Job Discussion Forums

[MW]

Let's Compare Notes!

My 3rd Tier College President along with the Party Secretary invite me to dinner at least once a week. We discuss such things as educational philosophy, improving our educational quality etc. Mainly shop talk. I am asked for opinions and suggestions. I am also asked for progress reports on our students and the innovations I have been allowed to implement. Yes, rightly or wrongly, I am treated as a Foreign EXPERT and I have been allowed to make many serious changes in curriculum, texts, pedogogy etc.

At least once a week I am invited to lunch by my school head, my department head, and various staff from my driver (when I need a college car rather than ride my motorcycle) to the President's bodyguard. We talk about social matters like winning the 5 mil rmb lottery etc. and where we will go on our next motorcycle run, American style of course.

My housing is large and newly redecorated at a cost of 40,000 rmb. I have a new computer with free internet access. They even replace my ink cartridge every week at their expense. I have a phone in my living room and another in my apartment office, which is next to the hugh porch which I use for my many birds and plants.

I teach 14 hours per week with Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday off. Next semester I will work Friday and Saturday and have the other five days free to do research and writing or whatever, maybe another job even.

My FAO even takes me in the college car or we ride our motorcycles to the barber where he always pays the bill. Last month they spent 3,000 rmb extra on me without my asking for anything.

We have a good working relationship and friendship. We have co-authored two Class "A" journal articles that are in peer review at present.
One of our articles just won a major provincial award and our school President held a special dinner just to announce our 1st prize, a first for this 3rd tier college with 5,000 + underachievers. It made the local paper and TV it was so big! Good for them.

My FAO is now invited to a conference in England to present the paper. Our school will pay his expenses, another first for our little college in the hinterland of middle China, the center of peasants and farmers of the poorest kind. Another first and surprises all around.

As I read all of the FE complaints about China, I am reminded of something President Kennedy once said: Ask not what your Country can do for you - but ask what you can do for your Country?

That is my attitude as I approach my work here and it has earned me the same degree of respect that I show my Chinese counterparts and partners in education. That is right, we are partners. When I first came here my FAO called the students "my" students. Now they are "our" students.

Since it is now very obvious that I utilize this forum and others to gather your opinions and complaints and try to put them into some reasonable form for publication to enlighten our Chinese hosts and employers, I am very interested to read your stories about your relationship with your school.

Care to share? It may help someone in the future.

[Egas]

Hey, MW, you forgot to tell us how much money you earn!

[MW]

EGAS -

I work at a 3rd tier college in a very poor area and the school caters to the children of peasants and farmers. I probably make much less than you.

But I am curious. What is the relationship between how much I make and how my school treats me?

[Egas]

MW

One could argue that the pay is part of the whole treatment package.

I was just teasing you. You posted so many perks and benefits it seemed to me you must be working for the elite.

If the school treats you well, that is bound to be appreciated by any teacher. Everybody knows that. And no matter how much you earn, if they treat you like sh.t, then people still won't be happy.

Maybe tomorrow I'll write a little more here about the way my school treats me, relative to past schools. But I'm off to bed now.

[Dragon]

It seems that you are progressing up the scale in the communist world. It actually isn't communist anymore, only in name. But, maybe you could join or even get a chinese passport. My hat is off to you comrade. You have joined the ranks. If you were in your home country you would probably be just as successful in joining the ranks of whatever party you belong to or if not join then you could be an integral part of the machinery. We need more people like you who believe and care so much as you for the further advancement of humanity. March on, write more journal articles for the ESL industry! You have certainly mastered what it takes to be a wheel in the machinery.You are not currepted like the capitalist pigs who are only interested in profiteering. I wish you much success comrade and long live Chairman Mao who was after all 70% correct.
DRAGON

[HappyTown]

The students are allowed to feed me, and sometimes I and the other foreigners get taken out for 'walkies'.

[arioch36]

Mr. Giggly

Xie xie. Wo ye

[MW]

There once was a Director at Delter Wuhan who was much respected. His name was Richard. He assumed the nick "Dragon" Is this the one and the same Richard?

[Dragon]

Dear Comrade,
I did teach at delter beijing and knew of Mr Blankenship but he cannot hold a candle to your facilitation methods of teaching. It is nice to know that we both served the chinese people in similar places albeit not in the same town. Live long Comrade MW
Dragon

[Roger]

I know teacher meetings are not popular, but my Chinese colleagues have to attend some of them all the time, while Ihave never had to, and I have made this point repeatedly here.
While I do not wish to be overburdened with extracurricular duties I would appreciate if my employers would lend me a sympathetic ear from time to time.
Instead they treat me to dinners, outings and parties, but I also have to function according to their own whims: Classes may be cancelled late; I am not required to hand in a teaching plan (which made some of my colleagues jealous!), and I have to be photogenic at all times since reporters and TV crews may drop in unannounced...

[MW]

Roger -

It is truly a pleasure to share opposing viewpoints without opposing personalities getting in the way. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

[Dragon]

Dear Comrade,
I cannot believe you are only at a third tier college. Surely they will recognize your genius of the Facilitation method soon. Then who knows Bei Da, Qinghua or even Harvard or Yale. You are on your way. It has been a long time since 1978 but you will soon be there Comrade MW. Keep working and posting. we love you but some do not those cowards.
DRAGON

[MW]

Dragon -

I note that of your 78 postings (that was the amount when I checked) you once said something of value but in the very next posting had to retract and say "sorry" for your mistake. Too bad my comrade friend.

[Dragon]

Dear Comrade MW,
Thank you for calling me friend. However, this is thesame post as the previous one. But I do not care. I live foryour postings. You have allowed us to view your truthful words on this forum and for that I thank you. I also tahank you forattacking me and others. You are wonderful
Dragon

[chastenosferatu]

No one but Chinese use the terms "hinterland" or "peasant".
Third tier school? Yeah right.
Interesting idea though, unfortunately it would take the entire system by which things are done in China being turned on its head to believe the wonderful bull#*$& you have spun for us here MW. But thank you for the amusing fiction, I needed the laughs.
BTW... Mrs. Nosferatu also wonders if the term brevity is in your e-dictionary?
Keep it real Comrade...