Job Discussion Forums

[lelick1234]

I was wondering if it was a feasible life plan to move my family (my wife and my daughter) to China. I have the following questions that would help me make this decision:

1) Will I be able to afford to feed my family?

2) How much would it cost to educate my daughter?

3) What sort of life should my family be expecting to enjoy or suffer?

4) Would a MA in TESOL improve my overall pay or would it just be a waste of money?

I am currently living in Egypt working at an American high school. I am making about the same money as most Chinese ESL job posts allegedly pay. I am just tired of the political chaos and disorganization.

5) Should I just bite the bullet and earn my teachers credential and work in the United States?

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

[PBirm123]

Bite the bullet and start a traditional career(with traditional pay and traditional career trajectory) in the U.S.

That said, the pay you'll receive in China will definitely allow you to feed and provide shelter for your family.. but not much beyond that. The excess money will have to go to putting your child into an international school.. which are pretty expensive even by U.S. dollar standards.

If your wife works, too, and you both take on private students.. you could actually save some money and live a pretty comfortable life. Not a luxurious life with abundant Western luxuries, mind you, but still a pretty damn good life.

[mambawamba]

I pm'd you some details.

[muffintop]

[bharrell]

If you love your family and want the best for them in life, don't bring them to China. In addition to all that has been accurately stated above, your child would possibly learn to behave like a mainland Chinese, as they would think it is normal to queue jump, spit/urinate/defecate on the sidewalk, scream into the telephone, etc.
I think many modest professions in the USA(truck drivers and such) would be preferable. Becoming a certified teacher is certainly better.

[lelick1234]

Thanks for replies. Still looking for more opinions. To help you understand my situation, the following points should be understood.

1) My wife is Egyptian and my daughter is 8 months old.

2) We live modestly in a two-bedroom home with my father-in-law and a house cat. No rent, but very modest living standards.

3) I have to go back to US anyways to get my wife's American passport. I plan on getting a California credential in social studies and English. I will give the US three years to get a standard public/private school job. If that fails, however, I am planning to go abroad.

[teenoso]

A lot depends on your personal circumstances. An 8 month old baby is very young to bring to China. After 3 years she will be still very young and not in school.
If she is healthy and robust , here may be fine, but if she has any health problems , I would stay out of China . You sometimes see here family protests outside hospitals , and sadly it is usually about a child who has suffered under the hospital's care.

Is your wife adaptable, and up for an adventure ? If she is not working she may suffer more culture shock than you. On the other hand, Chinese people love young children and China can sometimes be a safe and good environment for raising a child (provided the traffic and air pollution are not too bad).
Hard to see how exposure to two or three years' pollution in China can be anything but bad for a young child.

I see ex-pat families in parts of Shanghai, and I think they have made the choice - wife or husband's career first, while the kids are young enough, get promoted back in the home country, so kids get properly educated back home.

But as an English teacher, you will never have this lifestyle, nor probably the career boost that China can give people in other jobs.
If you can make it work in the US, why not do so? Frankly some of us are here only because things didn't work out back home.

[lelick1234]

Don't make China your goal. Make it a last resort if everything fails in the states.

[mambawamba]

Moving to China is what you do when all else fails?

If you love your family don't move them to China?

An 8 month old baby is too young to move to China?

Being a truck driver in the USA is a preferable profession to EFL in China?

Wow, guys, you blow me away. Totally.

[muffintop]

[mambawamba]

Yes Muffintop we do have a family here in China.

My experience is not your experience.

We have received excellent healthcare here in China, as have many people we know.

The advice that 'bringing young children to China is not advisable except under the most dire circumstances' is inaccurate and insulting to both me and many of my friends who have done just that and are raising happy, well-adjusted children here.

Neither myself nor my husband are Chinese and life - even with my sketchy Chinese -is not difficult for us here.

We have both the opportunity and money to leave as we wish but we choose to be here because we all like it here.

I'm not going to argue either for or against why people should bring their children to China, however a balance should be presented to give people the opportunity to make their own minds up.

I agree that a family on a low wage would struggle which is exactly why I advise people to be aware of the cost of living. I agree that China is not for everyone which is why I advise people to be aware of the pitfalls of culture shock.

A lot of people here single, married or with families are unhappy but there are also a lot of people who are happy here and that should be noted.

Mamba

[muffintop]

[mambawamba]

Muffintop we're in the same city! We live in Laoshan.

We've been in China on and off since 2001, lived in Harbin, Nanjing and Ningbo as well. A lot of your happiness depends on where you live and who's around you. Ningbo was not cool.

For doctors here in Qingdao go to the International clinic at Shi Li Yi Yuan two blocks up from Marina City 85937690 see Dr Chee, American guy costs 20 RMB a visit plus any tests or medicines. They can also sort you out a dentist Dr Li who is also American. They also provide an English speaking nurse to go with you and explain the tests. Also get the script and go to a little pharmacy about half the price. For dentists Gentle Dental are good, also David Dental.

My husband just had an operation on his arm, was diagnosed and had tests there then went over to the new hospital on Hai'er Lu for the op. It was clean, had room service for food, and he was well looked after, a week's stay and the op and meds cost 5500 RMB.

Doctors are the same all over the world, good ones, bad ones. I've found since our boy was born I've had to fight harder so as not to be railroaded. The UK was the worst; I asked why he was being prescribed antibiotics and I was told my problem was I had had too many brains and I should basically be quiet and accept it. You have to be confident enough to say no.

The same at the vet's last week (for the cat not the kid) the bill was 980 RMB I questioned it and it turned out to be 240 RMB.

Just like the lady at the eye hospital (for me) said I had to buy eye drops because I had an eye infection. I said no. I'd seen the last ten people come out with the same eye drops, we all had the same eye infection?

Maybe we've been lucky in China but then maybe I've just practised my resting b*tch face enough that people don't really push the bull cookies with me anymore.

Mamba

[muffintop]

Same(ish) city different world. I'd like to move my family out to Laoshan since a lot of the negatives that exist in the cities here are not as present in the suburbs. Actually I'd prefer Huangdao but then I'd have to pull the trigger on buying a car.

I am in taidong.

I know the hospital you are talking about. I go there when I need a western doc. I also go to David's Dental. I have tried Chinese trained docs and dentists and have always been disappointed.

Anway, we should probably stop derailing this thread. I'm glad you are as comfortable as you are.

[mambawamba]

Agreed, and ouch on Taidong, different world. I Pm'd you.