Job Discussion Forums

[mrwslee003]

A few years back when we went to China to teach in an offshore school,
we had to find our own apartment and one that was available
had bare concrete floors, unfurnished and had no hot water. Other apartments had cracking walls, dusty floors, and basically were not in a move in condition. The windows were not airtight and single glazed; not
too winter ready. Although by the time we were about to leave we noticed the new apartments were getting double glazed windows and some improvement in energy conservation construction.

I wonder if the living facilities are improving or is it still the same as what
I have described. Your input would be appreciated.

[big_big_bang_theory_fan]

What western propaganda are you watching to believe the entire country is this or that way?

Interesting

[xjgirl]

I would say no they're not, for the simple fact that Chinese in general have lost their awe of foreigners. In the past, your coming to a school was the biggest event of the year, great care was taken that you wouldn't be writing home to complain of the accommodation, in order to keep face, foreigners were treated very well.

nowadays of course it's a lot different, especially in the south, where school admin couldn't give a ****

[jayjjasper]

[mrwslee003]

Good to hear both sides, as expected, they could not stand still, right?

And Mr. BIG BIG BANG, what is your side? I am sure you are
trying very hard, extremely hard to contribute. More of you would
make speedier progress, don't you agree?

[choudoufu]

housing has greatly improved, but it all depends. where are you
planning to work? are apartments on campus? must you find your
own? what's your budget?

you can find anything from a mansion to a cardboard box.

[tomhume89]

It depends where you were really- which part of the country? Countryside or city?

In Hunan I can see things have improved a lot. Xiangtan University, for example, has improved enormously in the past few years and I'm now working for a brand-spanking new public school in Changsha. Not to mention that the city is improving tenfold too, except that it missed out on attaining a
Civilised City status for which a lot of things were built and a hell of a lot of energy put in to!

[Baozi man]

XJ girl got it right. FTs are old news nowadays.

In one major city, nearly all of the affordable housing has been torn down. Many high rises take their place. Rents in the past, for these old buildings, was around 300 RMB/mo. It's now double, even triple that.

The new buildings are very poorly built. The sound insulation is non existent. Actually, the sound seems to be amplified through the concrete and steel. The building design is poorly conceived as well, making privacy, noise, and congestion a nuisance.

Elevators can easily break down. Before you might climb 5 floors to the building top. Try climbing 30 floors or more. Very top is good because no one walks around above you.

The housing varies for FTs. I have heard of one FT who lived in a penthouse type flat in a new building. Many more live in old campus housing. Many of the teachers have moved to newer buildings; consequently, the buildings are now full of rabble or people in transition. People move in and out of the flats as they wait for their new flat to be decorated. Poor relatives of teachers move in and out .

I eventually had to rent another flat just so I could sleep at night. The rent came out of my salary.

[xjgirl]

its like a box of chocolates springs to mind

[Plume D'ella Plumeria]

[Miajiayou]

China has experienced great economic growth and is capitalizing on it. In the schools where FTs are needed, their living condition is better. My living condition has improved enormously since 2007. But, no one was ever really in 'awe' of me...

[Baozi man]

Living conditions have a lot to do with your employer. For a novice, they have everything to do with your employer.

My current situation could hardly be better but I went through hell to get here. This included renting a "secret" flat for more than a year, which reduced my salary by ~25%; however, I took an outside job to recover that money.

As many school move to the suburbs, new housing is being constructed. That should benefit FTs. Noise is often still a problem, due to the nature of the construction. It is possible to sound insulate the buildings but the costs involved make that unlikely for FTs.

Housing is the biggest challenge FTs face. You can adjust to classroom difficulties. Disruptive noise is difficult, especially when it disturbs your sleep It makes going "home" [to your flat] a dreadful experience.

[mrwslee003]

I hear you.
The flat we rented was only a few years old, but the windows were single
glazed and not air tight. Being between Shanghai and Hangzhou the wind
in the cold winter just wipes across the whole plain. The cold air enters your room through one window and out the window in the opposite wall.
Whatever heat produced by the portable heaters went with the wind.
It was awful. We had to wear heavy clothes to bed.

Finally I bought some plastic sheets and taped them against both windows, which made the situation tolerable, but our heating bill still went
sky high.

[LongShiKong]

[jayjjasper]

I talking a month ago.....