Job Discussion Forums

[rogerwilco]

Before I started working in China I read on here and other websites that the apartment provided often reflects the quality of the job .

That has definitely been my experience so far.
Has anyone had an experience that differs ?

Anyone had a nice apartment at a crappy school or a crappy apartment at a good school ?

Also, why do many, or most, schools not have the apartment cleaned before we arrive ? Most of the FT's that I have talked with have been greeted with dirty apartments.

[Miles Smiles]

I've had absolutely abominable living conditions but had great classes and had great relationships with the FL department.

I have had an absolutely wonderful 4-room apartment with upholstered furniture that was provided by my incredibly bad school.

I taught at a pretty good school that supplied me with so-so living accommodations.

There's often a disconnect between the school administration and the FAO, so in PUBLIC institutions, accommodations don't necessarily equate working conditions.

Right now, I am in a semi-privatized college whose working conditions are not-so-good, but the living conditions are great. The FAO waiban is a sweetheart, and the FL department liaison is helpful, so it all balances out.

[Non Sequitur]

Being greeted by a dirty apartment is a big turnoff when you arrive at a new school. Alongside being ripped off by the taxi from the airport, it must rank as one of those 3rd world indicators that China seems oblivious to.
In a country teeming with low skilled people, why is a dirty (and I mean dirty) apartment made available to a newcomer?
My second apartment (and school) put me into an apartment where there were dirty dishes in the sink.
My 3rd school's apartment was dusty and grubby with cooking grease. And that was a vocational college allied to the hospitality industry!

[7969]

Dirty apartments seem to be common in China, and not just in schools. My colleague and I were talking about the topic a few nights ago. When he started working here he didn't live on campus but looked at several places in town to live. Every place he looked at was full of junk (borderline hoarders) and not clean. A few of the landlords wouldn't even let him move the junk out if he took the place, he was told he'd have to live with it. He eventually took one of them (the only place that said he could toss out any junk he didn't want) but quickly moved onto campus and has been here ever since.

I've been in my current apartment for five years now. Aside from furniture it was empty when I arrived and it wasn't exceptionally clean. Part of the reason for that was there was no-one living in it for more than two months before I showed up. I spent a day scrubbing it out and after that it was fine. Anyone who's ever left their apartment in China for the summer or winter holiday knows how filthy these places can get when no-one's home.

[lockedinadrawer]

A job is a job

An apartment is an apartment

Ideally you would like to be provided nice, safe, clean, stunning living conditions

But, the fact is, they are separate things and if you're expecting some special connect, then you're digging yourself into heartache in advance

I've had fair luck in my employer-provided housing. That however, was my first job and I went out on my own after that so that I had 100% what I wanted - as to facilities and equipment/furnishings

This is China. Neither expect now assume living standards are what they are in your home country. Adapt and accept this countries' standard or move elsewhere

[askiptochina]

I am surprised no one has listed cities. That's right, CITIES. Saying China is too big of a focal point (not even a point, it is HUGE). Provinces are the same on a smaller scale. I lived in Liaoning province and had 2 completely different experiences with 2 schools operating similarly.

You need to compare the city, the school, and the location of the apartment. I have seen people with mattresses behind their cash register at those mom and pop stores. This is an indication that China as a whole has a very different view of living. Back home, there would be none of that and a bullet proof window at gas stations.

If you rent a room in an apartment, you can get a pretty good deal and have a very nice place to live in with security and elevators. A dorm is just the same on a larger scale. So, it appears this person who lived in an apartment shortly and then went to the dorms is playing it safe. The dorm will always be there. Kinda hard to have privacy though.

[wesharris]