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bennufc
Joined: 16 Jun 2015
Posts: 14
Location: Beijing
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 Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2015 9:28 pm Post subject: |
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| Deats wrote: |
By agency fees, are you talking about your housing, or your recruiting agency who are getting you the job?
Even if the placement pays your housing agent fees, you will still have to foot 6 months rent at the beginning of the lease. If you don't have this money, then you should speak to BLCU in advance and see if they can advance you the necessary money for your house. They may, or they may not be willing to help.
A year shouldn't do major damage to your health. Having said that, they say smoking a cig takes 5 mins off your life... breathing Beijing's air must take off decades  |
Agency fees in relation to the rent. Quite what exactly that entails I'm not 100% sure!
I have enough to cover a few months rent so that shouldn't be a problem. They're giving me a hand in arranging things initially like insurance and banking etc whilst setting up a place to rent close to the school as I requested.
The school is in Xuanwu, Xicheng in the southwestern part of central Beijing so I presume this (central) is where the pollution is at it's worst?! |
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Deats
Joined: 02 Jan 2015
Posts: 503
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| Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2015 9:35 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah central Beijing is a mare. Awesome city though if it wasn't for this. I can just about cope with the crowds, it's just never seeing blue sky.
I think agency fees are something like a months rent extra gets paid to the agent, so it is good if the school helps with that!
A quick heads up with insurance - Chinese insurance is pointless. You can almost never claim on it. If I were you, I'd buy a cheap insurance in England that covers any major issues you may have (hopefully it won't be needed). Once you leave England, you can't get an English insurance, so you'd need to do it before stepping on the plane. |
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bennufc
Joined: 16 Jun 2015
Posts: 14
Location: Beijing
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| Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2015 9:46 pm Post subject: |
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| Deats wrote: |
Yeah central Beijing is a mare. Awesome city though if it wasn't for this. I can just about cope with the crowds, it's just never seeing blue sky.
I think agency fees are something like a months rent extra gets paid to the agent, so it is good if the school helps with that!
A quick heads up with insurance - Chinese insurance is pointless. You can almost never claim on it. If I were you, I'd buy a cheap insurance in England that covers any major issues you may have (hopefully it won't be needed). Once you leave England, you can't get an English insurance, so you'd need to do it before stepping on the plane. |
Thanks for the advice! Do you have much experience living/working in Beijing? What's it like getting around the city? What are your experience regarding provisions for sport etc? (I love my football hence the username!).
Sorry for so many questions! |
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Deats
Joined: 02 Jan 2015
Posts: 503
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| Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2015 10:45 pm Post subject: |
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I've spent a fair amount of time in Beijing over the last 10 years, but never living there. I had a good friend who I used to visit and also went sightseeing, visiting for visas etc.
I usually used the subway to get around as the buses can be confusing for someone with limited Chinese. Also the traffic is ridiculous so using subway is faster. After going for a night out I would often take taxis, which by western standards are very cheap - but they are more expensive than many other places in China. Sometimes taxi drivers seemed to be d1cks and wouldn't pick us up.
You shouldn't have an issue buying sporting equipment in Beijing, although someone who lives there now will be able to advise you better. There are plenty of sports bars around the city, so you will be able to drown your sorrows whilst watching Schtevie Mc poncing down the touchline with his brolly  Only problem is, those bars will charge double or treble what you pay in your student uni  |
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bennufc
Joined: 16 Jun 2015
Posts: 14
Location: Beijing
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| Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2015 11:05 pm Post subject: |
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| Deats wrote: |
I've spent a fair amount of time in Beijing over the last 10 years, but never living there. I had a good friend who I used to visit and also went sightseeing, visiting for visas etc.
I usually used the subway to get around as the buses can be confusing for someone with limited Chinese. Also the traffic is ridiculous so using subway is faster. After going for a night out I would often take taxis, which by western standards are very cheap - but they are more expensive than many other places in China. Sometimes taxi drivers seemed to be d1cks and wouldn't pick us up.
You shouldn't have an issue buying sporting equipment in Beijing, although someone who lives there now will be able to advise you better. There are plenty of sports bars around the city, so you will be able to drown your sorrows whilst watching Schtevie Mc poncing down the touchline with his brolly Only problem is, those bars will charge double or treble what you pay in your student uni |
Again thanks for the heads up! I plan on taking the subway everywhere anyway so it's just a case of getting used to the routes and finding my way around and to the nearest local football team!
I'll spare any comment on Newcastle as it's not relevant to the discussion (or at least that's my excuse...!  ) I'm not much of a drinker although I enjoy the odd spirit/mixer or fruity cider but I presume those are fairly difficult to come by... and i'll certainly want to find a place to watch the matches! |
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Deats
Joined: 02 Jan 2015
Posts: 503
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| Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2015 11:15 pm Post subject: |
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In Beijing you can find most things, including cider.
You have two options for the footy. 1) Go to a bar or 2) Stream it. In China everyone streams stuff and also downloads stuff for free. So you can essentially watch skysports for free from your computer and download Match of the Day every weekend  Keeps a man sane! |
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Non Sequitur
Joined: 23 May 2010
Posts: 4724
Location: China
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| Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2015 12:44 am Post subject: |
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This type of position (the OP's) fall between the bog standard FT deal of up to 6k for 10 months, accom on campus and airfare - say 8K on one hand and a true international school position on the other.
Unpaid commute time can be a real burden if living off campus and if you have significant downtime in the middle of the day it may be impossible to get home and back. That said OP likes school life, so may find hanging out in library OK.
First class 8-10 and then second class 2-4 can be uncomfortable if their is no teacher common room or other comfortable bolt hole.
Of course ideally you have home country teacher registration to get an international school post. OP doesn't mention so assume doesn't have this. |
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