Job Discussion Forums

[the lowlander]

Do you really want to work in China?

Here are some of the unvarnished pros and cons of working in the biggest EFL market in the world.

I will begin by saying that I worked in China for four and a half years. My teaching experience included working at a middle school in the south west, teaching at a university in the east, and advising in the commercial sector in the north.

Pros:

1. Many Chinese schools will hire anyone regardless of experience, or qualifications.

And.....er.....that's it.

Cons:

1. To my mind, and in terms of my extensive travelling experience around the world, the Chinese are probably the most racist people on the entire planet, and also the rudest.

2. Given point number one, if you find yourself in China, you will regularly be referred to as the "laowi" even by your employers and supposed Chinese friends.

Indeed, all Chinese will refer to you as laowi in a work-based, or social setting, or indeed anywhere for that matter, even if they have invited you into their home.

Laowi is equivalent to the "N" word, or indeed, any other pejorative term in any given culture for someone not of the same race. Laowi, if translated literally into English, means "old out" and is simply a racially based insult.

3. In terms of rudeness, the Chinese will almost always push in front of you in a queue, jump into your taxi,speak about you openly to each other in a social situation as if you're not there, "oh what a big nose" and in many cities, point at you in the street whilst shouting at you and laughing at you.

In my experience, there is no other country in the entire world which can equal China in terms of racism and rudeness.

4. Salaries are very low and have not kept up with rampant Chinese inflation. You may be able to keep body and soul together on 6k to 8k, but that's it. You will save nothing, unless you do nothing. Back in the day, eight years ago, I started on 3k per month, but that is less than buttons now.

5. Regarding professional teachers; for the most part China only wants the "White Monkey Show" and that includes most universities. If you are a serious professional educator, forget about it. There is no kudos involved at any level. You will always be the "laowi" and simply employed as a "face job".

6. Even in first rank cities, English is not widely spoken. This is a major problem, unless you speak Chinese. If you end up in a second rank city, or lower, you will find life very challenging, and you can also forget about buying Western sized clothes or shoes, or food.

7. There is no concept of "society" in China as it is understood in the West.

It is a truly "dog eat dog" scenario. The Chinese only owe loyalty to their own "guanxi circle". This includes family and friends, but does not extend to strangers, or even to their own Chinese compatriots. This means that if some man starts beating you up in the street, one hundred people may gather round to watch the spectacle, but no-one will risk their own safety to step in and help you, or bother to call the cops. "Not my business" is a fundamental guiding principle in China for everyone. If it doesn't directly affect me or mine then, "It's not my business".

This means a Chinese, I will watch you drown, or be murdered, but I won't step in to help. I've seen it over and over again. One drunk guy beats the living daylights out of his girlfriend whilst 100 people stand round in a circle watching her get pulped.....whilst ooooohing and aaaaahing.

There is no concept of "rescue" amongst the general Chinese population when it comes to those outwith the "gaunxi circle".

So if you get into trouble, you are most surely on your own.

8. China is polluted beyond belief. Air and water both. Smog, smog, smog, and stinking rivers. I actually took a picture of the smog inside my office block on once.

9. Forget the contract. From the minute you sign to the minute you leave, your employer (in most instances, and in my experience) will continue to try to add more and more duties and more and more hours, for the same initial salary.

10. If you are a pedestrian....beware.....the Chinese drive their cars, motorbikes and bicycles on the sidewalk....at top speed....nightmare.

11. Finally, and importantly, being stared at, pointed at, and shouted at.... "Laowi, laowi.....hello, hello, hello.....ha ha ha" is a major issue in many Chinese locations. Without a doubt, apart from being continually referred to as a laowi...the..."N word".....by all of my Chinese associates....the whole being stared at, pointed at, shouted at, laughed at experience, every time I went into the street really finished China for me.

12. Oops.... I forgot to mention that all of China's historic buildings and architecture were 90% destroyed during the Japanese occupation, the subsequent war between the Communists and the KMT, and the Cultural Revolution. The net result is that all Chinese cities look exactly the same and they have little, if anything of historical value to see. The job advert may say, "Our city is 2,000 years old and the home of such and such culture" but when you go there the entire city has been revamped, and nothing worth seeing is left.

At the end of the day, there is a livelihood in China to be had, and without a doubt, living there is a genuine experience, but if you do choose to go, make sure to do so with open eyes.

[dean_a_jones]

A little dramatic, and in my opinion and experience points 4, 5 and 9 are not set in stone like you suggest, it very much depends on the teacher, the school and the contract you sign. This debate has been had a hundred times elsewhere, so won't go into specifics here.

I think this post does give a good idea of the kind of emotional challenges a teacher may face, particularly one who comes over thinking China will be temples, tai chi and socialism (sounds stupid, but I have seen plenty who arrive thinking this).

I think the biggest psychological difficulty is dealing with those little annoyances every day, every year, over and over again. As a result of many of the items on this list, this is often how FTs in China feel things are (especially after being here for a while), even if they are being a bit too emotive when it comes to how bad things actually are. I have seen many a person lose it over relatively trivial things like noises people make when eating, honking horns, voice levels on mobile phones etc.

Bunker mentality and feelings of persecution are very common here among many FTs I know, at least at some point in their day/week/year and I am no different. At times it can be tough not to feel negative about the whole place, especially when those around you (or what you are reading) reinforces such feelings.

Interestingly enough, I think that many people find the Chinese they know (students, friends, local business people they get to know) to be kind, friendly, courteous if also a little curious. It is often the bigger group of "them" that people often feel is somehow different. Etiquette is also firmly stamped on most of our brains, and it can be difficult to understand that just because we think doing something a certain way makes it polite, that also means it is right.

That's not to say there are not people out there who are looking to make fun of, rip off, or abuse others, foreigners in particular. But I think this is the case in most places I have lived (when you are the outsider, such behaviour often simply becomes more obvious).

I just wish they could learn to queue and enter/exit doors in an efficient, logical manner.

[Lobster]

Your list does not match up with many points on the positive side that other posters have made. And no, laowai is not the equivalent of the N word. In one aspect you are right. China is not for the thin-skinned, the overly-sensitive or the easily duped and manipulated.

RED

[Opiate]

Wow...

Four and a half years in China and you think they are all racist because of the word laowai? Ignoring the fact that you can't spell it, you do not seem to understand it's meaning either.

Many of your comments are based in fact though some are exaggerated.

[The Great Wall of Whiner]

I agree with all points except "laowai" (not laowi) being intentionally racist. I also used to think it was similar to the "N" word, but the real intent is "white guy". White females rarely get called "laowai" nor do black people.

What IS intentionally "racist" or meant to be insulting while having a laugh at your shiny white face is when a group of guys (usually uneducated males with no job hanging around doing nothing with their lives) shout "ha--lu~~" -- it is akin to the western "ching chong ching chong" of times (hopefully) long gone.

The rest seems pretty dead on.

@Opiate:

He has a point about language. Everywhere I went in South Korea, Japan, Taiwan... there was always someone around who could speak English. Even where I am, in a city of over a million people... I would struggle to have any half-proper conversation with anyone other than in Chinese.

[choudoufu]

[roadwalker]

Why would anyone work in such a hell hole for four and a half years?

[RonHex]

looks like the honeymoon is over

[MisterButtkins]

lol@ this clown who needed four and a half years to figure out he doesn't like it here

[Guerciotti]

LMAO
Do we need to revisit this subject every week? Well done, Troll Master.

If you're unhappy, then leave. I wish you the best wherever you go.

Bye Bye!

G

[7969]

Whenever someone posts a completely unbalanced "analysis" of their time in China that resembles the one at the top of this thread I'm reminded of a few of the people I've worked with in the past. People who made no effort to adapt to new surroundings, people who were demanding but gave nothing in return, and people who were extremely difficult to get along with. I'm surprised people who see and have so many problems in their lives don't blow their brains out.

[the lowlander]

Whooooow!!

I'm amazed at those who would wish to personally insult me just for stating my honestly felt opinion.

It says a lot more about their intelligence and maturity than it does about mine.
So what, I spent four and a half years in China whilst forming my opinion? At least I came to that considered conclusion over time.

As for me being a loser, or a clown........ grow up children! There is no need to throw those words around without even knowing me, and it seems to me that the loser and the clown are those who cannot take an opinion that differs from their own.

And big deal if I didn't spell the "L" word correctly.

IT IS the equivalent of the "N" word as far as white males are concerned. There are other pejorative terms for black males, and at the end of the day, I can't imagine why any of you would defend a people who routinely refer to you as the "old out" instead of using your given name.

I have been at many a dinner when Chinese people who know me have spoken to each other in the following terms, "The laowi said this, the laowi wants that, the laowi needs to leave." Not my name, but, "laowi, laowi, laowi......old out, old out, old out." Polite, inclusive, respectful?

I think not.

[sistercream]

The Lowlander is obviously God, so everything HAS to be done HIS way.

Water finds its own level.

[the lowlander]

What a stupid comment!

[the lowlander]

I say something you disagree with, so your automatic reaction is insult rather than debate!!

A real touch of class!!