Job Discussion Forums

[cormac]

Seems like posters are going to extremes. My hair is just beyond my ears, and certainly doesn't reach ponytail levels. Fact is, in Xian I know extremely few FTs with long hair. I have a beard most of the time, but it's reasonably trimmed.

The FTs that I see dressed badly are usually kindergarten teachers since the classes they do tend to destroy their decent clothes. This was my own experience when I started teaching. I went into my first few kinder classes wearing clean fairly new clothes and came out destroyed. Throw in the number of hours that many of those in the kinder language mills work, and it's hard to motivate themselves to she'll out for better clothes that get damaged anyway.

Above kinder level, the vast majority of teachers I've seen dress reasonably well. Not terribly formal but then there's no expectation in Xian for them to do so. At university level, I've seen all manner of dress.

Lastly in regards to your comments about CTs income, compared to their sense of dress, I've seen CTs drive into university in their brand new BMW and get out of it wearing a track suit that's seen better days. TBH with the exception of high level professors, most FTs dress better than them. It's not a matter of income. It's that they know there's little need to dress formally. The female CTs are worse since fashion allows them more leeway. There is CT i know that goes to class looking more like a Thai call girl than a teacher, visible tong and all.

There are many generalisations floating around here. The problem is that dress codes vary depending on city, institution level and the gender of the person. You might claim that we should dress professionally, but from my experience, it alienates FTs more so than dressing casually. I'm not advocating dirty clothes and being unwashed. But then, I'm not supportive of the prep school appearance either.

[LarssonCrew]

As Cormac can probably verify[we know each other] in the middle of Xi'ans summer it would be a nightmare having to travel around in the traffic in 40-45 degree heat in too formal of clothing. Pretty much everything ditches trousers for shorts when it hits end of May here because it's just too hot.

I always explain to employers that I also need to be comfortable, and wearing a full suit will make me feel awful. But also, going into a formal office setting wearing shorts and a tee shirt would also make me feel weird.

[mw182006]

Did you guys bring a suit when you came over the first time, or can I get away with slacks/button-down/tie? I don't really like wearing suits and I'm a big dude (6'3, 240#), so I expect to have trouble finding clothes and shoes over there.

[Bud Powell]

You can do without the suit. A sports jacket will come in handy when (and if) you are invited to lunch with the school president/dean/Powers that Be. You'll look good.

Nice jeans for the cooler/cold months and sports shirts. AND REAL SOCKS!

The rest you can buy in China. You will need to buy some lightweight cotton pants for the really warm months. You'll die in regular weight blue jeans.

[MozartFloyd]

[kungfuman]

I buy size 13 - 13.5 shoes at Decathlon but they are not always in stock and the choices are often slim.

Best bet is to bring your own from home.

[Non Sequitur]

Lots of tailors around.

[MisterButtkins]

[cormac]

[Voyeur]

So shorts and a golf shirt might be okay--I live in Fuzhou, and it is really hot!