Job Discussion Forums

Wearjak · Joined: 08 Aug 2004 Posts: 11

Hi.
I am a student of sinology from Poland. I have been sent to Changchun to study Chinese. The problem is, our Ministry of Education has recently cut our scholarships to a ridiculous level and they did not inform us, students, at all! Anyways, after paying for the dormitory I will be left with about 100 $ to live with per month!!! If I don't find a job there, I am afraid I will have to return to Poland, which I don't want to do, as this is my only opportunity to get to know the "real" language and without this practice my education is just a piece of theoretical crap.

My only qualifications is good English (IB, CAE) and some experience as I used to give private lesons here in Poland.
Is there a chance for a guy like me to find a legal job in Changchun?
Is there anyone who could help me finding a job there?
I would greatly appreciate any help, as this is a matter of survival for me.
Thanks everyone in advance.

cj750 · Joined: 27 Apr 2004 Posts: 3081 Location: Beijing

You cannot work legaly on a student visa...but many of the kiddie schools will allow you to work on the weekends...ABC, Quing Hua, and Mei Ri schoools all hire weekend work...

Wearjak · Joined: 08 Aug 2004 Posts: 11

I thought of a possible change of my visa to working visa. Is such a thing possible to arrange in China (supposing that a school would like to hire me)?

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

What currency do you exactly mean - "100 $" - do you mean Usakistan dollars??? I didn't know Poland had "dollars" as legal tender.

If you are talking about American zlotys, then I can assure you that you will have to find ways and means to at least quintuple your monthly stipend. If you moonlight you can augment your stipend to a comfy level.

joe greene · Joined: 21 Mar 2004 Posts: 200

If you are really talking about $100 USD (as in U.S.A. dollars), you will have enough to survive on a student's budget. Assuming that your dormitory lies outside your budget, 830 Rmb or so will easily pay for your meals and [small] incidentals. According to my university students, about 10 Rmb will cover daily cafeteria charges, but it depends on where you live. Nevertheless, you should be in good shape for additional expenses. Just be frugal.

JimmyJam · Posted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 1:32 am Post subject: X and Z visa

if i'm not mistaken, you can change your visa from X to Z but if you change it to Z (working) you can't study.. it's just like having one or the other.. but there are many foreign students in changchun doing side-jobs at kindergarten and primary schools.. but it's something illegal and is subject to deportation.. hahaha only if somebody up there knows.. Rolling Eyes

if you're on a 100 usd budget... that would be enough unless you go out drinking at night.. and eat at mcdonald's/kfc... and take taxi everytime.. there are many bars/discos in changchun with nice live bands from the philippines.. a bottle of beer would cost 4 times your meal at the university cafeteria...
just move on your budget and you'll be fine. if you think you can't live on 100usd, you might as well start looking a partime job.

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

OK, so you can survive just like a Chinese person can, on 830 yuan a month; note that many of our students get so much in pocket money on top of their tuition and boarding outlays... Anyway, there are many students that don't get pocket money at all; still, I think it's a bit tight.
It works out to less than RMB 30 a day. A bus ride across downtown sets you back 2 kuai or more; my shuttle bus back to my own home costs RMB 8 one way.
Canteens charge you a very modest amount; let's be realistic: 15 kuai a day might suffice.
But on weekends you might want to go out and eat a meal at a more upmarket restaurant; a McDonald's set meal costs around RMB 16.
In winter, you will want to drink hot drinks; do you feel hot water is good enough every day? Or might it be instant coffee on occasion?? And if you have a NESTLE coffee for breakfast, you will perhaps also buy buns and cakes from that cake shop - and you have easily spent 20 kuai!
How about clothes? CHinese-made ones are cheap? Yeah - but you might care to buy 100% cotton - up goes the price! Or shoes that don't leak...
Come to think of winter - I suggest our Polish friend take his own winter clothes to China - he certainly will need them!

Captain Yossarian · Joined: 05 May 2004 Posts: 385 Location: Dongbei

Although they won't be able to offer you a job some of the bigger English schools will be able to give you some good ideas on what you can do legally. A friend of mine was in a visa pickle a few months ago and got some valuable advice from the management at both Perfect English and Aston English School.

There are many smaller outfits in CC too - as CJ750 mentions - they can offer you work but they aren't going to be able to help with your visa situation.

Despite some previous threads about income on this site - you can live on $100 a month easily if you live as your Chinese classmates do. It's probably double what a lot of them will have to spend each month. This will mean eating at the canteen only I'm afraid and avoiding American style bars and fast food places.

Wearjak · Joined: 08 Aug 2004 Posts: 11

Thanks everyone for feedback.
I was on my way to China, I just arrived at Changchun. So far my financial situation looks better than I said. I just have more money. I think I will survive here, no problemo. If I run short on cash I will look around for some schools. Thanks anyway.

waxwing · Joined: 29 Jun 2003 Posts: 719 Location: China