Job Discussion Forums

Mike E · Joined: 06 Oct 2011 Posts: 132

Hello, I will be coming soon from the US to teach in Guangdong Province.
Packing my bags. Interested of course in saving space; but also seeking advice on items that are worth bringing. Because they're useful as realia in class or private lessons; hard to find in China; good to give as gifts; will just come in handy; etc. If you can share some insight, I'd appreciate it.

rogerwilco · Joined: 10 Jun 2010 Posts: 1549

Bring menus from both Chinese and American restaurants.
Great topics for conversation.

Most students seem to want to talk about food, and you can show them that
American food is more than just hamburgers.

The difference between Chinese restaurants in America and China is also a good topic.

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

Visit your local tourist bureau and gather up some tourist brochures, pamphlets etc from your local area. If you have any magazines that focus on US living (we have Outdoor Canada, Canadian Geographic, Canadian Living, Canadian Gardener) bring some of those as well. They can help you explain and illustrate your culture.

chinesearmy · Joined: 08 Apr 2010 Posts: 394 Location: canada

thebrandynabides · Joined: 12 Jun 2011 Posts: 31 Location: Shaoguan

You could set aside a few different bills that you don't exchange. My students were very interested in those, even coins. (Maybe because there's not the same dude on all of them). We brought a picture book of our region of the U.S. (Black Hills, South Dakota) and they love looking through that. I'd suggest pictures of the most recent school you went to, things like the library, computer lab, and the sports field may interest them.

As for other things, real coffee or espresso if you're a coffee drinker. And a book that you could stand to read more than once unless you have one of those nifty Kindles.

Good gifts could be things as simple as local treats/magnets-you know the stuff that every truck stop sells because you certainly won't find those here.

Best of luck.

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing

Rolls of pennies. They make absolutely wonderful small gifts and are remembered.

Newspapers. I try to bring Chinese-edition newspapers from home. You know, western news and ads but in Chinese. Makes the Chinese really gasp at times and think outside the box.

Fliers. Grocery store fliers are a hit with Chinese moms. Especially when they see that some things are actually more expensive here (such as chicken wings, certain fruit or 100% pure orange juice) than back in the US.

TexasHighway · Joined: 03 Dec 2005 Posts: 779

rogerwilco wrote:

Zimmer · Joined: 26 Oct 2011 Posts: 229

Depends where you're going really, if you're going somewhere reasonably big and developed you'll able to find more western things than in a smaller city.

Deodorant, flu medicines you maybe use a lot, Tylenol or something similar if you use it a lot at home, if you take medication of any kind bring enough to keep you going for a while here until you find where to buy it locally. Shoes, it can be hard to find shoes to fit if you have bigger feet.