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norwalkesl
Joined: 22 Oct 2009
Posts: 366
Location: Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-China
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 Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 10:57 pm Post subject: Re: Another one |
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| The Ever-changing Cleric wrote: |
| roywebcafe wrote: |
| I am unemployed in the UK. I have no pension other than a state pension to look forward to as company pensions are just a way to defraud employees in the UK. |
hi roy. can you explain more clearly how and which company pensions are just a way to defraud employees which company did you work for. |
In the USA what happens is this:
Employees pay into the pension for years. At some point the company either is sold or decides to raid the pension fund. Pronouncements from the head office will explicitly state that: "The Pension Fund is sacrosanct and will not be touched." 6 months later it will be liquidated as the huge stack of cash is too big a temptation. Corporate buyout will have the same effect as the new owner factors in the pension total as an asset to value the firm at. The existing officers go along because they get huge payouts from the new owner, and those payouts come directly from the liquidated pension fund.
Non-Profit pensions like CALPERS (the California State Employees pension fund) are so poorly mismanaged that they lose -55% of their value. Then taxes or contributions must increase to fill the gap. Since taxpayers won't raise their own taxes to pay retired state worker more money than they earn, the fund dispensations must decrease. |
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Solana
Joined: 08 Jul 2008
Posts: 30
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| Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 4:05 am Post subject: |
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| TexasHighway wrote: |
| Someone with your experience should expect something better ... The spring semester won't start until late February so maybe you can do some part-time gigs in the meantime. Once you arrive in China, try to make a Chinese friend who can help you call and visit some schools. Good luck and keep us posted! |
Although I have good experience in both teaching and editing, I have no TEFL certificate so I'm really no better off than others coming over with just a B.A. Yep, I much prefer uni work and I'm in the process of applying to some now.
Are the part-time gigs you refer to easy to find? And are Chinese friends easy to find without the language? I know here, it's not easy to find Japanese friends unless you know Japanese. |
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The Ever-changing Cleric
Joined: 19 Feb 2009
Posts: 1523
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| Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 6:53 am Post subject: Re: Another one |
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| norwalkesl wrote: |
| The Ever-changing Cleric wrote: |
| roywebcafe wrote: |
| I am unemployed in the UK. I have no pension other than a state pension to look forward to as company pensions are just a way to defraud employees in the UK. |
hi roy. can you explain more clearly how and which company pensions are just a way to defraud employees which company did you work for. |
In the USA what happens is this:
Employees pay into the pension for years. At some point the company either is sold or decides to raid the pension fund. Pronouncements from the head office will explicitly state that: "The Pension Fund is sacrosanct and will not be touched." 6 months later it will be liquidated as the huge stack of cash is too big a temptation. Corporate buyout will have the same effect as the new owner factors in the pension total as an asset to value the firm at. The existing officers go along because they get huge payouts from the new owner, and those payouts come directly from the liquidated pension fund.
Non-Profit pensions like CALPERS (the California State Employees pension fund) are so poorly mismanaged that they lose -55% of their value. Then taxes or contributions must increase to fill the gap. Since taxpayers won't raise their own taxes to pay retired state worker more money than they earn, the fund dispensations must decrease. |
i understand this. in the province where i come from major companies (GM for one) purposely underfunded their employees pension plans.
What was the thinking behind this deliberate underfunding? one reason is that in the early 1990s a provincial government led by the socialist party passed a law that obliged future provincial governments to make good on any pensions that companies defaulted on. it was a foolish move by that government that has implications today now that huge companies like the aforementioned car-maker are in deep financial trouble. they're currently billions of $$$ short on pension payouts.
in the case i alluded to above, i don't blame GM for underfunding pensions, i blame the government for giving them the opportunity to do it and get away with it. |
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Renegade_o_Funk
Joined: 06 Jun 2009
Posts: 125
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| Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 9:46 am Post subject: |
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Last edited by Renegade_o_Funk on Wed Mar 03, 2010 2:07 am; edited 1 time in total |
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TexasHighway
Joined: 03 Dec 2005
Posts: 779
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| Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 11:16 am Post subject: |
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Solana wrote:
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Although I have good experience in both teaching and editing, I have no TEFL certificate so I'm really no better off than others coming over with just a B.A. Yep, I much prefer uni work and I'm in the process of applying to some now.
Are the part-time gigs you refer to easy to find? And are Chinese friends easy to find without the language? I know here, it's not easy to find Japanese friends unless you know Japanese. |
Don't sell yourself short. You are probably more qualified than most FTs, even without the TEFL certificate. Use your experience to your advantage. You can find some gigs through craigslist, esl sites, and expat sites. But I think some of the best sites are the Chinese tutoring agencies, which match up tutors with students. Here are some I found doing a random search:
http://www.01teacher.com/en/
http://www.goodtutor.net/english/index.html
http://www.teachergood.com/index.html
I just found those sites using the Chinese version of yahoo and entering the characters "wai jiao" �外教�，meaning foreign teacher. As I said, a Chinese friend would be a tremendous help. I agree with Mr. Funk; making Chinese friends is very easy. They will be more than happy to find someone to practice their English with. |
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Solana
Joined: 08 Jul 2008
Posts: 30
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| Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 1:29 pm Post subject: |
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| TexasHighway wrote: |
| You can find some gigs through craigslist, esl sites, and expat sites. But I think some of the best sites are the Chinese tutoring agencies, which match up tutors with students. |
Maybe a search in English doesn't do as much good, because I'm finding little that way. I found nothing at all through Craigslist, or maybe I just don't know how to look at that site outside of the U.S. as you have to specify a city. Of course, I need to find a full-time job so just tutoring alone won't do it anyway. But again I'm not finding much other than Dave's and maybe one other by googling.
Is it that you're googling in Chinese?
It'll take quite a while to make friends who can help like that. And, you must realize that a young guy is going to have an easier time making friends that quickly. I love making friends, but I realize with my profile it takes longer.
I'm trying to find something full time even if it begins after Chinese New Year. Of course, I can only survive until about Feb. or so, as I still have to send my c.c. payments out every month.
Speaking of that ... you guys must know this: Will I have any trouble remitting money to my U.S. account every month from a Chinese bank? I've heard of some problems with that. |
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Renegade_o_Funk
Joined: 06 Jun 2009
Posts: 125
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| Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 4:11 pm Post subject: |
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Chinese people spend a fortune (for china) to be tutored by native English speakers. If you are a Native speaker and you are 55, it does not matter, at all. They will gladly be your friend for the free english practice & chance to have a foreign friend.
You do not even need to be in china to make friends, make a profile, say you are coming to china (whichever chinese city you choose) Say you will chat with them on msn skype /whatever and help them with english. When you arrive, you already have at least 1 friend, if not several. http://www.conversationexchange.com/
As for your credit cards, well if it comes between living, and paying off the devil, then perhaps if I could qoute fight club which I just watched: " let that which does not truely matter, slide.."
Just keep in mind, we are here living and breathing china everyday. Some people hate china for whatever reason, and are just negative on these forums. Most of us are here just telling it like it is, no BS, no gimmick, just practical advice on what china is like. |
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A'Moo
Joined: 21 Jan 2007
Posts: 1067
Location: a supermarket that sells cheese
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| Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 5:16 pm Post subject: |
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It wouldnt have mattered a few years ago, but age is a difference maker now-you will find a job if you are in your 40's or 50's, but you wont have the choice of locales/salaries that were once available....Too many recent grads willing to come to big cities and basically volunteer...
I think the smaller cities (like mine) are the way to go-they still are always looking-if you are white, no matter what age, theyll put a mirror under your nose and look for condensation, and then youre hired... |
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The Ever-changing Cleric
Joined: 19 Feb 2009
Posts: 1523
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| Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 5:34 pm Post subject: |
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is that previous post supposed to be in english  |
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Solana
Joined: 08 Jul 2008
Posts: 30
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| Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 5:38 pm Post subject: |
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To basically start narrowing it down a bit ... which are the best cities to work in? Obviously I'd prefer Shanghai or Beijing but which are the other ones to consider if I can't get one of those quickly enough?
Time's getting short ... very short ... |
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Zero
Joined: 08 Sep 2004
Posts: 1402
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| Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 7:52 pm Post subject: |
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| I like the third-tier cities of the world, like Wuxi and Suzhou. More laid-back. |
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Solana
Joined: 08 Jul 2008
Posts: 30
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| Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 6:48 am Post subject: |
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Thanks, Zero. I'll add those to Jiangyin and Nanjing which I've already heard about.
Anyone into providing a small list of smaller, more "possible" cities to look into? I know nothing whatsoever about locations in China, and couldn't possibly judge. For me it'd be like blindfolding myself and just picking one.
Saw an ad yesterday for a place called "Sina International" or something like that. Seemed like a big enough place, 14K a month + apartment. I was trying to figure out what the catch was before applying. |
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