Job Discussion Forums

[elcomputo]

I am a new poster here. I am currently living in Mexico, trying to get by on Social Security but finding it difficult without some added income. I hold a PhD in Education, so I could do some teaching. But not for what Mexico pays. (Also, I have talked to a number of American teachers here, and to a person, they find that Mexican students who have parents rich enough to put them into classes taught in English have no interest whatsoever in learning.)

I have been writing to a woman in Nanning, China, who suggested I apply with the university in that City, QuangXi University. I did, and I got a reply from a recruiter who is interested in hiring me. The salary of $785 US is not terrific, but I figured it was okay because of a lower cost of living there.

Imagine my surprise when I checked comparative COL scales. I did not find Nanning, but I did find that several other Chinese cities have costs of living far higher than cities in Mexico -- except for Mexico City, one of the most expensive cities in the world.

I have another friend in Hanoi who is encouraging me to teach there. But the salaries are about the same, and Hanoi is listed as the 11th most expensive city in the world by one service.

I spoke to a woman yesterday who had taught in Japan for four years. She said certain aspects of the experience were annoying -- too hot in the summer, too cold in the winter, little friendliness from the Japanese people. Also, it is very expensive in Japan. However, she said she could make $50 an hour doing private lessons, and she came home in four years with a lot of good experiences and quite a bit of money in the bank.

I realize one does not go into this business strictly for the money. But I see no reason to travel thousands of miles to put myself into an even worse economic position than I'm in here in Mexico.

Suggestions, anyone?

Also, I am diabetic and hypertensive. How much trouble would I have in getting the necessary drugs off whatever medical plan the university provides?

[Roger]

May I politely sum your situation up?

YOu are now enjoying the good life in Mexico, sponging off social welfare at your compatriots' expense;
you are afraid your host country will not be as friendly as you need.

In my personal view, you are right: you are not going to be welcome in China!
Nanning is too hot too.
And your precious income will all troo easily flush down the toilet!
Stay where you are!

[elcomputo]

I'm sure you're just as p-poor a teacher (if, in fact you are) as you are a human being.

The fact is, I worked for 50 years, and Social Security is my pension. If anybody is sucking away at the public trough and doing a stinking job of it, I suspect it's a little prig like you!

[struelle]

[Philolinguist]

Gotta agree with computo here. Social security is HIS money that he paid into over his career. Don't know what crawled up your a s s, Roger. Yeah, the cost of living is quite cheap here and you can save money, maybe 1/2 to 2/3 of your income if you're not extravagant. Now, that's not a lot of savings but you can live comfortably here and save a bit.

Regarding your health situation, I would get online and see if your medications are available here in China. Make sure you're in a big city where there's adequate medical care. Most of the medical plans I've seen here do not cover pre-existing conditions. Something to consider.

[ilunga]

I second what Roger said.
Also, where are you going for your research? Billysmartscircus.com???

[latefordinner]

Before this degenerates into another p!ss!ng contest...

1) I made the same initial mistake as Roger. I assumed a 30 +/- 3 year old victim of his own brilliance mixed with incompetence. I had forgotten that in the American system (oxymoron if there ever was one), social security is also a hard-earned pension. Mea Culpa. Thanks for setting the record straight elcomputo, and I apologise on my behalf (and no one else's) for any ill feeling. Funny though, how the same level of accompishment can arouse both a smirk (if one believes that you're 30) and a handshake (finding that you've paid your dues). Perhaps it's just me, but there is a certain tendency to recognise age and accomplishment before a piece of paper. We've all seen too many of those.

2) Roger is FWIW, well-respected here. Few posters to this forum have given as much as freely, and he has asked nothing in return. Let it rest guys, you're on the same side.

3) Struelle's point that COL indicators are of limited use is well taken. China can sometimes be expensive, especially as certain schools have made a sport out of cheating the foreign teacher. For most part though it can be dirt cheap, and
<caution, dangerously personal opinion dead ahead>
very rewarding to live here.
<end of dangerous personal opinion zone>
Your mileage may vary.

4) Philo makes a point, check out the insurance and the availability of meds. Chinese medicine is different sometimes. Neither better nor worse, but different. I've lived by it, but I'm a bit younger.

5) China is a fluctuating, unstable market. No one knows how long the current EFL boom will last, or what shape it may take 10 years from now. If I knew, I'd either be buying property or pulling up stakes now, not sitting on the fence. Add everything else to the mix and it is one big CAVEAT.

[moonraven]

I have been living in Mexico--and working--for 10 years. I am going to go to China for a year to experience a different culture. I expect to save some money, and I also have saved money here. I love Mexican students--most of them are very bright and eager to learn from good teachers. I have taught most of the time in private schools, but also at a couple of public universities. I also have a terminal degree. I would say everything depends on how much you like teaching. As for COL, I do not find Mexico City to be expensive.

[ContemporaryDog]

These cost of living studies are deceptive.

Let's look at some costs of things here in Wuhan.

Nice 2 bedroom apartment, off Hongshan square, would cost around 800 quid a month in a rough area of London. 1000 yuan a month (70 quid) here.

DVD, back in London 20 quid. Here 3 quid.

Cab journey from East Lake to Wuchang, 30 yuan (2 quid). Looking at around 10-15 quid for the same journey in London

Meal at great thai restaurant, 100 yuan for 2 including beers. Would be about 35-40 quid in London.

The one thing that DOES cost money is going out drinking, still cheaper than back home, but a lot more than just about anything else. But that's bars aimed at expats and well off chinese for you. Everything else is unquestionably far, far cheaper here than the UK. And I have a better standard of living even allowing for lower salary.

I think these costs of living things compare the price of western goods. if you want to eat western food s all the time and drink at expatty bars, you will need a high salary.