Job Discussion Forums

[elliemk]

For those of you in China who have formerly taught in Korea, what do you see as the differences in both teaching and living in China as compared to Korea? I'd be interested to hear your opinions and thanks in advance!

[intoaction]

People in China are generally very cheerful...this goes a long way! Chinese teachers and students work very hard and are very disciplined, a real joy. Food is GREAT here in China and so affordable....I don't really like to compare China and Korea too much, but: subway system in korea is much more comfortable (than any city i have ever been in), chinese language is much easier to learn, things are really inexpensive here in China. If you find a good job in China, you are gonna save a heck of a lot more than you would in Korea. Flights to and from Beijing are much better priced than Seoul...1.3 billion people in China and how many million in Seoul? Apples and oranges...I enjoy both cities, great experience if I have a great attitude!

[vikuk]

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

It is hard to make a "general" opinion of the differences.

For living in China, there is a lot more culture shock, and a lot less things that will seem familiar to you. China has only recently opened up to the world, so Chinese students for example are still coming up with things such as "I don't like hamburgers because I don't like chicken"...as if every hamburger was a chicken hamburger.

There is a lot of pride in both countries, nationality, what we could perceive as racism, high expectations, stereotypes places on foreigners...

Good food can be found in either country, although China generally is lacking in the western food category.

Throw out some specific questions. Those are much more easier to answer.

[jammish]

[Kram]

[Moon Over Parma]

[beck's]

I worked in a Korean kindergarten mill and now I work in a Chinese university.

You can save much more money in Korea but you work many more hours too. In 2001 I was making 1.8 million in Korea for 20 hours a week. I believe salaries have risen considerably since then. My wife and I were saving one salary and living like royalty. They typical uni job here, at least in the boonies, pays about 4,000 RMB for 14-16 class hours. We can save some money here on our paltry salaries if we scrimp but why bother? The scratch here is next to worthless when you convert it. Better to spend it here.

The Chinese seem much happier than the Koreans and are much more laid back. The students here always seem to be smiling. They seem to enjoy life much more than the Koreans who seemed to be mostly focused on work. When I was there most Koreans worked a six day week.

The social life here is way better. If you are a young male, or even an old one, and single, and not too ugly, you should be able to get a beautiful young Chinese girl friend in about a week.

Korea is much more formal. At the hogwan where I was working we had to say good morning and good evening to the boss at the beginning and end of the shift. This was an enforced ritual and not just a matter of good manners. The Chinese are much more informal.

The geography here is much more varied and interesting. Travel is therefore more fun. Korea seemed to be mountains and more mountains covered in 13 storey high rise buildings. Travel in Korea always seemed to me to be a waste of time as the country was all the same.

The food here is much better and more varied here. I liked the barbeques in Korea but quickly tired of the pickled grass clippings that passed for side dishes.

China is more age friendly. The Korean hogwan masters seemed to want young blonde western girls as a first choice. In China, at least in the unis, they seem to want older people.

[vikuk]

Beck's last post seems to sum up the words of a past poster on this subject - in the case of day to day living it seems to be far easier to enjoy yourself through China vibes rather than the Korean ones!!!

But remember - life can also be difficult here. Low wages for those who don't negotiate or bargain, escalating costs, difficult employers and students, terrible pollution, distasteful Chinese social habits (ghhhhhhhhhrgchhhhhhhhhhhhhhh-phhhhhhoout), not being able to afford many of those luxuries the better off Chinese can (eg. the simple pleasure and convenience of owning a second hand car - commonplace for the Korea FT), the high cost of buying things manufactured to western standards on the normal FT wage, the sheer drabness and lack of character of most Chinese cities - are just much of the stuff that can get on your goat if your China stay starts to become a downer!!!! Indeed after reading through these forums you'll start to realise that for those who don't have a really good reason for coming to China to work as an FT (working as an FT is not the same as coming to China for the experience of travel - and soon may loose that ring of working holiday) - then that difficult China stay can also quickly evolve into an unpleasant one!!!!

China can be great - but that great may be something far beyond that of being an FT. Come with open eyes and make sure your job doesn't get too much in the way of enjoying your China stay!!!!

[flutterbayou]

I have found Chinese to be far more patient and amiable than in several other countries I have taught. People here have always looked after my best interests. If you get sick or run in to some sort of brick wall in your life, the Chinese won't leave you stranded. I will not expound on similar situations in Korea.

What people write here about China's lower cost of living is accurate, unless you live in Shanghai or Beijing, both of which out-price Seoul.

However, if you avoid shopping in department stores and have your clothes tailored at a bu shangdian, you will discover that even casual clothing is much cheaper than in Korea.

The mega-cities have a wide variety of cultural events to attend, more than what I experienced in Korea, and I agree that the food is better in China.

I've left China and have returned to it three times, and enjoy it more each assignment. I have no interest in returning to Korea, whatsoever.

[vikuk]

[flutterbayou]

What was written about clothing is true, but I was not clear enough when I wrote "bu shangdian," which is the fabric market.

The Chinese have smaller bone structure, so even if you are thinner, clothes from shoulder to shoulder and inseams rarely fit. Going to the tailor is extremely cheap for day to day clothes, not just for the occasions of a special suit or gown.

And I should have been more clear about what I said about people standing by you. I never would expect anyone to support me if I were to do something wrong; I was referring to getting help at the hospital or the train station, or having someone help you with your banking or ordering airline tickets at good rates.

I must be leading a dull life. Haven't met anyone yet who got into bloody brawls or involved with the shady side of life.

[vikuk]

[flutterbayou]

Vikuk, something tells me that you like it here, right?

Sometimes the seamy side of the country is part of the fun. For instance, I really enjoy watching the maintenance woman at my apartment building going through everyone's trash - she's our local reporter.

I absolutely hate it when she digs through mine (sometimes I wait to take my stuff out so that she misses it), but to watch her size up the tenants by the sort of "good" stuff she can profit from... well, these things aren't pretty but they make the memories of living in China rather interesting.

I've been pick-pocketed twice, but I've also had a stranger stnad in line with me at the train station for two hours to help me get a soft bed ticket during the Spring Festival. I also have had a stranger guide me through taking a series of tests at a hospital.

I guess you get the good when you decide on it.

[vikuk]