Job Discussion Forums

LarssonCrew · Joined: 06 Jun 2009 Posts: 1308

Hey guys, I posted a thread here a while back asking what to do in my first week in China, was met with positivity before it veered onto the price of beer, anyways, I'll be heading to Xian in the next couple of weeks and have a few questions:

I've heard the pollution is awful...just how bad?Coming from a guy who's lived in and around London, will it shock me?

What standards are most provided apartments like?

What are living costs generally like?

Will I have any problems attaining medicine[I'm diabetic]? Or should I bring an absolute truck load from home?

How do/did you guys reach the city? From London it seems to be a job lot of London -> Beijing or Shanghai and then internal flight of train, adding another $120 to my journey.

What's it generally like for nightlife and eating out and entertainment?I've checked on google and there seems to be about 3 websites all copying each other and not proving particularly useful.

Finally, and this is a long shot, does any one know if the EPL, SLL or ECL is shown in any bars in the city? Would love to be able to catch up [although a Saturday 3pm kick off is what?10-11 in China, argh.]

Thanks in advance!

EDIT: Just realised I've put this in the wrong China forum o_O Apologise, but I'm hot and bothered, could someone move this to 'non job related' etc. Cheers.

Sonnibarger · Joined: 15 May 2007 Posts: 320 Location: Wuhan

its difficult to say...
1) pollution may be a big issue for you... for me it wasnt so bad.. i do miss seeing more than 300M before everything turns grey, also picking black crap out of ur nose is a bit of a hassle..
2) The housing ranges from great to unbearable pretty fast.. usually Unis offer a good place but its often out in the sticks
3) You can live on the cheap or blow half ur pay in a weekend.. try and skip the big western meals when possible.. also a good idea to have a few street beers before u make ur way to the pub/club.
4)meds shouldnt be a problem... the language might be an issue tho.. get a co-worked to write a note in chinese.
5)tickets for trains are next to impossible to get this time of year... flight maybe the best option... watch ur stuff in train stations... once the pushing match starts u may find ur wallet missing
6)should be a couple pubs in the city that will show it live... a lot of time they will put on a happy hour for games.
hope that helps

cormac · Joined: 04 Nov 2008 Posts: 768 Location: Xi'an (XTU)

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

I notice that there are quite a few alcoholics posting here. I doubt that many people care, but I have been told by a food chemist that nearly all beer here has formaldehyde in it, as a preservative. The information came from a food chemist at an English corner, so take it or leave it.

Those who have tasted pineapple beer, certain brands in particular, may have noticed a very sweet taste which stays in your mouth, long after you've stopped drinking. I'm fairly certain that is antifreeze, although I might be wrong.

I can't think of any other food or drink which has a lingering sweetness like pineapple beer. Having tasted antifreeze before, while working on a car, there is a distinct resemblance.

As for the formaldehyde, corpses and body parts aren't bothered by it, so you might not be either. It's entirely possible that small amounts are not harmful, if there is, indeed formaldehyde in beer.

Good luck.

cormac · Joined: 04 Nov 2008 Posts: 768 Location: Xi'an (XTU)

Gunner · Joined: 07 Feb 2007 Posts: 4

LarssonCrew · Joined: 06 Jun 2009 Posts: 1308

Hey guys, thanks for the feedback so far.

I've sorted the medicine problem, and have the precise name in Mandarin that I need to ask for when I attend a chemist, as well as the names for diabetes etc. printed.

As for getting to Xi'an, yep, seems it's a fly in and then internal, but the direct flight UK to Beijing is 'only' 10 hours so I should be fine.

And as for getting the EPL, with it being a touristy area the EPL games should not be a problem :)

Also, I tend to do mostly Chinese, suppose I will allow myself the occasional westernised treat, so earning 8,000 RMB in Xi'an I assume I will be 'ok'. Would be nice to save a couple thousand RMB a month to take a trip [would love to go to Tibet, the train passes through Xi'an].

Also, when I arrive, is it 'sad' to get the touristy things out the way as a way of reminding myself I'm not there for just a few days as part of a tour? I was planning on visiting the warriors obviously, bell tower etc. just to acclimatise and get it out the way. Gotta keep an eye on spending, but planning on taking about 10,000 RMB if not more to last me the first month.

Gunner · Joined: 07 Feb 2007 Posts: 4

Assuming you have an apartment provided, 8000 is certainly enough.

And it's certainly not sad to do the touristy things when you arrive, as by the time you start working and making friends, you probably won't have time or interest in going to the touristy destinations :p

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

Cormac, Notice that you are the only one who bothers to "deny" being an alcoholic. It's called denial. Anyone who likes to get drunk, in my opinion, is an alcoholic. There are many different types of alcoholics, high functioning ones are still alcoholics.

Be interesting to see where you are in 3, 5, 10 years. Maybe then you will "come clean" and admit your problem.

Dancing Monkey · Joined: 23 Aug 2009 Posts: 79

Hansen,

I respectfully deny that I am an alcoholic because I enjoy "getting drunk" every now and then. How would you know what an "alcoholic" is if you aren't one?

Perhaps you are a geek? As you know, anyone who is a geek won't admit it. It's called denial.

"Come clean and admit your problem."

LarssonCrew · Joined: 06 Jun 2009 Posts: 1308

An alcoholic is someone who is alcohol dependent. Going out and getting trashed once a week is not alcoholism, because you do not rely on it the other 6 days, but it is binge drinking.