Yeah, groucho, it was hard for me to leave China as well. I loved so many things about living there, but I could never find an ESL employment situation I could endure long-term (and I was rapidly reaching the cut-off age). I think private school ESL employers prefer younger, less experienced expat teachers because they tend to be less opinionated (probably from not having been a teacher back home).

I miss China a lot -- friends/students, food, basic insanity -- but not ESL employers!

Good luck with your future endeavors!

Not trying to argue with you, groucho, but schools/employers in China make their own rules, all the time. Business as usual.

With regards to age limits, just because "on the books" it might say age 60 is the limit, it ceratinly doesn;t mean that a school will hire someone who is 58, 59, or 60; especially in such a current competitive int'l job market.

ESL employers in China understand that age often means experience and dedication, but their far greater concern is potential health costs, absenteeism, and lesser stamina from older teachers. After all, just like verything else, China has turned English teaching into just a another form of factory work.