Oh my life!!! Back and for, back and for! This debate could likely see the lot of you battling for all time. You missed the point entirely. Wasn't this supposed to be the experiences of people who know of or have worked at this company and their advice for potential teachers in China about whether NDI is a good or a bad choice. You mention ego', my gosh man, you people rant and rave and go on and on displaying your cleverness and subjecting the reader to the history of NDI and your personal views and perspectives on life, humanity, while your at it, tell us all about the meaning of life. Sorry, don't want to be rude on this blog, but really youre all wasting the reader's time. People on this site want positive and negative input before making a decision about whether this company is for them. They don't want to get bogged down in a scrap between people who can't agree and just want to write essays on what kind of a person we should be. My word, how dare you start assuming anything about people who share their opinions on this site. You can't work someone out based on a few lines. Let me just say, without copying and pasting any of the previous statements, some people they take what their given and they work with what they've got. That could be you. Thats fine.
But....
Some people want to make a change, they have certain principals. Doesn't mean their unreasonable, just means they don't look at the world and say, life's tough, life's unfair, that's the way the world is! Some people believe that you should make it better. If you are in a position where you cannot bring about change, then perhaps youre in the wrong position and so move on.
But I will not risk being a hypocrite and writing my own essay just to argue against your perspective. But don't attack each other on here, how pitiful. My statements are based on both my experience and that of others who I know because of this company. My views are that a teacher coming to China, might find that this company is heartless. A business can be harsh and I'm not going to regurgitate the babble from other people's little stories, but as I have mentioned before, there is a hell of a lot of evidence to support this. There are plenty of people who get on well at this company, but there are plenty that don't. Whatever anyone else on this site Sais, these problems are not always a result of difference in culture or lack of ability, character or stomach for hardships. They are caused by individuals who use and exploit the lovely little people who give up their life in their own country and have come to experience China, its people, culture and to do a great job, teaching. Now this site is supposed to advise those people, not waste their time bickering over tiny details and not always trying to get the last word in on this matter. I believe that foreign teachers would be better off improving the colleges, universities and schools in china, where there is a half decent curriculum and adequate conditions for seeing China and having a positive teaching experience whilst serving the Chinese people. If I wanted to be playing hard ball and fighting battles every year to get a decent situation with my company, I would have stayed in my own country and joined some company there and earned much more money. But that wasn't what I wanted. Don't preach to people about life being tough, if yah can't handle the heat, get out of the kitchen. Good people want a positive experience at a school or company that they can commit to, work hard for and get a little something back. Walk away after a few years having enjoyed their time in China. Simple. People don't want to come here and fight battles or to have to stress over all the points you were all making.

To anyone in that position of coming to this country to start teaching, take a look at my previous points from other posts and then if you have a spare hour or two, take a look at the life lessons from some of the other writers on this site, pah! Just have a think. Amongst the bias and raging 'egos' there is a grain of truth on both sides. The question as I said before, is do you want to risk it. Are you coming to China for money, or are you looking for a chance to do a good job here teaching, whilst getting around a bit and seeing this country?
I think the companies obviously suit some people as there are some people on this site who seem quite happy with their situation and have obviously worked hard at their jobs. But I don't want to think that so many people will have to deal with the multiple problems that could pop up with working for this company. So think long and hard.

Just had a read of my own words... yep I'm a hypocrite! (Essay was typed and I joined in the bickering....oh dear) - For shame!

Oh and as everyone seems to be quoting famous sayings to boost the credibility of their writing "What man is a man who does not try to make the world better".

And as everyone seems to be ending their writing with praises to NDI, China and so on....so will I;
I'd like to thank Buddha, Allah, Gandhi and Tom Cruise for giving me fingers to type this blog!
I'd like to thank my Mum for letting me have two pet rats! No wait that's not relevant
I'd like to thank NDI for giving me a good model for comparisons between a crap situation and the enjoyable job I now have at a University. Where as I said before I have enough time to see China, medical insurance, pay on time, nice people who think of me as a friend rather than the foreigner that generates them money and that can be pushed from pillar to post.