View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
sumaarmont
Joined: 10 Jul 2007 Posts: 6
|
Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 7:28 pm Post subject: Yinchuan vs. Dalian?? For Teaching at Aston |
|
|
This is my first-time teaching English in China and have an offer from Aston to teach in either Yinchuan or Dalian for their Winter Intensive program (January-February). Has anyone lived/taught in either of these cities with Aston or otherwise? Any recommendation as to which city to pick? I would like as much of a true "China" experience as possible and ideally in a city where the Mandarin is not too difficult to understand. Also, does Yinchuan or Dalian have the more agreeable climate in the winter? Many thanks! |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Katja84
Joined: 06 May 2007 Posts: 165
|
Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2007 1:01 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Yinchuan is a very nice city to live in! It's probably less "foreignized" than Dalian, and it is probably easier to understand the dialect in Dalian than in Yinchuan, but I don't think the local dialect is that different from mandarin (or maybe that's just because people speak clearer when I'm around). Yinchuan is definitely a 'true China experience' and the climate isn't too bad in the winter - cold, but it's a dry cold so it doesn't feel too bad. People are also very friendly - unaccustomed to foreigners so it hasn't occured to them yet to do things like charge foreigners extra, which is common in some parts of China. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
zanne
Joined: 01 Feb 2006 Posts: 7
|
Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2007 6:29 am Post subject: Yinchuan or Dalian? |
|
|
I would chose Dalian. It's a great city and really clean. Easy to get around. Shopping is terrific. I worked there for Aston some years ago and really enjoyed the experience. For a first-timer, I'd recommend Dalian to anybody. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
inchinanow
Joined: 03 Feb 2008 Posts: 102 Location: China
|
Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 4:11 am Post subject: Re: Yinchuan or Dalian? |
|
|
Dalian is a nice city, but I would rethink any decision to work for Aston. I had a terrible experience there in 2007/2008. You can read my other post for more information.
inchinanow |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh
|
Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 5:16 am Post subject: |
|
|
What other post? Can anyone give me more information on Aston? |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
inchinanow
Joined: 03 Feb 2008 Posts: 102 Location: China
|
|
Back to top |
|
 |
JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh
|
Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 6:23 am Post subject: |
|
|
I only plan to go there for summer vacation so I can put up with some crap as long as I get paid. Anyone ever work at the Yinchuan branch? Any problems with pay there? |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
inchinanow
Joined: 03 Feb 2008 Posts: 102 Location: China
|
Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 10:01 am Post subject: |
|
|
JZer wrote: |
I only plan to go there for summer vacation so I can put up with some crap as long as I get paid. Anyone ever work at the Yinchuan branch? Any problems with pay there? |
Could be a Aston franchise, and they may not be as reliable on pay as Aston Corp. Check this out.
inchinanow |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005 Posts: 3898 Location: Pittsburgh
|
Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 10:27 am Post subject: |
|
|
Well it looks like it does not matter. I don't think I can get a visa since I am not in the US. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Pelican_Wrath

Joined: 19 May 2008 Posts: 490
|
Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 11:23 am Post subject: |
|
|
It's hard to believe that people can refer to Dalian as 'foreignerized'. Is this the same Dalian where it's difficult to find a decent western restaurant? |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Moon Over Parma

Joined: 20 May 2007 Posts: 819
|
Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 6:56 pm Post subject: Re: Yinchuan or Dalian? |
|
|
zanne wrote: |
I would chose Dalian. It's a great city and really clean. Easy to get around. |
Unless you want to get around outside of Liaoning. I'm under the impression it's a mighty long train ride out of Dalian to just about anywhere. Flying though, that's a given regarding convenience. Definitely an interesting place. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Moon Over Parma

Joined: 20 May 2007 Posts: 819
|
Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 6:58 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Pelican_Wrath wrote: |
It's hard to believe that people can refer to Dalian as 'foreignerized'. Is this the same Dalian where it's difficult to find a decent western restaurant? |
Aren't Thai, India, Korean and Japanese foreign? |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Pelican_Wrath

Joined: 19 May 2008 Posts: 490
|
Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 4:09 am Post subject: |
|
|
Moon Over Parma wrote: |
Pelican_Wrath wrote: |
It's hard to believe that people can refer to Dalian as 'foreignerized'. Is this the same Dalian where it's difficult to find a decent western restaurant? |
Aren't Thai, India, Korean and Japanese foreign? |
There's like, what, two Indian restaurants in the whole city one of which is inside a hotel? I've never even encountered a Thai restaurant here. It's a bit like calling Britain in the 1930s "Foreignerised" because most cities back then still had at least a decent number of Italian restaurants, a few Chinese ones and a few Greek ones.
I guess I'm just used to London where I can get absolutely anything I could possibly think of... |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Moon Over Parma

Joined: 20 May 2007 Posts: 819
|
Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 1:36 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Pelican_Wrath wrote: |
There's like, what, two Indian restaurants in the whole city one of which is inside a hotel? |
Zhongchan Hotel has one. The other: please tell me.
Quote: |
I've never even encountered a Thai restaurant here. |
Guan Di: 82779797 for the address.
Quote: |
It's a bit like calling Britain in the 1930s "Foreignerised" because most cities back then still had at least a decent number of Italian restaurants, a few Chinese ones and a few Greek ones. |
Tex-Mex: Tequila Pub
43 Gao Er Ji Road
Phone: 368-9188
Spanish: Tapas Restaurant:
35-3 Victory Street, Dalian
Phone: 0411-8254-0996
Samba Brazilian Bbq
Gangwan Square
Italian: Cafe Igosso
45 Nanshan Road, Zhongshan Road
Phone: 265-6977
Erica's Deli
Around Zhongshan Sq.
Phone: 281-6122
Big Apple
Green Hill Street, Zhong Shan District
Phone: 411 3678002
And far too many authentic/inauthentic Korean kalbi and Japanese noodle and sushi joints to list.
Quote: |
I guess I'm just used to London where I can get absolutely anything I could possibly think of... |
And Manhattan alone makes London's diversity seem less diverse. We're not in Kansas anymore. Make the best of what's around you. Dalian is like an international, ethnic paradise compared to some cities in the P. R. of C. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
chinaamber
Joined: 06 Jun 2006 Posts: 73 Location: Guiyang
|
Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 2:01 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Quote: |
Zhongchan Hotel has one. The other: please tell me. |
Abashi on Yanan Lu, near the PSB place and Bobos.
How does only having two Indian restaurants let Dalian down? How many do you need exactly?
Compared to Yinchuan, Dalian is quite foreigner friendly. Compared to Shanghai I am sure it is lacking.
Why are you so concerned with how foreign a place is or is not? Just wondering, not arguing.
I have known quite a few people who have worked for Aston in both cities and all had no complaints about getting paid or getting stiffed on the contract. I mean, it seems the OP imust have made a decision by now but just for future reference. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
|