Okay,here's the deal. Anyone who has been teaching in China for any length of time realizes that the wages are too low - not just in terms of comfortable life style, but also in terms of working conditions and/or the extracurrucular b.s. we so often have to deal with. Well, anyone that is except those of you who live in lala land or have the ostritch mentality.

Dealing with agents/recruiters is part of the problem. They're the ones pocketing the cash that should be going into our pockets. The other problem is the propensity of employers to pay low wages because they know they can get away with it. After all, so many teachers want to come to "exotic China." God, if I read that luring phrase one more time I might puke. Don't get me wrong, I actually love China, and generally I love my students and want to do my best to help them. Albeit, I'm tired of seeing my fellow teachers get ripped off and tired of seeing all the hype about why the wages are so low.

Okay, so what's my point? Stop accepting low paying jobs! Whenever you see the low paying job offers posted here and elsewhere with all the glowing reasons why it's a great offer, snub them. Better yet, send them an email and politely suggest to them that they're living in the dark ages.

Here's an example: 4000RMB to work in Beijing. Ya gotta be kiddin! In my opinion, one should never accept less than 7000RMB unless absolutely sure that the cost of living in the particular area justifies it, and of course Beijing does not. And, by the way, that should include all the usual perks.

Those of you who are thinking about coming to China for "the experience of a lifetime," please don't take the above lightly. Those of you who've been here for awhile or a long time, help me out here ok? Yeah, yeah, I know it's not all about the money; however, a professional should be paid as such. Don't sell your self short. Believe in your qualifications and believe that you can find a job that suitably pays you for those qualifications. Start your job search well in advance of the end of your current contract period and negotiate from the position of knowing that you deserve more than you've been accepting.

Nuff said.........