Job Discussion Forums

hibapkev · Joined: 09 Mar 2008 Posts: 19

I lived in Shenzhen from August 2007-June 2008 and returned home in July. I have decided to wait for a call from the FDNY, they are currently on a hiring freeze and I'm expecting to be called in a few years. So I want to return to China but teach in a less commercial city in a different part of the Country. I really enjoyed Kunming when I visited but never had a chance to visit Chengdu due to the earthquake. I LOVE Sichuan food and food is a huge part of my life. If anyone has any tips, links, blogs, or job possibilities they would like to share please pm, respond or email me. Thanks - Kevin

email : [email protected]

foreignDevil · Joined: 23 Jun 2003 Posts: 580

Hey you're not the guy who was featured in the New York TImes, are you? I remember reading an article a while back about a young man who was not able to enter the FDNY because of hiring freeze. The article mentioned the man had previously taught in China.

Just curious. Very Happy

Good luck.

hibapkev · Joined: 09 Mar 2008 Posts: 19

No I'm not but it's pretty amazing that someone else is in the same position as me. Any information you have about those cities orrecommendations would be great.

hibapkev · Joined: 09 Mar 2008 Posts: 19

Bumb... anyone?

D'yankee · Joined: 13 Oct 2007 Posts: 44 Location: Dallas, Tx, USA

I've never been to Kunming so I can't compare the two, but I can highly recommend Chengdu, My wife is from Chengdu and I've been there four times since 2003 and going back at the end of May. If you like hot and spicy food Sichuan is the place to go and hotpot is something you have to try. If you get the Travel Channel Anthony Bourdain did a good piece on Beijing and Chengdu and so did Samantha Brown (but I find her really annoying). Besides food Chengdu has a good night life and lots of beautiful parks where you can relax and just chill out.

Genghis K · Joined: 07 Apr 2004 Posts: 28 Location: Inside my head?

In my opinion, Chengdu is more lively, but the weather may be a bit less moderate in the summer. And yeah, the food rocks!!

Adeem · Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 1:50 am Post subject:

Check out some blogs about Chengdu.

I live in Chengdu, but for a number of different reason, have never made it south to check out Yunnan and Kunming. There is no doubt, from what I hear that the weather down there is much nicer than here. Chengdu suffers from a bit of a cloud problem. On the plus side, it doesn't rain too much and the winter is bearable, with the summers being quite pleasant and hot.

The range if food here is pretty good, and you don't have to just restrict yourself to Sichuanese cooking, as there is loads of different stuff to explore. Remember that the best hotpot is the brands from Chongqing.

Nightlife is what you make of it, as there is plenty to do, and there are certainly some nice rivers and green bits that make me particularly enjoy the months from April-November (the warm weather stretches for a good 8 months).

Most people who live here are pretty satisfied. If you want plenty of friends, both western and Chinese, you are also quids in.

vikuk · Joined: 23 May 2007 Posts: 1842

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

http://www.chengdoo-magazine.com/ That's the magazine they had at one of the many youth hostels in Chengdu. I've been to both but never lived in either. It seems like there would be more work in Chengdu but I could be wrong. Both would be among the better places in China, based on my few days in each.

Adeem · Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 2:18 am Post subject:

You are a miserable gent, Viktor. Sitting out there and preaching from your mud encrusted tower in the countryside. At least there is some grass to be had and some nice places to ride around or play frisbee in Chengdu. You don't have to go all the way out to the Tagong grasslands just for that.

If you like cities that don't look like Urban nightmares (aka Chongqing) then Chengdu is alright.

Ignore Mr 'save the trees'. Aren't there enough reforestation projects in the foothills to keep you happy matey?

vikuk · Joined: 23 May 2007 Posts: 1842

To Mr. the glass in my spex is so thick I'm thinking of gettin 'em double glazed - I'm thinking of reforesting your highly cropped bonce!!!!

I'll give you a call soon Wink

And yes Adeem - has good a point - lots of reforestion projects in the hinterland - but they keep on planting non-native species - and they don't really make up for the wonderful primary forest that was recently destroyed.

But Sichuan is fortunate - we lie in the Panda Zone so much of our forest has recieved some kind of protection - so there are many wonderful areas to the west. But re-development - road and rail projects, hydro-plants, tourist development nad illegal logging - chips away at this each year - so quiet spots suddenly become turned into something else - as Adeem well knows after our last trip to Moxi (the sad case of Yanzi Valley).

Yunnan is very heavily deforested - when I first visited in the eighties virgin forest so close to Lijiang - but now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By the way from 1998 they had a 10 year stop on all logging in this area - but now its allowed again - hence once again so many trucks carrying lumber!!!!!

And Chengdu - yes there is more grass here to play frisbee that yur average Chinese city - and yes Adeem is quite correct - I'm a grumppy old b........

Adeem · Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2009 6:43 am Post subject:

This is all getting rather too personal. Who are you exactly......?

vikuk · Joined: 23 May 2007 Posts: 1842

The guy who stalks you round sportshops - that good looking hunk with the trim. well-conditioned six-pack -and who owes you a hotpot - its my turn to pay this time - but if you want to forget and pay again, that's also ok with me.

And on-topic - almost overnight the summer has just arrived in Chengdu - through the haze of exhaust fumes you can actually observe blue skies!!!!!

hibapkev · Joined: 09 Mar 2008 Posts: 19

Does anyone have a contact for some jobs in Chengdu? I have taught all ages from primary to adult, I'm not picky I am just looking for a fair monthly wage with room and board and at least half flight rebate.

Thanks,
Kevin

roywebcafe · Joined: 13 Jan 2006 Posts: 259

Another question is it easy to just visit China and if i like it decide to stay and work - as this would mean upgrading a tourist visa to a work visa.