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ghost
Joined: 30 Jan 2003
Posts: 1693
Location: Saudi Arabia
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 Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2007 12:39 am Post subject: Anyone teaching in Urumqi? Xinjiang autonomous region |
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Is anyone teaching in Urumqi, in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous region of China? This is a fascinating part of China, so unlike the China in which most teachers work.
Also how much is Mandarin used in the area, and which regional language would be most useful for a potential teacher wishing to re-locate to this intriguing part of China?
Ghost would be very interested in getting feedback from teachers who have taken the opportunity to live and work in this area - so far from most beaten tracks in China. Thanks for any feedback you may have.
Ghost, substitute ESL/FSL teacher, French Montreal school board.
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Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region locates in Northwest China, in center of Asia- Europe mainland, area is more than 166 ten thousands square kilometers, is the biggest province in China, with Mongolia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kirghizia, Tadzhikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India etc. eight nations are contiguous, has more than 5400 kilometers the frontier lines.
Xinjiang belongs to the continental climate, sunshine enough, rain little, annual rainfall is 150 mms, the day in whole area difference in temperature is general at 12 above. Xinjiang total population is more than 1680 ten thousand people, among them national minority population is more than 1000 myriad people, is 62.1% of total population in whole area, including Uygur, Xan , Kazakhstan, Hui, Mongolia, Kirgiz, Tatar, Man, Russia etc.13 nationalities, the national minority believe in Islamism, one of compact communities where Chinese Muslim live in.
Urumqi, also Urumchi or Wu-lu-mu-ch'i, city, northwestern China, capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is an industrial and cultural center of a petroleum-rich region near the Kazakh border. Neighboring areas: Gansu province and Qinghai province, Tibet Autonomous Region.
The city lies in a fertile oasis, about 900 m (about 3000 ft) above sea level, located between 8637' - 8858' east longitude and 4245' - 4408' north latitude, deeply lies in the hinterland of continent, and in the middle--northern of Tianshan Range, the south edge of Zhunger Basins.Physical Features: mostly covered by mountains with west part featured as vast plain area.
Manufactures include iron and steel, cement, agricultural machinery, chemicals, and textiles. Coal and iron-ore deposits are nearby. Products: crops, grains, vegetable oil, vegetables, melons and grapes .
The population, reflecting a long history on a caravan route from Central Asia, is mostly Uygur (Uighur), with Chinese, Kazakh, and Kyrgyz minorities. Mosques in the city reflect a continuing Islamic influence.
Population: 1.5 million; Urban Population: 1.08 million. |
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Steppenwolf
Joined: 30 Jul 2006
Posts: 1769
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| Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2007 2:15 am Post subject: |
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Yes, "Xinjiang...is 166 ten thousand square kms ..." That works out to 1.6 million square kms. Get the pciture?
The ethnic qualifyer "Uygur" (thats purified Chiense spelling) ispure eyewash as is "Autonomous Region".
Mandarin is theonly official language; Uighur may be spoken in private but it's not a public language. The Arabic scrtipt on street name plates is ornamentation and quite misleading; no cabbie will know where you want to go if you pronounce the names of streets in Uighur! Uighurs seldom can read their own script these days!
The advert is not wrong in describing Xinjiang - formerly known as East Turkestan - as a fascinating meeting point between Central Asia and the Chinese people, but demographics will soon overwhelm you.
Urumqi is a Chinese city 99 percent. It also is a major industrial city, heavily polluted.
Local shop assistants told me they were making 400 kuai a month - far less than in any city in core China!
It's interesting from its geographic location: you can get to see deserts like the Sahara and mountains like the Alps within a few hours from Urumqi.
But be prepared for the climate extremes: -20 in winter is common, 30 in summer is normal. |
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Malsol
Joined: 06 Mar 2006
Posts: 1976
Location: Lanzhou
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| Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2007 4:02 am Post subject: |
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I have taught in urumqi (oolamuchi).
Like Stepp says, the winters ... the mountain passes become snowbound early in September and do not clear until late June. Well, that was before this warm winter. I do not know the status now.
I liked the people and the lamb. Lamb for breakfast, lunch, dinner and midnight snack. I was invited back several times but I respectfully declined because of the winters. |
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jammish
Joined: 17 Nov 2005
Posts: 1704
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| Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2007 4:08 am Post subject: |
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| The poster tom_selleck has taught in Urumqi before. He may have some good advice on the place. Also Brickerage, although he hasn't been around for ages. |
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ghost
Joined: 30 Jan 2003
Posts: 1693
Location: Saudi Arabia
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| Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2007 7:38 pm Post subject: |
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| Steppenwolf wrote: |
Yes, "Xinjiang...is 166 ten thousand square kms ..." That works out to 1.6 million square kms. Get the pciture?
The ethnic qualifyer "Uygur" (thats purified Chiense spelling) ispure eyewash as is "Autonomous Region".
Mandarin is theonly official language; Uighur may be spoken in private but it's not a public language. The Arabic scrtipt on street name plates is ornamentation and quite misleading; no cabbie will know where you want to go if you pronounce the names of streets in Uighur! Uighurs seldom can read their own script these days!
The advert is not wrong in describing Xinjiang - formerly known as East Turkestan - as a fascinating meeting point between Central Asia and the Chinese people, but demographics will soon overwhelm you.
Urumqi is a Chinese city 99 percent. It also is a major industrial city, heavily polluted.
Local shop assistants told me they were making 400 kuai a month - far less than in any city in core China!
It's interesting from its geographic location: you can get to see deserts like the Sahara and mountains like the Alps within a few hours from Urumqi.
But be prepared for the climate extremes: -20 in winter is common, 30 in summer is normal. |
Ghost has met Uighur refugees in Montreal, Canada, and was able to communicate with them using Turkish (which ghost has passable knowledge of)......and they claimed they did not speak Mandarin......
As for the -20 temps.....no problem, as one is going through that (with windchill calculated at -30!) right now in Montreal.
Ghost, supply teacher, French Montreal school board |
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