Job Discussion Forums

[struelle]

I sympathize big time here, as I just came out of a school with similar stuff happening to teachers, also in the same province. What is it about that province which makes employers so bad there? If I can help it, I never want to set foot in Jiangsu province again. I still get the shudders thinking of my last employer and what a horrible experience it was. Thankfully my situation went well at the end of year and all the money was paid, but boy, I was sure worried stuff like this could happen to myself and the other staff.

That all being said, when disputes happen and people don't serve you at the cafeteria, etc. best to treat this as minor. Even if it feels major, a lot of face can be saved by not blowing up over issues like meal cards, rude service, etc.

The cafeteria where I worked at was also horrible, overpriced, terrible service, way out in the boonies, and the meal card system also a disaster. At the same time, I often would take my scooter out to the closest towns (3-5 km away) and buy food there, knowing that I at least had an alternative.

That way, when the cafeteria or market store situation got bad, there was no point in blowing up at the staff. I sure felt like it, but it would accomplish nothing anyway, and there was more to be gained by just eating off campus and making the sacrifice to do it.

[kev7161]

I can't agree that ALL schools in Jiangsu are bad. I can agree that all schools have their flaws however. Show me one that doesn't. At my school, there are no meal cards. You just show up at the school canteen and choose from 2 or 3 entrees every day and then help yourself to extra vegetables and soup and rice over to the side. However, if you don't want to eat the school food, my school has provided a foreign teacher lounge of sorts where they've put in a coffee machine, a microwave, and a refrigerator. You can bring your own lunch and heat it up later if you'd like. My apartment is located within easy walking distance to the school. Although it's summer, I could go there for every meal if I wanted to. But I don't.