Job Discussion Forums

[lostinasia]

uhhh, the key would be that in general, UNIVERSITY and public school teachers get such a great 2 months off

[patsy]

I totally don't understand how getting the 31st and Jan.1 off constitutes a holiday when we just have to make up those two days on the weekend before, it's just a holiday with punishment.

[chia48]

I've just been told at my college that Monday's classes will be held on Saturday (Dec 29), so that we can get three days off, all in a row!

With so few foreign teachers here no day off on Dec 25 though.

[11:59]

Patsy is correct. As classes have to be 'made up' it is not a holiday as such but rather is simply an instance of rescheduling of the timetable. I guess this is what you would have to term holidays with 'Chinese characteristics' (viz., bizarre, backward, and self-defeating).

[MGreen]

Where are you guys teaching that you have to make-up the days?

I thought most universites would have wrapped-up their semester by the end of December (16-17 weeks).

[arioch36]

With so few foreign teachers here no day off on Dec 25 though

it is a legal holiday!

[lostinasia]

Most universities end their term the 2nd or 3rd week of January, not December.

In fact, the laws regarding holidays are written such that the days missed are often made-up. The make up days are law - however are not required to be followed by employers. It is written to show that employees must make-up the days by default.

I agree with the ridiculousness of it all. Of course, the "holiday" part of a holiday is a celebration of an event or day - not the opportunity to miss a productive work day in the work year. So, Christmas off to celebrate the birth of some "person," and you get to do it - which is the real purpose of the event - not to take a day off from your work season and drink, etc.

[kev7161]

Well, that's a pretty all-encompassing statement. My contract guarantees that I get Christmas Day and New Year's Day off without make up days. Our school just announced the "goverment-mandated" New Year's holiday (changed since all of last week!): Sunday, Dec. 30th to Tuesday, Jan. 1st. Of course, we too have to work the Saturday before in exchange for getting Monday off. Usually it's only a half-day before sending the kids home. But I will be taking my contractually guaranteed Christmas Day off as well, so next week will still be a fairly easy week. Then back to work three days after New Year's, another weekend, then roughly 3 weeks before the BIG holiday. Yee-haw!

[lostinasia]

University jobs are the way to go in my opinion. This year my winter break is nearly 11 weeks long.

[MGreen]

I work until the 2nd week of January (final exams) but I finish teaching next week. Wow, 11 weeks. I have 6 weeks.

[kev7161]

General "poll" quetion: Do those of you bragging about getting about 3 months of vacation (those that work at universities, generally) get paid for all that time off? If so, that is great - - although I'm not sure what I would do with that much free time on my hands. Travel for a bit, maybe pick up a part time job for a couple of months . . .

[7969]

[lostinasia]

Maybe you should get a dictionary or a usage dictionary and see what bragging really means or how bragging is actually done.

I see nobody, including me, who was bragging.

If you knew anything at all about my job(s) then you'd know I don't have an actual 3 months off.

So sick of assumptions around here

[MGreen]

Actually, someone on this thread did mention having 11 weeks off this winter break. So, its not quite 3 months but it's damn near close.

[lostinasia]

Feel free to PM me and I'll be happy to educate you as to what "bragging" really is.

By your definition, anyone who writes more than one word about anything is bragging.

And again, as I stated, you know nothing about my job(S) and how much free time I actually have.