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scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Has anyone been there or taught there ?

Yes, I know it is cold in winter. I wanted to hear a bit more than that.

Ailian · Joined: 15 Apr 2004 Posts: 192 Location: PRC!

Dirtier and colder than Harbin and doesn't have the fun of the ice and snow festival. I do recall talk of there being some pretty cool birds there, though I don't remember there ever actually having been birds there.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

I knew about the ornithology from the Guide Books. What surprised me was that I had never even HEARD of this city and it has more than 3 million inhabitants. A reflection of how little I know of China.

johnslat · Posted: Wed May 12, 2004 6:39 pm Post subject: Size is relative

Dear scot47,
Only 3 million, huh? Well, in China that'd probably be more of a "town" than a "city", wouldn't it?

ProfessorBob77 · Joined: 03 Apr 2004 Posts: 16

Qiqihaer, as it is spelled in chinese is a bit of a rat hole.I went there this year.It's has some nuclear left overs from Japans takeover/attack last century and is dirty. The bird it is famous for is The "Crane"or "Krane"I've forgotten the spelling.To be honest the bird doesn't impress me either.
The Prof.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Chemical rather than nuclear I think. In the Imperial Japanese period this was the base for the Japanese experiments with biological and chemical weapons.

That aside, I have lost the contact details I had for the Technical University here. Anyone any info ?

How is it with the employment of wrinklies in China ? Do over 60's have any chance of getting a start ?

SahanRiddhi · Joined: 18 Sep 2010 Posts: 267

As I'm understanding, Qiqihar is a quite northern area in which the province has little warmness, speaking as weather not personal effect of interactions. So, if you are the type liking tropical, beach, flip-flops and so on summer scene, then this may not be pleasing as a working location for you. In that case I'd advise against.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

If I want a beach I will go to Waikiki.

Dedicated · Joined: 18 May 2007 Posts: 972 Location: UK

Hello Scot47,

Are you thinking of leaving the beautiful Firth of Clyde?

I taught in Qiqihar back in 2003, when there was an accident on a building site, with a buried mustard gas tank, killing one or two people.

I don't know of any technical college, but I was at the Medical University. It used to be called the Military Medical School. (I have med school background).

http://english.qqhrmc.net.cn/view.asp?unid=267

The contact e-mail I had then was : <[email protected]>

In China, they respect age and experience, and many (most?)university teachers/professors are 65+. The winters in Qiqihar are very long, and bitterly cold, with 5 to 6 months below zero. I can remember days with -35 even -40, but bright, sunny, dry days. Summer can be up to +35C.

The birds, by the way, are the red-crowned cranes which can be seen in the Zhalong Nature Reserve.

I have some lovely memories of my time there. I had very comfortable accommodation on campus, free meals, and what was then an excellent salary. I could eat out every evening. I was still able to save.

milkweedma · Joined: 19 Nov 2006 Posts: 151

I recently visited Qiqihaer after a 2.5hour train ride from my present location in Baicheng. Qiqihaer has a lovely big park about 60 minutes walk or 10 minutes in a Taxi ride away from the Railway station. Also, the three 06 bus will take you to the Crane birds reserve park which is around 1 hour away from the city itself.
The website for the medical Uni that I have is: http://english.qqhrmc.net.cn/view.asp?unid=77

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Thanks
I am still teaching in the Land of the Sauds but am looking for a "Finale" to my career in EFL somewhere else. Somewhre not so hot. -30C might do it !

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

http://english.qqhrmc.net.cn/campusview.asp

malu · Joined: 22 Apr 2007 Posts: 1344 Location: Sunny Java

It is nice to know you are still in the land of the living, scot47. But surely you don't have to go that far off the beaten track for a finale.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

I have ALWAYS opted for the less-used path. Why change the habits of a lifetime.

If I thought I could get a job at the Sorbonne I would go there. I think it also unlikely that Heidelberg would offer me anything.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

I never did make it to Qiqihar. Maybe if I win the lottery I will go as a tourist. Have a look at the chemical weapons left over by the forces of Nippon.