Job Discussion Forums

EvanRowe · Joined: 30 May 2014 Posts: 7

Hi all, i'm planning a move to China. I'm just getting into my search. Right now i'm having trouble figuring out the importance of bad air quality which seems to plague China so much.

I am aiming for a uni job, as i've been teaching community college in the U.S. for the past 9 years, and have a Masters and would prefer more time on my hands. I also am partial to cities, but am worried about cities like Zhengzhou and their air pollution problems. How do people deal with the pollution problem?

doogsville · Joined: 17 Nov 2011 Posts: 924 Location: China

I deal with it by living in a city with a reasonably good air quality. Zhuhai to be precise. You can have a look here http://aqicn.org/city/all/ and input the name of any city you like the sound of. The site also has a map that allows you to compare cities and areas of China, so you can figure out where the best air is to be found.

Shroob · Joined: 02 Aug 2010 Posts: 1339

Bud Powell · Joined: 11 Jul 2013 Posts: 1736

A city of 5 million in China could feel more like half a million in the west (my experience at least).

That's a really good observation. That's been my experience too.

2 million feels like a little town, and often pretty nice, depending upon the location. The problem is that the size of the town may have no direct bearing on average air quality, especially if there's any manufacturing or agriculture that requires the disposal of chaff by burning (such as wheat) anywhere near the city. When that wheat straw is burned, watch out.

EvanRowe · Joined: 30 May 2014 Posts: 7

Yeah, for me, the problem is I have no idea if it would bother me. I don't have any breathing issues, and I'm not a runner (i'd prefer to stay indoors and hit the squat rack). I've been trying to think of how to narrow my criteria for the past week. I have a few recruiters sending various pitches and there do seem to be a range of options.

The feel of a city is sort of it's upward nature I think. But honestly, i'm going on limited information. There are probably too many factors for me to really hone in on. I lived in NYC for a couple years and I loved it, despite the rough living in terms of money. the AQI in NYC is 64 today.

The thought of air quality never even entered my mind in 2 years of living there, so maybe i'm just being overly concerned with it.

So my other factors that i'm considering:

Uni job or short work week so I can travel, write, play music, write music, lift weights, etc..

City life so I can mill about and meet lots of people, and also sort of get intellectual stimulation. I have no idea what my long term plans are so I may be open to just putting my plans in order, and maybe doing 1 year in a place to get my feet wet, learn the language, then move after.

That's all I can think of now. The open options for me now seem to be Shanghai at 10k rmb per month plus housing, an offer in Kunshan, and others. I'm still trying to learn the cities and regions. I also will probably apply for a job in Chongqing and see if I can negotiate a bit.

Banner41 · Joined: 04 Jan 2011 Posts: 656 Location: Shanghai

EvanRowe · Joined: 30 May 2014 Posts: 7

Yeah. What about kunshan between 12k-20krmb? It's an hour out of shanghai. I'm still weighing the air quality issues but am not sure how to weigh it.

There is another offer for jinhua city at 6500 rmb. It's probably a lower cost of living but they are selling it on the low air pollution. It shows up as just as bad as most other cities. And as others have noted the aqi is sort of suspect maybe. I also would be able to teach American history in jinhua which is a plus I guess.

Shroob · Joined: 02 Aug 2010 Posts: 1339

EvanRowe · Joined: 30 May 2014 Posts: 7

History. I have a couple offers right now to teach within my degree, but I'm still feeling them out. I'm not averse to the idea of teaching English, but if I can teach what i'm used to teaching, that would lessen the transition. Or maybe a split. I have a few things i'd like to try out from a language standpoint. Either way, i'm used to teaching college and having complete control over my content. I'm not expecting a 100% parallel in moving to China, but the closer to that the better. But this is partly why I feel like a university gig makes more sense.