Job Discussion Forums

eca2 · Joined: 22 Apr 2003 Posts: 11

Hey, I've been reading this forum religiously for months and months and I'm coming to China despite SARS, bad bosses, broken contracts, cockroaches, stares, police knocking on the door, etc.; however, I have some questions: If you come down with SARS and are quarantined, who pays for your medical treatment? Is anyone familiar with Boluo Experimental Primary School? What book sellers in Hong Kong carry Cambridge University Press teaching materials? Without a guaranteed job, which type of visa should I purchase in Hong Kong and for how long? When I negotiate a contract, what should be the minimum I come away from the table with?

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

Who pays for your quarantine: Most likely YOU! If you don't have the money, the CHinese will rip it out of your country's representative!
No joke - if you can't foot the hospital's bill you are not likely to be admitted! Many Hong Kong truck drivers paid - literally - with their lives after having had an accident, and not having enough cash to pay upfront!

- Boluo sounds like pineapple in CHinese. Where is "Boluo"??

- Cambridge: Go to Swindon in Hong Kong (Hankow Rd., and in the Harbour Plaza building next to the Star Ferry in KOwloon. Cambridge also publishes on the mainland. These Cambridge books are worthless for the most part!

eca2 · Joined: 22 Apr 2003 Posts: 11

Roger,
Boluo is in Huizhou (sp) County, maybe an hour from Huizhou City in Guangdong Province

MyTurnNow · Joined: 19 Mar 2003 Posts: 860 Location: Outer Shanghai

Ah, sunny Guangdong.

That's the spirit, eca2!
Don't let yourself be dissuaded by silly things like logic or self-preservation or lack of information or societal disruption or WHO advisories. Come on, jump right into the belly of the beast. Come get you some of this.
Damn the torpedoes. Full speed ahead!

MT

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

eca2
Huizhou is wedged between the Shenzhen SEZ and Dongguan on the east side of the Pearl RIver, maybe two hours from the border between HK and Shenzhen. In case your job is not secure, head for Dongguan or Shenzhen. BOth have an increasing number of vacancies, Shenzhen perhaps more, although it may also be the place most overrun by expats. Another option would be Guangzhou. Oh, there are many places in the area... One school you should steer clear of is a training centre in that city that misuses the Longman label (Longman and Cambridge publish books jointly!).

Now for your visa:
I think an honest employer would upgrade your tourist visa to work visa within a month. Since you can't count on Chinese bosses' levelheadedness, make sure your visa is valid for two months.
YOu can buy a tourist visa for up to three months in HK. The Foreign Office (I am not sure this is the new name of their HK visa issueing department) will sell you a visa in one or two days.
Travel agents in HK sell you business visa at a hefty mark-up. Still, in some cases it might be advisable to buy one. I recommend PHOENIX in 96 Nathan Rd., 7th floor. They have been in this business for perhaps twenty years - and in my opinion, they are reliable and honest.

Oh, and you want to buy books in HK:
- SWINDON, 13-15Lock Road
n (in my previous post, I erroneously wrote "Hankow Rd."!);
- or Shop no. 310-328, Ocean Terminal, third floor.

Both are in the same district as PHOENIX, that is Tsimshatsui. Elsewhere you can find DYMOCK (in Causeway Bay). There are a couple of second-hand bookstores in Central and Wanchai, but for the exact addresses I would have to to go to HK myself again!

eca2 · Joined: 22 Apr 2003 Posts: 11

Roger, You are a repository of knowledge and a kind soul. If you don't mind, I have two more questions: Can I buy a two month tourist visa at the Hong Kong airport? And, do you think that I'd find elem school work in either Dogguan or Shenzhen? Because if Boluo didn't work out, I was heading off to Foshan to look for the performing arts school there. Both Boluo Experimental and Foshan Music and Drama School (?) advertised for primary school teachers on Chinatefl.com. For a while, I was in contact with Boluo and they seemed interested in hiring me. Then the connection went dead. I don't think they have had much experience with foreign English teachers and grew tired of me asking questions. I think they just wanted me to show up. So this is what I've decided to do, just show up. Normally, arriving this way wouldn't bother me, but with SARS murdering and plundering the countryside and everyone living in constant fear and anxiety, I'm a little worried about getting there and finding the schools closed, being quarantined, and spending my limited precious reserve of cash. I'm also a little preoccupied about running into the SARS virus, too. That'd be a problem. Anyway, thanks for your advice. I feel better about coming to China knowing that there's someone who will answer my wild cries of uncertainty. Peace.

Hamish · Joined: 20 Mar 2003 Posts: 333 Location: PRC

The Chinese Central Government has directed that no Chinese hospital may reject any patient who presents SARS symptoms.

It makes sense to me.

Regards,

ESL Guru · Joined: 18 May 2003 Posts: 462

Bertrand · Joined: 02 Feb 2003 Posts: 293

Boluo Experimental Primary School? I don't know the school but I have been to Pineapple (!) Smile

Boluo; it's near to Huizhou and is quite famous. What for I really don't know. It's a dirty old dusty Chinese shithole with chickens walking in the street and dead pigs hung up outside to bleed to death. Enjoy!

eca2 · Joined: 22 Apr 2003 Posts: 11

Okay, Mates,
This thread is dead. I'm not going to Boluo. I'm on my way to Fuzhou. Thanks for being conscientious.

chinasyndrome · Posted: Fri May 23, 2003 6:24 am Post subject:

chinasyndrome · Posted: Fri May 23, 2003 8:09 am Post subject:

Wolf · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 1245 Location: Middle Earth

The thread is dead. Crying or Very sad

LONG LIVE THE THREAD! Mr. Green

chinasyndrome · Posted: Fri May 23, 2003 8:31 am Post subject:

MissMolly · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 99 Location: China (USA)

I was thinking it was about time for this thread to die. So glad it finally did!