Job Discussion Forums

kev7161 · Joined: 06 Feb 2004 Posts: 5880 Location: Suzhou, China

My take on these comments is this:

Yes, some people initially come to China to experience the real thing (the food, the culture, the traditions, the travel, etc.) but it's not necessarily a FULL-TIME thing. Going out for an excursion this weekend and having a traditional dinner with Chinese friends? Wanting to do a little shopping at your nearby silk market? A weekend trip to (insert locale here) to take pictures and see the famous temples or gardens? That's all well and fine, but geez! Most of grew up surrounded by western foods, culture and influences. Just because we come to a foreign country doesn't mean we want to quit our familiar touchstones of our lives cold turkey! Live here for a long time (and in some cases, a VERY long time) and the western things may not seem as important as when we first arrived, but it's nice to know that a Burger King or Papa John's is nearby when the need is there.

The Noodles · Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Posts: 202 Location: China, Chengdu

Shanghai or Suzhou.... Shanghai, all the way. There's so much more choice here and despite what people think, it doesn't have to cost an arm or a leg.

About respect, you get what you give and if some expats or locals look down on you, it more likely because they suffer from som psychological problems or resent the fact that they pay 250k a year to send their kids to your school, assuming it's an international school that is.

jibbs · Joined: 02 Feb 2003 Posts: 452

Suzhou is fine for everything you want, lots of western style restaurants, bars, numerous foreigners. Met quite a few in just a few months here from a bunch of different countries.

Have only visited Shanghai a few times. The fast train can get you there in half an hour or so I think. It's of course bigger in every way and has more of anything. I think you'd be fine in either city. There are many worse places one could end up in though the boonies can be interesting I guess, and cheaper at least, though also pay could be lower.

Laurence · Joined: 26 Apr 2005 Posts: 401

So far Shanghai scores 3 clear votes (Laurence, The noodles, xjgirl)
And Suzhou 5 (Zero, wailing_imam, Kev1767, Mr. Al, Jibbs)

Also, people seem pretty keen to complain about Shanghai even if they don't vote for SZ.
Although this would probably be different if posters here were subject teachers getting paid 20k per month, like the OP, (the vast majority of us aren't)
so I'm not really sure how appropriate the feedback is.

Someone said that

Vietnamarama · Joined: 04 Jan 2011 Posts: 35 Location: Vietnam

Thanks all for the replies and opinions!

I have actually decided to go with the Shanghai offer. In terms of location I think I would enjoy either. The big deciding factor is number of classes I would have to teach. Suzhou requires 30 classes per week whereas Shanghai requires 20. I think 30 is too much.

GeminiTiger · Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2011 3:44 pm Post subject:

jibbs · Joined: 02 Feb 2003 Posts: 452

Are any Mainland Chinese cities 'international' - whatever that means?

Perhaps just in some areas.