I was mainly talking about FTs aged between 55 and 59. They are eligible to be employed legally, but many Chinese employers don't want to employ them because of health concerns. That said, pupils, their parents and students have great influence on an FT's continuing employment. I'm sure that there have been many FTs who taught reasonably well who have been sacked unfairly over the years because of this.

Job security is more likely to be in place in the public education sector than in the private education sector. Not much point spending a lot of money to get to China to teach, and subsequently be sacked within a couple of months of taking up a teaching post.

I see. Although it seems longer to me I have only been here for about 3 weeks. I can't be employed legally but there seems to be a hiring frenzy to employ the likes of me. The wife keeps giving training centres my number. I am now telling them I am not considering anything until my flat is ready to move into. The main reason being is I have to know where the flat is in relation to a training centre:- will the buses get me there and back?- will my new electric vehicle hold enough charge for the journey? I can't wait to get out of this village, they seems nosy and suspicious in these small towns. It was hot so I took a swig of Tsingtao from the bottle the other day and this old fart came up to me(he's about 75 but wears a police shirt with police and jigchar on it) and told me BU HAO!

I was told that if I called on 25th the PSB would give me back my passport, which the lack of is delaying the flat conveyancing, so do you know if the PSB will in fact be open for business tomoorow on a Saturday?