Job Discussion Forums

[AussieGuyInChina]

I haven't been to any of these cities. I have researched each university and haven't found anything negative; in fact they each appear to be quite reputable. I've researched living conditions in each city, but still can't make up my mind. Please, help me decide;

Nanjing - on-campus accommodation, located within "university city" which is apparently quite a distance from downtown, 8,000 RMB, 20 periods per week, 8,000 airfare.

Wuxi - off-campus accommodation close to the city center, transport provided between accommodation and campus, 7,500 RMB + free utilities, 16 periods per week, airfare subject to ticket cost.

Shanghai - on-campus accommodation, New Pudong Area, 8,000 RMB, 20 periods per week, 6,000 RMB airfare.

[eslstudies]

I worked in Shanghai, and know the others. The Wuxi job sounds OK; off campus housing has lots of advantages, the job has fewer hours, the cost of living is probably lower than the other 2.
I don't know if I'd want to live in Pudong. Its pretty soul-less. 20 periods is quite high for university work, though the recompense is OK. If you enjoy the expat social scene, the 2 big cities would be best, but if you don't mind a quieter lifestyle, and the chance to save some money, Wuxi could be the place: its within easy reach of Suzhou and Shanghai anyway.

[chengdude]

On the basis of such limited information, I'll vote Wuxi. Smaller city, all the mod cons, grown-up expat scene, fair-enough package (although how long is the commute?), and easy getaways to lots of interesting places. I'd also vote on the basis of what it is not: a built-from-scratch student ghetto in the far 'burbs or Pudong.

[AussieGuyInChina]

Thank you eslstudies and chengdude.

I have asked about the accommodation-to-campus traveling time and I'm awaiting an answer. The apartment is in Taihu - Venice Garden.

[Steppenwolf]

I would vote for NANJING, for the following reasons:
It's by far the most interesting location (though I don't know how far out of town the university centre is); Shanghai Pudong is like a separate and very distant colony of Shanghai, soulless as someone else described, virtually at the country's end. Wuxi is not my cup of tea no matter how good the university camp is. Small city, yes, but no less soulless than Pudong! Nanjing, on the other hand, is an up and coming place.

[TravellingAround]

Wuxi is a lovely little city with friendly people and is close enough to places like Suzhou and Shanghai to do some travelling. The Taihu Lake area is a typical scenic Chinese lake and there is one of those bizarre huge Buddha's nearby which seem to be popping up to grasp naive tourist dollars throughout the realm.

It shows how people can have different experiences but comparing it to Pudong is way off the mark I feel and frankly a little preposterous (sorry stepp ), I spent three weeks there teaching at a summer camp and loved it, still in contact with some of the very nice friends I made there. Some good bars too if you like nightlife. I'd chose between Nanjing and Wuxi if I were you.

[xinpu]

The 'University City' in Nanjing will be in Xianlin, a suburb that's about a 45 min tedious bus journey to the city centre. You arestuck out in the sticks and Xianlin itself is quite dull with not much going on (despite having 50,000 students located there).

That said it is developing very quickly with new shops and restaurants being built as we speak. Also 8,000 for 20 periods a week is VERY good money for Nanjing and could easily cover your 50rmb taxi fare into town (thus avoiding that bus journey).

The only other advice I would give is be picky about what you will be teaching (i.e what the students are, what their motivation is and also how the school see you) these factors can make or break a place.

[prof]

Easy choice: Wuxi.

On-campus housing can be an real issue.

Unless you're a monk or simply don't like women.

That job in Pudong sounds like absolute HELL.

[Yu]

Last summer I paid around 12,000-14,000 for a RT ticket from China back to China.... (Granted I waited until last minuite to buy my ticket) My school covers the entire cost of my flight, and I would expect them to do the same for you. 8,000 for airfare could possibly not cover your ticket.
Having a job cover utilities is nice.... all of these cities have a colder winter without air con, so the job that covered it would mean you could heat and cool your house as you wish (1200 RMB one month my first winter here has caused me to be a little more careful with energy consumption--that was for electricity).
I wouldnt really want to live in some student suburb unless that suburb had been around for 20+ years so it has enough time to develop some restaurants and stuff to do around it. I currently work in Minhang.... long commute and so glad I do not live there because there isnt much to do out there... you would save money, BUT at what price?

I havent been to Wuxi.
Nanjing is one of the furnaces of China so be prepared for a very hot summer.
Shanghai is my home... put student villiage in Pudong does not appeal to me so much.
I might opt for Wuxi.

It really depends on what you are looking for.

[eslstudies]

Aussieguy, here's the local Wuxi expat website:

http://www.wuxilife.com/index.php

And Yu, 14,000 RMB for a return?? You can do much better. Please don't scare people.

http://www.flychina.com

Northwest, Pudong to LA via Tokyo is a tad under $USD 800 [using 10 Feb and 10 March as departure and return dates], which is around Y6,400, half your quote.
This is one of the best sites around for US fares to and from China, though it quotes outrageous fares for Aust-China. Look at a local site, eg www.flightcentre.com.au for reasonable fares around the range offered by the unis mentioned.

ps, Yu, you must be at Jiaotong, where there's nothing other than some good Xinjiang restaurants and DVD stores. The commercial centre of Minhang's not bad. I happily did "nothing" there for 3 years.

[TravellingAround]

[AussieGuyInChina]

Thank you one and all for your input.

The salary, and benefits, of each job are equal in my eyes, so I need to decide based on the "liveability" of each city.

As for some of the issues raised, I've never had an electricity bill higher than 400 RMB for any one month (3 years in China) so 7,500 RMB per month with free utilities is, for me, basically equal to 8,000 RMB per month.

The main issue for me about airfares is that I receive a cash payment and do not have to actually purchase a ticket. In this regard, 8,000 RMB is my benchmark.

[Popsock]

There are a number of schools and universities dotted around the outskirts of Nanjing. For outskirts, it could be read as stuck completely out in the sticks with very little to do, absolutely nothing around for a few kilometers, and great difficulties with transportation unless you want to buy yourself a motorbike. It might be worth asking your prospective employer a little more about what facilities are in the immediate or near vacinity to the campus.

[Drizzt]

I can't speak for Nanjing, but I will say that I think Wuxi is a much better place to live than in the Pudong area of Shanghai.

To begin with Wuxi is a beautful city with lots to do, not to mention Taihu.

Shanghai is congested, crowded, and in my opinion, unfriendly and impersonal. Of course Pudong isn't as crowded, but that's because there isn't much to do there...plus it matter what part of Pudong you are in. Once I lived about 20 minutes from the airport, and it took me about 2 hours to travel to the city center when going by bus and then metro. Just rediculous.

Choose Wuxi, you wont regret it, and your 8000 RMB will go a LOT farther in Wuxi than in Shanghai.

PM me for specific questions.

[jeffinflorida]

I can tell you I once visited a "University City" on the outskirts of FUZHOU, in Minjiang. There were 3 or 4 or 5 schools out in the middle of nowhere. the bus ride was about 1 hour and there was absolutely nothing in this university cluster - no fast foods, no real supermarkets, no wal marts - zilch.

My Pretty Chinese Girlfriend wanted to go visit her friend who was a student there, so I went along for the ride. Big mistake! i stayed for one hour then took a long boring bus ride back to the Hot Springs Hotel.

I could NEVER live in such a remote spot and be happy - regardless of the salary - unless I had my own car or motorbike.

The only bright spot was the beautiful mountains and the air seemed cleaner. That was it, the local village was a dustball of a nothing.