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Q: Which city is the best to teach in, legally?
~ Bachelors in Math
~ Masters in Special Education
~ Certified teacher
~ Will get a TEFL/TESOL/CETLA over the summer.
~ Two years teaching experience in June 2016
~ Healthy 39 year old white male form California
8 years 12 weeks ago in Teaching & Learning - China
your best option is to go to China for a holiday first to see if your wife and daughter can cope in the environment.
Your wife would be isolated if she is not working and if she can not speak Chinese, and she may not be happy in a place with few foreigners or options to fill her time.
Your daughter could be bullied by local children as she can not speak Chinese yet, or tormented by ignorant locals because she is different.
you might not be able to handle the climate, the food, the staring etc.
there may not be any other foreigners near where you are living.
It would be unfair to inflict your desire for 'adventure' if it means a year of stress and frustration for others in your family.
You also have to think of security.
Non-Chinese children have been known to be stolen (although it is rare), especially is they are blonde / blue-eyed.
Any responsible parent would weigh up the pro's and con's as even singleton's find China a challenging place to work in.
Traveling on a whim is fine if you are young and single, but without adequate preparation, relocating with a family in a totally foreign country can be a disaster. Even the married guys on this forum relocating to their home countries do a lot of ground work with their families first.
You want a non-polluted city with a salary that will support 3 people, that will include having to pay exorbitant education fees and the necessity of having the financial resources for a dubious heath-care system?
good luck!
Shining_brow:
On top of that, are you even going to be able to enrol your daughter into a local school?
Your (Garrett's) qualifications aren't that shit-hot... so you won't get people willing to bend over backwards to accommodate you (or your family). Now, if you had a PhD - then maybe!
ScotsAlan:
I agree Sorrel.
I am In GZ. If the poster wants to come visit China, he can stay with my family for free.If he is a qualified teacher I see no problem.
Shenzhen, best HK airport is next to you for the best flight deals going out and best place to pickup visiting family, lots of good jobs here.. The only con is high rent cost.
Shanghai and Shenzhen in terms of Western style living Hangzhou is also decent, nice environment around the lake. If you're looking for nice weather year round there's also Xiamen.
Avoid any unknown cities, you will hate living anywhere besides first tier.
I described my best cities in China here:
http://answers.echinacities.com/question/where-china-have-you-lived-and-...
I lived and worked there, so they are my bests.
Maybe, there are some better out there, but I don't know about it. Whole thread is good, and you can find many FTs favorite and un-favorite cities.
Good link from icnif77.....lots of suggestions on there. If you want somewhere near Hong Kong or Macau for ease of getting out of China and want sub-tropical temperatures (except now as it's bloody freezing!) then Shenzhen is a good option but has no real history. Guangzhou has a good mix of old and new.
Are you certified as a Maths teacher? If yes, then start searching for the real international schools as they pay 24k-28k/month with good terms. Guangzhou has some decent ones (British School, Utahloy, Canadian School, etc) and I'm sure there are some in Shenzhen.
icnif77:
Where is bloody freezing? Not in Guangzhou? I'm in continental Henan, and we have some -2*C.
Was funny today in my down-town: 'some pipe broke out, and water was leaking over the big road. Some 7 'Simpsons' were trying to stop the leakage, but water on the road freezed in the meantime. Many scooters slided over some 20x5m iced area on the side of the road. While I was watching, there were at least 5 vespa's accidents.'
Ride vespa first on completely dry road (last rain was few weeks ago), reach the ''Simpson's' spot", fall with slide....BOoING...
'Simpsons' couldn't stop the water leakage, and I had to leave laughing....
Heading to Barca on Feb 6th with return to Bj on Feb 25th. Going to Police tomorrow, to make 'claim' for China exit.
Hotwater:
Guangzhou is bloody freezing compared to normal!
I'll be in Andalusia driving round from 30th to 9th Feb, looks like it'll be 17-20C in the day so can warm up a bit!
Why would you bother going to the police before leaving to tell them? I don't even bother telling them if I've been away for 2 weeks!
icnif77:
Barcelona has only +6*C, so boots and leather jacket. It's better that way. I must travel fully dressed from -5*C, and then arrive to warm city with all this winter clothes and full luggage. I hate, when I'm overweight at airports. LOL
Remember last year's meet at yours and Allan's? I exited to HK, and didn't tell Police or somebody. At RP renewal, we were sent away from PSB (on the last RP day), because we didn't have exit certificate.
So, you better ask about it, and stop at police to get an 'exit cert.'. Traveling around China doesn't require as I understand. Only 'exit' from China.
Maybe yours are different, but Henan is PIA. It happened to me first time. I venture to HK once or twice during every RP, and I've never told anybody anything. Last year was the first time I had problems, because I didn't tell.
I'm not sure, where we must go. It might not be Police, but some other not PSB office. Campus admin., close to my housing I think.
The thingy in Henan is, you must tell before the exit, and get some certificate, which must be presented at RP renewal.
Hotwater:
We'll also be leaving wrapped up. After our 10 days in Andalusia we have 5 days in Amsterdam, 5-10C!
I've not had your problems yet. When Alan and me gout our first RP' ms they were 3 year ones! He didn't leave Chiba for more than 2 years! I left about every 3 months for short holidays and only went back to the registration office when I moved apartment (it's a small office, not PSB station, where I live in GZ).
Though last year when I change WP city (GZ to Foshan) they asked me nicely to register at my local office again as I hadn't updated my registration in 2 year! Definitely seem to apply the rules differently across this vast country.
Enjoy your break. Maybe we'll get that chance to meet up some time.
icnif77:
Same to you! Enjoy your break! Wish to stop in Amstel-dam (I'll get some Ozz fans with that city's name, LOL) or Copenhagen, but I got cheap ticket with few hours stop in Doha. I got to get to the bottom of that 'Allan's Snack Bar' thingy. LOLOLO
We'll certainly get together at my next HK trip. I'll plan ahead for not that fast return to Henan.
Looking at Gold chart daily and if big dip, I'll hit HK ASAP. I hate to admit, but charts run my lifey. Sometimes.
icnif77:
Ok, I'm back from Police. It's not required to 'claim an exit', but we must come to Police in 24h, after my return to the city. We'll get some certificate.
I think, that's an old rule, which I've never complied with. Last year's trouble was for the first time.
Hotwater:
The certificate you get is the registration form of temporary residence.
icnif77:
The translation I got last June at RP extension was shady. I was told, problem was, because I didn't registered an exit, and next time I must do that, as 'before you exit, we must visit police and make claim'.
I felt unease at that requirement, and I thought Chinese RP rules changed.
Mostly, I was guessing what's going on by their talk and moves cops made. Copper was keep pointing at HK arrival stamp.
Rep was completely lost, and I hate problems on the last day of RP.
Now, I have new rep. with slightly better English, and I apologized I wasted his time today.
I read here about that 24-hour arrival claim, but I've never did that, and I've never had any problems.
Apparently, if I don't do arrival registration, I'll have same problems at new RP extension in any city in China, and I'll be required to return to Kaifeng to get Registration cert. PIA, when you're somewhere far away from the RP city you exited.
Hotwater:
They won't issue an RP if you don't register with the police first on arrival. It's the first step you have to do after arriving on a Z-visa. Surprised you didn't know this. Glad you got sorted out now with what to do.
icnif77:
No, I meant if I don't do return registration, and then move to another RP sponsor in diff. city/Province. I'll have to return to Kaifeng and get return registration cert.
Only after I present return reg. cert., new RP sponsor will be able to extend RP.
You give no information about your preferences or your life style. So how can we strangers recommend a city to you? You don't even tell us what you're looking for here.
ironman510:
Agreed, like do you want the city with the hottest girl or the new up coming gays? lol
If you're after your California lifestyle in China, best head off down to Sanya on Hainan Island. It is a bit westernized but you get the sun and beaches.
Well it really depends what you're looking for. Why are you coming here? Are you looking for a new adventure in life? Looking to get married? Or just ran out of options back home? In 1st tier cities, as mentioned above, it's possible to live in a Western bubble. Eat only western food, have only foreign friends etc.... but that's possibly not what you're coming for. Without knowing more it's difficult to recommend places.
But having said that I always like to recommend Chengdu, great city. But cities in the south have better weather and (generally) less pollution. The difference between 1st tier and 2nd, 3rd, and 4th tier is huge, so give us more info and we can give you better answers.
GarrettAbbott:
Well to answer your questions; I am looking for a little adventure along with a good learning experience for my five year old daughter. I am happily married, have a good teaching job here in Northern California (Teaching math to underprivileged teens). Would really like to fine the most unpolluted city I can with the most pay, but aren't we all. Not really look for western culture, and would really like to immerge our family into China's culture. Not their living condition though (I have seen what the average Chinese family live like, and would like to keep that more western).
estern:
In that case I would recommend somewhere like Xiamen, Qingdao, or Dalian. They are all nice places with a certain degree of westernization, but noting compared to the tier 1 cities. You say you want to immerse yourself in Chinese culture, and that's great. But some western services will be essential for you for when you reach the point where you just need to take a break from China (and you defiantly will). Also you will be able to survive in these places initially without much Chinese. Going to a smaller place to try to settle a family without speaking Chinese really would be incredibly tough.
A note on your daughter. I'm an ugly middle aged man, and I get stared at all day long. A 5 year old white girl will be the center of attention everywhere she goes. People will be taking photos of her, touching her, trying to pick her up and take photos together and all without your permission. I hope both you and her are ready for this as there will be no escape from it.
I don't want to discourage you, but settling in China is not easy. I've seen many people come, decide they don't like it, then run of back home with their tail between their legs. And for you it will be another step more difficult again as you have a family with you. Good luck to you, but don't underestimate what you are taking on. China is not easy!.
Low pollution and high pay go together like cement and trampolines.
ironman510:
but you know Chinese don't use tampons? lol thats a step baCK
your best option is to go to China for a holiday first to see if your wife and daughter can cope in the environment.
Your wife would be isolated if she is not working and if she can not speak Chinese, and she may not be happy in a place with few foreigners or options to fill her time.
Your daughter could be bullied by local children as she can not speak Chinese yet, or tormented by ignorant locals because she is different.
you might not be able to handle the climate, the food, the staring etc.
there may not be any other foreigners near where you are living.
It would be unfair to inflict your desire for 'adventure' if it means a year of stress and frustration for others in your family.
You also have to think of security.
Non-Chinese children have been known to be stolen (although it is rare), especially is they are blonde / blue-eyed.
Any responsible parent would weigh up the pro's and con's as even singleton's find China a challenging place to work in.
Traveling on a whim is fine if you are young and single, but without adequate preparation, relocating with a family in a totally foreign country can be a disaster. Even the married guys on this forum relocating to their home countries do a lot of ground work with their families first.
You want a non-polluted city with a salary that will support 3 people, that will include having to pay exorbitant education fees and the necessity of having the financial resources for a dubious heath-care system?
good luck!
Shining_brow:
On top of that, are you even going to be able to enrol your daughter into a local school?
Your (Garrett's) qualifications aren't that shit-hot... so you won't get people willing to bend over backwards to accommodate you (or your family). Now, if you had a PhD - then maybe!
ScotsAlan:
I agree Sorrel.
I am In GZ. If the poster wants to come visit China, he can stay with my family for free.If he is a qualified teacher I see no problem.
I don't know if there is a particular city that is terrible, they're all pretty cool in their own way and you haven't mentioned what you're looking for.
I hate to rain on your parade, but teaching legally also requires the school to be legally allowed to hire foreigners, which most aren't, and they won't tell you. You just have to come here and be ignorant towards that.
Good for you for getting all those qualifications, i wish i had them, although i could still attain all of them as i am only 26. But having all of those in china isn't going to make much of difference, this is a different world over here where rational thoughts and laws don't exactly make the butter churn.
I hope you have applied to Wall Street English, as far as i know it is the only legal school in China.
Beijing is a great city to teach in legally- you use job sites and answer honestly about your creeds Andy out can work there.
