Job Discussion Forums

Mrs McClusky · Joined: 09 Jun 2010 Posts: 133

Hi everyone,

It's been a while since I worked in China. I realize as its such a big country these types of threads may be a bit silly but maybe you can help me anyway.

I've been thinking about returning to China for a while. I just got offered a job.
Salary. 9000 RMB per month, is it really enough? 6 years ago I worked in a little back water place and found 6000 quite a monthly struggle.
I am sure everything has gone up in price. Is 9000 enough for a good life?
I'll be in the city of XingTai by the way. Maybe one of you has some experience of working there?

It's pretty hard to get much REAL info online.

Thanks in advance

Mrs M.

Gamecock · Joined: 18 Nov 2003 Posts: 102 Location: Zhuhai, China

If 6000 a month in a backwater was a struggle for you, then i suspect 9000 will be a struggle for you as well. Does the 9000 include housing? What you define as a "good life" is the key.

I find that some people will spend everything they have whether they are making 4000 or 20,000 a month. That's how I was when I was younger.

I know a fellow here in China who eats EVERY single meal in western restaurants and is always complaining about money. He also refuses to ride public transportation and hires a car and driver to go everywhere. I like to eat out several times a week as well, but I've never understood coming to a country where you absolutely never want to eat the food. You can live a good life in China with a little common sense and a budget.

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

pretty much what gamecock said. if someone (assuming free housing on campus) earning anything over 5000/mo is living from paycheque to paycheque then that individual needs to learn how to budget properly.

Most of the foreigners I'm acquainted with in China earn less than 9000 and they all seem to have a "good life."

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

I am not sure how good these 7,000+ plus offers are. You seem to always give up something which isn't worth it.

I would look for a 7,000 or less position and get permission to teach privately on the side. You'll have more freedom and control that way.

Schools like EF and Web International want to own you for 40 hours a week, but you only teach 25 classes.

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

A search on this forum for the word 'package' will give you some pointers.

MisterButtkins · Joined: 03 Oct 2009 Posts: 1221

I didn't know it was possible to spend 6000 a month in a backwater... I guess OP has some financial obligations back home?

Puffy · Joined: 08 Feb 2011 Posts: 45

"...I've never understood coming to a country where you absolutely never want to eat the food...."

It's very simple to understand, at last for me. I came to China interested in learning more about the culture, food etc...

After tasting most of the food I decided that I didn't want to eat it!

I'm sorry if I have offended any of the local folk when I tell them that I like China, except for 90% of the food. I'm willing to bet that most Chinese people wouldn't like most western food either. So, why should I like most Chinese food?

I have rarely seen anyone eating a real hamburger at McDonald's. They do love the chicken and KFC though!

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

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

Puffy · Joined: 08 Feb 2011 Posts: 45

I've been in China long enough to have tried various area's cusine and still don't like it. To each his/her own.

As previously stated, around 10% is fine by me. The other 90% generally is chopped into pieces way too small and usually filled with bones.

Again, why do some people "look down" on foreigners who are honest enough to say that they don't like the food in China?

Do you like all of the "famous" temples and mountains here? They all seem the same to me. I'm particularly fascinated about such and such town being "famous" for having the most delicious xxxx in China. Quite frankly though, the world's largest ball of yarn intrigues me more!

As for 4500 rmb being a better standard of living here than in Ireland, I guess you're right, if you enjoy eating noodles and rice most of the time.

$660 USD to spend a month isn't bad if you strictly eat Chinese food. But, if you don't like it, 4500 rmb to spend per month is peanuts. Again, to each their own.

I prefer western food. Forgive me trooper.

Puffy · Joined: 08 Feb 2011 Posts: 45

As for ECC's comments - why should my taste buds be the same as yours?

As stated - I do not like Chinese food. They have ruined just about every food imaginable with their crazy notions of what tastes good. Peas and carrots on pizza? Slimy, bland noodles? Ketchup on spaghetti?

I was once served the largest shrimp I ever saw. It was ruined with some pungent sauce. Where is the cocktail sauce when you need it?

I like butter and salt on my white rice. I prefer ice in my cola. Call me crazy, but I even like to wipe my face with a cloth napkin as opposed to have to pay for a flimsy piece of tissue or ask for a roll of toilet paper.

I still wonder - why are people so sensitive about food in China?

The way I see it and have experienced it, 90% of the time only 10% of the population is actually eating all of the supposedly "delicious" food mentioned above. Most of the people are eating cold rice with a slither of "meat" and a slimy piece of green stuff on top. On a good day they may have bland noodles with some of the slimy green vegetable.

A "good" Chinese restaurant here will cost around 30 rmb, at least, in my opinion. Toss in a coke and then you would spend almost 50 rmb, just for dinner. 50 x. 30 = 1500 rmb. Assuming you eat the schlop in the school cafeteria for lunch and dinner, you'd spend at least 20 rmb a day = 600 a month. Total = 2000 rmb or so. Most likely more.

I guess it is just me, but I don't consider cold, sticky rice with a piece or 2 of meat and some slimy green stuff on top for lunch and noodles or bread for breakfast a "better" standard of living.

AnomanderRake · Joined: 06 Feb 2011 Posts: 29 Location: Beijing

Puffy · Joined: 08 Feb 2011 Posts: 45

I've been in China for 7 years and have eaten my fill of their food, all over the country. That is why I am now a "master" chef.

I do spend more per month on food here in China than those who, for whatever reasons, like the food. But, I enjoy chewing on big pieces of meat at least once a week, usually more. My chicken & shrimp fried rice is too die for. My chicken *beep* almost anyway are a lot better than the Chicken Feet too.

I bake my own bread and cook my own spaghetti sauce. The beef isn't the best, but my meatballs aren't bad. Taobao provides good, real mozzarella = meatball parmigiana heros/subs. Ocassionally, I splurge on a nice Australian steak. Sometimes I shave it and make an Ok Philly Cheese Steak.

China is good for cheap vegetables though.

Today, I had 2 eggs sunny side up with toast and 2 pieces of "french toast" with honey on top for breakfast. I ate just a bit of oatmeal with cinnamon and banana's for lunch. My dinner was a grill cheese sandwich with tomato. Total cost, perhaps 20 rmb.

To each his own.

Zero · Joined: 08 Sep 2004 Posts: 1402

Puffy · Joined: 08 Feb 2011 Posts: 45

Thank you Zero. Before I go to sleep, perhaps some folk might want to look at it this way -

Imagine you are in OZ and people tell you that if you don't like "vegemite" you aren't really experiencing the country?

What if you were in the UK and didn't particularly care for "bangers & mash", would that make your visit any less significant?

You went there and tried the food. You didn't like it. So be it.

Look at it further this way, Gamecock. If someone visited Wisconsin and said they didn't like cheese, would you be upset?

I think the key word is - try. In my opinion, 99.9% of the people who have come to China and concluded that they didn't like the food ate it at least once. Why jump on them for not liking it?

I do think that Chinese food is better than kielbasi though.