Colleges attached to a university.
Same as universities except:
Students are usually those who failed GK. They are not motivated, and most don't want to work. You still need to pass them for exams, however a degree from one of these colleges is pretty worthless. Many SS eventually realize this and are further demotivated.
Sometimes the university college cares more about the money than teaching.
Often no foreign affairs office. If you need help you are often on your own.
Staff are sometimes valued sometimes not.
No flights, people are usually recruited locally.
Universities.
Students have all passed GaoKao (GK) the college entrance test. They are usually more motivated, but cheating is endemic and you have to learn to live with it.
University Deans expect students to do well in exams. They don't want to know about cheating. If the exam is too hard it needs to be moderated. This goes against the grain, but it is their house and their rules (This is China). Occasionally you will get students who never attend class, and these you can fail. The institution really cares about the students.
Teachers are expected to be on time and sober. That is the biggest gripe that any institution has about teaching staff. Get this right and you can dance with the devil and they don't mind. The schedule is fixed at the beginning of each semester, and so life is organized. Teachers must take attendance, it alsocan protect you from students who fail. In addition to your teaching you may be asked to give 1-2 evening lectures per semester on a general subject about English, or US/EU culture. You may also be asked to run or attend English Corners, I usually suggest that these are better organized by students. You may be paid for evening lectures, you will not usually be paid for English corner. Teachers are expected to prepare and mark exams, andou do not get paid extra for this.
Contracts are usually for the academic year only. Paid spring break, no paid summer break. Contracts are usually for a maximum n (often 15) teaching hours (50m) per week. Any more and you get overtime. For public holidays, they jiggle the calendar, this is usual in all places of work here.
Medical cover means you can go to the campus clinic/nurse. You also have emergency only cover at hospital. This is not full cover.
Accommodation is provided free. Look for those that offer an apartment. They may be basic but they are self-contained and you have 1-2 bedrooms, living room, kitchen, bathroom.
Access to the canteen which provides cheap food at set times only.
Flights home are paid, but sometimes they only have rules that allow for direct flights (this works in your advantage) but will only pay for port of Exit to port of entry. A disadvantage if you need a connecting flight.
Visa provided. If they like you, and you like them, you can sign up for the following year before you leave with will give you a longer visa.
The University will have a foreign affairs office to manage foreign teachers affairs. This means you always have someone to help. At least one member of staff here speaks English.
Staff are valued highly.
Public Vs private sector advantages and disadvantages as I see them, I am sure others will chip in.
Firstly, there is a spectrum (not continuum) of providers in both sectors.
I will break this down into separate posts otherwise it will be too long.
Buy a vehicle in the city where you are based if you can. Or at least one where you will spend a lot of time. This will make servicing and repair much easier, especially if you are one of their own customers. Additionally, unless a special order, that dealership will carry more spares for the vehicle.
Perhaps you should avoid a grey import. Local dealers may not want to know if parts are not the same. Especially true for any bodywork. If they don't have a parts list for that model they may not want to know. It is hard enough to get people to take responsibility for their own job here, let alone something out of scope. Specific models can change a lot from month to month, and the model is identified by chassis number. However, Chinese dealers may not have access to chassis number data for grey imports. Any parts you buy, will be at your risk. You may also have warrantee problems.
If you want to spend a larger amount of money look at the Jeeps (made in Beijing) are cheaper, or the Landcruisers.
If you only need the larger load area occasionally, consider a trailer, I don't know the rules on these here, but I have seen cars with tow hooks.
Following one of the links in the article above society.yunnan.cn/html/2015-06/24/content_3791994.htm there are details of how Operation Fake Sword unfolded in Yunnan. (in Chinese but it translates will in Chrome).
Mentions of the internet reporting for food and drug safety problems, and of the 200 kids who got food poisoning in Songming last year.
@fixit.
If you can find the original reports online, there is more detail, and it is clearer.
The stuff was being transferred from frozen, but with no cold chain some of it defrosted and was re-frozen several times. Some of it subsequently started to rot.
If someone can tell me how to put an arrow on a google map, and then post a link to the annotated map, I can put up the location of the wholesale market that specialises in mushrooms. They will be much cheaper there than anywhere else.
Be aware thought that the qizong are currently new season and about 45rmb/liang i.e. 450rmb/Kg.
This is a bit of a toxic industry, especially in China. It needs regulating and enforcement. Glad to see this has happened.
As for 1rmb tours. They should be very easily to regulate out by targeting them. It is, I believe illegal to tie tourists to spending money. I have no sympathy for anyone in this case.
Where Mike4gair keeps his boats is a good location. There is easy parking, and I am pretty sure the pedal boats. It is on the north shore away from the crowded areas, but there are some places to eat not far from there.
You may also be able to arrange some sailing with Mike.
A reasonable choice of lumber that has improved over time. Fancy hardwoods like walnut, and mahogany are in abundance. There are some plywood and rubber-wood boards available. There are also some kiln dried imported softwoods and merbao available. Some of the lumber is very green, so look for the kiln dried if you need stable timbers.
Echo everything said by others.
Breakfast great and the serve from 8am. Most other places say 9am and they still are not ready.
Sandwiches are cheap 22-32, and really packed full of filling. We got some sandwiches for a day out, the only mistake I made was ordering two, as this was too much. These are seriously good sangars, and they are wrapped in alu foil.
In fairness to Metro, they are a wholesalers, and not really a supermarket. Hence the need for a card, which can be got around.
They have improved in the year I have been away. They now carry a more consistent range of imported foodstuffs and they also seem to have sorted out the mported milk supply.
They have a wider range of electrical appliances now, there is a coice of more than one toast. There is also a better range of seasonal non foods, like clothes, shoes, garden furniture and camping gear.
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China's national meat scandal hits Yunnan
发布者Following one of the links in the article above society.yunnan.cn/html/2015-06/24/content_3791994.htm there are details of how Operation Fake Sword unfolded in Yunnan. (in Chinese but it translates will in Chrome).
Mentions of the internet reporting for food and drug safety problems, and of the 200 kids who got food poisoning in Songming last year.
China's national meat scandal hits Yunnan
发布者@fixit.
If you can find the original reports online, there is more detail, and it is clearer.
The stuff was being transferred from frozen, but with no cold chain some of it defrosted and was re-frozen several times. Some of it subsequently started to rot.
Wild mushroom season arrives with a friendly warning
发布者If someone can tell me how to put an arrow on a google map, and then post a link to the annotated map, I can put up the location of the wholesale market that specialises in mushrooms. They will be much cheaper there than anywhere else.
Be aware thought that the qizong are currently new season and about 45rmb/liang i.e. 450rmb/Kg.
Holiday operator suspended for violating national tourism laws
发布者This is a bit of a toxic industry, especially in China. It needs regulating and enforcement. Glad to see this has happened.
As for 1rmb tours. They should be very easily to regulate out by targeting them. It is, I believe illegal to tie tourists to spending money. I have no sympathy for anyone in this case.
Getting Away: Cycling and camping at Fuxian Lake
发布者Where Mike4gair keeps his boats is a good location. There is easy parking, and I am pretty sure the pedal boats. It is on the north shore away from the crowded areas, but there are some places to eat not far from there.
You may also be able to arrange some sailing with Mike.