Job Discussion Forums

killian · Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2004 2:22 pm Post subject: tianjin anyone?

hi. a school in tianjin has offered me 7000 RMB/month for 20 hours teaching to young learners. the regulars (free housing, airfare) apply. how does this wage measure up in the local scheme of things?

mike w · Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2004 10:13 pm Post subject:

I would take it. Tianjin is a good city - lots of building going on - but a good city. I lived there for four years. The people are very friendly, and it is quite a cheap city to live in. Plenty of good restaurants, and only just over an hour away from Beijing by regular train service. 7000 a month in Tianjin is a good salary.

nolefan · Joined: 14 Jan 2004 Posts: 1458 Location: on the run

take these comments for whatever they're worth:

I have been to Tianjin twice in the last month along with some of my students . Both times, I felt the locals were the unfriendliest Chinese folks I ever came across since I arrived in the PRC. The feelings are shared by most of my students that have been there with or without me.

On the bright side, there isn't much you won't find in Tianjin between the Wal Mart, Carrefour, and other foreign goods stores. Don't rely too much on your Lonely Planet while you're there as most of the stores and restaurants listed there are long gone ( I have a the latest edition 2004).

chinaboytian · Joined: 13 Sep 2004 Posts: 132 Location: Tianjin

nolefan wrote:

"I have been to Tianjin twice in the last month along with some of my students . Both times, I felt the locals were the unfriendliest Chinese folks I ever came across since I arrived in the PRC. The feelings are shared by most of my students that have been there with or without me. "

My reply: I lived and taught in Tianjin for two years. I found the people much friendlier and making friends easier than when I worked in Fujian Province in the South. Tianjin was for me a great place. For foreighers.
However, CHinese students who did not have a Tianjin dialect told me that they were looked down upon by native Tianjin Ren.

I think nolefan you are basing your judgment on too limited an exposure to the city of Tianjin. People in the North are friendlier and more helpful.

nolefan · Joined: 14 Jan 2004 Posts: 1458 Location: on the run

that is why I wrote: "take these comments for what they're worth.."

I agree that I've had a limited exposure to Tianjin but it is the only city I've been to in China that has left a sour taste in my mouth; twice. I know plenty of people live there and enjoy it and that is great, just not for me.

And yes, I do agree that the Northern Chinese are very friendly.

NateM · Joined: 19 Apr 2004 Posts: 358

Tianjin doesn't have as much going on as Beijing, Shanghai, or Guangzhou, but it isn't like you're living out in the boonies either, (unless of course, you're at my school, which by the sounds of your pay, you aren't). There's plenty to do if you're willing to find it. I haven't had more experience with rudeness than in other areas of China, although I'm willing to bet that with all big cities in China, they seem to have a superiority complex vis-a-vis people from the country who don't speak their dialect, (I've heard plenty of people complain about Shanghai in the same manner).

There's a lot of stuff starting to happen in Tianjin, and it will be an interesting place to watch develop. And if you ever get bored, Beijing's just a 30 kuai train trip away. If you do decide to come to Tianjin, get in touch with me. I'm in the process of setting up an expat listserve for the city with some other teachers, to help people stay informed on happenings around town. Right now it's really hard to find out many of these things, at least for me, because the expat community isn't nearly as well developed as other cities of comparable size.