Job Discussion Forums

[Shakespeara]

Alright, sorry if this is a lot of questions, but my leaving date for Hong Kong is looming closer and closer! So, I'm just going to dive in.

1. I know my salary is low for an ExPat teaching in HK. I'll be making 16,000 HK a month, but that's only for 20 hours a week and then I start getting over time at 21 hours working. That's livable, right?

2. The company I'm working for seems absolutely legit, great on the phone, wonderful website and testimonals and they've been great to me so far, but it's always good to check them out. Does anyone know anything about Dramatic English? http://www.hkedcity.net/english/de/ . It's basically an ESL support school using theatre to teach English. Just curious if anyone knew of it, and what they'd heard!

3. This is a question for the girls. I hear that feminine products in HK are less than up to standard. Is it true? Should I pack a ton of US ones? lol

4. Realistically, commuting from one end of HK to the other, what's the travel time?

5. I don't speak Cantonese or Mandarin at -all-. I'd love to learn the basics, at least, but going over there, I'll only be an English speaker. I didn't think this would be an issue, but several people are telling me it might be. Is this true?

And lastly, just looking for general advice. I spent some time around Europe, but this will be my first time in Asia. What did teachers do on their first time? What do they know now that they wish they knew then? I'll suck up all the advice I can get!

THank you so much!

-Shakespeara/Lonely theatre teacher

[wabbit]

hi there.

if you are getting 16,000 a mth. do you have any housing allowances? if so ., you are still better off than me with only 20 hours a week.
How did you go about applying for that job?

If you are interested in learning conversational Mandarin, I will be glad to help you . Email me at [email protected]

PS: dRAmatic english sounds perfect, if you ask me.

[Shakespeara]

Nope, no housing allowance. Just 16,000 for everything, though we get some transportation reimbursement. So... I know money is going to be very tight, But yes, the company sounds wonderful.

[wabbit]

Hi there.
seems like you are in the same state with me:) but at least you work lesser hours!.
anyway on your question about travelling time, MTR is very efficient and fast, but it depends on where are you going to put up first.
finding a decent apartment will be quite difficult, but not impossible. once you let me know where you put up or which region you are at, i can give you more advice.

Also , no need to worry about cosmetics, bascially , if you get your stuff from SASA or BONJOUR. they do parallel imports, ( same stuff but cheaper) , they are just as reliable. dun shop at big department stores to save money. Also if you live in kowloon area, things are cheaper. even manicures/ pedi.

one thing about small restaurants, it can be a pain in the butt when you order cause most menus are in chinese....hmmm that is about all i can think of for now.

By the way , is the principal of Dramatic english an ex lecturer or something? it is a SHE, right?

[bellabella]

"femine products" are the same standard as you get at home, its just the selection that isn't so good.

[bubblebubble]

travelling in hong kong is extremely convenient as it is the most wonderful transportation network. you can pretty much get to anywhere by MTR (subway). If not, usually you can interchange another mean of transport (bus, minibus etc.) somewhere near the mtr station. it didn't take me too long to find my way around hong kong. just be brave and venture around the town. it's fascinating! just grab a book to read on the train if you don't feel like wasting your time...but usually you can't get much done.


as for the feminine product, don't worry, it's the same standard. as for choices, i find that there are even more choices as there are many neat products from japan at a very reasonable price. as suggested by the others, shop at the two biggest cosmetic stores in hong kong: SASA and BONJOUR. like 7-11, you can find one just around the corner. you can also buy them from Watsons, another chained parmacy / drug store in hong kong.

as about the living standard, yet, $16K may seem on the lower end for a NET, but if it includes housing allowance, it's pretty good. even without, you are WAY better off than many local people.

good luck!!!

[foreignDevil]

[/quote]
as about the living standard, yet, $16K may seem on the lower end for a NET, but if it includes housing allowance, it's pretty good. even without, you are WAY better off than many local people.[quote]

yeah... local people who eat noodles 3 times a day. Sorry... I am not trying to be a jerk but I have to say that this kind of assessment just not does fly. Hong Kong is expensive. Full stop.
When you factor in your travel expenses and rent, the lordly sum of 16,000 hk dollars will be fairly diminished, to put it politely. God forbid you should buy a coffee at Starbucks, or a Western-published book... you will pay the same prices as you would in the West. Ah... but "I will live like the locals"... well, many of these locals have large family support networks to take care of those pesky things like health emergencies (I would love to hear of a 16k job in HK with full health coverage).
Really.. you are looking at the same cost of living as in Southern mainland China... only with more temptations to spend money you don't have.
Please... don't get me wrong... I love HK. I am going to spend the rest of my life here, or in Macau. But the idea of an English teacher trying to come here and scratch out a living on 16K a month just raises hairs on my back.

[poof]

Yeah, I dislike those NET jobs which call themselves 'NET' a la Education Ministry, but don't come with living allowance...

I think 16,000 is manageable if you can find a sub 6,000 apartment for rent. You might even have to consider sharing if you want to save more. Allow yourself 1,000 a week minimum spending money for a fair basic lifestyle. That certainly doesn't mean you'll have to eat noodles 3x a day! Don't worry. Remember, later you can always look for something that pays more.

HK is only expensive if you have kids' schooling fees to pay, if you live on the Peak, and if you're a member of the HK sailing club. Heck, Starbucks is astronomical whichever country you go to.

Check out: http://www.geoexpat.com/classifieds/ for some cost-cutting resources

I wouldn't worry about any negative advice anyone gives you. HK is a fantastic place to experience.

[Shakespeara]

Just a small reply to foreigndevil. I actually do have full healthcare coverage, just a small salary. It includes everything but dental. So the benefits alone are a bit of an addition to the salary. If I had no benefits, I'd never risk coming over to HK on such a nominal salary.

As for rentals, well, we'll probably end up renting on one of the islands and commuting into HK. It'll be a longer journey, but infinitely more affordable.

Either way, I already signed my contract and have my one way plane ticket, so no going back now. I'll be at the YMCA international House on June 8th! *gulp*

[Hkguy]

I think it is going to be tough on $16k a month. According to a recent survey in the SCMP H.K. is the 4th most expensive place in the world to live. Moscow was first and, I think, Tokyo was second. I would suggest you not living on the island or kowloon as rents are quite high. You might want to try Mongkok, but certain parts can be seedy. Either way you'll have to pay -- either higher rent or higher transport costs and more travel time if you live further out, say, in the New Territories.

[sj23]

You can actually find decent accomodation for around/under 6k in Hong Kong ... it just depends where you're looking. I have friends renting in DB for 4k and their place is lovely, if a little small.

The main thing is to take your time looking for an apartment and don't pay their first asking price

As for spending money - $1000 a week will cover a pretty good lifestyle as long as you're not drinking in Lan Kwai Fong every night Tip for saving money in the Fong: buy your beer from 7/11 and drink on the street with everyone else

You don't need to speak Cantonese at all, altho if you make an effort ppl will be impressed Mandarin probably isn't that helpful, but I hear it's easier to learn.

[Shakespeara]

16 K really is fine, youjust have to be careful. I got a LOVELY, and big three bedroom with 2 other people from my company in Causeway Bay, and all of us are paying about 4,000 Hk a month for it. I budgeted up to 5,000 with my paycheck, and our apartment is fantastic.

I've found it to be a bit tight for start up costs, deposits for everything, but after that it'll be fine living on this salary.

-Ericka

[Hkguy]

Erika, sounds like you're doing ok. Good for you. If you're single and can share a flat that's a great way to save some cash.

I hope you like you're job. How's it going? I met Luke (the owner) a couple of years ago. He seemed like a nice guy.

Even though I would normally say to get a decent job in HK prospective candidates should be 'real' teachers (a la B.Ed) I think it is great that we have companies that specialize in teaching drama. It's a great way for the kids to have a fun time and learn English.

Good luck and best wishes.

[Shakespeara]

Thanks HKGuy!

Luke is a great guy, though I mainly work with Man who is just wonderful also. As companies go, this is an awesome one to work for. And yes, the drama is really an innovative way to teach the kids. Most of them can speak English pretty decently, especially the younger ones, but they lack real confidance, that's the biggest issue. So they say good sentences, but they're so quiet you have no clue what they're saying.

The drama is a great way to build their confidance in their English, and have fun with it. It's also a creative exposure a lot of this kids have never gotten previously.

As for the B.Ed degree, we're all specially qualified, just not always directly as teachers. Everyone in the company has their theatre degree, or theatre education degree. Most of us have run our own theatre companies and done drama education before also, so... we have qualifications, just a different set for a different job!
-Ericka