an email.

shenyanggerry · Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 619 Location: Canada

I asked for a schedule of the school year so I'd know what was happening. I got it - in Chinese characters. I had whole classes not turn up for three weeks as there were on a work study. Nobody bothered to inform me. I had Ss ask to get out of a 1010 - 1200 class at 1100 because of an intermural soccer game - played 200 feet from our *%&# classroom!

I still loved it there. My first class next semester will be on Feb 16th - I THINK. Wink