> What you say is true and fair.
However, maybe you are not at a very good school. There are some horrible, horrible places to work in China, and there are some great places to work. Every school has it's problems. I am commonly paid late, by one or two days. It is a small price to pay for not having to put up with a lot of the bullshit that you have to.

As for phone cards, you can probably find them for very cheap in the same areas you buy your dvd's. Remember to bargain for them. Up here in the North East, we pay 25RMB for 45 minutes over seas. Their asking price starts at 60, but in China you can bargain on anything.

I do shave, as a woman, I probably shave a lot more than you do, I also go to the spa twice a week. I go for a one hour massage on top of that every weekend. I get my hair done and deep conditioned, a three hour treatment every 3 weeks. I eat western food with my friends atleast twice a week, and have over 300 DVD's in my collection. I have a brand new computer, and a brand new laptop, digital camera and MP3 player, all I have bought here by saving 1/2 of my salary each month. I have a PS2, Gamecube and XBox, all from doing 4 hours of private tutoring a week. I live a very nice lifestyle here, and only on 4000RMB/month.

Perhaps my area is far cheaper than yours. I do drink, but only on Friday nights when my company pays for it.
I eat a lot of fruit, but buy it all from the street markets, or the lady that brings it to my door or work. Very, very cheap. No, I don't eat cheese, I am a vegan vegitarian, so yes, that cuts down on the cost. I find that I don't even really like western food anymore. I do eat three meals a day, plus pringles and stuff.
I don't know where you are, but ADSL for that much is insane. We seriously pay only 100RMB/3 months. And it is a very fast connection. We also get free internet access at work. There are small coffee shops here that are also internet cafes, where people don't smoke nearly as much. ( I totally understand what you mean about nearly needing a gas mask to go into the usual ones. Gag! )

That does suck that you live out of the city, and have to pay so much for transportation. Doesn't your school offset any of your travel costs? Ours does. It's not much, but it's something.

Most of us here meet up with friends every night, but not at the bar. There are other free places to go, like to the public squares at night, the parks, someone's house, etc.

Good for you for being such an excellent and prepared teacher. Seriously. So many people here come along and don't give a rats ass about their actual teaching. However, at my school, we have some that care a lot,and some that don't. The people who put the extra effort in, are usually reimbursed for their extra expenses. Why not? It only benefits the school and the students.
I must admit that perhaps I am one of the lucky ones, and I'm sorry your financial experience has been so bad.

You are right in being angry over the person who gave you false information regarding your finances. I'm sorry that has happened to you, and also sorry to say that it is common among schools and recruiters here.
However, given my situation, I do feel that people can enjoy a much better lifestyle here than they can at home. I feel that 100%. Most of us did not have fantastic lifestyles at home, or we wouldn't have left.

You raise a very good point about why people stay here so long. I myself am a little afraid of going home, finishing my degree while being the oldest student there, having to start all over again by living at my Dad's until I can find another apartment again, finding another job, etc. Yes, it is difficult.
Yet I don't think it is bad enough to be a deterrent from coming here. This is the experience of a lifetime, and by having more than enough money right now, I am also learning that money is maybe not as important as we think.

Sincerely,
Da Yan Jing.

Hello Da Yan Jing,

> Can I buy my phone cards through you as I pay 40-45RMB for a card
> that gives me only 27 minutes to call my home country.

> It sounds as though you don't shave. You dont drink coffee, eat
> cheese, like a good wine or a fine whisky. Nor do your drink beer
> that much. I pay 12rmb for six cans of beer and I think is fair that
> I enjoy 2 cans per day. It sounds as though you don't eat fruit or
> have a liking for chocolate. I am guessing you dont' eat three meals
> a day. The internet connection is 150 a month for ADSL connection. I
> live alone and enjoy watching the odd DVD movie. I live out from the
> city and a one way taxi fair is 50RMB. The bus to my home stops
> running after 8.30pm. I could be a hermit and not have a social life
> with other expats in the city but I think it would be fair to want to
> meet up with friends now and again. Do you live alone? Totally alone?

> I had to buy a mop, bucket, broom, desk lamp, ironing board, DVD
> player, and binders for my lessons plans. Plastic sleeves for my
> handouts in class, and I print quite a few large colour flash cards
> for my English lessons. One ink cartridge for a cannon printer can go
> quickly when you print in colour. I get bugger all from the school
> and their resources are zero. I have to buy extra books and small
> office items like stapler, felt pens, cutting blades, scissors etc.
> You did say you were a teacher? Do you get my drift? Your school must
> give you ALL that you need to teacher English and you are one of the
> lucky ones.

> I will not go into my personal matters back home but I do have an
> elderly mother, a partner and family back home. The Chinese teachers
> have their own lives to live and I am doing what I can to make my
> life (not another elses) enjoyable.

> I am a non-smoker and I would not visit the local internet cafe if it
> was for free. They are over-crowded, cramped and uncomfortable to be
> in.

> I suppose it is all relative and you are right in saying that we all
> have to buy soap and the like. You are doing very well on your budget
> and I congratulate you.

> Mine balance sheet is only giving one example of the costs a teacher
> may face in China.

> I did not live for free in my country and I paid my dues in taxes and
> the rest of the charges you mentioned.

> What I am angry over was that the a$%ehole who told me I could
> comfortably live on 50rmb a week was exaggerating and a lot of people
> are fooled in believing that they are going to better off financially
> if they come to China.

> I am only guessing, but could it be that some teachers stay in China
> because they have not got enough money saved to re-enter their
> previous life without having to rely on the support of family and
> friends or government unemployment benefits when they arrive home. It
> can be pretty devastating to return home and have nothing to show for
> your trip to China except a lot of memories and photos. They do not
> pay the bills or get you retrained because while you were away having
> such a great time in China life went on in your home country and all
> your friends have been promoted and got way ahead of you financially
> with better wages and living conditions. The fear of having to have
> to start almost al lover again, renting, finding work and making ends
> meet, yes I think it would be easier to stay in China just one more
> contract then another, then another and before long you convince that
> live is not so bad In China and stay.

> So people reading this forum if you have not come to China before to
> work as a teacher think long and hard and plan for your homecoming
> before you leave. Have a big savings account waiting for you when you
> get home because you are going to need it.

> Your shout, I will have a cold beer
> Paul

> Wow, you seem very upset about having to pay for anything. Do you