Of all the hateful and hostile posts that I've read in these forums, Yi's takes the cake.

Yi, I'm wondering if you read what Phil wrote just yesterday, clarifying some of the details in his original post? All I did was call him on some of his behaviors. He's responded again, less angry now than he was a few days ago.

But I still wonder why, after two years of being in China, Phil fell into that trap. He agreed to work in that city for a month to do a summer camp. He didn't do research on the town before? He didn't check out the employer? He didn't ask some of the very basic questions that anybody should ask before they sign a contract or agreement? But instead of putting up with the crap for a month, instead of negotiating with other teachers or management, instead of diplomacy, he chose to be a pain in the neck. For whatever reason--stress, health, fatigue, whatever--he let his behavior get away from him, to the point that he was accused (rightfully or not, we'll never really know) of something, and eventually dropped off at the local bus station. Something about that foreign teacher became so difficult or so unpleasent they felt it necessary to physically remove him from the premises.

If the reasons were because of stress and fatigue, not at all uncommon for people in Asia--both locals and foreigners alike--then maybe he should've thought about that before he took on extra work. Maybe a vacation was in order instead. But he said in yesterday's post he has no money. So now he's really in a bind.

But I'm sure Phil has learned a lesson from his experiences, both in China and at the summer camp. Next time he's faced with a contract, he'll look at it closely and have a list of questions that need to be answered satisfactorily. He knows to look at the big picture of the job, not just net gain. He'll also have some ideas of how to handle difficult situations, better than what happened before. These are all things that will help him all throughout his life, and he's become a better teacher, a better work mate and a better man for it. That's called growing up, and its something that all of us must do all of our lives (including my republican parents and my democrat older brothers!)

Phil said that teaching in China is good for a short time and some traveling, which it is. But there are a lot of us that do this as a career. Two years at something, anything really, is just about long enough to get a good grip on it. At two years of experience, Phil is just getting the hang of it, and now it sounds like he's leaving soon. Thats a big part of the problem for managers and headmasters, finding teachers that are reasonably mature, experienced in teaching and in the local customs, and willing to live in circumstances that can be challenging--even over-whelming--and significantly different than home. And then managers also have to deal with some of the other problems that foreign teahers bring with them, such as schedule irresponsibility, classroom incompetence and negligence, alcoholism and drug abuse, and so many other unprofessional behaviors and attitudes. (And, no, I am not accusing Phil of any of these behaviors.)

If anybody read this post all the way through, I hope Phil did. I wish him luck, now and in the future.