Job Discussion Forums

[tradinup]

Struelle my friend,

I like how you managed to infer I am unqualified from the fact I said China was a vacation (which was a metaphor, as others were able to understand) How very unacademic of you.

I have enough qualifications to work in Hong Kong and graduated from a top 5 University in Canada. I teach full-blown English classes in a University setting, as opposed to "learn to sound like a foreigner classes" On top of that, I speak Chinese and regularly see my Chinese friends and become fully immersed in their culture.

Are you getting as much out of your China experience as I am? Doubtful.

[struelle]

Sorry tradinup, I didn't have my coffee before posting

I think what got me was the word 'vacation', as I've worked with other FTs at various schools who treated their jobs as such, with not very positive results.

More generally, I'm not that thrilled on the implications of the word 'vacation' in the first place. If you enjoy what you're doing, why vacate from it? Holidays are great, yes, and I take more than my fair share, but I hate calling them 'vacations'. Why not call them something else?

[tradinup]

Ok my apologies too, I sound like a punk.

You know, I went through culture shock also at one point and wanted to go home even though everything was dandy. How long have you been here? One thing is Culture shock never goes away, it's recurring, and you have to wait it out. If you really have reasons to go home, then go home. But if you just have this "feeling" you want to go home, but in fact, your situation here is much better than at home, chances are you are going through culture shock (which is recurring and not one-time, as I mentioned) If you think it is not culture shock, it probably is.

We are both from Vancouver, I know what you are going back to if you decide to do that. Chicks with big butts, perfect infrastruture (can't eat dog on a stick from street vendors there, that's for sure), arguing about what politicians are better (can't do that here, just one party!) On the flip side I do miss medecine that works. I think the bottom line is, living in China makes you emotional, but you have to make a logical decision whether to stay or not, and not let your emotions cloud your thinking.

Try another place perhaps. After this big city stint I may switch off to rural Taiwan for new scenery.