Job Discussion Forums

[PyRoT]

I have read some posts here about China not being worth it, low pay, and generally a bad place to teach / live. I recently spent 6 months in China and I have to disagree whole heartedly.

I had a pretty bad job compared to what people mentioned here (10k). I was paid only 3k, lived with my boss and had to pay for my visa. I worked about 20 � 25 hours per week over 6 days. These conditions are appalling compared to what I could have gotten, then and now. However, even with this salary, I felt like I was quite well off, especially since my Chinese teacher colleagues earnt around 1000-2000 RMB!

On just this money I was able to save heaps, mostly because I simply didn't need to spend much. I understand that I wasn't paying for various things like insurance, bills etc. but I feel that if I was able to get even 7k I would be really well off. All in all I loved the people, culture and lifestyle I had. I really enjoyed my time and now can't adapt to my 'real life' back in Australia because I have to work a lot more and in terms of buying power of everyday things, I feel much poorer and less happy.

So anyway, perhaps someone could enlighten me as to why it is so bad to live in China. Maybe I have missed something crucial because I really do feel that even on my salary of 3k (rent included), I had an amazing life with lots of free time. I can't imagine how incredible it'd be to earn 2-3 times as much.

Tomek

[Shan-Shan]

A brilliant subtle critique of those who contribute to the depression of wages?

[PyRoT]

Well, I took on this job without doing much prior research so that is why I ended up in such a low paid position. I was given poor advice and ended up stuck with a very exploitative employer. You can read about all that if you serch for my previous posts on this foruum. Anyway, I think most teachers, after finding out true wages, would defintely demand more money right?

See, if i came back, I'd like around 150/h. When I talk about having 7k per month or whatever, it's all about working less to have more free time. I think if I was all setup in China with a house and all, I'd be quite happy to earn 4k per month, though it'd mean I'd be working around 2 short days max.

[7969]

[eddy-cool]

It must be the spring blues... why is there such a proliferation of '...China...bad...' threads?

It only isd as bad as you make it to look, and if you stay put then you are your own stumbling-block to happiness.

Frankly, those who experience - as the OP did - China in such an exploitative situation grow on China and learn to appreciate things.

China is treating us laowais much better than it treats many of its own citizens.

[PyRoT]

eddy: You are right, China does treat white people extremelly well. I felt eimmensly sorry for my collegues, who had to work a lot longer and harder than me, for less money. I tried to help them and often treated them to things whenever I could.

7969: Thanks for your reply. I knew I couldn't be delusional:)

The life you have is exactly what I would love. To have a decent life with enough free time to pursue personal hobbies and interests is exactly what draws me back. I sampled it on slightly yet I am hooked. Even getting paid $100k in Australia wouldn't beat it I don't think.

As a bonus, teaching can actually be very good if - like you said - one finds a good quality job. I had a good gig while in my job there where I taught adults at a company and it felt like I was just going to chat to and teach a group of friends.

PS
My boss did not do much unfortunately and I even had to cover my own 3000RMB 5-day hospital bill! Though even with that, I still remember the general experience as a lot more enjoyable than my current life in Australia.

[Beyond1984]

"I still remember the general experience [in China] as a lot more enjoyable than my current life in Australia." -PyRoT

PyRoT, it seems that in China you enjoyed free time (Gadzooks! When will this "Spring" Festival ever end?), financial security, and freedom from paying rent, the costs for a car, repairs and insurance, and other expenses associated with western life.

You have drunk the "Kool-aid with Chinese Characteristics" then, oddly, banished yourself into exile to Oz.

If you come back, I recommend that you do not make a spectacle of yourself by throwing yourself supine and kissing the airport tarmac.

As I have written on another thread, there is no more fatal blunderer than he who consumes the greater part of his life getting his living.

-HDT

There is no value in life except what you choose to place upon it and no happiness in any place except what you bring to it yourself.

[PyRoT]

Beyond1984:

I actually did pay for rent. My salary was technically 4000 but my boss took 1000 for rent. It was an unfair split as the place cost about 1300 per month. As for cars, I didn't need or want one as I could get anywhere via public transport. The remaining stuff would've been ok with that salary and certainly not a problem with a fair one. With western life costs, I am actually really low maintenance which is partly why I was still able to save heaps of my money.

By the way, I'm interested in that saying of yours. Does it mean we shouldn't spend our lives getting ready to live? If so, that's exactly what I feel like is happening here in Oz hehe.

[YankeeDoodleDandy]

PyroT Welcome back to China. Carpe Diem !

[PyRoT]

Thank you haha, however, there is something very serious holding me back. I plan to start a thread about it tomorrow.

[Peter Wales]

[Beyond1984]

"that saying of yours. Does it mean we shouldn't spend our lives getting ready to live?" -PyRoT

It might behoove you to read the first chapter of Walden, "Economy." I describe how by huckleberrying for a few weeks in the summer I can acquire sufficient money to support myself during the remaining 50 weeks.

These days in the US (I don't know about Oz), the reverse is true - people labor for 50 weeks in order to rest for two.

In China I teach for about 34 weeks, with 18 remaining for reading, study, sauntering and following selected eslcafe threads.

-HDT

"How does it become a man to behave toward this American government today? I answer that he cannot without disgrace be associated with it."
-Henry David Thoreau, "On the Duty of Civil Disobedience," 1849

[bradley]

I'm very happy in China Of course no place is perfect but it is possible to get a good job here and to make a good life.

[PyRoT]

Beyond1984: So are you not yet living up to that saying? Working 34 weeks is most of the year, unless of course, you don't actually work much during those 34 weeks.

In Australia, things are similar to the US. We have this image of being laid back, going surfing all the time or whatever but in fact, we work long hours. The higher you move up in your career and get a 'better' job, the more overtime you usually put in (all of which is unpaid in salary jobs).

People tend to adjust by finding meaning in their work but I think with most jobs, this could never match the meaning one can gain from having more free time and using it well.

However, we get 4 weeks of annual leave which may be more than 2 but is still a joke in my opinion. Unfortunately, it's not easy to free one's life here in Australia and I assume similarly in the US.

[7969]