Job Discussion Forums

anne · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 8

Sorry everyone,
you must see alot of posts like this. My husband and i are planning to take a year off our current jobs to come and teach in China or Taiwan. I am a Canadian high school teacher with ESL training, and my husband is a day trader with no experience in teaching.

We have already made quite a few contacts and have some job offers, so we now need some advice to help with our decisions!
a) If we have the proper visa, we CAN take our earnings out of China, right? Is this difficult to do?
b) Can anyone give us some details about the cities of Guangzhou and Suzhou. Preferences?
c) Is there anyone who has taught in both China and Taiwan who can give advice on which is a better choice...so far China sounds "easier" in that we are not dealing with recruiters, there is no mandatory year contract for visa purposes and accomodations are usually included...but Taiwan is just so much more $$$! Is it worth it?

I think that's it for now...i'm sure i'll have more questions, but i'll keep it simple for now!
Thanks in advance

Peter · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 161

If you take a job in Guanzhou, you can take a ferry to Hong Kong and start an account with the HSBC, then send it on home.
I have done this for three years, avoiding the paper war
The other way is to go to the Bank of China with all possible docs, including a wage/tax statement, the 70% of your money is convertible.
Some found it easy, for others it was a pain.
Some schools have claimed it was not possible, as they wer e ignorant and did not want to admit ignorance.
It can only be done if you are a Z visa, legal foreign expert.
If you take money out, over the border, in cash, the limit is 6000 RMB or 5000US or the equivalent

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

Listen to Peter, what he said is all there is in a nutshell.
In other words: Get a one-year contract (or six months), a work permit, a residence permit, a foreign expert licence, and then you can convert your money *upt to 70%).
Guangzhou is 180 kms from Hong Kong. There are dozens of buses and trains. The border is now open 24 hours a day (since January 27).
The limit is set at 6000 RMB you can legally take out of the mainland. Peter says you can take az lot more - nobody will fleeze you. Right!

Guangzhou versus Suzhou:
Guangzhou is the capital of economic powerhouse Guangdong province. It has always been ahead of the rest of the country in terms of economic development, although Shanghai has of late overtaken it.
It is a large city, heavily polluted, but endowed with some natural beauties and lots of interesting sites. There is a large expat colony here. Check out www.thatsguangzhou.com!
Climate is subtropical, chilly weeks in winter followed by balmy days, followed by another cold spell. Summers are long, humid and hot. Power bills are expensive - aircons!
A major advantage is the city's location next to HK and Macau!

Suzhou is more scenic and close enough to vibrant Shanghai. It has seen a lot of Singaporean investment, followed by Taiwanese and Westerners.
Its scenery earned it the nickname "Venice of China", rightly so, but the canals are smelly and dirty. Nevertheless, I can easily imagine living there.
Weekends can easily be spent in Shanghai (two hours by train).
Check out www.thatsshanghai.com, or www.expatssh.com

Minhang Oz · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 610 Location: Shanghai,ex Guilin

Nice one,MW.Is this based on personal observation,or are you just repeating what some loud mouth tosser said in an expat bar?I know you didn't mean to insult 700 million women with a throw away line,it was a joke,right? Ann-there is some useful stuff and some intelligent posters on this site.I'll send a private reply.

taiwan boy · Joined: 11 Feb 2003 Posts: 99 Location: China

I have taught in Taiwan and China. Unless you have a special reason for going to China I would say Taiwan is a better choice.

First you will make more money in Taiwan and sending it home is just a matter of walking into the bank and spending about 10 minutes doing an electronic transfer. Absolutely no hassles (and you will have a lot more money to send home than you would in China, too).

It is not necessary to deal with recruiters in Taiwan. Come to Taiwan and look around for a job. If you are a qualified teacher you might like to look for jobs in international schools as pay and conditions are better. Your husband won't be qualified to teach in an international school, but shouldn't have any trouble finding a teaching job. Have a look at the Taiwan board in this forum for some more info.

If you go to China I wouldn't recommend Guangzhou. imho it is dirty and polluted and not a pleasant place.

Minhang Oz · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 610 Location: Shanghai,ex Guilin

MW's comment that I refered to obviously got moderated to where it belongs-so no,I wasn't talking to thin air.

hubei_canuk · Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Posts: 240 Location: hubei china

China or Taiwan?
-------------------------
Ok, lets imagine it this way.
You are a bank clerk and want a career change.
You want to go to China and work as a Lion Tamer.
However the employment consultant suggests you first work your way up to it by starting in Taiwan as an Insurance Salesman.
...
After the Employment Consultant points out Lions have been know to eat their handlers you decide perhaps he is right.
-------------------
Many thanks to Monty Python
(from an old China and Taiwan Hand).
(Kaohsiung my Kaohsiung, how i miss Kaohsiung !)