Job Discussion Forums

[deedle]

Hi everyone! This is my first post....yayyy!

I am THIS CLOSE to signing a contract with an international school in Macau, and I'd like to get some advice before making the big decision. Has anyone worked in Macau before? What is it like to live there? So far, from the research I've done, it seems like Macau is an awesome alternative from the big city life. It seems to offer much in the way of things to do (shopping, beaches, hiking trails, casinos, etc.), and I've heard the food is amazing. Plus, Hong Kong and Zhuhai are possible options for daytrips. I think I've talked myself into moving there already! As for the potential job...the school itself is very credible, and my communication with the director has been positive as well.

Any comments about life in Macau, good or bad? One thing I am not sure about is the size of the expat community in Macau. I know 95% of the population is Chinese, but I'm just wondering if there are many Westerners living there too. If so, holla! It's one thing to read about a place on the tourism department's website, and yet another to get some feedback from foreigners who have experienced it themselves.

Thanks for your help!

deedle

[Roger]

I go to Macau once in a while and yes, it's a pleasant alternative to anything in southern China - far more convivial than Hong Kong, better organised than Shenzhen and more interesting than Zhuhai.
This is mainly because the Mediterranean-Portuguese characteristics of the town have remained intact and are being preserved.
Shopping is quite good albeit less so than in Hong Kong; Macau has the cheapest imported wines anywhere in China, and you can buy imported cheese and other western delicacies more readily than in the mainland.

On the other hand, Macau is a very tightly-packed place with hardly any greenery left and the border to Guangdong is felt almost physically. I tend to think Macau is a charming tourist destination but not a haven for long-term residents.

It would be interesting to know the contract details your employer offers; generally speaking, housing is relatively affordable albeit in mind-boggingly high skyscraper buildings; transport is good but buses tend to be packed and journeys can take far longer than you imagine (the bus route 10 B, for example, takes twice as long as bus route 3 for the Zhuhai border to the Leal Senada Square due to its sinuous routeing).
Salaries are way below those in force in Hong Kong and not much higher than in the mainland; currently the enclave is importing mainlanders to man a host of new tourism-related businesses because the local operators are faced with a labour shortage - and this has lead to spontaneous demonstrations recently. Macau's economy is overreliant on casinos (at least one dozen in business now!), and it still manufactures textiles (which is amazing, considering how cheap those products are when sourced from mainland factories!).

Good luck!

[deedle]

Thank you Roger! You have confirmed my thought that Macau seems "charming"....but of course charm usually wears off quickly, doesn't it. Do you think it would be a good place in which to spend a year? It's just a one-year contract, so I'm not talking any long-term plans.

Is it relatively cheap to live in Macau? I know that salaries on the island are much less than you'd find in Hong Kong, but then the cost of living of the two places has to be drastically different as well, no?

Thanks again for your help!

[Roger]

As I hinted in my previous reply you can come by on considerably less money but you stand to save far less too since certain items will cost you as much as in a developed place such as Hong Kong - food for example. Also, you might have steep transport costs if you travel outside of Macau - a one-way boat ticket to HK costs you around MOP 140 (one hour by catamaran).
Restaurants cost more than in the mainland but, in general, less than in HK; still you have to think in terms of MOP 30 a pop (if you are not dining at a McDonald's but at an ordinary Macanese eatery).
I would say if they pay you MOP 20'000 a month you can survive pretty well (a flat will set you back an estimated 4000). One MOP is about one HK-dollar. 4000 is a pretty high rental but you might want to pay a little more in order to get decent accommodation; Macau tends to be very crowded! Utilities also will not be cheap (power for aircons!)!