HI - crazy girl, I have to say that, I use simple English, my language is not sophisticated. But for me it is not difficult to find a school in China. Luckily,schools and kids like me and very often my students are happy with me and my teaching. They like me maybe I am simple, or maybe pretty kind or they just like my teaching methodology.. I don't know but I am rarely refused when I am interviewed by a interviewer. Now, let's get to the point. This is my 4th year in China...

My situation is similar to yours in some cases. I didn't post a complaint or report here, because thought one or two posts wouldn't be enough to express what I went through at the time. I was hurt too much.

The school I worked for is a private school. It is in a very remote and cold place. I can't say that everything was bad there about that school. There are some nice moments I had there(My chinese colleagues were nice to me and I had a close friend, she used to visit me.) And my classes .. my students loved them and I never got any complaint from schools Iworked for, when some of foreign teachers did). The manager used to praise me and take to restaurants -lol, I was broadcasted even on TV 2 times and attended the wedding party and even sang a song... lol.)I worked
there almost one year.I was one of the best teachers there. I used to teach both high and primary school students.I am not interested in night bars ,night life and other things like that. I can live without that all. Everyone has a reason to be here right.. So I have my own reasons..I mean I could be happy in that school and sign a contract for another year too. I could tolerate everything(bad housing conditions, being under control of the manager,having no privacy, live with a chinese girl and her boyfriend in one room, having classes without a day off and many other things.. f.e. I was told not to leave my room after 4 p.m.)except cold. It was extremely cold there. Winter lasts 5-6 months> The school is in the north, in heilongjiang. Schools in the north have heaters and very much adapted to cold. Alas, my room was cold. Heaters didn't heat. I suffered a lot, I was always sick. I couldn't sleep at nights.,My back hurt much. When I said it to the manager, he didn't take it seriously.Later I couldn't move my arms so he took me to the hospital. Fortunately, it was during a winter vacation. And I was able to see the doctor and had a massage(the massage lasted 2 months). I was worried because didn't want to miss the classes and in that condition I wouldn't have taught properly. That would create more problems to me. I had to finish my contract at the end of november. In september I got sick again - lol- but it was not funny at the time, Ihad a fever and cough , cough and cough.. I went to hospital and took injections, took lot's of medicine. It didn't help. Iwas so unhappy, I thought I got tuberculosis or something serious.(Because whenever I return home(my country) I am sick. In 2006,Iwent back to my country from Daqing with pneumonia.

And I stayed in the hospital about two weeks.Fortunately,Icompletely recovered.)I thought " this time it is serious - I can not get rid of this cough" So I was so desperate and decided to leave the school, first Iwanted to go back to my country then I thought - why should I - i might feel better if I move to the south or somewhere east in China.

I was a good teacher and the manager would understand Iwould request him to end my contract one month earlier. Just One month...Oh Iwas so mistaken.. that man"good boss" turned to Evil. I regretted that I openly had talked about my problem. They couldn't appreciate my honesty towards them. I came up to him one month earlier in October. Because they used to say - if you leave tell us one month earlier -, so that we would be able to find another FT.

He thought that I want to break my contract, because I already found a better school and wanted to leave the place. He said "NO WAY" Then I was asked to come to his office and take some more injections. He cured me during one week. After... I said no sorry I don't want to stay here and trouble you always. I am always sick here. He said 'Fine" go but go to your country..He also said he gave me visa and a residence permit so I have to work only for him. I didn't get my salary for October.The school called other foreign teachers to get their money. I was not called to the office they simply hid it from me. I didn't know who to ask who to call. The teachers I knew worked for "him" and wouldn't have helped me and I
even didn't try to ask them.

I remember , I went to the office and saw my other collegues getting money, it was so unfair , the school
didn't expect me to come , Lol they even said 'why are you here" I said I came to get my salary. So.. That day I argued, cried but didn't get money. The manager was in his office and playing "Madiang".

He didn't talk to me. He was so busy with his friends. I left that school without saying to anybody, leaving my October month and air ticket money to the Boss.

Noone stole my money and kicked me out...

Finally I am finishing a "boring novel" lol, I am sure it happened not only to me... I really felt bad at the time. Maybe Icouldn't describe it well. For me schools in china are same, what i mean is there are always some good and bad things in every school. I worked in several schools in China. The school might be good, you might have lot's of privacy, but at the same time you have bad students. Or vice versa..........