Job Discussion Forums

[Horizontal Hero]

I'm about to begin my first NET job in HK. I got a phone call from my school principal yesterday asking me if it was OK if no-one met me at the airport. Instead I should find a hotel, and make my way to the school by myself the next day.

To say that I'm shocked would be an understatement. Four times I have made my way to new countries to teach, and each time there was someone there to greet me at the airport. I can't imagine what the principal is thinking. "Oh yeah, he can jsut look after himself. He can meet me at the office at 10.00 on Tuesday. I'll schedule 10 minutes for him."

I'm wondering how many others when arriving in Hong Kong for the first time were not met at the airport and expected to make their own way to the school?

In fairness the principal did ask me if it was OK, but I was rather shocked by the request (I rather reluctantly agreed, out of being dismayed more than anything). It seems obvious to me that no-one at the school really gives a toss about me, and they just want to reduce any effort on their part to help me out when I get there. Not a particularly auspicious beginning to my new school, I must say. I half feel like ringing the principal back and saying "Is it OK if I just don't come at all. I think it would be inconvenient."

[Ludwig]

Though not wishing to sound peculiar on this point, I was not at all surprised. Indeed, I would be surprised if a representative of the school - in any shape or form - would ever offer. In fact, I would be somewhat puzzled (and perhaps even a tad vexed) if someone did ever make such an offer. What does surprise me, however, is that anyone would expect such an offer to be made. I must say, I have never ever heard of anyone having been 'picked up' at the airport!

Here in HK you are expected to be - and behave like - an adult. You are not a star and will not attract any attention or special conditions by dint of being 'foreign'; as I understand it, there are currently some 400,000 'foreigners' living and working in HK. Why should anyone not be able to make their way into a country and then onwards to their accommodation? What do the hordes of people who come here on holiday - and business - do? They certainly seem to manage. HK is after all a bilingual state and one of those languages is English.

[Mark-O]

For once, I'm fully with Ludwig on this one - this is Hong Kong we're talking about, not Iraq. It is perfectly safe and, in my view, acceptable for a teacher to have to make his/her own way to the school. Why ever not? Hong Kong is extremely well-connected and it's a relatively small place to navigate. And, afterall, is hand-holding really needed for a grown adult?

In my opinion, I think you'd do well to lose the supercilious attitude, and be prepared to accept the same treatment as what local chinese teachers get. Being a western teacher doesn't make you special, it just makes you a western guy who, um, teaches! Plenty more of those in Hong Kong, and plenty more who'd be willing to fill your vacancy should you decide to throw in the towel over something so trivial.

[ChrisRose]

I am a western guy in HK.

I think you were treated appaulingly.

It was purly to make you lose face.

I think you should resign now.



P.S. Can I have the address of your school, I am willing to fill your shoes.

[once again]

I think it is normal practice that the SET at the base school will meet the new teacher. At least this was the case with other NETs that I have known.

[lagerlout2006]

I sort of hate being met at the airport...I had the opposite problem arriving in Beijing. I had never been there and wanted to spend a night relaxing alone. Better for all I said if you meet me in the city next day. They wouldn't hear of it...I was met on arrival--whisked off immediately -taken to the school offices and a lunch I didn't want..Then I was handed a sleeper ticket to the leave the same night to my destination...Ridiculous...Classes were not even starting for a week...I've learned to be more aggressive in these matters.

[Joachim]

Ludwig and Mark-O, if it is somebody's first visit to HK it can be difficult to navigate.

And meeting new teachers at the airport is a standard, polite thing to do. Unfortunatley politeness is not a virtue rated very highly in Hong Kong.

So horizontal, don't take it personally.

[well-travelled]

I quote from one of the numerous circulars that EMB have sent to us new NETs

"If you require airport reception, please contact direct the school that you will work for, so that they will arrange an officer from the school to receive you at the Hong Kong International Airport, as well as to accompany you to the hotel which you wish to lodge with."

The impression that this gives is that being met, as once again suggests above, is standard procedure.

It certainly has been the case in most of the teaching schemes abroad I've worked on in the past.

I have lived in HK before, so I'm making my own arrangements to get to a hotel, but I can't see that Horizontal Hero's letter shows that he is supercilious or afraid as a couple of people have suggested. And to say that HK is an easy city because it is bilingual is a travesty of the situation. Haven't we all had experiences with taxi-drivers who haven't got a clue where we want to go etc.. etc....?

I tend to agree with Joachim that politeness is not a virtue in Hong Kong and the school's attitude to HH, as evinced in his post, is a good example of that.

Still, it's a good indicator of the fact that you need to be very independent to get the best out of working on the NET scheme in HK.

well-travelled

[ryuro]

Count me as another one of those who (surprisingly) finds myself agreeing with Ludwig this time. Although I still think he could find better ways to answer the query than sounding like some grumpy old man.

Anyway, I've recruited for places all over Asia (and Europe) and a 'meet-n-greet' is a nice courtesy, but should never be assumed.

As some people have pointed out here, it's really a case-by-case situation. I've known candidates who've been travelling for up to two days to reach an assignment and the last thing they want to do is have to deal with pleasantries right after stepping off a plane.

Others of course may appreciate a little 'hand holding' at first- I think there's nothing wrong with that and in no way indicates someone is unprofessional- we all have different comfort levels.

However, I do think that anyone planning to live and work abroad MUST be prepared to make their way alone for a bit when they arrive. If someone is TRULY uncomfortable doing this, then perhaps living and working aborad may not be for them. This isn't a package tour- there will be no tour conductors.

Yes, I know showing-up in a foreign country and perhaps not knowing the language, customs, lay of the land can seem challenging (I and millions of others have down this many times over), but anyone worth their salt will have done some amount of preparation before arriving.

I think any decent school will make an offer to meet someone at the airport or if they don't would willingly agree to such a request from a candidate, but I don't think someone should be 'shocked' by the offer. One should appreciate the gesture for what it is- an offer of help if you'd like it, but also a recognition that you're a professional, INTERNATIONAL teacher and may or may not require such assitance.

And I'm only commenting on the intitial meet and greet. OBVIOUSLY, when a candidate starts to settle in, any DECENT school (and staff) WILL DEFINITELY offer assitance in other aspects of getting set-up (opening bank accounts, transport options, places to shop, etc...). This is type of advice I would take as a given and any institution/staff that don't help out are just plain RUDE.

Sorry got a bit rambly- hope some of it helps though.

Cheers,
ryuro

[Horizontal Hero]

Thanks for the feedback about what is standard procedure, which is all I wanted. I was met at the airport in three other countries that I taught in, and assumed it was standard procedure. It seems it isn't always, however if I was a principal at a school I would definitely make sure someone was on hand to pick up a new teacher at the airport.

Yes, I'm big enough to find my way around HK, and certainly won't be holding any grudge against the school. I was a bit annoyed yesterday, which was really just a result of some built up angst over recent events. I've been sitting in an apartment in an empty school for a month, my girlfriend went back to visit her parents 2000 kms away, and then one of my best friends (knew him for 13 years) committed suicide two weeks ago. Anyway, stiff upper lip as they say. The show must go on!

Ludwig, you are really losing your touch. I was expecting a much more typically scathing attack from you. You must be getting old or something.

[Juan Alias]

My principal met me at school on the day I arrived and helpfully said that I should have asked for her to meet me at the airport.
It's a simple courtesy and to say that HK is a simple enough place to navigate is irrelevant. Arriving at any overseas posting that has been previously arranged, among reasonable people should involve some moves on the part of the employer to welcome the new arrival.
The original poster is right on the money - it screams ambivalence and belittles the move and efforts made on the part of the arriving co-worker.

Unfortunately, I think this is no sort of misunderstanding but rather a fair and accurate reflection of the perceived worth of NETs.

[jenny-pnet]

I was greeted at the airport by the SET and the vice principal with an enormous bunch of flowers and welcoming card, a bottle of water and verbal warning not to drink the tap water in HK , a pack of tissues and other items I can't remember, then whisked off to dinner at an elaborate Chinese restaurant with the principal who was apologetic he hadn't been able to meet me at the airport in person. Even though I was tired and could have done without the meal, I really appreciated the effort they had gone to and felt valued from the very beginning. Other NET teachers that I have talked with have spoken of similar experiences. In view of my very warm welcome, if the situation was reversed and I was greeting an overseas teacher in my own country (regardless of whether they could speak the language or not) I would extend the same warm hospitality that I myself experienced. Really, it's common courtesy, but the good PR pays dividends in terms of work performance, job commitment and positive staff relations.

[jenny-pnet]

Forgot to mention, at the airport there are always loads of people holding up name cards in readiness to greet new arrivals, whether they be entering HK on business or holiday. And they're not all there purely to greet children. There's absolutely nothing abnormal about being greeted at the HK airport upon one's first arrival.

[Horizontal Hero]

Well Jenny, it sounds like you were made to feel really welcome. I wonder if your being a woman had anything to do with it (not meaning to be sexist). In Asian culltures women are often assumed to be weak and vulnerable, to make a great generalisation.

A greeting at the airport certainly would have made me feel more welcome, but it is not to be.

[Mark-O]

HH,

If you're still not comfortable going it solo from the airport, why not email/contact the principal and say that you underestimated the situation? From what other teachers here have said, it sounds as though your school is getting off lightly anyway. It can't hurt to ask.