Job Discussion Forums

bazzap1976 · Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 74

I......gasp......can't take it any more......... must leave Beijing....... getting weaker..... losing....gasp.....will to live.....

Seriously. I've been here for four years now and I have never really taken to the city to be honest. The problem is, I have established myself here with good jobs and very good pay teaching our beautiful language to people who really don't give a turd.

My question regards leaving BJ to work in another of this fine country's cities. My main issue is regarding pay and finding trustworthy companies or really just any general stories or facts from anybody who has done this.

I'd quite like to go to Xiamen or Kunming or somewhere like that, but being able to save really is the issue. How much can you save in China's smaller cities? How easy is it to pick up private students? Does the famous Beijing logic travel outside this crappy city? Are you constantly banging your head off a wall with regard to your sneaky employer? etc etc etc

Any information is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Oh and if you want to know anything about teaching in this monstrous hypercity then please feel free to ask.

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

Are you teaching in a language school or a public college/uni?
During 3 years in Dalian and Qingdao I made one weekend trip to BJ and couldn't wait to get out of the place. Foul!!

xi.gua · Joined: 15 Jul 2010 Posts: 170

Obviously it depends on where you go. I think you hesitate because you have a good thing going and you don't wanna get stuck somewhere worse. I've been there too. I have only lived in smaller cities. The city i'm in now I save about 90% of my salary. I'm not a party guy, I don't buy unnecessary crap, I basically just buy food, money on the cell, small snacks at times, take my friends out to dinner at times. I've averaged spending 400-500rmb per month which isn't so bad. I could spend less if I needed to.

Another teacher we have here somehow manages to spend all of his money every month. Honestly I don't know how. So I think it depends on you, i've never been a big spender, whereas some people will spend all their money each month regardless on where they live and how much they make.

MisterButtkins · Joined: 03 Oct 2009 Posts: 1221

Beijing just has too many foreigners for me. I do think the subway system is quite nice though. Of the two places you mentioned, I have been to both, for about a week each, as a tourist. I would say Xiamen seemed significantly more expensive, so if saving is a big priority, Kunming might be a better choice. Kunming isn't really that small though, at least it didn't seem like it. hour-plus cab rides to go places, something like 7 million people living there. Certainly has great weekend tourism opportunities though.

bazzap1976 · Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 74

Thanks everybody for your replies.

mdovell · Joined: 02 Nov 2009 Posts: 131

I thought the weather in beijing was good at least in the summer. Maybe you could take some of the trains further south. Shanghai is obvious..if you still like it up north Harbin has the ice festivals and more of a Russian feel to it.

I would generally assume (maybe I'm wrong) that much of the east and south east has more foreigners than the west.

daCabbie · Joined: 02 Sep 2007 Posts: 244

If you got game, then it don't matter where you are.

It will take time to re-establish yourself. But with a little hustle you can meet your savings need.

What are your long term goals?

jibbs · Joined: 02 Feb 2003 Posts: 452

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

Laurence · Joined: 26 Apr 2005 Posts: 401

Mr.Buttkins lamented:

askiptochina · Joined: 26 Feb 2010 Posts: 488 Location: Beijing

A'Moo · Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 5:50 pm Post subject:

nickpellatt · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1522

I could happily work in a place that has a large ex-pat community, as long as I dont actually have to hang out with them all the time. Of course I will work with other foreigners, and will probably flat share with them too. That doesnt mean I want to eat with them, drink with them, and go shopping with them.

Im sure people I have worked with have thought, on occasion, that I wanted to make myself feel special too. I dont feel that was the case, but I have left home and travelled to another country to experience something different to attending a pub quiz, eating pizza and listening to Western music with a bunch of Americans/Brits and Aussies. I cant for the life of me understand why I would want to accept an invite for a poker night with a bunch of Westerners when I could accept an invite from Chinese friends to eat noodles and play something more Chinese. Maybe thats just me though. I do understand why people dont like places that have large ex-pat crowds though.

In my limited experience, I have met more Westerners who wanted to make Western friends, eat Western foods and do Western things than I have met people who wanted to 'feel special' TBH. I find that a lot harder to understand.