Job Discussion Forums

[piglet44]

Ok guys persistence has paid off and I now have the following offers-Yunnan Normal,Chengdu (various diff unis),Qingdao,Dalian or Tianjin. All jobs are in same ballpark moneywise and conditions (ie free apartment on campus with appliances,10 month contract ,paid vacation etc etc ).
The only one I am suspicious of is Tianjin since it is through a recruiter not direct contact with the school.
What would you guys pick and why?

[7969]

i like Chengdu. Best food in China IMO and close to beautiful scenery.

[choudoufu]

check that the yunnan normal position is at the 1-2-1 street
(green lake) campus. many of the unis are moving to the
new university "city" about 20km to the south. currently just
a huge construction zone. although some of the campuseses
and housing are open, they says it's very lonely out there.

[piglet44]

"Located in the New High-tech District in [Kunming]"
is this what you mean Choudoufu?

[piglet44]

google maps gives me the following
Shangyuan Road, Wuhua, Kunming, Yunnan, China
"千万不要来这学校，名副其实的伤血院呀，你伤不起呀！"

[Non Sequitur]

I�ve worked in both Dalian and Qingdao (2xunis in Dalian and 1xvocational college in QD).

I�d pick QD before Dalian on climate and social scene. There�s an active expat group in QD and of course the Olympic Sailing Regatta gave the place a leg up.

Nice ambiance around the old German area too.

That said, Dalian is nice but watch the actual location of the uni. Many including the Medical U and the FL School have moved, or are moving, out to Lushun which is an hour at least from downtown.

If you�re out at Lushun and live out there too then your weekend fun is an hour + away. If you commute out to Lushun it�s a long day.

There used to be movement restrictions for foreigners at Lushun due to the naval base. May be better now. Lushun used to be Port Arthur so interesting historically. The old Japanese prison is a nightmare visit I understand. It was out of bounds to Westerners when I was there.

PM me if you need any other comment on these two cities.

Don't think there will be anyone who has taught at all the locations you mention, so you are going to have to make a call.

BTW QD is reputed to pay less than other locations.

[Miajiayou]

I'd probably pick Chengdu, but those are all nice places. Honestly, I'd probably base my decision on what uni was closest to the center of town (if the rest of the offer was the same in each case, as you said)

[choudoufu]

[xjgirl]

kunming traffic, what a nightmare. this city has gotten way too overcrowded

Most people go there for the travel opportunities it presents,
but honestly, yunnan is so mountainous it'll take u all day to get anywhere half-decent on a creaky old sleeper bus

dalian is better, real nice summers