Foxy, like you I'm a qualified teacher in my own country and like you I choose to stay in china because the advantages of doing so outweigh the disadvantages.

I currently work less than 10 clock hours a week. Every year I teach for 32 weeks but get paid for 10months with a 2month 'travel allowance' for those 2months in the summer when we have nothing to do, plus the usual accommodation, etc. work here is a doddle and its leaves plenty of time to do many other things with my life.

I don't accept this idea that foreign teachers have to sell out or relinquish loyalty to their homeland to survive in this country. My timetable for classes arrives at the beginning of the term, I teach those classes to a decent standard and collect my pay on time and in full every month. I hear virtually nothing from the FAO or other Chinese staff who seem happy to just leave me to it. When I compare this to the hassles of working either in a school in a western country or for a private business who would almost certainly expect me to conform to some kind of corporate mentality then it's my belief that my current situation is just peachy!

Here's to a stress free, happy life where ever in this world you can find it!