Job Discussion Forums

Jane51 · Joined: 18 May 2004 Posts: 20 Location: China

I'm posting the following on behalf of my husband.

I'm bald and 65 years old and have been teaching in China for almost 3 years and love it. I prefer the 6 - 10 year olds who call me Lao-sh ye-ye ( teacher grandfather). I'm a novice teacher -yes, at my age. And ran screaming from the halls of learning as soon as I could as a young scholar. Now I find myself married to a teacher AND -one myself!!

When my students ask my age I tell them I'm 100. They believe me. And love being taught by someone who they believe to be so ancient and wise. I'm about to become a legend.

Shave off your hair (if you have any) and get here quick. It's fun. And you get paid for it. Not much but then you don't need much in China. Beer is 2.5 kuai a large bottle and haircuts are 5kuai.
Very Happy

JDYoung · Joined: 21 Apr 2003 Posts: 157 Location: Dongbei

At my school I am in the younger group at 56. The oldest we've had since I've been here was 68. Health considerations are more important than age. There are LOTS OF STAIRS in China and I've yet to see a building that would meet any handicap-accessible code. On the other hand, I've seen lots of people happy to help someone get past a barrier - but few people will give up a seat on a bus.

My mother was here visiting recently. She is 80. She could probably have found work.

mike w · Posted: Thu May 27, 2004 3:56 pm Post subject:

mike w · Posted: Thu May 27, 2004 3:57 pm Post subject:

I first came to China when I was 44. I am now 51, and I am having probably the greatest time of my life. Keep everything you are told in perspective. I left a multi-national company in the UK to come to China. I was earning a good salary, but even then I couldn't afford to go out to restaurants for lunch and dinner seven days a week!!
The pay here may be low, but so is the cost of living - it is even cheaper to live if you get away from the major centres like Beijing or Shanghai.
Be selective in your future employer. Some schools have large classes on high floors, in buildings where there are no lifts. Apartments may be the same. Where I teach, the building has two floors only, the class sizes average between 8 and 12 (15 is the maximum size allowed), and all teacher accomodation is on the ground floor of buildings away from the school- but less than 3 minutes away.
Come on over, keep an open mind, and experience the uniqueness of this country.

laodeng · Joined: 07 Feb 2004 Posts: 481

Super! Tell me where you work, Mike W, and I'll underbid you.