Job Discussion Forums

[jenn.d.4]

Okay I hate to do this one more time, but I was looking at a school in Shanghai last week and based on great input I strongly reconsidered. I received so much helpful feedback that I was wondering if someone in the region may be willing to throw a comment in on this offer. I cannot seem to find an answer by searching old posts. Here's what I've got:

Location: Xi'an
Salary: 5500RMB first 6 months; 6000RMB second 6 months
Housing: Fully paid for teacher housing (risky but I'm okay with this)
Flight: Fully paid
Physical and Insurance: Fully Paid

Personal fees to pay: $200-$300 per month needed to send back to U.S. for student loans
Praying to save a little money so I don't have to be an adult moving into my parents' basement when I return

What do you think... is this fabulous pay, average, not survivable?

Thanks
(p.s. I am okay with eating predominately Chinese food, don't need a bunch of party money, would like to travel as much as possible with my 2 1/2 weeks off +holidays)
(p.s.s. the cost of Starbucks seems to be the topic of many posts...I'm okay with never having Starbucks ever again)

[Hansen]

Let's say you spend 2000 of your salary on your loans. Considering an average salary of 5750, you've still got 4000 plus/monthly. Not sure of costs in Xian but in my location, that's plenty.

How about holiday pay? Is your salary for 12 months or 9 months a year?

Do you have any reason to believe that you will actually receive the salary offered? Have you got any references? What type of school is it?

Schools can say anything. The real issue is whether or not they deliver.

[jenn.d.4]

Thanks for the info. I have a contract I'll just be going over this morning to be sure all the details match what I was told.

Before I get too excited about the contract I wanted to make sure the pay will permit me to eat and travel a bit (even if travel has to be modest). I received a Shanghai offer for nearly twice as much and the consensus was I'd likely be sitting at home too broke to do anything...not to be blunt, but I can have a crappy job in America eating Chinese food where I'm too broke to see or do anything, so I'm hoping for a little more:)

[A'Moo]

If your idea of travel is the 8-15y public transit from city centre to the terracotta warriors once a month, then its ok...
Otherwise, its junk....
I'd look elsewhere....

[DHAPhotography]

5500 RMB should do you fine. Plus there's always extra hours to pick up at your school I am sure. Also, stick to the fine Chinese mein and you won't have any problem staying in budget.

[kev7161]

I think if one is trying to not only pay on a student loan every month but also trying to save money for an eventual return to their home country, then 5500 may not be enough. Yes, it's all well a fine to say that you won't go out partying and eating noodles pretty much every day will get you by just fine, but it just doesn't wash. Who cares about the cost of Starbucks or Pizza Hut, etc.? The fact is though, unless you manage to be able to live like a poorer Chinese person and go through the hardships I imagine some of them struggle through (like collecting plastic bottles to make ends meet), the balance of that 5500 is going to disappear rather quickly. 5500 equals roughly about $800. Take away half of that for the savings and loan payment (even though the OP stated 200-300, but I'm bumping it up as a caution) and you are left with $400 (or less than 3000) to get by on every month. Yes, do-able to be sure. And there may be a few Davesters that are happy to live on approx. 10 yuan a day with no problems. But hell, I go to the store and spend 10 yuan on a 4-pack of toilet paper! That's one necessity out of a list of many: toiletries, basic food items (don't bother including imported favorites from back home), cleaning materials for your home, mobile phone service, taxis and buses and perhaps subways depending on where you live, basic clothing needs regardless if you buy off the rack or have them made for you, modest entertainment such as paying to go see the terra cotta warriors or just buying a half dozen DVDs, medicine or medical service that goes beyond what your school's clinic may provide, the cost of sending money back home whether you use a bank transfer service or Western Union or whatever other method you find. Want to buy gifts for loved ones back home? For new Chinese friends and colleagues? Mementos for yourself? Need a new digital camera or new phone? Any unguessed at or unexpected . . . anything? You don't have to be a shopaholic to go through 3000 a month in almost any major sized city in China. And did you say travel? That's getting more and more expensive by the day within China and if you travel on public holidays when everyone else and their mother does, you'll soon be hiding in your apartment until it's all over. Living in a medium-sized city such as Xi'an and earning maybe 8000 (or more of course) seems to be more attractive, but I understand it's not always easy to find those jobs. Just be prepared and come into your job with eyes wide open is all I'm saying.

[Dan The Chainsawman]

Xi'an is an expensive town. I'd be looking to supplement my income if I had to send home that much every month. You may want to see if you can get a forbearance or a deferment on your loans.

[jenn.d.4]

hmm could anyone else weigh in that has acutally lived in Xi'an rather than other locations? I have definitely been talking and getting information from a mix of people that I believe have and have not lived in the city.
I have gotten everything from "Xi'an is cheap! You'll be great, you'll have enough to pay for food, loans, toiletries and have some to save for a little travel" to "Xi'an is expensive! You can't do it, you'll have to resort to begging or prostitution for that pay." ...Any locals or past-locals in the region have anymore input???

This is the one hold-up with the school and for a first-timer they have what looks like a comparatively good offer in which all Visa, Flight, Medical fees are paid in full and it's a major school out there...so I would assume the pay wouldn't be a begger's income?

Any clarification?

[YankeeDoodleDandy]

I have lived in Xi'an and I believe that you will find it more in the middle price range in terms of costs. Prior to that, i lived in hefei, Anhui for three and a half years and Xi'an is more expensive. Wages in Xi'an at a university range from 4,000 RMB to 6,000 RMB for 14 to 20 classes per week. A two bedroom apartment from 1,000 to 1,000 RMB per month. My university pays me 5,500 per month plus overtime. If you want to teach children on the weekends or high school students during the evening, the wages are from 75 RMB to 120 RMB per class. If you're a good negotiator, you can get more. The work is out there if you want it. There is a club scene and if you want to hang out there you can. Beer are 25 RMB for a 12 ounce glass. I prefer Fat Boy's myself, near the Shaanxi Museum where ice cold beers are 4 RMB and students from Chang An University come by for an informal English Corner. I hope this helps.