Job Discussion Forums

[Cubism]

Hi, the uni in Shijiazhuang cancelled my year contract but expects me to continue teaching as if nothing had occurred -- except that they told me that I don't get vacation pay, etc., indeed have to clear out the minute my last class is finished.

The real Brave New World irrationality though is this: only the police can determine if I can stay another semester. The heat tellsl this only in late September. That's too late to get another job, and possibly to continue this one. I also have to vacate my apt. in late June if I don't stay. If I do remain in the apt., I have accepted another semeser of work. But likely it won't be possible (police decision pending).

I fully expect, too, that this kind of double-think will continue, will follow me to the most remote language school in the most hick town in China.

I say to myself, all I wanted was to teach school (and I went to a nice safe state uni, by the way) for a year in exchange for my knowledge of the English language.

I'm frankly not so sure I could've wound up in such a rat's nest of police and bureaucracy if my motives had been so unmixed. I think I want, really, to peacefully live my life in, say, Tahiti, writing my books and eating health food. A year's pay would've got me far along in that dream, too. Oh, well. I resigned last night; recruiters say they can hire me asap. But I feel pretty squashed, unhireable...

Ideas? Thanks cube

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

Abuse at it's worst.

The next time you get paid, leave.

THEY are the ones who essentially fired you to save some money (not have to pay bonus, flight, etc.)

If you want to work for free, stay.

[Lobster]

I agree. Take the money and run. I wouldn't normally reccommend this course of action, but it seems they are going to burn you. Perhaps you should consider going to a larger, first-tier city and working for a well-established company doing corporate training or even consider a mill. The benefits would be more pay and security. The downside would be longer hours and lots of commuting. The admin at your current university seems like a bunch of snakes.

RED

[chengdu4me]

Since you do not have a contract, the safest thing for you to do is to beat it and go find another job. If you have no contract, you don't exist. Why would they pay a teacher that does not exist? IMHO, staying is setting yourself up to be a charitable institution...

[askiptochina]

[Cubism]

I first wrote about this place under "Paranoid." I came from Thailand in March, stayed overnight in a PEK hotel. Opened the door the next am & 3 huge chiney uniformed cops stood glaring down at me: COME WITH US NOW TO POLICE HEADQUARTERS. I'm 61 & tiny, an egghead who runs so tiis was very weird. They didn't like all my gallavanting in India, Lao, etc. so hauled me in to kill time I guess. That was Police #1. This uni has been uninterrupted Police #2 w/ the kinds of crap we all know and love. (What's your religion? At your last univ. did you live on campus? Etc.)

I can't do a runner because of the above. I do have a bit of a tiff unresolved... The heat does have/did have some kind of role. But i agree: now it's all the uni. i think the uni requested 6 mos. so the cops gave them 6. Etc.

I am so relieved. And you do think I'm in my right mind for telling the fao to to, uh, accept my resignation? BTW, I am sure it'll work, & if they're horrible I'll get nastier, too: for starters, I sent a copy of my resignation to the US Consul, Donahue, PEK. They replied. That kind of embassy stuff works wonders over here.

Hope I can get a new job soon. Looks ok. I don't want to get involved in business, etc. I think I can leave altogether w/in a year, be a private person again.

BTW, beware of ageing dilletantes who recommend universities. They're very unreal folks who are still back at the prom. Looking with shining clear blue eyes only at the bright sides of things.

Honestly, I thought I'd gone over the edge, so thanks for confirming my beliefs, adding to them even. Keep in touch.

Cubism