The amusing think it that there are even foreigners who borrow from friends and relatives to buy an airline ticket so they can come to China and teach. These people are then totally reliant of the school to support them. No money, no knowledge of Chinese, they get themselves in all sorts of trouble!

So what are these unfortunates supposed to do? Many of them can't find work in their own countries because employers prefer to employ Eastern Europeans. And even if the natives were prepared to work for the same wages, the employers' policy is immigrants only.

Some FT's get into trouble in China but others land on their feet and get a second chance in life. We never hear from the ones who make good in China because they have no time or inclination to visit forums.

Again and this is really getting boring, you don't need to know a word of Mandarin to succeed in China. You do have to be on the ball though and have a Chinese send information to your Chinese mobile phone- for the taxi driver and the railway station, et ceteras. You get in trouble pal because you're as daft as a brush.