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Mandrews1985
Joined: 22 Apr 2012
Posts: 69
Location: Daegu, South Korea
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 Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 2:47 pm Post subject: So what's life like in China? |
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I'm looking for a less work centric lifestyle, as 'head' foreign techer at my academy I'm normally working from 12pm till 11pm every day, teaching between 5pm till 10pm and sometimes at the weekend too.
So that's the context. What I'm hoping for is a less work centric lifestyle. I want to have time to enjoy some hobbies, eat out with friends and ultimately do a little bit more travelling and experience a bit more culture.
What's life like for you, in China? Have you had time to study the language? Do you have time to socialise? Do you have time to do your hobbies? Are you weekends ACTUALLY free?
Also when is the best time to apply for universities in China, mind that my current contract runs out mid March.
Cheers! |
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MisterButtkins
Joined: 03 Oct 2009
Posts: 1221
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| Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 3:14 pm Post subject: |
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| I work at a Chinese uni and as far as time investment, it's practically a hobby. |
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GeminiTiger
Joined: 15 Oct 2004
Posts: 999
Location: China, 2005--Present
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| Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 3:32 pm Post subject: |
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| Working at a Uni with 3 months off each year and only working 20 hours a week including the time taken to walk to class and prepare for classes.. |
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The Edge
Joined: 04 Sep 2010
Posts: 455
Location: China
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| Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 3:47 pm Post subject: |
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I'm freelance / self employed and married to a local Chinese national.
China is not cheap anymore unless you live and work in the outback.
Be prepared for every scam and lie known to mankind.
Universities here have the standards of something that you might step in and have to scrape from the bottom of your shoe.
Once again, be prepared and seek out as much advice as possible before coming here from a reputable country such as Korea.
You would be making a downward step in my opinion but many have different opinions to mine.
Good luck. |
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kungfuman
Joined: 31 May 2012
Posts: 1749
Location: In My Own Private Idaho
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| Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 4:34 pm Post subject: |
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Everyday life in China is kinda like a tour of Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory.
Everyday is some new adventure.
But, after a while, you really want to kill those Oompa-Loompas... |
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roadwalker
Joined: 24 Aug 2005
Posts: 1750
Location: Ch
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| Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2012 8:28 pm Post subject: Re: So what's life like in China? |
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| Mandrews1985 wrote: |
{...}
Also when is the best time to apply for universities in China, mind that my current contract runs out mid March.
Cheers! |
The Academic year is from ~ September 1 to mid-July, with foreign teachers usually done by the end of June. Apply in April up until May for a September start. The universities may not have an answer for you (or even a reply) until they have figured which current teachers want to return or which ones the school wants to return.
There is an outside chance that you could land a contract for the second term that usually begins late February to early March, but that usually depends on a teacher leaving early and you will have to wonder why they left. But there are always a few jobs out there for second term. Apply in November for those.
For university teaching, you will have much more free time than what you describe. Weekends are free except for those that bookend major weekday holidays, such as International Labor Day (5/1) and National Day (10/1). Good luck. |
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Miles Smiles
Joined: 07 Jun 2010
Posts: 1294
Location: Heebee Jeebee
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| Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 12:04 am Post subject: |
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Unless you're in a really interesting city, you won't want less than 12 hours of class room time. If you have engrossing hobbies or are lucky enough to live and work in an interesting city, a nine-hour week is bliss.
There's ALWAYS a downside to a light work load. In my case, it was having to live on one campus and work at another. |
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it'snotmyfault
Joined: 14 May 2012
Posts: 527
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| Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 8:50 am Post subject: |
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| The Edge wrote: |
| I'm freelance / self employed |
Is that an F-visa or a work visa then? I'm curious |
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Miles Smiles
Joined: 07 Jun 2010
Posts: 1294
Location: Heebee Jeebee
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| Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 10:17 am Post subject: |
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So, you're already in China, right?
| Quote: |
| I'm looking for a less work centric lifestyle, as 'head' foreign techer at my academy I'm normally working from 12pm till 11pm every day, teaching between 5pm till 10pm and sometimes at the weekend too. |
But you don't know anything about when hiring for universities begin? Do you know when the terms at universities begin?
| Quote: |
| Also when is the best time to apply for universities in China, mind that my current contract runs out mid March. |
Do you also need resources for finding another job? |
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Kiwi303
Joined: 20 Nov 2010
Posts: 165
Location: Chong Qing Jiao Tong Da Xue, Xue Fu Da Dao, Nan An Qu, Chong Qing Shi, P. R China
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| Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 5:07 pm Post subject: |
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| it'snotmyfault wrote: |
| The Edge wrote: |
| I'm freelance / self employed |
Is that an F-visa or a work visa then? I'm curious |
"Married to a local Chinese National" Probably on a Visiting Relatives visa. Well, a Wife is a Relative in a way, if by marriage rather than Blood. I know a couple of people like that here in CQ, Live off Social Security payments from back home and teach privates on the side to keep from being bored and keep the brain ticking over so they don't vegetate. |
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The Edge
Joined: 04 Sep 2010
Posts: 455
Location: China
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| Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 5:11 pm Post subject: |
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| Kiwi303 wrote: |
| it'snotmyfault wrote: |
| The Edge wrote: |
| I'm freelance / self employed |
Is that an F-visa or a work visa then? I'm curious |
"Married to a local Chinese National" Probably on a Visiting Relatives visa. Well, a Wife is a Relative in a way, if by marriage rather than Blood. I know a couple of people like that here in CQ, Live off Social Security payments from back home and teach privates on the side to keep from being bored and keep the brain ticking over so they don't vegetate. |
Wrong.
Good luck. |
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Mandrews1985
Joined: 22 Apr 2012
Posts: 69
Location: Daegu, South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 6:15 pm Post subject: |
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| Miles Smiles wrote: |
| So, you're already in China, right? |
No, as my location says, I'm in South Korea and will be in South Korea to March, I should have put that in my opening post.
| Quote: |
| But you don't know anything about when hiring for universities begin? Do you know when the terms at universities begin? |
Correct, I have little idea regarding when universities start recruiting. I presumed the terms are similar to Korea, but maybe I am wrong. I'd hazard a guess at year starts in September ends around July.
| Quote: |
| Do you also need resources for finding another job? |
If at all possible, yes. There seems to be a lot of websites that just seem a little bit too suspect, so anything that regulars use to search for jobs would be a plus.
Honestly, I'm unsure if your post was supposed to sound condescending or not because maybe you thought I was just another 'too lazy to research' type already in China, but it's the complete opposite. Nevertheless I posted here because it's a job related post and I was hoping for some useful information and clarity on what information I have already gathered. (and to hear other people's experience too) |
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Denim-Maniac
Joined: 31 Jan 2012
Posts: 1238
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| Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 7:57 pm Post subject: |
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Although Im not in China at the moment, when I am, I work 15 hours a week, Mon - Fri with all my classes schedules between 8.30 and 16.40. Naturally this gives ample free time for me and my colleagues to do pretty much whatever we want.
One of my colleagues is an artist and she has recently opened an art gallery which she opens at weekends. Another colleague is an aspiring writer, and he often locks himself away for hours to work on his latest masterpiece.
Yet another is a keen musician, and he gigs in a local bar most evenings.
I tend to laze around a lot, I have been studying Chinese (with mixed results TBH), I like to hang out and eat out ... and have enjoyed the dating scene. And I like to work on lesson material, read about teaching and think about teaching in my free time.
We all work in a training centre for adult students and we all enjoy schedules like mine. Plus, adult students are normally very keen to buddy up and so you are very unlikely to be short of company if thats your thing.
Ive had two contracts in that job, planning on heading back for a 3rd in 2013. China has always been a great place for me to work, and I enjoy my time and work there immensely. It's not for everyone, but I like it a lot, and I have just the right job for me ... adults/small classes/good location to teach in. |
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Miles Smiles
Joined: 07 Jun 2010
Posts: 1294
Location: Heebee Jeebee
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| Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 8:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
Honestly, I'm unsure if your post was supposed to sound condescending or not because maybe you thought I was just another 'too lazy to research' type already in China, but it's the complete opposite. Nevertheless I posted here because it's a job related post and I was hoping for some useful information and clarity on what information I have already gathered. |
Apologies. I didn't read your location. It's not too late to start applying for jobs in China. A good resource for seeing what's out there and the range of pay scales for the different types of schools can be seen at abroadchina.org and Teach China. This is not an endorsement of those sites. They do, however, show openings of all types in almost every province. They also allow you to post a resume and contact schools directly.
Good luck.
Again, apologies. |
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7969
Joined: 26 Mar 2003
Posts: 5782
Location: Coastal Guangdong
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| Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 11:13 pm Post subject: Re: So what's life like in China? |
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| Mandrews1985 wrote: |
| What's life like for you, in China? Have you had time to study the language? Do you have time to socialise? Do you have time to do your hobbies? Are you weekends ACTUALLY free? |
My university job has given me a three day weekend every weekend for six years now, and in one of those years I worked from Monday morning till Wednesday noon and had a 4.5 day weekend. I've never worked a weekend in more than six years (outside of makeup days for national holidays). You shouldn't have any problems getting free time, but the key is to find a meaningful hobby to fill the time up. If you're interested in travel, photography, learning Chinese, exercise etc then you're set with university work.
Another key point: don't let things that are completely out of your control bother you. If the activities of the Chinese government (at home or abroad), or the actions of Chinese oligarchs (among other things) are the kinds of things that get under your skin then you're going to be angry, bitter and have trouble adapting to life in China. |
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