Job Discussion Forums

colonel · Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 89 Location: Nanyang and Cha-Am

I started teaching on Monday which entails a 4km. WALK from my apartment to the classrooms - sometimes twice a day.
I was promised a bicycle (later) which is cold comfort.
O.K. it's excercise but it does rain in China - often.
No mention of this endurance test in the contract.
Other facilities which are mentioned in the contract, T.V., telephone, are not forthcoming - yet.
Yes, I've mentioned these points to management.
When does one say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH?

Itsme · Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Posts: 624 Location: Houston, TX

So you are saying that you started teaching on Monday and you are ready to call it quits because on Thursday/Friday you do not have a
bike, telephone, etc,?

I'd say it's time to say enough is enough. Call management and tell them you sprained your ankle and can not possibly make it to class until you have your bike. And that you would really like your TV and telephone in case you need to contact them......

I usually get my stuff the day of if not the day after. You having to wait 4 days is just too much.

Rooster_2006 · Joined: 24 Sep 2007 Posts: 984

Sugar Magnolia · Joined: 14 Oct 2008 Posts: 233

The day after you are born is when any smart chap would say enough.

twinman · Joined: 15 Oct 2003 Posts: 6

Hang in there, colonel, stay in the game and pick your fights with care.

Hansen · Joined: 13 Oct 2008 Posts: 737 Location: central China

Colonel, "You ain't seen nothing yet." Wait till you get to the part where the FAO invites you into his office and says, in halting English, "Drop your pants and bend over."

Some people draw the line there, others, well, you know how young people are these days.

kev7161 · Joined: 06 Feb 2004 Posts: 5880 Location: Suzhou, China

Many, MANY schools in China have "hosted" foreign teachers for several years now. Being prepared for their newest teachers should be old hat by now - - but it never seems to be true. Apartments aren't cleaned/ready by the time the new teacher comes along - - furnishings as promised in a contract can be hit or miss. If you're lucky, you get your teaching schedule the day you start teaching. One has to scramble around for several days afterward finding a textbook or other teaching supplies. The list can go on and on . . . and on and we've seen many a disgruntled poster telling similar stories. I certainly am not one to say a school must bend over backward for me, but I do think they should live up to their contractual agreements with me. If a TV (for example) wasn't discussed and/or put in my contract, then I have no right to complain about one not being in my apartment. But if their standard job offer says " . . . usual furnishings included such as refrigerator, microwave, TV, bedroom furniture . . .", then I'd have a right to complain if it wasn't there on Day One!

However, I've been in China long enough now to know that you speak softly but carry a big stick (the big stick being your own internal resolve to walk out of that job if certain agreed upon criteria are not being met). But the soft spoken word seems to often go a lot farther around here than the ranting and raving.

China.Pete · Joined: 27 Apr 2006 Posts: 547

"I've been in China long enough now to know that you speak softly but carry a big stick (the big stick being your own internal resolve to walk out of that job if certain agreed upon criteria are not being met)." -- Kev

Good advice! I think FTs tend to put too much emphasis on the contract. In my experience, employers have usually done more than what the contract required. I think, OP, that you need to focus more on satisfying those conditions that the school brought you to China to fulfill in the first place -- whether that be keeping the children entertained, avoiding too many student complaints, or actually teaching your little charges something. If you can accomplish that, a persistent reminder of some of the things that would make you happy to stay with them for possibly another year may motivate them to ante up for their contractual obligations at least. If not, the school may not be worth working for (I mean, you're not exactly getting rich there, are you?). Find another job, preferably at the end of your contract or notice period, and move on.

kungfucowboy83 · Joined: 25 Jan 2006 Posts: 479

can't you take a bus? i mean look at the numbers at the buss stops near your school, then compare them to the ones by you home. You can even write down the numbers if you can't remeber them. It's not hard and it should cost 1rmb per trip.

for the TV and Telephone, ask you boss about when they can get them and make him nail down a time. the right tone to take is puzzled or helpful like you just want to know not like you are pushing him/her around.
example:

you: Hi boss when can i expect my tv and phone.
boss: very soon.
you how soon, today, tomorrow, next week?
boss: sometime next week?
you: early next week or late next week?
boss: i don't know maybe later.
you: so it should be there by friday?
boss: maybe a little later.
You: so saturday, it will definately be there by saturday, right?
boss: (who by now wants you to go away) yes, yes.

If it's later than what he was told you go back and say that he told you. again your tone is mildly hurt or dissapointed that what he/she said didn't happen, not indignant or insisting.
example you don't say "boss, where the F is my tv?!?!"
you say (in a puzzled or slightly dissapointed voice) "boss i was really counting on you, I thought you said my tv was going to be here yesterday."

the first one pisses people off and makes them think you aren't giving them face. the second one makes them scramble to get what they promised done so they don't lose face by showing you they aren't in control of the situation.

always adress the situation here as "what can we do to get what i want" not "I demand my rights".

roadwalker · Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Posts: 1750 Location: Ch

Only you know all of the details of your situation. I think you got some good advice from Kev7161 and China.Pete and KungfuCowboy83. From what you wrote, I wouldn't automatically throw in the towel on this job. Talking, and not threatening, will likely bring a better result. You can always hint at a walkout, but threatening ups the ante, and brings face issues into play. Personally, I think there would be some advantages to live four kilometers from the school, but obviously there are negatives as well. I don't use my television or landline, and don't miss them. Yeah, there must be a public bus or a private one that goes to or near your school from your apt.

vikuk · Joined: 23 May 2007 Posts: 1842

I'm actually thinking of calling an all-out general strike of FT's to support your case!!!!

PS - the important stuff - how much are they paying you an hour to teach. Getting 4km to your place of work can't be that difficult if your wages are good enough to provide the proverbial "carrot"!!!!

Hansen · Joined: 13 Oct 2008 Posts: 737 Location: central China

Colonel,

About the bicycle and the rain: You can easily get a rain cover which is designed to keep both you, and whatever is in your basket, dry. These are handy. Before taking to the streets, walk around for a while, preferably with a guide. Drivers here are dangerous. Since it is a new and dazzling environment, you might not be paying close attention to cars coming from various directions contrary to the light. A guide can keep you out of harm's way until you get used to the environment

Craig! · Joined: 23 Jan 2005 Posts: 202

Colonel, what's the main problem ? transpo ?
you're an old hand in China , you surely know, things take time , you don't always get what you expect or promised
.. have you performed and made guanxi nice nice ?
Do you have a good FAO ?

until you are settled in comfortably , you have to resort to our own devices.. why not get a raincover, or buy a bike or take taxi
as Hansen and KungFucowboy say

Lister · Joined: 27 Apr 2007 Posts: 264

[quote="Hansen" Before taking to the streets, walk around for a while, preferably with a guide. Drivers here are dangerous. Since it is a new and dazzling environment, you might not be paying close attention to cars coming from various directions contrary to the light. A guide can keep you out of harm's way until you get used to the environment[/quote]

What, a local guide? Have you seen how people here walk blindly into the street seemingly without noticing the bus hurtling towards them, then looked shocked - like how could that possibly happen - when they are almost run over? Take a guide if you want to know where to buy stuff, where the things to see etc are but don't rely on anybody else to keep you of harms way.

Kibbs · Joined: 20 Nov 2008 Posts: 64

Entitlement FT says what? Is it in the contract? Sop up those tears you poor poor baby and give ma and pa a jingle on the tele. Maybe they can send you mo' money so you can buy these things for yourself..