Job Discussion Forums

[jane1]

I have recently decided to head to China in October to teach. I was wondering if there is any tips like what i should bring, how to adjust to the culture, what to leave at home....

also, if anyone could add what you missed most living in china

[Don McChesney]

What to bring: Bring a sense of wonder, a smile and a love of teaching.
Leave behind prejudices and beliefs that your own country has everything perfect.
Travel light so you may find treasures to take home.

What you might not find: Bacon, cheese and different breakfast cereals.

[Girl Scout]

The more you know about the area you will be moving to the less you will have to worry. Find out about the school and surrounding area. Talk to former or current teachers and ask them about their worst experiences. Then when it happens to you you'll be prepared.

Learn about culture shock before you leave. Then you'll be able to deal with the stages as they are happening.

Bring as little as possible. Nothing electrical. You might however what your laptop. Everything else can be found here.

Books. The only books I have been able to find are all "classics".

[Chris_Crossley]

[yamahuh]

Yep..depends on where you go.
We just came back to our small city in the SW (Guangxi province). 2nd time around we knew enough to bring some cheese, soup mixes, caulking (for the small holes between the kitchen tiles where those little red ants like to live), duct tape, LOTS of menus from places like Pizza Hut, Chinese restaurants and steak houses to use as teaching aids.
Last but not least; some paperbacks, they weigh a bit but when we're done we pass them on or just leave them behind.

[tw]

As other posters have pointed out, you should first do some research into where you'll be going.

Go to Wal-Mart China's site at www.wal-martchina.com/english/walmart/wminchina.htm and Metro China's site at www.metro.com.cn/Metro_store_contact.htm and see if there is one in the city you're going to (or near there). If so, then pack as light as possible. You'll find practically everything you'll ever need in China at those stores (including Carrefour). If you are going to be in some 200,000 town, then you will probably have a difficult time finding things like mouthwash, or find fewer brands to choose from for things like shampoo.

My suggestion is to bring no more than 35 kg of luggage (excluding carry-on luggage).

[Babala]

I would suggest for your first time in China not going to a little small town. I think a mid-sized to large city in one of the more developed provinces (Guangdong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu.. to name a few) would be best to help reduce the culture shock. Do a search for past threads on things you should bring with you.

The only thing I really miss about home is being able to walk down the street and be anonymous.

[yamahuh]

[bigroh73]

Agree with almost everything put in these other replies. I hope you're going to a "larger city" (5 million +), which is many cities all over China. Regardless of where you go, even in Beij or Shanghai, you will experience a fair bit of culture shock, but will feel much more comfortable if you can buy western food from Carrefour or Walmart, and can occasionally see some other foreign teachers - to help you feel not so alienated.
But most importantly, you must come here with an open mind. No matter where you go, the behaviour, attitudes, reactions, processes, that Chinese people use for anything, from shopping, to walking down the street to standing in a line, to buying food, to eating in restaurants, is significantly different. DOn't come here assuming that western culture is the best way, and anything different is just terrible or crazy. Its going to be different, so be ready.
If you read many of the messages in this FORUM about teaching in China and living in China, then you can learn quite alot about what you may expect to find.

[tw]

[brsmith15]

WD-40 aka men's cologne.
Aspirin or ibuprofen
Pepto-Bismol
Deodorant

Oh, and when you fill out the health cert they'll give you on the plane just before arrival, DO NOT admit to any of the medical conditions listed on it even if you have/have had one or two.

[jeffinflorida]

I recently bought BACON at a Sam's Club in Beijing. Priced at about 28 yuan for a 1 Kilo pack of Armor Brand. The bacon was typical Western flavor and thick cut. Ummm...Very good.

Bring a mobile phone that takes a SIM card if you have one or plan to use a mobile. The phones in the USA are better quality but you can get brand names phones here. The selection here is okay but the bigger names - Sony/Ericson, Nokia, Motorola, NEC - are better but usually cost more.

I had a mobile that I brought in Israel that worked fine here (until I dropped it that is..) and had to buy a Chinese Motorola.

Phone service is not expensive here - China Mobile has M-Zone. Plan cost 25 yuan one month and then 2/10 of a yuan per minute for calls.

You will want a mobile if you are living here.

Other things. Deoderant. Shoes if you have big feet. Same with socks.
Bring packets of Good Seasons if you like salad. Bring good vinegar also. Packets to make spegetti sauce also. Western cerial if you like fruit loops then bring them.

Powder - foot powder and body powder - MEDICICATED because it gets hot here and Westerners get this heat rash thing in the crotch area.

Tylanol, Motrin, Real Aspirin what ever your choice is. You don't know what's real here. Buy the big bottle from Sam's, Costco, BJs- you won't regret it.

Razors are expensive as is shaving cream.

Condoms if you have a "big thing".

Vitimins if you take them.

Peptal Bismol - you will need it.

Any food stuffs that you like. I brough several boxes of pancake mix and real maple syrup. My little chinese girlfriend loves them as do I once in a while.

Microwave popcorn is a treat and a little on the expensive side - when you can find it.

Don't bring MSG - they sell it buy the kilo here...

Have fun

[yamahuh]

Is that what that is??
I haven't had the crotch located heat rash but I get these small red 'blotches' that look like bites / zits on my arms and shoulders. At first I thought they were bites..we work in some pretty abysmal conditions; in some of the clasrooms the rats run out when we arrive!!
I'm not kidding
So maybe what I thought were tic or flea bites is actually heat rash?
If so what can I use to make it go away..it looks ugly and pisses me off.

[sigmoid]

[yamahuh]