Here in Jinzhou, north-eastern China, I've been teaching for 6 months, and most of the time have been trying to convince my school that they should follow the law. Just recently we reached the half-way mark of our contract, which means I am owed my airfare bonus. I had been waiting for this moment for months, because if I leave the job after that point, I can still get that bonus. And left I have, but no bonus.
It's a long, complicated story, full of frustration and what I would call lies/stealing/cheating, and finally it might just about be over. All I need to do is rely on the honesty and effectiveness of chinese beaurocracy, that will give me a fair result against the owner of my former school, who happens to be the wife of a prominent local official...... damn! At least I'll know the result in a few days, and can begin to put it behind me.
It's been a couple of weeks of waiting, which have been a welcome break to the teaching routine. One good thing I've found about this small and sometimes boring city, is the 24hr tea house, where you can get unlimited internet, coffee, ice-cream and a long list of other things all for one low price. If your looking for a teaching job on the internet, and trying to upload huge scanned files for applications, unlimited internet is a big help.
The job I think I've lined up will be in an even smaller (110,000) city in an even browner place near Inner Mongolia. We called Jinzou 'Brown Town', so I hate to think what we'll call Shenmu. But at least it sounds like a good job, good pay and it's quick. I don't like waiting around for jobs, even when there is unlimited ice-cream. It's teaching in a middle school, so ages 14-17. I don't have a hell of a lot of experience in middle schools, so this will be nerve-racking, but hopefully good for my teaching career. It will also give me the chance to see another part of China, experience living in a 'semi-arid' environment, and probably force me to learn some more Chinese. See what the future brings....
The job I think I've lined up will be in an even smaller (110,000) city in an even browner place near Inner Mongolia. We called Jinzou 'Brown Town', so I hate to think what we'll call Shenmu. But at least it sounds like a good job, good pay and it's quick. I don't like waiting around for jobs, even when there is unlimited ice-cream. It's teaching in a middle school, so ages 14-17. I don't have a hell of a lot of experience in middle schools, so this will be nerve-racking, but hopefully good for my teaching career. It will also give me the chance to see another part of China, experience living in a 'semi-arid' environment, and probably force me to learn some more Chinese. See what the future brings....