Evening Foxy,

In China my money has much more buying power than in the UK for daily living costs.

Doesn't change the fact that the currency, due to being kept artificially low, is absolutely worthless outside of China. For chinese beer and food and other items in China it is more than adequate however. You seem content to live on a chinese level, nothing wrong with that. I never bought western food much in china except pasta from the supermarkets, the odd steak or kfc now and then, that was about it. My favourite places were the little muslim places, +1 to China for those. Chinese food in the UK is terrible.

As for British employers in the field of education in the UK, they tend to be much more demanding than Chinese EFL employers, and even more demanding than European employers in the field of education.

That perhaps just goes to show a difference in standards of control and observation, and transparency in the government. I've seen chinese teachers showing pirated movies in class, or coming into classes after a baijiu fuelled dinner. That would just not fly in other countries, not only the UK. Also FT's in China don't receive a pension, free healthcare, or entitlement to any government benefits, even a part time teacher in the UK would be entitled to housing benefits. Again, not personal, just my opinions on this differ from yours.

I will always maintain that teaching 12 clock hours/week for at least 5,000 RMB/month plus rent-free accommodation plus the rest of the standard employment package here is an exceptional deal in the teaching profession that is only available in the PRC. It doesn't suit many, but it is exactly what I seek!

the fact is there are not many that only offer 12 hours per week, most are 14-18 classes per week for around 5,500 month. The accommodation is rent free, you are right on the money about that. You keep saying it is an exceptional deal or something unique to the PRC and refuse to budge on this point. I maintain there is far better out there in China/the world and you are selling yourself short, but again not personal. You have found your own idyll, each to their own.

I think I'll leave it at that.

Good luck in IM,
San Migs/Al