You may be in for a shock if you ever get a real job outside of China, but horses for courses, I did the 8-10 classes a week thing for a couple of years...it pays nothing though, which is the inherent problem for FTs who need to establish themselves
You are so right, i would get a very nasty shock. That's why I like to work in China, I do not want a proper job.
Now, one of your post heads likes to work in China, true? Are German university students pleased to have sex with ancient teachers with beer-guts and dentures? Because they often do if asked in China(mind, it's a bit like telesales you have to ask quite a few and you mustn't tell their dorm mates) You say 8-10 classes a week over two years paid you nothing!!!! What the Dickens were you doing with your spare time? No, don't tell me, that might be too much information, bearing in mind that Dickens is a euphemism for works of the devil and possible blindness.
Why not widen your options by including towns and counties? School and college presidents in the public education sector there are usually past masters at wangling extra paid holidays for their staffs and are more laid back about teaching. Also, generally speaking, there is less or even no making up of cancelled classes there, unlike at most city workplaces.
Try to determine what kind of person your immediate boss is before you decide where to go. Older men may well be more laid back. By contrast, ambitious young or middle-aged women usually take teaching much too seriously. Sichuan backwaters tend to have a slow pace of life and the scenery there is more interesting than in many other parts of China. First and foremost, look for as stress-free a work environment as you can find.
keeping the hours down to as little as possible
You may be in for a shock if you ever get a real job outside of China, but horses for courses, I did the 8-10 classes a week thing for a couple of years...it pays nothing though, which is the inherent problem for FTs who need to establish themselves...
Philippines is looking good at this stage. My life in China is not so bad, but teaching is a drag now, and the fickle women are really starting to piss me off.
You're so right, FT's should be in China in spite of the teaching, not because of it, keeping the hours down to as little as possible.
I hope you're taking advantage of all the natural resources at your uni. I proposition all the studentesses I can as long as they're not in my class. They usually tell me that Chinese girls are not like that and I'm older than dad and leave my flat post haste, but there's always the odd one who appreciates antiques and after lessons English tuition. Also out of all the young ladies who decline, the odd one or two changes their minds at a later stage. When in doubt, just lunge with a beery kiss, in response to an inane "do you like Chinese food?"