Job Discussion Forums

[hoxymoron]

I was a bit disappointed by the feedback on my last post, so I'll be more specific.

I have accepted a position teaching at a university in Qingdao for the stated sum under the impression that I could gain additional employment elsewhere. So, is it possible to not only survive, but thrive and save money by getting other jobs, either tutoring or teaching at other institutions? Keep in mind that Qingdao is not huge, but still a city of around 1.5 mill.

Please help. Thanks.

[Trish Flurman]

Qingdao is nearly 7 million people, with about 2.5 million in the urban city itself.

You have not mentioned which university or where in Qingdao you will live. So, to mention how you can or can't survive on 4,000 RMB is not simple to say.

You will have no issue living on that money unless you're into American and German food, and continuing a western lifestyle. It's certainly an expensive city but the Chinese live just fine. It's how you choose to live that is important.

But where you live determines some of this. If you are going to live in Huangdao then you'll spend a lot of money traveling to Qingdao central and tend to eat expensive food at restaurants because of your isolation across the bay.

So, you need to give more facts.

Be sure you have legal, written permission in your contract to gain additional employment; that include part-time private work. Other universities will not give you work since your visa will be tied to your actual employer.

Really see no reason for a new thread either.

[Anda]

Private work will only come after you have shown your students that you are a good teacher. Some private work might come from Chinese teachers but also they might cause trouble. As of the last couple of weeks Government employed Chinese teachers have been told no private teaching will be allowed anymore. If they teach privates they will loose their government positions. You are probably looking at up to six months before you will start to get private jobs provided you are good at teaching.

Thrive is asking a bit much I think if you base is just 4,000. Instutite work is mainly on the weekends in my part of China. It is not big money especially with travel costs. You should have looked at South Korea if you are after the money so badly.

[dialogger]

On my experience in Dalian which is just up the coast and similarly sized, I think you will be OK.
Is the accomodation assured and on campus?
With the Olympics comimg to town soon there is sure to be some price gouging in the private rental sector and the Chinese landlord will find a cast iron reason to chuck you out if he can get a better deal.

[tom selleck]

When you get to Qingdao, you can check out the expat bars (and get a headstart now doing some research on the 'net) to find a short list of private training centres in town. Of course, the minister of life is not fun, but serious stuff will tell you that's verboten.

A Web just opened up in May of last year, EFs are as ubiquitous as catching a cold in China and there are probably other training centers that might take you on for evening and weekend additional hours.

I work at a Web here in Coal Capital and some of the part timers have full time gigs at a local University. I think they've actually struck upon a cool arrangement, aside from the crappy commutes.

[dialogger]

Even though my contract stipulated no outside work I actually got my best private jobs from the friends I made in the international office.
You can do just about anything as long as you don't rub their noses in it.

[vikuk]

You can well survive on 4000/month - but the concept of EFL as an employment that FT can be proud of, with regard to professional credibility, is really challenged when folk accept such crap wages in one of China's richest cities.
But then again nobody can blame you its a way into an adventure - but go in with your eyes open and make sure you work on exploiting your stay to give you a combination of best experience with best reward - so as not be the exploited party in such a deal.
OK more empty words - but at least a reminder to newbies how lowly 4000/month is regarded in this business

[arioch36]

Anda

[China.Pete]

My answer to your question, OP, is "yes" it is possible to live comfortably (modestly, as others on this thread have explained) on 4,000 Yuan a month. Saving is another matter, as you may have to rely on the uncertain income of part-time employment and the pocketing of your travel/airfare allowance (many schools will agree in your contract to pay this in cash, rather than buying you an air ticket home you may not wish to use) in order to realize any significant surplus by the end of the year.

[arioch36]

Pete

[cj750s]

[Anda]

Where I work you can swing a string of dead cats and not get extra work. My part time job is a four hour round trip away at a cost of 50 RMB at the moment. Privates pay 10 RMB an hour the same as what local instutites charge a student. So you need groups to make money. Yep I live in a poor area.

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

Sorry, I do not know where these guys are from, or what experience they have.

But this is from my experiences only:

I make flat 100 RMB an hour. I work from 32 to 40 hours a week, and been that way for over 2 years.

I have been to Qingdao, and I promise you that you will meet people making 6-10 thousand a month and they wonder why you signed on for under the minimum wage in western countries.

If you want to live as the Chinese live, you will be ok.

If you want to have the same comforts as back home (not sure where that is), you will be miserable and unhappy.

I strongly suggest you look at other places that pay more. There are a LOT out there.

[Surfdude18]

You can live well on that amount but wouldn't save much.

It's about what the wife and I spend a month and we have a maid, eat out pretty often, eat pretty well, etc. That said, I don't live on western/import stuff, which would rack up my expenditure considerably.

Just a box of cereal costs 35 RMB, for instance. a titchy pack of cheese 43 RMB.

All the same, when people say "Be prepared to live like a Chinese" that doesn't have to mean "live in a slum". A lot depends on stuff like the level of comfort your school gives you in the first place. My old job paid 4500-5500 a month, but I felt quite well off because the apartment we had was so gorgeous, simply could never afford a place of that size back home, I used to skateboard round the front room, that's how big it was.

The standard of Chinese food in China, if you know what you are doing, is much better than in the west. When I was back in London I went for a 'szechuan beef' (which turned out to be anything but - it was just beef with sweet and sour sauce poured on), one bottle of qingdao and some rice, it came to about 180 RMB. For the same in China you'd be looking at 40, maximum, and it would be much nicer. It does take a bit of 'knowing what you're doing' and 'learning the ropes' before you learn to live quite well on the money, though. I've had fantastic food in China for low prices. I've also had shite food for high prices. You live and learn.

[AussieGuyInChina]