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rattie
Joined: 17 Mar 2005
Posts: 97
Location: Anhui
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 Posted: Thu Oct 14, 2010 2:47 am Post subject: Anhui University of Technology |
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Hello,I was wondering if anybody had any experience of this school? Or in fact, about the city the school is in, Ma'anshan?
I have an offer from them for next semester, the contract is fairly standard for a public university.
The FAO seems quite reasonable and efficient, by email that is, and I am tempted to take it up, but would love some more information if possible.
I was trying to think of particular questions, but really I'm just looking for any general observations people have made, I've lived in Dong Bei and in Guangdong Province for a few years each but never made it to the Anhui area so I'm totally ignorant in this respect.
Thanks |
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rogerwilco
Joined: 10 Jun 2010
Posts: 1549
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| Posted: Thu Oct 14, 2010 4:31 am Post subject: |
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I do not have any personal experience with Ma'anshan, but I just escaped 18 months of "poor Anhui".
I would not recommend Anhui for a single guy.
Almost every woman that I spent any time with was harassed by the locals.
Hefei was bad, and the small cities in Anhui seemed worse.
The nice people in Anhui can be some of the most hospitable people that you will ever meet. But, the ignorant masses seem to be worse than anywhere else that I have been in China. |
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rattie
Joined: 17 Mar 2005
Posts: 97
Location: Anhui
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| Posted: Thu Oct 14, 2010 7:13 am Post subject: |
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Well that's encouraging??!
I'm female and have reached middle age, in Guangdong the worst thing that happened was being called 'aunty' by little kids, not so bad really.
I've not experienced much harassment on the streets, I'm an ex union official, and have learned the value of a well placed glare. I seem to frighten Chinese men/boys. But then, many western women have that ability with Chinese men.
I'm assuming that if there is much attention directed at foreigners it must be a poor region, is that right? Do you think the attention is friendly or aggressive? Responding to a stack of 'helloooos' isn't all that bad, I suppose it's only a problem if it's accompanied by insults and abuse, does it get that bad? |
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rogerwilco
Joined: 10 Jun 2010
Posts: 1549
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| Posted: Thu Oct 14, 2010 7:45 am Post subject: |
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The Chinese women were harassed for being seen with a foreigner (me).
There is only one foreign woman that I know that worked in Anhui, and she seemed happy most of the time.
Strong women do seem to scare most Chinese men, so you should be ok. |
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xiao51
Joined: 06 Feb 2009
Posts: 208
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| Posted: Thu Oct 14, 2010 8:52 am Post subject: Re: Anhui University of Technology |
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| rattie wrote: |
Hello,I was wondering if anybody had any experience of this school? Or in fact, about the city the school is in, Ma'anshan?
I have an offer from them for next semester, the contract is fairly standard for a public university.
The FAO seems quite reasonable and efficient, by email that is, and I am tempted to take it up, but would love some more information if possible.
I was trying to think of particular questions, but really I'm just looking for any general observations people have made, I've lived in Dong Bei and in Guangdong Province for a few years each but never made it to the Anhui area so I'm totally ignorant in this respect.
Thanks |
I came to know Ma'ashan only recently and there are so, so many things to say about the place.
Yes, it is true that Anhui is poorer than other provinces.
However, within the province, Ma'ashan is relatively prosperous area. First, there are lots and lots of still-standing historic sites to see within the greater Ma'ashan area. I had several very interesting day trips when I was there.
Next, Ma'ashan is highly devleoped in terms of rail links -- Shanghai, Suzhou, Nanjing, etc., etc., are all within easy striking distance for pleasant weekend escapes.
Unbeknownst to me, Ma'ashan is also mining country but not necessarily for coal. To my biggest surprise, many of the Ma'ashan mines are not mined for coal but for precious and semi-precious stones. Turquoise, jade, diamonds, etc., etc., Ma'ashan is a major, major supplier of these commodities to the Chinese market and to the export market. The turquoise extracted from the Ma'ashan mines is considered more than world-class quality and commands outrageous prices on the precious stones market. In order not to deplete sources, the Chinese government has actually stepped in and has been limited the quantities that can be extracted and produced, which in turn has driver prices even higher. This alone has added to a sense and feeling of prosperity in the city.
Additionally, part of the general area are off-limits to foreigners for national security reasons and a defense presence and garrison means more RMB into the local pockets.
Next, Ma'ashan also has some of the China's most state-of-the-art steemills. This generates a lot of jobs for those not involved in the other sector.
Thus the existence of the Technology University. It directly serves the local market.
Also, in terms of Chinese cities, Ma'ashan is considered a very, very green city. If you go to Ma'ashan, you will see that as soon as you arrive. It's like Xiamen in Fujian in terms of being a green city.
It's true that wages in Ma'ashan are not particularly high but you will see how much one RMB will buy in terms of purchasing power.
Like I said, I went there for business reasons and I was really surprised by what I found, the city and the people. The weather is about the same as Nanjing -- mildly cold and rather short winters, a spring that evaporates in about 2-3 weeks, a long, long hot, sometimes rainy summer, and a short autumn.
Really, you could go a lot worse in China than Ma'ashan. And since there is not an overabundance of foreigners, you will usually be greeted quite warmly. |
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chengdude
Joined: 13 Jun 2004
Posts: 294
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| Posted: Sat Oct 16, 2010 10:10 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| The weather is about the same as Nanjing -- mildly cold and rather short winters |
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