Job Discussion Forums

[eihpos]

Hi,

I'm sorry if this topic has been covered but I'm getting a blank page on the search function!

I am trying to decide between 2 postions and am having a tough time doing it! One is in X'ian, China, the other in Chiba, Japan. Both are in language school and are similar regarding students age groups and hours.

The benefits of the China job is that there is free (shared) accommodation, flights and medical insurance. There are also alot of other foreign teachers there so plenty of opportunity to make friends. I've never worked in China though I have visited a couple of time and liked it.

The Japan job, then also sounds good. Chiba is fairly accessible to Tokyo, a really exciting city, the holidays are pretty good and the school has a decent reputation amongst teachers (I emailed a few) I have llived near Tokyo before but only for a short time and felt I didn't really have time to do and see everything I wanted in Japan.

I don't know how to decide as I am interested in both, so I am looking at the financial side of things. I was thinking at first that I could save more in Japan. This position is fairly standard for starting out in Japan - 250,000 yen and accommodation is 55,000. The job in China is 8000rmb + accommodation but is a much cheaper country. Where could I save more?

It is doubtful that I will find anyone who has ived in both Chiba and X'ian but anyone who has lived in both countries, which did you prefer? I know that they are very different, but in terms of lifestyle, language difficulties, making friends etc.

Any advice would be really appreciated!

[tttompatz]

Unless you are a party animal you should be able to save about 60% of your Chinese income (all that you are allowed to convert to dollars for export) - about $750/mo.

In Japan there is more to spend your money on but generally, with a little modicum of common sense you should easily be able to bank about $1000/mo after you are settled.

In both cases I did NOT take into consideration the ability to earn extra at either a 2nd job (japan) or private tutoring (china).

.

[macroidtoe]

I'll warn you that the pollution around Xi'an is bad, especially in the winter. Bad enough that it was a factor in my decision not to return despite really having a positive experience with the last school I was working at.