User profile: tigertigerathome

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Forums > Living in Kunming > Advice please

To be honest this is fairly standard, crappy I know.
With only one exception (a further education college) I have never worked anywhere that did not expect staff to put in 'office hours'. Even at universities there were some extra unpaid work, although not routine office hours.
I agree that office hours should be in any contract, but I can see a private enterprise forgetting/neglecting to do this, and I think it is neglect rather than deliberate misrepresentation. One thing I found is that the worst employers were expats who have adopted the worst of both working cultures, while paying lipservice to the best of their own cultures best practice. It also seems to be the case that employment contracts are unenforcable anyway. They are more of an 'understanding' and both parties can have a different understanding of what was signed.

A word of advice if sprouts got you the work visa. Don't just quit. My understanding, though I stand to be corrected if things have changed. If the employer doesn't release you from your obligation (not easy or good for them in the eyes of the regulators).
you are stuck. You cannot legally work for anyone else, and if the work visa is cancelled (your employer is legally obliged to cancel it) this could work against you for future applications for work visas. You will also need to get another visa within 30 days, or you will be an illegal overstayer.
Just my 2c.

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Forums > Living in Kunming > Diarrhea issues

In hot weather, I avoid eating tofu dishes in the evening. Tofu, if not refrigerated, turns sour very quickly, and lots of dishes (including the some non-spicy) mask the taste. I have had 'tourista' from tofu more times than I care to mention.

The other thing that causes D for me is huajiao (Sichuan pepper aka numb nuts). I don't know if I am allergic to them, or they mask the taste of poor meat, or both. Probably an allergic reaction.

Twice I have had giardia (a water borne parasitic protozoa), once in a hotel (not in Kunming) where they refilled the bottles on the water cooler from a stream.

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Forums > Living in Kunming > How many foreigners are left?

I saw a recent news report that said that an estimated 50% of expats have left China since the outbreak of Covid, which is believable.

Personally, I know people who went home for Christmas 2019 and could not re-enter China due to covid restrictions. One friend was lucky in that both his Chinese wife and son were with him at the time and they are still together making a new life in the UK, even though that was not their immediate plan at the time. Others were separated from family in China at the time.
Then there are those would-be students of Chinese who could not come here to study; students were a noticable part of the expat community around town.
Then there is the normal churn of teachers etc. who finished their contracts and went home, but were not replaced by new recruits due to visa and border restrictions related to Covid.
There is also the clamp down and new regulations on private schools mentioned by another poster. There are language mills, tutors for core subjects, and I also know of missionaries who could not get visa renewals for thier 'teaching' businesses.
There may also be people in the F&B industry, which was very badly hit by Covid, who could not get their contracts renewed (effectively laid off) and so could not get a visa.
I am also guessing that some people returned home to be with loved ones, either because of a family illness or that the families just wanted them home.
In short, there are many reasons why there are a lot less foriegners in Kunming, and China in general.

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Forums > Living in Kunming > New MRT Line 4 Opening

We drove past a Line 5 station last night. All the lights were on and it looks like they are about ready to go. I guess that they will achieve THIS deadline ;-)

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Forums > Living in Kunming > Hospital recommendations for giving birth

My daughter went to Tongren Hospital, near the corner of Hongta Lu and Guangfu Lu. She had no complaints. One advantage of Tongren is that it is not huge, and not crowded. Like most of the hospitals, the VIP service is not expensive either.

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I lived in Shanghai for a number of years, it is pretty humid all year round. The summer is hot and wet, and yes once you walk out of the door in the morning you know you will be drenched in sweat all day. The winter is cold and damp, with the damp getting into everything, bedding, clothes, even your bones.

Pay in Shanghai is much higher, but you need the extra money just for apartment rents and higher prices for entertainment.
Shanghai is a good place for work, entertainment, shopping, and transportation, but it really is living in the rat race. Shanghai offers a higher standard of living, Kunming by comparison is more relaxed and offers a better quality of life. IMHO.

I think the advantages for short term rental ebikes are the same as they were for short rental bicycles. With the added advantages of no additional cost charging, and no overnight parking issues (ebikes worse than bikes for this one).
The other advantages for the user, shared by both ebike and bicycle, include: free parking, can park anywhere, you can cross town on the metro and pick up another ride, no concern about theft (a big concern), and I am sure there are others.

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