Download the Teachers For Asia April 2013 Newsletter (PDF format).

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1-Cost of living is generally very low in China. You will find that your money will go a long way and you’ll generally have a decent amount left over for saving too.

2-Apartments tend to be very spacious with high ceilings and larger living space.

3-Spending 10-25 hours a week in the classroom allows many teachers free time to pursue hobbies and interests, including learning Mandarin, martial arts, or artistic pursuits.

4-China has rapidly caught up with other markets for ESL jobs. Many teachers are now able to save more than even graduate teachers in their native-English countries.

5-Collecting visa documentation is a lot easier for China than for other countries in Asia and can be completed relatively quickly too. Although Criminal Background Checks aren’t required for a lot of China teaching jobs, many of our client schools request them. We expect this will become standard throughout the country within the next few years.

6-China is very couple friendly. If an unmarried couple get employed at same school, it’s rarely a problem if they want to share an apartment together. In China it’s very much an ‘each to their own’ mentality in that regard.

7-There is a huge variety of backgrounds amongst westerners living in China. You will meet engineers, writers, bankers, doctors, entrepreneurs and of course, lots of other teachers! This is especially true in the larger cities in China such as Shanghai, Guangzhou, Beijing, Suzhou etc. Many expats originally come to work as teachers and then move into other areas of work including starting their own businesses.

8-Since most things are now made in China you can find some incredible deals on clothes, electronics, etc. (some are low quality but some will last you for years!).

9-China is a gigantic country with a population of over 1.3 billion people. You could spend your whole life backpacking through it and not see everything.

10-This is one of the oldest cultures in the world with an incredibly rich history. For the historians out there, you will never get bored!

We only work with schools in China that guarantee to cover the costs of our teachers’ flights and also the costs of apartment rental for the duration of your contract. At least one member of our team always visits any school prior to deciding whether to work with them or not. We like to keep everything transparent so we will always offer multiple email address from current or previous teachers.

Get in touch with our team if you want to find out more at admin@teachersforasia.com

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Download the Teachers For Asia March 2013 Newsletter (PDF format).

Featured Job of the Month:

Thailand Public School (Short‐term)

• Location: Thailand (multiple locations)
• Salary: US$1000 minimum per month
• Start date: May – End September 2013 (5 month teaching contracts)
• Benefits: FREE Accommodation, health cover, excellent support and more!
• Class Level: Variety of age groups
• Class sizes: 35-40 approximately
• Schedule: 5 days per week, Mon-Fri
• Work hours: 22 hours teaching per week approximately
• Extra: Full training provided, good team of teachers, very friendly atmosphere, amazing culture and quality of life

Requirements: All qualifying nationalities can apply for this position (Citizens of USA, UK, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa). TESOL/TEFL Course required. If you don’t have this certification yet, email us directly for more info and access to large discounts. Option also available to do an in-house 1 month TESOL course as part of a package in Thailand before you start working.

TEFL Discounts:

Get ahead of the pack and become TEFL certified! Check out our latest TEFL and TESOL courses with excellent discounts of up to 25% off!

China teaching positions:

Some great new teaching positions opening in China soon! Keep an eye out for these upcoming teaching positions on the Teachers for Asia jobs page!

Upcoming TFA Telegram features:

These include Competitions, Meet the Team, Featured Travel Destinations, Classroom Ideas, Interviewing Tips, and much more! Stay tuned!

Taipei City is located at the northern tip of the island of Taiwan. With a population of almost 3 million people, it’s a very established capital city. Taipei, New Taipei, and Keelung are joined together forming the Taipei metropolitan area with a population of about 7 million people. “Taipei” sometimes refers to the whole metropolitan area, while “Taipei City” refers to the city proper. Taipei City proper is surrounded on all sides by New Taipei.

Taipei is a very international city with lots of expats from many different countries. Most people are familiar with the famous Taipei 101 Skyscraper which dominated the skyline and was considered the tallest building in the world for a short time several years ago. Taipei is also famous for really cool night markets. Most night markets feature individual stalls selling a mixture of food, clothing, and consumer goods. There are also tons of festivals, including the Taipei Lantern Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Ghost Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival.

Taipei life is excellent, people are friendly and it is very safe, especially for women and generally the pace of life is relaxed and slow. Taiwanese people are honest and quite open, as well as being very curious about foreigners. Learning Mandarin is definitely a plus and an excellent way to enrich your experience of living in Taiwan. Classes are readily available and you can take either group or private classes, depending on your schedule and preference.
If you are interested in Teaching English in Taiwan, get in touch – we’d be happy to help!

Top 5 Korean Quirks

By: Michelle Power

#1 Couple Sets

Korean couples think it’s cute to dress identically, right down to the accessories. Apparently it’s a throw back to an earlier time when public displays of affection were forbidden. Dressing identically was a young couples way of displaying their love and adoration for each other. Today I’m pretty sure they just do it for fun!

#2 Phone Accessories

I’ve yet to see a Korean person carrying a phone that doesn’t have some sort of accessory dangling from it, be it a phone charger, subway pass, a key chain, or a stuffed animal. From adolescent girls to middle aged businessmen. It is also worth saying that the appendage is usually larger than the phone itself.

#3 Bizarre Pizza Toppings

I think most foreigners take a skeptical look at their first Korean pizza. From sweet corn to pumpkin, potatoes, yams or minced beef, the Korean motto seems to be “if it’s edible, it’s a pizza topping”. It’s also worth noting that pickles are generally substituted for garlic dipping sauce. It’s my advice to stick to the local food whilst on your Korean sabbatical as their take on all western food can get pretty out there.

#4 Weather

Koreans have some of the strangest approaches to weather I have ever encountered. Umbrellas come out at the slightest bit of precipitation, with every person on the street whipping out a brolley from god knows where. When the sun arrives the brolleys are out again to block the sun. Whilst most of us westerners like to sun worship, going to great lengths to get some Vitamin D, pale skin is very much in vogue with Asians. Shops sell arm protectors to keep from getting t-shirt tans and older women wear VERY large visors!

#5 Bathroom Discretion Buttons

The best has been saved for last. A favourite talking point with us ex-pats is the range of buttons featured in most public toilets. These “Discretion Buttons” are there to, well disguise the sound of you, spending a penny or dropping the kids off at the pool! These disguising noises include birds tweeting, coughing noises and even opera music!

St. Patrick’s Day: Expat Edition!

By: Michelle Power
Surely one of the best things about living abroad is stealing and cherry picking your new host country’s national holidays, not to mention those of your new colleges and co-workers. Chuseok? Yes please? Children’s Day? Sure, why not? Canada Day? Don’t mind if I do. Thanksgiving? Who doesn’t love giving thanks? So St Patrick’s Day is the perfect chance for us Irish to give back. Never are we more adamant about spreading Irish joy then La Feile Padraig and it’s fair to say everyone wants to get on the Paddy’s Day bandwagon. Happily you don’t have to sacrifice our favorite opportunity to dress in green and booze up just because you are living in Asia – if anything it is even better celebrating it overseas!

The Irish Association of Korea has been celebrating St. Patrick’s Day annually since 2001 with parades and celebrations (featuring “Korean U2”) in Itaewon, Daehangno and Cheonggyecheon. This year is their 12th event and they’re expecting 15,000 spectators.
And it is not just the Koreans who want in – your options are endless, from cheiles in Beijing, Parades in Kuala Lumpur, Trad Irish bands in Bangkok to free pour Guinness in Shanghai, fear not – you will be drinking copious amounts of warm green beer and mediocre Guinness this St. Patrick’s Day, so get your drinking boots on! For more information check local listings and of course don’t forget to drink responsibly!

Here’s a ‘quirky’ comic for you to enjoy, courtesy of our partners at ROKetship!

Check out their website at www.roketship.com

Happy St. Patrick’s Day from all of us at Teachers for Asia!

Thanks for reading! Keep an eye out for our April Issue!

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Once you’re in Thailand, there are three options for getting around: plane, train, or bus. Flights are amazingly cheap, particularly if you surf AirAsia’s websites a month or two in advance. They have recently moved their operations from Suvarnabhumi to the older Don Muang airport, however, so if you’re coming from abroad, allow plenty of time for a transfer. From Don Muang, you can fly to many of the cities and islands around the country. AirAsia offer boat transfers to the islands, but it’s often cheaper just to fly into the nearest city and later book your boat ride.

The train offers a wonderfully peaceful and scenic means of transport. One line even runs to the border with Laos, and is the main means of entering that particular country. Another line stretches from Bangkok down through Malaysia and into Singapore. Tickets are astoundingly cheap, and the trains, which are scheduled to run through the night, offer a reasonably comfortable alternative to a flight.

The final option is the bus, which is usually faster than the train, but far less comfortable. Expect to be jammed into a packed vehicle with other travelers. If meeting fellow backpackers is your thing, then the bus is definitely the best option, but if comfort is important, it’s probably best to go with one of the other two.

In the cities, you will doubtless be offered tuk-tuk rides. These can often cost as much as a taxi, so haggle hard and confirm the deal in advance. Taxis are the more reliable and far safer option, but there are also motorcycles for rent in the smaller towns and cities, and of course local buses, which can be a little tricky to navigate.

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The festivals in Taiwan correspond to those in Mainland China, due to the country’s origins. The biggest festival, of course, is Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival. This is held in either January or February, with the 2013 celebration falling on February 10^th. Typically, the celebration lasts for a week or more, with businesses closing their doors and the streets eerily devoid of people. This is not the ideal time to visit, due to an absence of transport and services, as well as inflated prices on flights in and out of the country, but the weeks running up to, or following Chinese New Year offer a glimpse of ancient culture. Expect songs and fireworks, mixed liberally with heavy drinking.

There is also Qing-ming, which is a celebration of the spring time, at the start of April. This festival has numerous translations in English, as well as transliterations, with “Tomb-sweeping day” being the most popular. As this name suggests, it is not only a day for celebrating the coming of spring, but for remembering your ancestors.

Next there is the Dragon Boat Festival, which is usually held in June. Another festival with Mainland origins, it celebrates the sacrifice of an ancient Chinese official. This is a particularly colorful festival, with brightly colored boats taking to rivers and lakes around Taiwan. In Taiwan, as in China, it is common to eat a sort of sweet dumpling on this day, called Zongzi.

Peculiar to Taiwan is Ghost Month, when the gates of hell purportedly open and the dead walk the land. During this month, the seventh of the Lunisolar calendar, ancient superstitions are played out as people burn food and fake money in offerings to the dead. This festival exists in Mainland China, but only in Taiwan does it last for a full month.

Mid-Autumn Festival is probably the second most important festival in both China and Taiwan, and celebrates the somewhat bizarre story of a woman who prevented her husband from becoming immortal, and then hid on the moon to escape his wrath. Held in late September or early October, this is one of the more interesting festivals, with lanterns being lit and sent into the night sky, and moon cakes given as gifts.

Finally, there is Taiwan Restoration Day, which is celebrates the liberation of Taiwan from Japanese Imperial rule. This is held every year on October 25^th, the only celebration with a fixed date in the Gregorian calendar.

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The biggest music festival in China is without question the Midi Festival in Beijing, which has been held at the start of every May since 2000. This festival is considered quite cool because it shuns big names in favour of smaller, underground acts, and keeps ticket prices low in order to draw larger crowds, sometimes nearing 100,000 people.

Beijing also has its annual Pop Festival, which began in 2004, and has drawn bands like Placebo, Nine Inch Nails, Public Enemy, and the New York Dolls. It is a more expensive event than the Midi Festival, with ticket prices at around 200rmb. It is held at the beginning of each September.

In October there is also the Modern Sky Festival, which is held by one of China’s biggest indie labels. The acts will be mostly unknown to the average foreign visitor, but they do usually bring in an international headline act. With cheap tickets and a good vibe, it is a popular festival among young Chinese music fans. It is held at the beginning of October.

Shanghai has the Yue Festival, held each year in October, in the middle of the world-famous Zhongshan Park. Previous acts have included Faithless, and the festival is known for embracing environmental ideals, with a portion of the proceeds going to charities.

There are numerous festivals held throughout the rest of the country, at all times of the year, although promotion is usually quite limited. Even the biggest festivals (such as the ones described above) spend very little on advertising, and often posters get put up at the last minute. The best way to find out about gigs is to watch out for posters in and around bars.

Of course, you don’t have to visit festivals to hear great music. Whether it’s traditional or modern, China has plenty of live music on offer.

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Nanjing (also, historically, known as Nanking) is one of China’s most popular tourist destinations. Its’ name means “Southern Capital as opposed to Beijing, which means “Northern Capital”. Unsurprisingly, both of them have been the capital of China at various points in the country’s turbulent history. As such, Nanjing has a wealth of historical and cultural sites that draw tourists from around the globe.

It is unfortunate that Nanjing is best known for its most tragic place in the annals of Chinese and world history. In December 1937, the Japanese army swept into Nanjing and over the course of three weeks slaughtered 300,000 civilians. Today, the city’s most popular tourist site commemorates that awful chapter in history with what is probably China’s finest museum – the Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall. It is located next to the Yunjinglu subway station, so it’s easy to find and, unusually, entrance is free. Expect long queues on weekends, but they move quickly.

There is also the Confucius Temple in the south of the city, the City Wall, the China Gate, the Presidential Palace, the ruins of the Imperial Palace, Jiming Temple, and countless museums. For a history or culture buff, there are few better places in China than Nanjing. All of these are easily accessible by subway, bus, and taxi, and set-up to deal with the city’s large number of foreign visitors.
But it’s not just history that draws the tourists. Nanjing is a bustling, modern city. It has developed to elegantly blend old and new, and is certainly among China’s most attractive urban areas. Thanks to the influx of tourists, and the large number of foreigner who settle here to work as teachers, there is an unusual wealth of foreign restaurants and Western-style bars, and the city is China’s second best shopping location after Shanghai.

Nanjing is a short ride by train from Shanghai, and has connections to Beijing, Hefei, and many other cities around China, making it easily accessible, and a popular day- or weekend-trip for expats and English teachers. For visitors there are numerous hotels and some really highly regarded hostels that house a vibrant backpacker community. All in all, it is no surprise Nanjing has risen to be one of China’s prime tourist destinations.

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There are few better places to make money than China. On the surface of it, teaching here might not seem as lucrative as in South Korea or Taiwan, but when you dig a little deeper you’ll realize that you can save a ton of money in China. The reason for that is quite simple: China is CHEAP! A beer here can cost as little as 2mb (about US$0.30). Dinner can be as cheap as 5 rmb (US$0.77).

So while you may initially laugh at a job offering 5000 rmb (US$770) per month, think of it in terms of cost of living. Your flights, accommodation and bills will most likely be taken care of, and if you’re lucky then you might even get to eat at school. It’s possible to get by on less than ten dollars a week, which means you can save almost all of your pay cheque.

Of course, as mentioned in other articles, the cost of living varies across China. But this is generally a poor country, where people typically earn a small fraction of what foreign teachers earn. So if you have Western tastes and insist on eating pizza and drinking margaritas every day, you might struggle to save much as much. But if you immerse yourself in the local lifestyle, you’ll probably walk away with huge savings after your first year. If indeed you choose to walk away.

It should also be kept in mind that teachers’ salaries are often tailored to the area in which the job is situated. Expect to earn more in Shanghai, Beijing or Guangzhou, for example, than in Chengdu or Hefei. But even so, the price of local food is usually extremely cheap.

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Let’s face it everything is made in China. In recent years, China has propelled itself to the economic forefront. While the West wonders what the future holds, in China life goes on, but with a new vigour and a desire for novelty that has perhaps not existed here for some time. The motto is ‘out with the old and in with the new’, and the cityscape and inhabitants of places such as Beijing reflect this new vitality.

Beijing recently played host to Giorgio Armani. Here, in a gallery in the reputable 798 art district, “One Night Only in Beijing” celebrated 10 years of Armani in China. It featured couture designs that paid homage to the country. This reflects the current status of China in the opinions of the culturally and commercially orientated. And is another reason for fashion capitals to move over and make some room for an up and coming player.

The perception here is that everything must be larger than life. Vast shopping hubs, groupings of ultra-modern shopping centres, litter Beijing. They are immense and they are impressive, entertaining a lively mix of well known Western labels, and fashionable new Chinese brands. Everything is sleek and maintains a certain contemporary panache. The ‘brand’ is essential. It is a brand that does not only affix itself to the merchandise but to the infrastructure also.

If you are a shopper who prefers to keep a distance from such commercial centres, then make for the markets. They are hives of activity, teeming with people, overflowing with merchandise. Your eyes will well up (mine certainly did!) as you begin to fathom the extent of these markets. Everything you desire can be found. There may not be a shop front or a price tag, but even the brand-chaser will be pleased. Haggling is rampant: if you like to bargain you will love it, if not you will suddenly find that you are very good at it, China teaches you things and the art of bargaining is certainly one.

China is a shopper’s paradise. Astounding in quantity and pleasing to the pocket. It possesses more Western commodities now than ever before. However, certain Western comforts and necessities have failed to translate, or been thoroughly lost in translation. So before arriving in Beijing with an empty suitcase in anticipation of a shopping bonanza, do take the following into consideration:
1. Wellbeing
- Every traveller should always include a first aid kit on their list of things to pack.
- Bring enough of whatever you need: prescription drugs, contact lenses and glasses, vitamins etc. All things we take for granted at home, but sometimes it can be difficult to get exactly what you want here.
- You will find hand sanitizer to be of great use as soap isn’t always provided.
- Vaccinations: get them all before you get here. Consult your doctor, some vaccinations that you may need require booster shots and these can take a number of weeks.

2. Beauty
- The climate here is dry, moisturiser is essential. They have a vast selection, however, the majority contain skin whitening agents which I tend to avoid; I’m certainly white enough. The same goes for sunscreen, which often not only protects your skin but whitens it too. Furthermore, it is expensive here (the whiteness of skin is highly valued).
- If you wear make-up, be aware that it is difficult to get the correct tones.
- Hair products that do not leave you in a state of constant-bad-hair-day can be difficult to acquire. Finding the right hair treatments, or even basics like shampoo and conditioner, can be difficult unless you can read characters or can ask for what you want. Recognisable brands will often contain different chemicals to what we are used to, this and the hard-water can lead to problems. But in the larger shopping malls, its always possible to pick up most products so no need to worry too much about this.
- Bring some deodorant, it is another thing that failed to translate. Although stores like Watsons will provide.
- Fact: tampons here are considered unhygienic and are thus rare.

3. Mosquitoes
- I feel these miniature fiends deserve a quick note of their own. Bring insect repellent.

4. Electrics
- Bring an adapter for when you get here, later you can buy as many as you please in most large supermarkets. (This is true for the larger cities at least)

5. Blue tack
- It’s like a rare element here that renders people awe struck- you will be the envy of all!

6. Couture

I rave about the burgeoning fashion scene; however, there are a few things you need to take into consideration. While there is a certain ultra chic, simple and unadulterated Asian fashion, there is also a love of ‘tack’. Often you find a piece that may be beautiful, but has been brutalised by excess. You will most likely already know this but, size is an issue. Chinese people are just smaller and their sizes are smaller, or they may not go to the size that you require. There are Western stores that will stock (limited numbers of) bigger sizes and more recognisable cuts, and fashions that are from home, however these are sometimes overpriced. Alternatively, you can go to any of the high end Chinese tailors and have your clothes handmade and/ or tailored to fit. But I recommend bringing some wardrobe staples.
- Ladies:
Bras for the bustier. Honestly C+ is pushing it. Chinese girls are slender. While I recommend the markets, it is not always easy or even possible to try things on. Shoes become awkward after euro size 38/39. You can get bigger sizes in foreign markets, maybe euro 40/41, but not always.
- Gents:
You are most likely taller and broader than the majority of your Chinese counterparts. If it’s not the length, I have heard many complain about a certain preference here for unflattering, high-waisted trousers. Shoes, for most guys can be a bit of a challenge but they are generally very obtainable in the larger cities.

Pack wisely. If you find enjoyment in shopping, then be prepared for something very epic!

Written by Marie (our in-house fashion expert!)

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Diary of an English Teacher in Dubai (UAE)

Airport arrival

After I finally made my connecting flight to Dubai, I felt a mixture of emotions; sheer excitement and a lot of nerves with this adventure of a lifetime ahead of me. I was excited to experience life in this unique country, but on the other hand the culture, and the intensity of the heat scared me, as I was told I had to cover legs and knees at all times! When I first arrived, the heat was beyond intense and my drive out of Dubai and on to a Northern Emirates an hour away was unbelievable. At that point I realised I was in the middle of the desert, sand, sand and more sand. However, I began to realise that Dubai is full of Westerners and as long as you have your arms and shoulders covered at conservative places all is fine! One thing that was very obvious to me from the very beginning was the friendliness of the local people, and how they did their best to make me feel welcome and feel at home.

My first night out!!

Well to begin with, when I first came to the UAE, I was worried about going out and having a social life as I had heard some stories of the strict culture! I was definitely proven wrong. My first night out was one of the best i had experienced in a long long time. Not like a typical night out at home. Here a night out could involve a beach party or a roof deck pool party in beautiful weather!! Dress code is similar to home- it depends on the location you go to! Living about an hour away from the Dubai, I was amazed with how may expats lived and worked here. My friends and I booked a hotel apartment(really cheap) for the night and stayed out in the bright lights of Dubai! Taxis were extremely easy to find and relatively cheap. However going out and socialising is probably the most expensive part of Dubai- which I experienced, but bars always have promotions on!

My first Classroom Lesson
Although I was recently qualified and had experience in the classroom, I was still very nervous going into my first class. I was lucky enough to observe lessons for one day before teaching. This proved helpful as I picked up some of the kids names while observing. One problem I did face was trying to pronounce some of the other kids names- which was to be expected at the start. Another thing which was strange was teaching on a Sunday!! In the UAE, the working week is Sunday to Thursday, Friday being their holy day. Lessons usually last 50-55 mins which flies by when you have so much work to cover!! During my first lesson, I really enjoyed it as the kids were really lovely, welcoming and fascinated by my accent (to start off with!!)

One year on
As the end of my year quickly approaches, i can safely say that the UAE is a fantastic place to teach in. The lifestyle here is amazing! My favourite part is relaxing at the beautiful beaches nearby. As summer arrived temperatures soared rapidly, but I feel I have adapted to 40+ degrees temperature (approximately 110 degrees fahrenheit) really quickly, especially considering everywhere you go has excellent air conditioning! Bus stops are even air conditioned, and although it’s scorching outside sometimes inside can be nice and cold. As well as that, I have managed to travel throughout the year to Bahrain, Sri Lanka, and Jordan which have all been amazing trips!! I feel really lucky to have had this experience and i’m looking forward to the coming year!

Written by Ciara

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When I arrived, my school oranised everything for me with regard to this but technically, it’s the teachers responsibility and not the schools to get the card processed. Don’t worry though, it’s obviously in the schools interest that all their teachers are working legally so in the vast majority of cases, the director or head teacher in the school will hold your hand and guide you through the process to make it as stress free as possible for all concerned.

You should be taken to the nearest immigration office for your local area, your school will have dealt with this with previous teachers. If for whatever reason there is any confusion, you can call the free phone telephone service (dial 1345) for the immigration dept which has a multilingual service, they will help you identify exactly which office you should go to.

On arrival, you will be asked to provide a passport-sized photo for this (we recommend you get a few extra photos printed back in your home country as they are always handy to have and will save you the hassle of getting them again in Korea). You will then have to fill out a basic application form (don’t forget to bring your school information; address, directors name, telephone number etc if you end up going alone) and then the immigration office will hold onto your passport until your ARC has been issued. This shouldn’t take longer than a week.
You will need your ARC to be considered fully registered with the immigration department and also in order to claim medical insurance (which will greatly reduce your medical costs). Besides this, its a good idea to carry the card with you at all times. It will help you out in all sorts of situations like at the bank, video store and other places.

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It all happened so quickly. One day I was applying to teach English as a foreign language in China, the next I was having interviews, signing contracts, racing to get my visa, and then one February morning I was in the airport, ready to fly off to Beijing. It was really exciting, an adventure, and I was eager to keep moving ever closer to whatever awaited me on the other side.

It wasn’t until we were airborne, until there certainly was no turning back, that I realised how nervous I was and how part of me wished that this plane journey would go on forever. I have previously travelled, but trekking through Europe, making your way to the U.S., or even going to Australia or Thailand seem expected. China, however, is not only the other side of the world to us, it is another world.

I landed in Peking airport, a very tired traveller. Have you ever seen that program ‘An idiot abroad’? Well at this point, due to some exhaustion, an embarrassing lack of Chinese and my limited navigation skills, I was that girl. But my first mission was to collect my baggage so i looked around for anyone that could advise me. I became indebted to anyone who could offer me help. Luckily those I encountered, though their language bewildered me, were always willing to assist, or find someone that could speak English. I was comforted by the relative familiarity that Beijing airport presented. It is ultra modern, and the Western advertisements, for Western brands, make you realise you’re not all that far away from home. More importantly, however, is that the signs, though in Chinese (to me a language recognisable from that 90s tattoo fad), are ALSO in English.

I eventually made my way through and was met on the other side by Jessica, admin staff from the school I was to begin teaching at, and Sam, the schools driver, both Chinese. I am Irish, so Sam, who speaks no English, proudly shows me a shamrock on his key-ring, delighted with himself. We made the hour long journey, from the airport to the district in which I was to both live and teach. Jessica eagerly spoke about life in China and it sounded much less foreign than I expected, we spoke about culture, school, social aspects and of course, shopping! It was late when we arrived at the hotel, my first home in Beijing and it was a beautiful thing to simply lie down on a bed, even if it was a bit harder than I was used to, but i really didn’t care.

The following morning I met with more new teachers, two guys, American and English, along with the principal of the school where I was to begin my career as an English teacher. They would play tour guide for the morning. That first day we were driven around Beijing to a sound track I can only describe as varied, from heavy techno to Irish folk, we listened to everything as Beijing whizzed by. We took in the sights, even in our district, on the outer edge of Beijing, there was much to see. It was completely different, and yet it was just like any other city which felt exciting, nerve racking and exhilirating all rolled into one.

Our destination was a park, with a great look-out, from which you can see for miles. On this clear February morning Beijing rolled out before us, a sprawling expanse as far as the eye can see in some directions and curbed by temple studded hills in others. It was at this I looked and realised that I was in Beijing. And it was later that day, when I crossed a road unassisted, and lived to tell the tale, that I knew I was capable of surviving here.

Continue reading (Part 2)…

Marie is currently teaching English in Beijing, China. More diary entries to come soon!

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I was lucky, when I arrived in China we were given a week to familiarise ourselves with our surroundings and a second week of training before teaching. During our training, we gave and part took in demo classes, were given lists of games and activities that were suitable, and were thoroughly trained in the books we were to use in the classroom. Our trainer who is from Ireland gave demo classes in Irish, it was certainly interesting to see how those who had never heard Irish spoken reacted to the methods applied, and how, even now, they can still recall some of what they learned.

The extensive training received had not steadied my nerves. In one day I was to have 6 periods. I had no idea what to expect. Prepared as I could be without having taught English to children previously; a lesson plan and some flashcards my only weapons, I walked into the classroom thinking I would be met with complete mayhem. What I found was a smiling co-teacher, and 8 tiny students looking up at me expectantly, a mixture of wonder and excitement in their faces. I smiled, introduced myself, my panda, at whom they laughed hysterically, and they introduced themselves. The class flew. I forgot I was nervous. We played some games. I taught some English and they were excited to learn. I hadn’t been expecting such polite and eager students.

First day down, I was wrecked. All this running around like a child can be quite tiring, you are reminded that you are getting old amidst these sprightly young ones. I guess it is easier for the students to like you when you are not a teacher in the traditional sense. At my school we are reminded that we are an after-school English-school. These children have done their time and come to us for extra lessons. China is a competitive environment; you need to have as many skills as possible in order to get ahead. English is currently seen as important, it prospectively gives children the opportunity to work in an ever more international climate, but it is not the only one. Often you find that students might be joining you for class at six in the evening, after school and before extra math lessons, when maybe we think they should be out playing with friends. For a great many of them English class is their time to have fun. We combine learning with games, aimed at children, games that I enjoy as much as them. I have to say, if I had been taught a foreign language in this way, I would be much more proficient.

Being able to give the kids a period where they are learning and having fun simultaneously is very important. This is something that the school in which I teach English really prides itself on achieving. We receive training in which we are exposed to the philosophies of successfully teaching English to children. The atmosphere promoted in the school is a relaxed and happy one, where politeness and general manners are instilled from the outset. Walking down the corridors the words ‘hello teacher’ are echoed after you. If you stop and ask a child, ‘how are you?’ they will reply and ask you in turn. (I soon found myself having adopted the particular structures we teach, and I am becoming fluent in American English.)

I came to Beijing with an idea of what teaching English as a foreign language would be and in ways it is what I expected, but in more it contradicts everything I thought I could expect. Even if you have never considered yourself a teacher you can’t help but fall into it. Of course you have students that act up a bit, but the majority are so willing to learn. The students are interested in you; they love to catch a glimpse of the world you come from. It shows them a realistic image of something foreign.

Teaching in Beijing and being in contact with so many people here, in turn gives great insight into this culture. So far, my time in Beijing has been a learning experience, one I am not quite sure what to make of, but one that I am glad to be having and one I intend to continue building on.

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The name, of course, refers to the practice of visiting the tombs, graves, or burial grounds of your ancestors. Families all around China visit these sacred places, and will bring offerings such as food, alcohol, tea, and joss paper. Other traditions include eating cold food and burning (fake) money to ward off bad spirits.

Whatever the name, the holiday usually takes place in early April, and as such is a wildly popular time for Chinese people to get out and explore. The festival coincides with the onset of Spring, and as such it is common practice for families to visit parks together, and take walks outside of the cities. Turn on your TV and you’re sure to see pictures of flowers bursting into bloom all around the country.

Family outings are common at this time of year, as the weather turns pleasant across most of China. There are more kites in the sky than normal, and more events in the parks and gardens. People are generally in a happy mood, and therefore there is probably no better time to get out and explore China.

One of the best options for expats in China is to visit the wonderful Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery in Beijing. It’s in a convenient location for travelers, but offers a fascinating glimpse of China’s ancient traditions.

As with all Chinese holidays, it can be quite busy and you need to book any travelling in advance. Trains and buses fill up fast, as with three days of holiday, everyone wants to get home to their family, or get out to the national parks.

Like a number of other traditional Chinese holidays, Tomb Sweeping Day was outlawed during Mao’s Cultural Revolution, but fortunately returned many years later. In 2008 it became an official holiday, and this year (2012) it will be celebrated on April 5th, with April 2nd and 3rd also considered public holidays.

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Beijing has more to see than most Chinese cities, and it’s easy to spend a week just sightseeing without getting bored. There are several world renowned locations within the city, such as the Forbidden Palace, Tiananmen Square and the Temple of Heaven. Outside the city, of course, there is the Great Wall of China – one of the most recognizable landmarks on earth. Getting there is easy, with numerous tours available from throughout the city. There are also a number of museums for a uniquely Chinese perspective on history.

The capital is well known for its great choice of food. Whereas some of the southern parts of the country are famous for spicy fare, Beijing is better known for more gentle flavours. Perhaps the best known dish of them all is Peking Duck. Prices range from around 40rmb to 200 rmb for a duck, and some of the restaurants are very upscale, with the chef coming from the kitchen to cut the duck as you eat it.

For drinking there are several popular areas littered around the city. Alcohol is not particularly expensive by Western standards, but in the nightclubs and bars – especially in areas frequented by foreigners – drinks can be a bit pricey, and certainly more so than throughout China. Some of the better known areas are Sanlitun in Chaoyuan district and Wudaokou in Haidian district. However, be prepared – if a man on the street tries to lure you in, you can haggle the price of a beer; otherwise just stick to what’s on the menu.

Although there are many reasons to visit Beijing, it draws a number of workers partly because it is so much cheaper than the next big city, Shanghai. Whereas Shanghai is seen as more expensive (but still cheap compared internationally), Beijing is closer to the rest of China in price. The touristy areas are still prime territory for being ripped off (be careful when dealing with anyone selling anything on the street), but generally in Beijing you can make your money go a long way.

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Shanghai is a massive city with a population of around 23 million. It is tremendously diverse, and the architectural style varies greatly from area to area. There are Tudor buildings, Parisian style buildings, sky-scrapers, the variety is very impressive. Shanghai is international in every sense. Walking around you will hear languages from all over the world, because the city attracts students, workers and tourists from all walks of life.

It is a centre for shopping, too. Every self-respecting international franchise wants an outlet in Shanghai, and the most prestigious area for these stores is the world famous shopping street, Nanjing Road. Nanjing Road is the longest shopping district in the world, and it is within walking distance of some of Shanghai’s most popular tourist destinations, including People’s Square and the Bund. It can be reached by subway from either airport (Shanghai has two – one domestic, one international).

One downside to Shanghai that is well known across amongst Chinese across the country is that it is expensive. But still for western standards, its still regarded as very affordable. A common Chinese expression says, “Shanghai is heaven for the rich, and hell for the poor.” But as we’ve stated before, if you’re smart with your money and eat the local food you can save a large pecentage of your income. People from all across the world travel to Shanghai to shop, study, work and live but buying a house is becoming impossible for all but the richest Chinese people. Prices are still lower than in the West, but are extortionate by Chinese standards.

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The reason for this is that there are only 600,000 foreigners in China and most of these are clustered in the bigger cities. Approximately 100,000 are from South Korea, 70,000 from Japan, 235,000 from Hong Kong, and 170,000 from Taiwan. It’s fair to say that the average Chinese person has never met a non-Asian person before. When you leave your house in the morning, some people may stare in disbelief. Even if they see you every day, your presence will still surprise and amuse them. You’ll soon realise what it feels like to be a celebrity!

This can be quite disconcerting, particularly if you are a shy or private person. But the stares aren’t hostile. They are looks of curiosity. Many people will smile or wave at you, and countless teenagers and little children will say, “Hello!” Give anyone a chance and they’ll pick your brain, just to see what foreigners think. We do, after all, come from a very different culture to what they’re used to. Best advice is to embrace it and enjoy your time as a rockstar. After all, these people aren’t staring at you because they want to make you feel bad, on the contrary, it’s quite the opposite!

If you do feel uncomfortable with the stares, try smiling or waving, or saying “hello” in English or Chinese. Most people will return with a friendly gesture, or simply become so embarrassed that they’ll stop watching you so intently. If they think you can speak Chinese, they’ll probably talk to you for hours.

Being a foreigner in China is an amazing experience and you are usually made to feel very welcome. People like to treat foreigners to drinks or food, and people will go out of their way to help you. Of course, there are downsides. As a foreigner, you will be paid many times the average salary of Chinese person. Consequently, there will always be people who are happy to take that money from you by charging you more in shops. But stand firm, be polite, and usually they’ll give you a fair deal.

Foreigners in China are lucky. We don’t have the same negative reputation that we do in other countries. The locals are generally curious and have little in the way of preconceptions about Westerners. If you act polite and are open minded, there are few places in the world better for living the expat life.

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Right now, the Chinese are going crazy for Coupon style deals. With a growing middle class, people tend to spend more but are still eager to get as much for their cash as possible. So there has been a tremendous rise in online internet specials. Providing you can read Chinese or have a friend to translate, it’s easy to order a coupon and have it sent to your phone, entitling you to movies at 20% entrance fee, ‘buy-one-get-one-free’ on already cheap cocktails, or all-you-can-eat-and-drink buffets for as little as $4 for a whole table! Yes, that’s a total bill of $4 for a whole group of your friends.

When it comes to shopping, a great way to purchase in China is at the large markets that are targeted at western tourists. You can buy almost anything you can think of at these huge shopping centers. They sell anything from shoes, electronics, suits, clothes and sports-wear to art work and all kinds of jewellery and fashion items. The fact that most things you buy now around the world are actually made in China means you can get fantastic deals. The market owners expect you to negotiate with them so you can buy some great stuff at a fraction of the cost. For example, last year I bought a great pair of Diesel jeans for $9! I still wear them and honestly, they are lasting longer than other jeans I bought in ‘regular’ fashion stores that may have cost me 10 times the amount. So really you can kit out your whole wardrobe literally for a small percentage of the street market price.

So really general cost of living is ridiculously cheap compared to other countries. Another standard living expense, travel, is very cheap in the larger cities like Shanghai and Beijing. You can buy monthly tickets for the subway system which gets you around the whole city and it may end up costing you as little as 20 cents per journey.

All of the above should be taken into account when looking at a salary for teaching English in China. For regular expenses like food, drink, transport, bills, entertainment and clothes shopping, saving money in China is a piece of cake! It’s important you focus on the ‘big picture’ and you’ll realize that a year in China can be extremely profitable. You will leave with your bank account brimming. Enjoy the experience!

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People in Beijing are generally very friendly for the size of the city, but are still probably less welcoming to foreigners than people throughout the rest of China. Scams are common and unless you learn a bit of language, expect taxi drivers and touts to target you for a less than fair deal. Foreigners are no longer an oddity in this city, so you’ll have the comfort of not being stared at like you would elsewhere.

One of the biggest downsides of life in Beijing is the pollution. Sadly, the city is becoming as famous for its awful air quality as it is for its amazing range of tourist destinations.

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Not only is Guangzhou in a great location for business, it’s well connected by major transport links both by rail and by air. You can fly all around Asia from the international airport, and the railway lines connecting Guangzhou to other parts of China are among the fastest in the world. It’s also a very short distance from China’s beaches – in particular the growing tourist mecca of Hainan.

Another reason for the city’s popularity is its weather. Guangzhou is warm all year round – with mild winters and a summer that lacks the oppressive heat of some other cities. It can, however, get a bit humid in the summer, as it is a sub-tropical region. Because of Guangzhou’s location, the people here have been exposed to foreigners more than the rest of China. Foreign traders and businesspeople have been visiting this area of China for centuries, thanks to its proximity to both Macao and Hong Kong, and so it is easier to find Western products and to get around without being stared at as much as elsewhere.

It’s not only traders and businesspeople who flock to Guangzhou, it’s also rising up as a tourist destination for travelers to Asia. It is also becoming known as a great place to teach English. Guangzhou is producing more ESL jobs than either Beijing or Shanghai, with wages to match and a standard of living that’s much lower. Many jobs in Guangzhou are currently offering salaries to match Beijing and Shanghai (12,000-14,000rmb) in a city where it’s still possible to eat dinner for only 7rmb!

If you’ve never heard of “Guangzhou” before, then perhaps you know it better by the name given to it by traders of years gone by – Canton. As you may have guessed, this is the region of China where Cantonese is most commonly spoken, so beware – those “Learn Chinese” tapes and books may not be of much use down here. Cantonese is a different language to Mandarin.

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Due to the cost of living, salaries in Shanghai are significantly higher than elsewhere in China, and as a teacher it is possible to live a very comfortable life. Foreigners will earn much more than the average Chinese person, and so unless you head to the trendiest restaurants and nightclubs seven days a week, you should still be able to save a large chunk of your salary each month.

Transport is cheap and easy, with an extensive subway system and regular city buses. These are generally quite clean, but very crowded and this might prove uncomfortable for foreigners, who are used to a little more personal space. Taxis, too, are very cheap by international standards, although the drivers will likely not speak a word of English, so be prepared and bring your destination written in Chinese. Shanghai’s two airports and its impressive train station also make it easy to get out of the city and explore the rest of China.

On the downside, Shanghai has a pollution problem. The air quality is certainly noticeable when you first arrive. The city itself actually seems very clean by Chinese standards, but is dirtier than some other world cities. Shanghai also has a bit of a reputation around China for being unfriendly, however this may be more to do with regional rivalries than reality, as the complaints come more from the Chinese than from tourists or foreigners. Certainly the city is crowded and pushing is common on the subway, but generally the Shanghai people are friendlier than most major cities around the world. One thing that might appeal to foreigners is the diversity. There are people from all over the world and so you will likely not be stared it, which may come as a relief to some and a disappointment to others! ;o)

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