Job Discussion Forums

[Baozi man]

Problem, Steve? People question my food price quotes, I provide specific prices and places. As for the cost of a prostitute, not being a prig I can't help but notice that, at least where I live, prostitution is ubiquitous.

The OP expressed concerns about prices, including the cost of a gf. Regardless of his choice of women, they are going to cost, a lot. A prostitute, from strictly a financial perspective, is going to probably cost less than a "gf," if that is what you call them.

Other FTs are aware of their presence and services as well. Priggish types, such as yourself, often use their self righteousness as a defense mechanism because they don't want to face their own base desires.

A few FT missionary types have seen their marriages destroyed in China. Homosexuals, who decry the abuse of women, think nothing of seducing young men. Even Mormons, FBI agents, become unruly, when faced with the charms of Chinese women.

Ma Haide [George Hatem], an American physician who spent his life in China, was a confidant of Mao and Chou En Lai. He started his medical practice in a Shanghai VD clinic. He was a leader in the development of public health policies in China during Mao's era. One of his first policies was to round up the prostitutes in Shanghai and give them a dose of antibiotic. If you'd like to dispute that, I refer to you to "The People's Doctor" by Edgar Porter. It has been published by the Foreign Language Press, Beijing.

The prices I quoted for both prostitutes and quality Western meals are accurate, where I live. Both address questions raised by the OP. A guy his age, munching on KFC and McDonald's, is a public health issue.

Older FTs, considering the stress, in some situations, of living in China, especially for a beginner, such as yourself, or the OP, need to be careful.

[steve b]

I really don't know why I am wasting my time replying when you are patently someone who believes they have nothing left to learn in life and can judge someone on the basis of a few words in print.

For your information I am neither homosexual nor have been married. Equally I spent many years navigating ships around the globe, and you being the all-knowing deity will of course know that should deflect any accusations of being a prude or a prig and I am quite sure you can work out the prostitute thing for yourself.

I simply - along with I suspect a great many others who probably have more sense than to give your effluent posts more than a cursory glance - feel that it is hardly a subject that should have been broached on a public forum in a thread started by someone merely seeking advice on whether to make the move or not.

Unhelpful, unwarranted and most ungentlemanly are the words to describe your input. As for you, PPP springs to mind. But then being the knowitall you already figured that stands for pompous pontificating pillock - didn't you?

[Baozi man]

Steve, the guy asked for prices. I gave him those. If you think that FTs in China don't spend money on prostitutes, or get conned by "girlfriends," then you need to check your compass.

Prostitution mentioned on a public forum, oh my, imagine that. I certainly apologize to anyone whose sensibilities were offended.

Want to argue some more about the price of a delicious meal at the Crown Plaza or the Sofitel?

It's great that you have never been married and are not gay. I commend you.

[choudoufu]

c'mon guys, quit arguin'.

you're gonna scare off the new guy!

now he's gonna think all FT's in china are complete asshats!

[steve b]

No BM I would not - the prosecution rests having decided you proved their case without their having to try.

[Lobster]

Most high-end buffets in Shanghai run 250-500 rmb, but you won't see too many FTs snacking there. There are quite a few steak houses where you can be a passable cut for 60RMB. Who comes to China to eat western food anyway? And who asked about the price of whores? Throwing that in was just downright insane. Maybe he'll have to take a train from Beijing to Shanghai, why didn't you choose to throw in that info instead?

RED

[ruindasia1]

yep, best burger in shenzhen is at a place called McCawley's in shekou/futian costs like 75-80rmb...and that's a thick burger too! Plus the fries are legit style fries not the shoe string ones that you find at mickey d's or burger king.

[overhere]

Thank you so much for all the replies....they were both informative and entertaining.

The prostitution conversation is interestinng...What is it about my posts make people think I am only interested in hookers? I made a similar post to this one on the Vietnam board and a poster there accused me of being a sex tourist! WTF? LOL...The thread was deleted by the administrator I guess..crazy...I was just asking about teaching in Vietnam! I admit I like the ladies but I am not going into teaching just to get laid and even if I was I am sure there are other internet forums to discuss such issues.

I am having second thoughts about the M.Ed., perhaps I should just invest in a CELTA.

I am very bored and unsatisfied with my job now and have been for sometime (years). Although it does pay a decent wage it is not that much more than average...also I haven't had a raise in 5 years and not likely to see one for the next couple of years anyway...it is far from being secure...we had 1600 employees in 2008 and now have less than half of that amount...I guess my point is my current situation isn't milk and honey either.

I have been with the same organization for 23 years the easiest thing for me to do would be to just ride it out...I am not sure that is the course which would make me happy though.

I appreciate all of your comments...It would be a blast to have this discussion with all of you at a pub sometime.

Thanks again!

[Baozi man]

Re: The cost of an "escort." I apologize for using the "w" word. It was obviously incendiary and disrespectful to women who provide a valuable service.

The OP asked about earning a salary sufficient to, among other things, "date a few times a month." What kind of date is a 50 year old guy who can't speak Chinese going to get? Seriously. Few eligible women in his age range can speak English. He's going to be left with young golddiggers who can be much more expensive than an "escort." Another type of woman he may find available is the divorced type. They usually have dependent children and financial needs which make their company much more costly than an escort.

You may have noticed that I mentioned the variety of services that "escorts" provide. For a reasonable fee, they will accompany you to a nice restaurant. Their companionship will prevent you from looking pathetic when you go out to a nice place to eat.

For the same fee, they can help you learn Chinese. You can provide a valuable service by paying them to do something other than what they usually do to earn money. They may not be well educated, but they can still help you with your pronunciation.

For the benefit of English "teachers" who can't read English, the OP raised a number of questions. I responded to two of his questions:

1)The cost of a western style meal.
2) The cost of "dating" a few times a month.

I know few foreigners here. Two of the three I do know, in the OP's age range, avail themselves of "escorts." The third one may as well; consequently, their cost is a legitimate component of "dating."

[jayjjasper]

[Baozi man]

Jay, I sense a kernel of wisdom in your post; however, the first sentence is, more or less, incomprehensible. Could you break it down into shorter sentences? Try to convey a single thought in each sentence.

Note that I did not say dates were unavailable. I said that, in general, the type of women available to him would cost him more than an escort. In the end, a toss in the sack is a toss in the sack. Nothing in China is free.

[choudoufu]

[Baozi man]

Chou, Unless you happen to be a homosexual, which you may very well be, dating a Chinese woman is always "dating." You can read into the quotation marks whatever your constricted consciousness chooses.

If your chronological age corresponds to your level of discourse, I have been "dating" them for nearly as long as you have been alive. I'll go with my own perspective on this one.