Job Discussion Forums

Mister Al · Joined: 28 Jun 2004 Posts: 840 Location: In there

Flyingscotsman wrote:

Humbug · Joined: 05 Jan 2009 Posts: 18 Location: Australia

I agree with CarlD26, Yangshuo would be an ideal place for someone in your situation. My husband and I have just returned from 6 months teaching there and had a great time. We lived on the edge of town (only 10 mins ride to the centre of town) and went riding in the countryside every weekend. There are a number of language schools there and although the pay is fairly low we found that it was plenty to live on. If you wife can't find a paying job there are opportunities to do voluntary teaching in the village schools which would at least keep her from being bored and also give her some experience in teaching. Don't believe all the things you read on forums about ESL teaching in Yangshuo. Life is what you make it and we had a great experience there. Go for it!

CarlD26 · Joined: 03 Feb 2011 Posts: 27

wjreaves · Joined: 21 Jan 2011 Posts: 3

You guys are great!

To answer some of the questions asked me , we do in fact ride bikes and Yangshuo (might have spelled that wrong) looks like a good spot to have a foot in both worlds if you will.

I am getting excited about my trip and will be back for more questions shortly...

CarlD26 · Joined: 03 Feb 2011 Posts: 27

Awesome! Keep us updated and good luck! China has some beautiful places, just go out and start exploring!

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

Wasn't the OP about finding jobs?

CarlD26 · Joined: 03 Feb 2011 Posts: 27

Yes, about finding jobs..in a Beautiful place. One must explore to find their desired region/area, no? Especially when aesthetics are involved.

mrwslee003 · Joined: 14 Nov 2009 Posts: 190

When you say small town; in Canada it means 70,000 or less, in China it means 1 million or less, but if you drive for half an hour you may find villages that is 20,000 or less. So it is not hard to find the setting you are looking for. So don't go to the big cities to look for little villages, but go to little towns to look for little villages, with natural settings and no McDonalds.

As for your wife, I feel she is just right for working in a kindergarten or a day care centre. They would love to have her teach the little tykes some nursery rhymes. Or she could teach elementary School English. They have the books ready and she would just do fine with confident personality and a maternal attitude.

Don't sell her short-she could surprise you with a better job than you do.
China is a world of possibilities.....

I brought my wife with me and she did fine without working but she did have other expat wives to socialize with.

Good luck and be adventurous, but if you are newly weds you must be mature about your relationship and don't jump into instant conclusions.

For you both to do well in a small town, the trick is to meet someone local who speaks or wants to speak English and he/she then is you local guide to the world of possibilities. So go the parks and maybe find an English Corner and join in or try to start up with some high school looking young person and create your own social network. Be sincere and honest about what you want to do.

Good luck,
Ray

White249 · Joined: 25 Dec 2008 Posts: 24 Location: United States

I don�t think it will be hard for your wife to get a gig in a larger city , even if it�s under the table work . I worked with an older teacher that had a very young wife with a high school degree that was able to teach at a local school in shanghai . I don�t agree with the negative postings about being married and in China , it�s hard for any westerner , but I think a lot of schools prefer married couples , at least hiring married men . Hiring young �handsome� single western men is not always a positive experience for schools in China, I find more and more that schools are looking for married couples, even if it�s just to get a two for one deal . Maybe she could take an ESL class at a community college before you moved over?
Forget the overly picturesque China that you have envisioned, you still have a lot of great options though if money is not a priority. Look at teaching in smaller cities, my picks would be Quind�o and Wuxi , both have small town feels but are not hours away from the basic niceties .

nickpellatt · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1522

Im going to agree with the people who suggest Yangshuo as it certainly fits the 'small and scenic' requirements. You can walk from North to South and from East to West in a fairly short time. Its also well served by English speaking restaurants and workers so even with minimal language skills its an easy place to live and everything is accessible, even to a China newbie.

Someone mentioned teaching hours are likely to be evenings and weekends, but whilst this may be true of some places, it isnt true of Yangshuo in my experience. Teaching work is plentiful, although private work less so. There are also so many tourist places that I think bar work/hotel work might also be possible as many places are geared up for tourists. Wages would be poor tho!

Your wife could easily find some volunteer work to do, and the babysitting gig might even be possible! When I was there I did meet couples from the West with young children...I dont know but they may have wanted help from time to time!