Job Discussion Forums

[hdwhatley]

If so, what were your likes? dislikes? Any advice would be helpful.

[sistercream]

Amazing - two queries about Macau in 3 days!
I gave some random comments in the other thread, but as you specifically ask about likes/ dislikes, let's see if I can come up with some specific ones.

Will add that I haven't taught there all that recently by the standards of some of the youngsters on these boards, but from the perspective of nearly 4 decades in various classrooms, 7 years ago feels like yesterday! Also that I speak Cantonese and Mandarin, and read Chinese, and spent time with the broader local community rather than just amongst expats.

Let's get the negatives out of the way first:
- the Cotai strip
- government red tape/ corruption (if you go to an established school, you probably won't have to worry about this, but I was helping set one up, and it drove me do-lally-tap!!)
- some Portuguese (specially students in the Portuguese school) still think they're in charge, and treat the Macau Chinese like dirt.
- pollution, specially in winter when the north winds bring down the smog from the PRD factories.
- the spring humidity (these last two apply equally in Hong Kong).
- the CTM fixed phone line/ internet monopoly - bleedin' expensive for what you get
- it's just SOOOO small.

And the positives:
- SOOOO small means so convenient - on the peninsula, everything is within walking distance. Even on the furthest reaches of Coloane you're only 20 minutes bus ride from downtown.
- very good and comprehensive bus service.
- there's an amazing amount to do without even going near a casino.
- the food - variety and quality.
- friendly locals, much more laid back than Hong Kongers, and much more accepting of foreigners (any race) than any other Chinese community I've met.
- easy to get to HK, mainland, and lots of the rest of Asia.
- very reliable utilities provision.

That's the off the top of my head list; if I think of anything else seriously pro or con I'll post again.

[hdwhatley]

Thank you, sistercream. I appreciate your candor.