I am with you Terry. I am learning Mandarin, reading and speaking. Whether the Chinese appreciate it or not, I don't care. I do it for myself.
Yes, I do favors for the school I work at and sometimes I do not get paid. However, you must know like me that a favored owed is a favour that must me repaid. The teachers and staff here get me students to tutor on my spare time and other odd jobs that allow me to get paid. In a good month, I double my pay staying under 40 hours per work week. I am allowed to work at TCs, and travel in China doing teacher trainings. My school knows what I do on side and they leave me alone.

When I first arrived here, I had to right every wrong and do everything the western way. As long as what I do does not conflict with my ethics, I can do it. Yes, Chinese do lie and cheat but that falls on themselves. I do not lie and I do not cheat. My school knows that.