I've read with fascination the suspicions voiced in response to my email about Vicki Ruan. Before I accepted the position she found for me here in China----yes, at a real school, Hebei Tourism Vocational College in Chengde---my paranoia far exceeded anything expressed in the warnings posted here. Perhaps I didn't really worry about having my kidneys stolen, but I was hyper-vigilant, especially after having read a really scary warning or two. On the other hand, having traveled through more than 40 countries, and having lived in 4 by that time, I felt confident that I could control the cards, so to speak.

From the outset, both she and the school's director, "Jack" Li Jun did everything they could to prepare and help me. Perhaps I was luckier than others dealing with other recruiters, or perhaps even luckier than others dealing with Vicki; but I must say that the kindness and collegiality of the staff at the school and the help they've given me have been exemplary. Ditto for Vicki.

Am I legit? Soon, a bilingual government-sponsored text I've edited in conjunction with the school will be published, with my photo and profile. Title: HEBEI CLASSIC TOURIST SITES ENGLISH GUIDE.

I was also the Editor-in-chief of BUSINESS INSIGHT JAPAN MAGAZINE in Tokyo, 1998-2000 and columnist with THE DAILY YOMIURI, not to mention a philosophy and critical thinking lecturer at two Canadian universities, including the University of Western Ontario. On the other hand, if you cannot suspend what may have evolved into radical Cartesian doubt and have lingering suspicions about my credibility, that's fine.

The only consequences will be that you will have incomplete data about Vicki and her services, and that you will have to get a job from someone else---hardly catastrophic for you, for me or for Vicki. She will remain my first recourse [and for some teachers as well] when I make my next move, until such time as I have first-hand experience of her alleged/reported shortcomings.

As for my motive in making the effort to write this: chalk it up to my sense of justice, fair play and commitment to journalistically balanced reporting.

MM