Job Discussion Forums

[Talkdoc]

[tofuman]

The curiosity is only harmless until it uncovers something that someone might use to harm you. Was the "curiosity" of the Gestapo, KGB, or any other similar group harmless? It might just be a student snooping, but who is he or she reporting to?

People like this use information to buy themselves favor with those who can do something for them in return or to maintain favor with their superiors.

Contract items spread around campus foster resentment, jealousy, and other unsavoury feelings toward FTs. They can also be used to justify criminal activity such as robbery and mugging of FTs, now that it is known just how much more we make than locals.

Anyone who thinks this is just innocent curiosity needs to understand what deviousness is or work in a prison sometime to find out how innocent "curiosity" is.

[7969]

this incident has really caused me to think whether or not i want to be here any longer. i have opportunities elsewhere, and i am seriously thinking of quitting next week. what happened today offended me so much, i can harldy bear to think about it. not sure exactly what these clows did or didnt see on my computer, as they only had a few minutes to do it. but they knew enough to go to the "recently opened documents" menu item in win xp. by the time i got back they were trying to figure out how to cover their tracks, only getting as far as selecting the "turn off computer" option.

i'm off to huangshan for a few days tonight, and when i get back my mind will be made up one way or the other. i dont really want to leave but people snooping into my private life is really the ultimate show of disrespect (for me). i cant trust these people any longer...... students or not.

incidentally, when i worked in guangxi, i welcomed people into my home at first. i quickly learned that was a mistake. it wasnt long before i wouldnt let them past the door when they came knocking. future conversations were held in the apartment lobby.

[tofuman]

I used to have problems with students reading the grade sheets. I would be talking with one student and discover another, behind my back, reviewing the class grades. I finally asked the students if they minded if "Phoebe" looked at their grades. A surprising number did object. I actually thought they might not mind, but some did.

Certain things are inherent, such as fear of snakes. While China has made every effort to strip the people of individual dignity and self respect, shreds of it still remain. The desire for personal privacy is evidence of this.

[7969]

[jeffinflorida]

I was in the school canteen one day (which is about the size of a mini-supermarket or large 7-11) and one of my students got on line behind me. We were chatting (she IS rather pretty) and I notice that she just started going through my basket and examine everything I was about to buy. I didn't say anything to her but remarked to another Ft and he said it's just the way they are.

A few weeks later I had this same student in my 3-bedroom apartment for some schoolwork. In the extra bedroom I have a clothesline where I dry my clothes with the 2 ceiling mounted fans. Works pretty well and the weather was wet and cold at the time. (Can�t these people get the concept of a clothes dryer already...) So I went to the toilet and I notice my student (did I mention she is beautiful...?) is not in my office but in the extra bedroom intently looking at my clothes and picking up such things as my boxer shorts and socks. (Thank god they are all brand new and unstained right?) So I just stand there as she examines each article. I was simply amazed.

When I went for my medical there is of course no privacy. All my papers are on the desk and you have to go to like 7 different rooms and repeat the process for each section. In every room my medical records were picked up and read by everyone - even when I objected (in English of course) they continued to read them.

But, IF YOU DIDN'T LOVE CHINA AND ITS PEOPLE YOU WOULD HAVE LEFT ALREADY.

[kev7161]

It seems students are the same everywhere. When they come into my classroom, I'll have graded papers (in folders) on my desk, along with handouts, gradebook, lesson plans, teaching materials, etc. Boy-oh-boy, their curiosity factor is off the charts. If and when my back is turned, I invariably catch one or more going through what is on my desk! What's that all about? Someday I'm going to hide a loaded mousetrap under a paper, see what happens (no, I probably won't - - but that WOULD be interesting to see).

[beck's]

When I go to the bank outside the gates of our school to deposit money I often have students leaning over me to examine my bankbook. On several occassions there have been four or five students with their arms around me and their heads in my financial business. The first time it happened my wife and I started into a fit of laughing. The situation was so absurd as to appear funny.

As other posters have mentioned, the students have absolutely no sense of individual privacy. It's a cultural difference and I don't think they are being malicious. I can't take it too seriously, but maybe that's because I feel I'm not really living in the real world here and that the amounts of money are so ridiculously small in western terms. Don't forget, they have virtually no privacy in their personal lives. At our university they live eight to a samll room and sleep in bunkbeds. They are just curious about us.

[darkchild]

oh, how true it is!
last time i was teaching in China, I flipped after about a month into the job, i remember it was right after break and i came back into the classroom finding these kids looking through my bag! i can't believe how inconsiderate they are. i think i said things like don't your parents teach you manners? something to that extend. The funny thing is, i should have known better, since i am Chinese Canadian.

[Tao Burp]

uh, not to hijack this thread, but concerning the gossip, I soon found that it was best NOT to reveal any specifics to my Chinese students, teachers, and associates. I usually speak in generalities and have found this is usually the best way to go, besides the Chinese do the same among themselves.
But being a foreigner, you are the center of attention and gossip, and if you're married to a Chinese, the gossip will increase dramatically. My point, don't be so naive as to lay your cards all out on the table nor think when you turn your head, they won't be looking through your possessions.
Of course, the rationalization of no privacy in a collective culture offers some solace, but you're a foreigner and you're open to question by most here. No need to be paranoid, but caution is the key in matters of your privacy.

[Roger]

[Old Dog]

Roger wrote:

[tofuman]

Rog, I'd appreciate it if you would stop editing my posts before you you repost them. It is difficult for me to understand how someone who has been teaching here for nine years is so careless with the language that they teach, yet I know of no reason that you would intentionally hack up my posts.

Some people do value their privacy, others prefer to invade it. Following the multitude to do mischief has rarely been a wise course.

[Roger]

[monju]

One of the things I've noticed in my dealings with Chinese over the years, especially the ones I've got close to, is that the prying into one's personal affairs is quite one-sided. They want to know everything about me - including the contents of my wallet, but it's very hard to get anything out of them. They have this technique of skirting around things.

Just an observation.