In response to Re Birmy International English (China - head office in Jiaojiang, Taizhou) - The truth (The Lawyer)

.....we are all expendable in China anyway, esp. at the training centre level.

You've hit the nail right on the head, lawyer. Flexibility is the key. Do whatever you're asked, no matter how dumb it might seem to you. Do not make waves, even though you may have to ask for something to be fixed in your apartment ten times before it's actually done. Don't protest about anything, or else you'll be deemed a troublemaker and quickly ostracised. Go with the flow, and you'll be just fine. The trouble with forums like this one is that they attract wingers and culturally insensitive know-it-alls. Give Birmy a break, they're only trying to make a little profit, so it figures they do not wish to antagonise their foreign staff. As I have already said, flexibility is the key. We foreigners teaching in China should always try to satisfy our Chinese employers, even if we have to bend over backwards in the process. Please cease your whining, all you detractors! Whiners at Birmy are expendable and replaceable by other foreigners who will relish the opportunity to show off their teaching skills.