Job Discussion Forums

jibbs · Joined: 02 Feb 2003 Posts: 452

I don't mind my job. It is not hard. I sit in an office all day. I do proofreading, and answer some questions from co-workers about language. It has been a good break from teaching classes. Out of six hours or so each day in my office, I really am working for only around three hours. A lot of the time I'm just there in case someone drops by with questions or another paper to check. It's kind of peaceful except for the honking cars on the street below. It's still a little strange being the only foreigner in the building with around 200 Chinese. Not sure how many of them speak English, but around 20 or so come into my office regularly enough. I am pretty useless at speaking Chinese.

I do mind my location, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province (about 3 hours from Beijing on the fast train). I don't like it at all and want to leave despite the job being OK. I'm not yet even six months into my contract. I'm bored out of my mind here. It's not easy to meet people here. I'm not an outgoing guy, so that makes it harder. I've spent most of my time here not talking to anyone outside work, and most of that only work-related stuff. Suffice to say I feel pretty alone, which I can deal with for months, but it's starting to wear thin.

Another thing, if you can believe this, is that my provided apartment has no heat except for the bedroom aircon. It will get cold, really cold, starting in two months or so. I don't know how people tolerate this. There was a Chinese family living here before me. How did they manage in the winter? I can barely handle being here now. No way I'm going to stay and freeze.

So, I'm giving in my notice soon. I guess 30 days is enough? Though I suspect it might take longer than that to replace me. Should I just say I really want out of this city despite not minding the job? Should I mention that it is insane to have no heat? Who builds these places? What were they thinking? I'm not sure what to say except I want to go, before the end of October at the latest, and maybe before the end of September.

The Ever-changing Cleric · Joined: 19 Feb 2009 Posts: 1523

Laurence · Joined: 26 Apr 2005 Posts: 401

spunkmonkey · Joined: 16 Jun 2009 Posts: 93

Don't give up.

As suggested, look into a hobby of some kind, use the time to catch up on reading and study, look into gaining skills that will help you in your next job. Even something as common as photoshop can be an excellent thing to become expert in. Within 6 months, you can become very good at many things.

I use photoshop as an example, and I am sure you can find many things that interest you. Become good at something so you can use it in the future. Read up on international curricula, become knowledgeable and take it and use it in the future.

You may not get another opportunity that provides so much free time: distraction free.

Buy a bike, join a gym, become a master linguist. You can do a lot in 6 months (even if it is cold).

vikuk · Joined: 23 May 2007 Posts: 1842

nobleignoramus · Joined: 17 Jul 2009 Posts: 208 Location: On the road

Now would be your once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get to grips with the basics of the Chinese language.
Not only is learning Chinese a fascinating way of spending your precious but useless spare time - it may help you forget how polluted and how cold your environment is.

alter ego · Joined: 24 Mar 2009 Posts: 209

Sounds like a case of good old-fashioned depression to me.

They have fancy new terms for the blues nowadays but the symptoms are generally the same. Depending on the intensity, frequency, and length of your depressive states of mind you may want to consider taking anti-depressants.

Then again, having a few close friends of both the platonic and romantic variety might be just what the doctor ordered.

Buy an electric heater for the long winter ahead. Try to look on the bright side of things, at the glass half full, the forest for the trees, etc. Count the money you save every month and plan your next move carefully. Above all, try to enjoy all those free hours on the clock. Jobs like that -- work you don't mind and free time to ponder your navel -- don't come along very often.

As the saying goes: One definition of insanity is making the same mistakes over and over again. If you made a mistake in taking that job and moving to that part of China, do your best not to repeat it.

YankeeDoodleDandy · Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 10:28 pm Post subject: Winter Blues

In northern China, the radiator heat comes on November 15 th and goes off on March 15 th. Beware of the Ides of March. Check out your air conditioner , many of the wall units double as a heater in the winter. Check out your remote or have a friend check it out for you. You can alway put an extra blanket or two on your bed. I live in Xi'an and winter is tolerable. Make some new friends and be more optimistic. Remember, the glass is half full !!! Best of luck. YDD

platinum peyote · Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 5:28 am Post subject:

I agree with some of the other posters, make some friends, get some hobbies like photography, explore your city, learn how to play an instrument, maybe try and meet girls at a church as it sounds like you are not a drinker at all, and just be glad that you have your health.

Good luck!

Totemic · Joined: 05 Feb 2009 Posts: 118 Location: Nanjing

nobleignoramus · Joined: 17 Jul 2009 Posts: 208 Location: On the road

And if an impending weekend threatens to look suicidally boring, make a trip to some place out of town, such as Pingyao or, closer to Taiyuan, the estates of Grace Winery, this country's best wine-making business. You will be fascinated by what awaits you there...

platinum peyote · Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 6:16 am Post subject:

Good suggestions all around here. It seems as the OP is not going out enough, which I agree might be daunting at first, but is that not why we decided to move to China (one of the reasons at least)?

Truth be told, I've also been a shut-in lately, mainly because of the insane humidity here in Nanjing recently. I do however plan to buy an electric guitar next month as another means of feeling somewhat productive.

Good luck OP! Let us know what happens!

sharpe88 · Joined: 21 Oct 2008 Posts: 226

get a space heater if you must spend the winter

Hansen · Joined: 13 Oct 2008 Posts: 737 Location: central China

Jibbs,

Time is a very valuable thing. Here are some of the things I do and have done in order to make the most of it:

Learn taiji in the park every morning
Join a swimming pool club
Join Chinesepod and learn, practice, expand Chinese.
Make sure you have a good internet conection. Pay for one if necessary.

As for the heater, get an electric oil heater. It will be expensive, electricity wise, but it can transform at least one room of your flat into a comfy place. I would absolutely not try to spend a winter north of Beijing without a heater, unless you are used to freezing temperatures without heat.

You might approach your employer about buying you an air conditioner, one that warms rooms. They work quite well and can take the chill off in a hurry. Forget about an electric heater. Most of them are junk and can't really do what you want.

Dancing Monkey · Joined: 23 Aug 2009 Posts: 79

I suggest an electric heater that looks like an old-fashioned radiator; they will last much longer than a typical electric heater which may break after a month or so (the Midea brand comes to mind).

I've had my "radiator" for more than 1 winter.