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Sarcastro
Joined: 18 Dec 2010
Posts: 89
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
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 Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 1:15 am Post subject: Good Places to Meet with Other Teachers in China Online |
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As we all know, it can be hard to teach in crazy foreign lands with out some kind outlet with foreigners. Since we cant really talk about that here on the job boards, I was wondering if any of you have found other forums or sites that allow easy access to other foreigners that are teaching here in China.
Since FB is blocked and I don't have any VPN my usual ways of looking for local connections are gone. Are there any forums or unblocked social networking sites that aren't blocked, that have a large expat community? |
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hilena_westb
Joined: 13 Nov 2012
Posts: 130
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| Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 1:42 am Post subject: |
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As a matter of actual discussion, why would you come to such a foreign land if you have some addictive need to be in the company of foreigners, whether in person or online, etc.? I find this to be fascinating. People go to a foreign country but surround themselves in their original/home culture. What is the point? Why not teach foreigners back home and be in your native culture?
I really don't get it too much, unless there is a more sinister issue at hand. |
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roadwalker
Joined: 24 Aug 2005
Posts: 1750
Location: Ch
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| Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 2:01 am Post subject: |
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I think a lot of us (cough, cough) have a somewhat addictive (I'm not a doctor and not qualified to use that term in a professional sense, but am using it in the layperson's sense) need to communicate with others who share our language and culture,if only to post argumentative responses to honest questions. We should all heal ourselves if it's an addiction, but I think that communicating with others in our situation is a good way to relieve stress and to get the occasional reality check ("am I going nuts, or is this a bad school that I should flee from asap?")
This is a good forum for teacher-related and tangential issues. For location-specific discussion, or for topics beyond the terms of posting on this forum, some cities have expat forums that might be active or might become active if you get the ball rolling. Search under "YourCity expats" or similar and you might find online conversations or meet up actual locations. Echinacities may have something as well. Sorry I don't have any specific recommendations. |
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Javelin of Radiance
Joined: 01 Jul 2009
Posts: 1187
Location: The West
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| Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 2:32 am Post subject: |
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| roadwalker wrote: |
| Search under "YourCity expats" or similar and you might find online conversations or meet up actual locations. |
Sorry I searched for this and all I got was a bunch of results for New York City.  |
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Sarcastro
Joined: 18 Dec 2010
Posts: 89
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
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| Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 4:10 am Post subject: |
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| hilena_westb wrote: |
As a matter of actual discussion, why would you come to such a foreign land if you have some addictive need to be in the company of foreigners, whether in person or online, etc.? I find this to be fascinating. People go to a foreign country but surround themselves in their original/home culture. What is the point? Why not teach foreigners back home and be in your native culture?
I really don't get it too much, unless there is a more sinister issue at hand. |
Dont get me wrong, I love being here. I also would much rather living in an immersive enviroment then spend my time in a Little America when I work abroad. I enjoy the challenge and different experience.
BUT as RW discussed it gets really stressful to live in a place where you have a hard time expressing and being your 100% genuine self. We all go though culture shock and one of the best ways (at least for me) to deal with that is to have outlets where you can release the pressures created by that transition. |
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vikeologist
Joined: 07 Sep 2009
Posts: 600
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Sarcastro
Joined: 18 Dec 2010
Posts: 89
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
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| Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 6:34 am Post subject: |
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LOL wow! I literally said to my screen, "Really? But I looked all over the general forum and found nothing!" I then went back and saw the Off Topic Forum right under this one. I guess Dave's bolded warning threw me off ballance so much that I automaticaly gave up the search!
Who has two thumbs and is not too bright? |
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Non Sequitur
Joined: 23 May 2010
Posts: 4724
Location: China
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| Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 6:43 am Post subject: |
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| Sarcastro wrote: |
LOL wow! I literally said to my screen, "Really? But I looked all over the general forum and found nothing!" I then went back and saw the Off Topic Forum right under this one. I guess Dave's bolded warning threw me off ballance so much that I automaticaly gave up the search!
Who has two thumbs and is not too bright? |
Don't be too hard on yourself. It took me a while to figure out that 'Off topic' is only accessible if you're logged on.
I think seeing members with similar issues and then going to the PM feature is the best that is on offer.
Given the flame tendencies of a certain current_poster I've gone to the PM to explain to newbies an issue that might get unwanted attention on the forums. |
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DirtGuy
Joined: 28 Dec 2004
Posts: 529
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| Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 8:17 am Post subject: |
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If you are single, check out www.okcupid.com. It's free and there are lots of expat women (and I assume men) on the site who are in cities all over China. Many of them are teachers.
TIP: Get a VPN as it is worth every cent.
DirtGuy |
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Timer
Joined: 24 Oct 2010
Posts: 173
Location: China
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| Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2013 7:41 am Post subject: |
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The expat forums for different cities can be good or bad, depending on the city. The one for Wuhan is ok but extremely slow, despite the amount of foreigners living here. Echinacities is a good site too for general China discussion. Face to face is better though. As with all online communities there are always trolls who spend far too much time on the site marking their territory. It gets annoying.
| hilena_westb wrote: |
As a matter of actual discussion, why would you come to such a foreign land if you have some addictive need to be in the company of foreigners, whether in person or online, etc.? I find this to be fascinating. People go to a foreign country but surround themselves in their original/home culture. What is the point? Why not teach foreigners back home and be in your native culture?
I really don't get it too much, unless there is a more sinister issue at hand. |
Because when we go to a foreign land and the people can't even understand some of our basic characteristics we start to go a bit crazy. There is such a huge difference between communicating with Chinese and other foreigners who share similar cultures. I don't surround myself with my home culture, but I have so much more fun with other foreigners and can talk much more easily with them. There are also issues I can discuss with foreigners that I can't even mention to other Chinese without causing a shitstorm. |
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