Job Discussion Forums

[klasies]

Hi there fellow teachers

Just thought that with all the negative hype about contracts and life in China that I would expand on my experiences to date and list my present contract details, which I think must be one of the best on offer and then perhaps those of you with similar or better deals can post them as well.
I am teaching at a University and have just negotiated my third contract!
I arrived here on good faith with a tourist visa and within one week had my 'Z' visa and green book.
My contract details are as follows.
- 20 hours teaching per week ( have never taught more than 16 hrs per week)
- complete freedom in the classroom
- choice of free teaching or textbook
- my wife and I both earn 5000RMB per month
- we both get a 5000RMB yearly travel allowance
- we both get a annual flight allowance of 15000RMB
- we have almost 4 months paid holiday a year
- we can teach as much extra teaching as we want( university organised of course)
- we have a three bedroomed apartment of 110 square metres
- our apartment has wooden floors througout
- we have all the trimmings, TV, dvd, convection microwave, etc etc
- all gas, water and electricity is free of charge
- mineral water is free of charge
- international calls are free as long as we don't phone every day
- the China daily everyday
- we both have top of the range computers
- we both have scanners, printers, webcams and cd writers
- we both have unlimited cable internet free of charge
- our daughter is with us
- her 'Z' visa and green book were paid by the University
- she attends the local Chinese school free of charge
- our two sons joined us from London and thier 'Z' visa and green books were free of charge.
- the University fetched them from the nearest airport(3hrs away) free of charge(they are now teaching English in another city)
- we both have motor bikes ( bought by ourselves)


Of course we have a few negative points as well, such as:
- extremely cold winters ( reached -38 last winter)
- extremely long winters
- remoteness
- nothing and I repeat nothing, western
- interupted water supply
- the "stares"
- been seen as Russian by the local towns folk
- no butter, cheese, bacon, bread(without sugar in it)
- having to drink that horrible baijiu now and again

So, what do you think?
Oh, by the way I have a BA in the Social Sciences and my wife is a qualified nurse.

[Roger]

I agree with you: Generous sponsors and employers, especially in regard to your holidays and airfare! The salary is somewhere in the middle, but definitely very good considering you are living off the beaten path!
So long as you like it don't bother about others' opinions! This is what you have come for - to be content, doing an interesting job, enjoying a stable job in a not-so stable country, being on good terms with your colleagues and charges!
What more can anyone ask for?

[klasies]

Roger

Yes, I agree with what you have said. Thanx for the good wishes.

[MyTurnNow]

Russians are often viewed here as "the white foreigners without money." Tell 'em you're an eguoren and negotiate lower prices.

Pretty sweet contract overall. Salary's a little substandard but with 2 of you it shouldn't be a problem, especially with all the other perks you're getting.

MT

[Hamish]

Thanks for the positive thoughts.

Our situation is a little better in that the weather in Baoding is much warmer. The rest of the terms are nearly identical to ours.

I often am goggle eyed at the circumstances people decribe on this forum.

Its is a good life for us and we wish everyone the same.

regards,

[yaco]

I am happy to see that people are working under good contract conditions which are adhered to.

All us forumnites need to do is to be more supportive of teachers who are having contract difficulties.

For every post detailing problems with their contracts there is probably 10 times more who do not post on this site.

[pratyeka]

hey, what qualifications do you guys have, just out of interest?
how long have you been there, in years/months?
how many other universities in the town?
any other foreigners in the town?

[klasies]

Pratyeka

See the end of my article for qualifications + TEFL,
Going into our 3rd year
None
No.

Cheers

[wOZfromOZ]

Sounds like a nice deal Klasies.

There's just one thing we get that you dont and I regard it as priceless......BBC World TV ...news on the hour, every hour, 24 hours a day. lately.......... PRICELESS!

(I'm really surprised it hasn't been taken off the air in the last few weeks because it's been off about 3 times in the last 18 months......Does it mean at last things really are changing and the government is becomming a little more transparent? I think the mentality of the PSB and government in Shanghai are better than up north ...just my opinion hey!)

Good luck to you and ya family mate!

wOZfromOZ

[klasies]

Woz

BBC!!!! oh how I wish that we could receive BBC or anything western for that matter.
I think that "Fei Dian" is keeping them occupied at the moment and that they don't have the time to worry about who is receiving what!
We would really kill to get some cricket coverage as well, so that we can watch SA kick Aussie's butt Just joking, congrats by the way on winning the world cup without "Mr Warne"

Thanx for the good wishes

Klasies