Job Discussion Forums

[olabueno]

Anyone heard of this place? It's in the Northeast (Jilin), north of North Korea. Info. on-line is scarce.

Thanks,

-Mike

[LanGuTou]

Firstly, I would recommend checking the spelling. I cannot trace a Baichang City in Jilin Province. There is a small city called Baicheng but that is located in the west of Jilin almost on the border of Inner Mongolia. Certainly not bordering North Korea in the east.

If, in fact, you do mean Baicheng, I can offer the following observations:

Baicheng is small by Chinese standards (population around 300,000) and the local economy is based on agricultural production. It is a relatively poor and under developed city. If you like modern lifestyle and city comforts, maybe this place is not for you. However, if living with traditional Chinese laobaixing is your thing, it could be an interesting place to spend a year. You would need to be prepared for a basic lifestyle and little in the way of extracurricular activity.

I have visited Baicheng but have never taught there. I have read reviews by an American teacher at Baicheng Normal University and he appeared to be very positive about the experience.

[thedogateit]

If you meant Baicheng Normal College, I've been offered a job there. I'm strongly considering taking the job. I've been able to find out a couple of things about this city on the internet. Baicheng is a main rail hub in the Chinese rail system. If it is small, at least one can get out of town for getaways fairly easily. Besides being a rail hub, there are a couple of nature preserves nearby for those who like hiking and nature, like myself.

If there is anyone on the boards that has worked at this school or in Jilin province, I'd like to hear your thoughts.

[LanGuTou]

FAO thedogateit:

I don't know what your experience of living and teaching in China really is but I can give my views about life in North East China (please accept my apologies if it is a case of teaching granny to suck eggs):

Jilin Province is one of three provinces located in China's Dongbei (NE) region. If it is your first experience in China, a key factor to consider is the weather in Northern China. Summers are temperate but the winter is generally bitter cold (minus thirty degrees centigrade can occur commonly). The wind chill factor can make it feel even colder.

Dongbei people are usually very friendly and inviting. It is often very easy to make a lot of friends.

Baicheng City is certainly under developed although there are many shops in the city centre. The main method of transportation is pedicabs (a manually propelled tricycle with a hooded seat at the back). The cost of living in the city is very low.

Many Chinese cities claim to be a main rail hub as there are many places to travel to and many trains in China! Rail links from Baicheng take you to Qiqihaer and Haerbin in Heilongjiang Province in 4 - 8 hours, Jilin City in about 4 hours and overnight to Dalian on the East Coast (about 16 hours). Traveling to Inner Mongolia by train is also quick and easy. You can get to places like Ulanhot or Hailaer relatively quickly to experience Mongolian culture and the vast grasslands.

Typical Dongbei food is very salty. Pickled cabbage (suancai) is a local favourite. A chafing dish (hotpot or huoguo) is often eaten in the winter months.

Baicheng certainly has several marsh areas and nature reserves within reasonable traveling distance. It claims to be Crane City (famous for the white crane) but so does Qiqihaer. Watching nature is probably a significant pastime in the area because there is little else to occupy one's mind.

As for Baicheng Normal College, I really don't know other than several years ago I applied for a job there, got accepted but finally refused it. The American teacher there at the time gave nothing but positive reviews. It is a Normal College and it is very probable that the English level of the students is well below average even for majors. The quality of teaching facilities is also likely to be low.

[thedogateit]

LanGu Tou, thanks for the info. I have no experience with living or teaching in China. This will be my first teaching job. All my knowledge comes from internet research and the few books I've read on China so far. I highly recommend River Town: Two Years on Yangtze by Peter Hessler. As far as climate goes, I can't stand heat or major amounts of humidity. So I've tried to keep my search to the Northern parts of China. If you have any thoughts on the challenges of teaching at a University in China for a first time teacher. I'd love to hear them.

[LanGuTou]

Seriously, if this is your first experience of working in China, I would consider steering clear of small cities like Baicheng. If you go to a large city or developed area, the culture shock is often great. If you go to a small, under developed agricultural city like Baicheng, that culture shock can be several times more intense.

I would suggest that, if you choose to live in Dongbei, first try a city like Dalian, Harbin, Shenyang, or Changchun and make sure that you can adapt to life here first. You can still travel to smaller cities and see if that lifestyle is what you really want.

If you do decide on taking a job at a small city in remote locations, don't be surprised to experience things like farm animals on the road, stench ridden public lavatories, sewerage carelessly disposed of, stagnant pools of water sitting in residential areas, rotten and decaying food on the roadside etc. If you think that you can take to this standard of living then fine, but you are likely to be committing yourself to a ten month contract if you get it wrong.

If you are such a nature lover and can stand very cold winters, I would recommend looking at places like Hailaer in Inner Mongolia. The culture and grasslands are beautiful, especially in summer.

[olabueno]

Yes, I was referring to Baicheng, I just spelled it wrong.

Thanks for all the help and comments. thedog...I sent you a pm. If you are thinking of taking a position there we should chat.

Thanks again guys,

[fellowjobseeker]

I have worked in Baicheng Normal college and would not recommend it for your first time teaching. Very little teacher support and very little to do if you are unfamiliar with the language/culture.

[milkweedma]

I'm also looking into working at Baicheng Uni March 1st and wondered if you guys who posted querries about it previously, actually started working there and could tell me how it was/is? PM me if you need too.

[norwalkesl]

I encourage the OP to go.

But I do want you to know about heat and winter in China. Houses and apts are heated, but only to 5 C at most. The Chinese are incredibly hardy and do not heat their homes, school rooms or businesses. If it is -30 C outside, you will be walking to class in that weather. You will wait outside your classroom in the hallway that is either unheated or exposed to the outside. When the bell rings you enter the classroom. Chances are the students will have some windows open, even at those temps. They adjust and think it is too warm with 60 bodies and their long coats.

Your house and apt will be cold all the time. It will be drafty and the floors are tile and the walls are hard plaster - they conduct cold right through with ease. Make 100% sure they have installed a dedicated hot water heater so that you may take hot showers. The Chinese only wash their face and feet and hands every day and they are quite accustomed to taking cold showers in frigid temps.

Northern China is basically the temp of Siberia. Cold like you have never known.

I do not intend to discourage you - the huoguo are delicious and the people super friendly and in a small city like this you will save all of your monthly pay. You should definitely go!

[Moon Over Parma]

[MisterButtkins]