I went with reasonable expectations, but now I wish I had not gone at all. A waste of money and time. But I got to see the Great Wall in China!!!!!

After a 6 hour flight to china, and a 10 hour train ride to Changchun, I meet the lovely Andi. Very nice girl, although I got the feeling she did not know what was going on. To be honest I am not sure if anyone knew what was going on.

Three hours later I was in a small town Meihekou, not Tonghue. It turned out that I was never going to see Tonghue. So on arrival I was rather worried, strange country, strange town. I was put into an empty flat with no running water, no hot water, no flushing toilet, and the Boss's (Miss Liu) assistant, Minda, told me to "wait" for Miss Liw to see me. I asked for how long was I was to wait, and what was going on, and I got no answers.

At this stage I was ready to find the next bus out of their.

I left after three weeks there. From talking with other teachers there, I could not trust Miss Liu to hand over my passport to organsie my work visa etc. Other teachers had, and they had not seen their passport in two to three months.

Miss Liu had failed to provide furnished accomodation, and as Andi stated to me "of western standards". Some teachers had NO heating in minus 15degree temperatures! I got tired of waking up every morning at 6am to collect water to boil and to sponge bath with.

I was also require to teach 24 classes a week, I had to be at the school from 7.30 to 4.30 pm, not able to leave during this time. This was ok though for me as I had a great time with my assistant "Super Suzzan" she was wonderful.

In regards to teaching placement, I was told about 8pm the night before that I was to teach the next day. After waiting around a week. Dont expect any teacher training or assistance if you are promised it! Your assistant is as good as you will get. Mine just happened to be the best!!

Girls PLEASE BE CAREFUL!!!! Miss Liu will treat you like a trophy, show you off to the people who pay her, to pay you. If you are not blonde you might be even asked to die your hair!!! I found it very prostitute like.

Everyone treats Miss Liu like a QUEEN.

You will not be paid for your first week of teaching.

Seriously negotiate your contract when you are there, and do not sign it until everything has been delivered as promised. IE furnished apartment, running water, flushing toilet!!

Meihekou is a cute little town, there is nothing there,and take enough cash with you, or else you need to go 3 hours to Changchun to find an ATM.

The school I taught in while there was cool. The kids are great, lotsa fun, but I think that would be the same in any school around China.

So in conclusion, I personally could not trust Miss Liu to give her my passport. She failed to deliver her promises. I am getting married next year, so with below than average living conditions, I thought I could be spending my time more constructively elsewhere. Although I am rather dispointed not to have seen more of china.

I think if I do it again,I will organise the work permit myself before I leave my home country. You have more control that way. Also if the accomodation, and placement is not organised by the time you arrive, then leave to somewhere else.

I really dislike Miss Liu's business practice and methods. I am not sure how she manages to survive and run her "royal language school" pay offs is my guess.

ALWAYS KEEP YOUR WITTS ABOUT YOU!!!!!!

Good luck!!