Job Discussion Forums

[KarenB]

I've 3 different FAOs in the 5 years I've been in China. At the first university, the FAO's (they actually had 2 full-time employees for only 4 foreign teachrs) sat around and read newspapers and played computer games and said they were busy whenever you asked them for something. My present FAO also has a FT teaching job, but always responds promptly to needs and requests, and we've got along great for the past 3 years.

I have found that it helps to do favors for him when I can -- such as explaining what a government letter means, or agreeing to do a special lecture somewhere -- that sort of thing. In return, he's done me a lot of favors in return -- so it's a give and take situation.

However, as mentioned above, sometimes the FAO doesn't have the power to take care of a request I've made (or it appears he may be too embarrassed or shy to ask the guy who can). This is usually when financial issues come up -- like airfare or something like that. I have learned that he doesn't really mind if I go over his head, and go directly to the principal or dean to ask for certain things. In fact, sometimes he'll ask me to do this! Now, maybe this would't work in every situation, but I've found it works for me at my particular school, with my particular FAO.

[rocknroll]

When I came to my present school the apartment given was Dirty,filthy and complete bizzare...It's kind of big and I had to get everything organized. From where do I want Bed and Television.I didn't get any brand new but it was used by previous FTs there.It wasn't the first time they were inviting foreigners and I went to that school because I was invited there so isn't the duty of the school to arrange everything ??? I wonder.

Imagine living in apartment where water unavailable for 1 week.No Hot water for 1 month,drinking water and no internet phone and sometimes no electricity.No Wardrobe.No heater.Now I feel that it would have been better if I would have asked for hotel room the very first day.After all this I needed to UNDERSTAND that my FAO s are busy and don't know how to organize everything.I helped them a lot to help me and it's a time where I am frustrated at so easily they say we do it tmorrow. My FAO Assistant would take me to buy clothes but she wouldn't know much about the city.

I waited for 1 month and still few things aren't completely solved because I knew this is how it works in China thing.I know it's bit late to shout at them when I should have done it before.When you try to maintain relationship and other things they don't take you seriously and keep delaying things.So today I did shout and maybe our relationships aren't that good like before but I can't be happy when I am dying with cold or not taking hot shower for more than 7 days so as for maintaining relationship and all sounds fine but how much are Chinese Employers are keen on keeping that relationship good with FT ?

[Rabid]

If you're not firm with them they will take advantage. I don't recommend shouting, but be very firm with them. If you're not getting satisfaction from the FAO, go to his boss. Don't shout but be very stern.

[frigginhippie]

My FAO officers and I get along extremely well. A few FTs have been rude to them and received only half-hearted help, but the FAO was always helpful. FTs who chose to order the FAO like a dog were helped the least. I second, or third, diplomatic relations with the people who secure your work visa It also helps to return the favor once in a while. I scratch your back, you fix my phone service on the weekend.
-fh

[tw]

Yes, it is nice when the FAO would call and ask if your telephone and Internet services have been connected, and if the water has been restored.

[tofuman]

The intrinsically evil nature of some FAOs is the root of many of the problems encountered by FTs in China. A direct consequence of their EVIL nature is deliberate indifference manifested by FAOs to the needs and comfort of FTs.

Western people in the helping professions are usually aware of the legal doctrine of deliberate indifference. It holds responsible those who should care but do not. A physician who ignores the pain of a terminal cancer patient. A social worker who avoids visits to the homes of at risk children in his/her caseload. A teacher aware of child abuse who does nothing. These are a few examples for which legal action, job termination, and money judgments could be lodged against Western "professionals."

In China, however, deliberate indifference is the order of the day. Indigenous Chinese simply do not have the inner resources to care about others. And since caring about FTs would be an earmark of Western expectation regarding an FAO's responsibility, there is bound to be misunderstanding and, more likely, injury, to the FT.

It has been said that the FAO prefers to avoid direct confrontation because of cultural conditioning. Historically, the Chinese avoidance of direct confrontation resulted in the Nanking massacre and led the KMT to break the banks of the Yellow River, killing and displacing millions of their own people. Why have a confrontation when you can slaughter others and avoid injury to yourself? Had Nanking been defended courageously by the KMT, perhaps the Ribenren might have regarded it differently, IF they had eventually conquered the city. But it is not difficult to understand that the Japanese would not care more for the people of Nanking than did their own government. This mentality didn't leave China with the KMT.

FAOs prefer to avoid confrontation because they often lack the moral advantage usually available to those in the right. Since the correctness of their position is doubtful, even to themselves, deception would be standard working proceedure. TRUTH would expose their moral bankruptcy, injustice, and indifference.

A simple way to identy those of whom you should be wary is to watch for those associated with your school who are being driven around in, or driving, a black car. Another sign of someone who is likely to cause you problems is to be noted in grown men who giggle girls when you do something deemed inappropriate by them.

Be friendly, but remember-- they are not really your friends.