Job Discussion Forums

[Thespis3039]

Hello,
This might be a silly question. But what are some western (US) friend metropolises in China that you would recommend to work in?

Thank you,
BRW

PS. I know there are people out there who deride the big city experience as being, �not true to a culture,� or, �impersonal,� or, �culturally generic.� I respect your opinion but disagree. I like big cities, I like population centers, sue me.

[Bayden]

[Thespis3039]

Sorry about that. I'm from the United States, I meant specifically in realation to the USA (we�ve been causing a bit of a mess with other countries and I�m never quite sure who likes Americans anymore).

Oh, and I meant friendly, not just friend.

I always feel extra guilty when I make a typo around other English teachers.

Thank you,
BRW

[tw]

US-friendly Chinese cities? Try Taipei.

[cj750]

The most unfreindly people to US folk are the other ExPats...the Chinese seem to not care much about the politics with individuals..it is other FTs whining about the Bush/US unholy alliance that will annoy the f*ck outta ya..you will find a hiring biases towards American English that will work in your favor and other FTs may resent that...any of the big cities in China should do..but I would suggest that you look at medium populated cities as they offer the best of both worlds ..the addition of western product's at least some..and the character of China...whats left...

[Shan-Shan]

Many of the FTs I've encountered at my school are unusually arrogant and unfriendly. There's around five who believe that they are the most fuc*ing 了不起 humans on this crumbling Earth. They all crossed the Pacific, in second class (poor things), to live in furnished apartments with the nearest McDonalds a torturous ten minutes away. They work 12 hour weeks, and do that most demanding, intellectually challenging, and brave act of all acts: teach ESL. Five hundred CDN a month is really too low for such a sacrifice.

One of these FTs took two semesters before acknowledging my "hellos" when encountering each other on campus; another began with a sharp and simple nod, and has yet to progress from there (after three semesters). All claim to be qualified, licensed professionals in some field or another. My assumption is that they were just too good at science, economics or arts in their own country, and fled to China in the guise of ESL teachers to both escape the deadly envy and jealousy of their peers, and to promote their image abroad as really damn fine specimens of humanity.

Many FTs can't get over their status as "experts"; this leads to dangerous ego inflation. I've heard of a few cases where white people in China have actually blown up on sidewalks from a sense of over importance. The less volatile have chosen to live in eternal exile here in China rather than face anonymity back home as just another canuck or yank. Smoking and cheap piss beer keeps a few of them mildly muted, and free from the chance of combustion. Others just brag continuously -- their way of venting the fabulousness of being a foreigner.

We are indeed an odd, confused, and often sad lot. Thank the Chinese for welcoming us.

[SIH]

Let's just hope that doesn't happen to me and my girlfriend when we go there.

[Shan-Shan]

My guess is that there is some consciousness at work behind the construction of a Super White Guy complex. You should have nothing to fear.

[Mydnight]

Shanghai is a metropolis. Lots of foreigners there. I guess that could make it "Western Friendly".

It really comes down to perspective. If you go China looking for people to judge you differently b/c you are American, you will surely find that. Most Chinese would never directly say anything to your face, at least in a way you could understand, about where you are from. They like talking behind your back much better. heh

ShanShan. We get that alot down here too. I mostly keep to myself but I am not unkind to the foreigners I meet unless I'm given a reason to be. I try to be as kind and helpful as I can to everyone I meet. The nicest people that I've met so far have been from Brazil; not from the Big 4 countries. The Brazillian folks I've met have been well adjusted and doing a real job...while many of the rest of the Big 4 people's that I have met have been for the most part psychologically unstable and low quality people.

Anyway, I got pals from all over the world...it's just that I didn't meet many of them in China.

[Steppenwolf]

To publicly proclaim you do not feel "welcome" in certain countries or to believe your nationality is negatively portrayed in a given locale is proof of your own prejudice that will not fail to produce the reactions you are trying to avoid...
The CHinese distinguish basically between two kinds of homo sapines: themselves, and the vast rest of laowais.

[vikdk]

[poopsicola]

There used to be a poster here who would have offered a cornicupia of information this topic. Such a pity he is no longer with us. I will try to find some of his old posts on this subject.

[Outsida]

If you're looking for a Western-friendly metropolis, I suggest you skip Wuhan. Did you know that none of the girls want to bed me, despite my best efforts? Every time I smile at a girl, I get a swift handbag to the face. Once I met a girl who I thought liked me, but she died before I could ask her out... and on the day of her 78th birthday, too!

When I arrived at the airport on my first day, I got beaten up by a security guard who was muttering "fluck you, laowai". Then there's my weight loss because nobody will serve me food, leaving me to scrounge through bins at night... if I do it during the day, a mob will swiftly assemble and beat me with sticks. In class, I have to run a guantlet of students paddling my backside with their textbooks... I know it's all in good fun, though, because they're laughing while they do it, and shouting "去死!", which I can only assume means "We love our teddy bear foreign teacher!"

Once I went to a bar in a taxi... well, part of the way. When the driver realised I was a foreigner, he threw me out. But I walked the rest of the way and was greeted by dozens of thrown beer glasses. I still have glass fragments in my eye and buttocks. The hospitals bravely refuse to treat me, except for one doctor who wanted to administer me an injection of some wonder drug called "Cyanide", which he promised would fix me right up! But before he could do so, another security guard beat me up with his metal lunch bowl.

Well, only another 10 months and 20 days left on my contract. Honestly, if it wasn't for the students, I would feel very unwelcome.

[scorch]

I like Guangzhou because it has everything I want. The weather here
is warm, and it is close to Hong Kong, which is good when you need to
get away for a bit. The people pretty much leave me alone, which I like.
They are not very polite or friendly, but they are not hostile, either. It seems to me that life here is easy, comfortable and enjoyable. Of course,
there is the standard big city stress, but it's not too bad, certainly less
than NYC. No one cares if you are a foreigner, at least I get that impression.

[philbags]

Hey scorch - I just arrived in Guangzhou a couple of days ago, still getting my head around everything really as this is my first time in China.
Just thought I'd come on and say hello.
All the best
P.