Job Discussion Forums

[GONZALVESB]

Hi there,

Update on my situation. I had a meeting with one of the Leaders on Monday regarding my contract. First of all, they do not see a 10 1/2 month contract as being the same as a one year contract. They are still refusing to give me four weeks summer vacation and they will definitely deduct RMB50 per lesson should I become sick. They will reimburse my roundtrip airticket though. They are still thinking about who will be paying for the FEC. I also only get RMB1,100 travel allowance. I have also asked them if they could cover the worksurface in the kitchen, since it is a metal place which is starting to rust at places and they told me they can't do this and thold me to get a steel ball and clean it.

I also want to ask some questions around feeling part of the school and being notified about events. On Tuesday, on my way to my next class I meet the students in the hallway and was very surprised to hear that they are on their way to attend a meeting and there will be no classes for the rest of the day. Today, the school had their Sports Meeting. The students told me about it and invited me to join them. But there was no invitation or message from the Dean to inform me about the Sports Meeting and what normally takes place or about the programme. I then of course joined my students. They also asked me if I will take part in the competition for the Teachers and of course was again surprised because I did not know anything about this. I don't feel like I am part of the teaching staff.

I also find it strange that I have been here for two months (April 15) but not one of the teachers have invited me to their homes or to have lunch or supper together at the Dining Room. Is this normal for Chinese people? Don't they socialise with foreigners? I find this strange because in SA we always invite people for a meal especially when they are far away from their home.

I guess I will just have to get use to this .......

[Roger]

Good morning, GONZALESB!
As before, I would advise you to take things in a stride and not show how offended you may feel! What's happening to you is almost normal in this country! It just isn't clear whether they are in breach of any stipulation in your contract. And, of course, no one knows if they are going to pay you airfare and your bonus at the end of this period.
One way of compromising these benefits is by being pedantic! Every school reneges on small promises! Just keep the big issues in your eye, but don't wag your finger in theirs all the time!

Now for certain events that have happened at your school, which left you perplexed:
Don't take offence at not being notified about student meetings! Or for not being invited in to a teacher's home! I for one give a hoot about invitaions (but I do get some nice ones from time to time, however, they are always given in a mood of reciprocal expectation, and I have the means to reciprocate!).
First of all, Chinese schools are not exactly run in a professional manner. It's a top-heavy hierarchy, and what trickles down to you are ultimate orders. Chinese bosses are used to giving in to their gut feelings. Thus they will always muddle through, not organise things. Decisions are taken ad hoc, and often they are revised equally spontaneously. It is pure lack of foresight.
Thus student meetings are decided upon because the principal has an urgent problem on hand and wants to deal with it subito! You know how things fade fast in one's memory!
In your case I would try to get a written assurance that cancellations of lessons do not automatically lead to a reduction to your pay. Ask your FAO.
I can understand how you feel about the lack of socialising at your school. Let's face it - in some schools expats are not really welcome, they are a mere adornment. In others some teachers will be very happy to be friends with you. Generally speaking, Chinese spend too much time in public, including in meetings and being neighbours with their colleagues as is the case on a typical campus! Would you love to be neighbours with your workmates? I can assure you there is a lot of dirty linen being washed all the time, sour grapes being chewed and backs being stabbed! In some schools, teachers still need official permission from their principal to quit their jobs because they were hired under China's antiquated iron-rice-bowl hiring system. IT is a terrible weapon in the hands of those in power! So it is a mistake to believe your Chinese colleagues are all happy with the school. They merely do their jobs, and care for nothing else than for their income and their family's livelihood. They often take a very minimalist outlook.

[GONZALVESB]

Thanx Roger, I am doing just that. They have no idea what I feel towards them and I do not bother them with anything because it really seems like everything is too much trouble for them. Like when I could not gain access to the internet, I was told the computer person is very busy. I understood that but then I wanted to know if they could tell me more or less by when he would be able to see to my computer and the response was, "I don't know". Another question, Roger, how long does it take to organize a z-visa? By Monday, it will be two weeks since we went to apply for it. this is of course after they sat with my passport for two weeks until I asked when will I have it back, then only did they wake up. So, Monday, a week ago I asked about the z-visa. My question, by when do you think I will get my passport back since I need to change my money and buy a card for my cellphone. The response, "I don't know". Can you perhaps give me an idea of how long this normally takes?

You are right, it is not that I really want to be invited it is just so strange that I was dropped here and set up in my apartment and that was the end of the contact with me unless they need to make contact to give me some orders. But I have decided to just do what I came here to do and not to expect anything from the school.

[Roger]

GONZALESB,

if they have held your passport for more than two weeks you have every reason to wonder what is going on. In this case, I would tell them I need my passport exactly as you told me - to change money!
Two weeks in my experience is the utmost you have to wait! Normally, the medical report (HIV test takes the longest) is ready inside 72 hours. Add a weekend, and this is 5 days. The visa processing is a matter of a day to one week.
I can imagine that the PSB are having difficulties coming to grips with your RSA passport. Perhaps they are double-checking to see if it is not a forged one as most cannot imagine that a white person should hail from Africa!
At this point, I feel it necessary to impress upon you to make sure you are not going to overstay your tourist visa! Every day overstaying here sets you back 500 RMB!

[GONZALVESB]

Roger, they had the passport checked out already. I had to go to the Police Office with them about three weeks ago and I had to leave my passport there so that they can have it checked out. I was then told that the Principal would collect it the following day. So all the formalities have been taken care of. It is basically just getting the z-visa. I cannot understand why this is taking so long.

[davis]

I feel for you Gon. Roger has good advice and I would only ad this. Just politely badger them that you need your passport. Ask them every day if it's ready yet. I think you'll have results. I'm not sure if they sometimes truely get scattered and forget or if they're being contrary and trying to pull a small power play. I've been real fortunate where I'm at. It's the schools first year and I have some other foreign teachers to help set precedents. We finally got the school into the habit of letting us know at least 3 days in advance of any schedule changes. There are still occasional slip ups but I feel they are honest ones. I'm currently waiting for my passport too. The school took it in last week to get it updated(I'm not quite legal) and went to pick it up 3 days later. They returned it to us without the current dates. Our visas expired on the 6th but they assure us not to worry. Because they've played ball(for the most part) I trust them. Just be firm on the basics and you can make the rest better on your own. If you want to be friends with the teachers learn a little Chinese and invite them out to your place or to dinner. Hell,invite the boss out. It never hurts to spread around some good will in forms of dinners and baijou. They may or may not accept but at least you did your best. This may sound totally stupid but I learned it from my Chinese wife-If you dress sharp and look like you spend more on clothing than they make (not saying you already don't) you'll be respected and then listened to alot more quickly. I said BS I like Levis and pocket T's. She bought a few slacks and shirts and all of a sudden I'm able to make suggestions and asked for advice. The Chinese english teachers are even coming to dinner at our home on Easter,the most religious holiday in America. I like to think it's my great people skills but I have to wonder....not the best help I know but until you are firmly established like Roger and others that have been here and know their way around you might try it ....anyhow,good luck

[GONZALVESB]

Thanx Davis. Yesterday I asked them again about the passport and once again I was told it is not ready yet. Then I asked them do you know by when it will be ready, the response as always, I don't know. Then I asked them could you please enquire as to when it will be ready and response was, no. I asked him what do you mean, no and he just smiled at me. I told him I really need it but I don't get any response to this.

Would it be wrong of me to call the Official myself and enquire about the delay? After all it is my passport and since they cannot provide me with any answers I have to do get some response from someone, right?

[Roger]

Excellent advice from Davis! I only have one beef with him, and that is not even his fault - his visa has expired a week ago, and that's going to cost some quite some dough (500 RMB a day). But some schools settle such bills out of their own pocket!
I do believe being initative on the socialising front can clear the air.

On the passport issue, GONZ, I can only say that this is the most vexing problem you seem to be faced with. Note that a passport is not your property, it is a document with a French name that translates something like "afford the carrier of this document your assistance", and it is in the name of your country which is the legal owner of it. That means anyone keeping it against the bearer's wish is acting against diplomatic use!
Try to get a photocopy of it - and if they oblige, then that means they are holding it. Then you can ask the PSB to help you get it back.
I don't think the PSB are holding it for such a long time!

[Ajarn Miguk]

Advise them, in writing, they have x number of days to return the passport to you, or you will report the matter to your embassy for appropriate action. They're jerking you around, and it's time for you to jerk them around.

[davis]

Roger you're right about the visa being expired and it may cost someone some money but at this point the school seems to have taken care of the matter. It was origionally turned in on the Monday the 7th. It expired on Sunday the 6th and I'm not sure if the Security place was open on Sunday so they may let it slide. At any rate the school told me there's no problem. Guess I'll know for certain at the end of the month when I get my pay.

[GONZALVESB]

Thanx to all for the advice, it worked. I gave them a letter yesterday stating that I will take the matter to my embassy if I don't get my passport by Thursday, 17 April before 12:00. Well, they returned it today. Amazing isn't it. The date the z-visa was issued is April, 9, exactly a week ago. Either they were too lazy to go to Tangshan City or they had it in the office all the time.

[Ajarn Miguk]

You're welcome.