Job Discussion Forums

[Lori 15]

Hi all
Thanks for a very interesting forum. I am thinking of teaching in China but want to find out all I can about the area/school/climate etc before I go. I have been offered a job in the above school and also Shandong Jiaotong Uni, Shandong Province, Jinan for Sept 2004. I would like to know if anyone has taught at either of these schools and could share their experiences. Also I am extremely unwilling to enter China without a full work visa - has anyone actually received the required documents before going?

Thanks in advance.
Lorraine

[Roger]

I know both towns, but none of those schools you mention.
On JI'NAN, I answered a couple of enquiries recently; here it is in a nutshell: It is a laid-back place, yet not a much-coveted destination for tourists nor teachers. Reason: Relatively unsophisticated, underdeveloped place, rather dusty, but located in an interesting area (Qufu is not far, nice town where Confucius was born; Taishan is very near too; Qingdao can be done on a weekend; and the climate is agreeable, temperate);
as for GUANGZHOU, it is a monster city of 6 million inhabitants; there is a lot of laissez-fairism here. You won't find much in the way of traditional pre-revolutionary Chinese culture, though the city has some charm (architecture). It is fast developing and adopting international lifestyles; it's one of 4 Chinese cities with both a A HARD ROCK CAFE and a STARBUCKS (just opened last week). Shopping is quite good, and there are almost two dozen consulates (if you need a Vietnamese visa or renew your passport - Guangzhou is good).
The downsides are: Climate - extremely humid in summer, causing even imported razors to corrode! Prepare for heat waves of up to 37 degrees, humidity 90%! Winters are balmy, very pleasant!
Pollution, pollution and more pollution (the car reins supreme here!).
Scenic spots are far out of town! Housing is very expensive (but your college should provide that free for you!).
A personal peeve: I consider Cantonese folk a lot more rustic than Northerners! You will notice what I mean when you come here!
Ji'nan natives are practically at the opposite end of the scale, which gives that town a positive factor!