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Posted

Hi

Ive just found this forum, thought it would be ideal to answer a few questions I have

Basically my situation is that late this year I hope to be travelling to china. My girlfriend (chinese) has got a job over there and i thought id have a go at trying to make things work.

Im english my chinese mandarin is limited to say the least.

Basically i have a number of questions

(1) Is teaching english my only option? I have a degree in chemistry but i would guess that the language issue would make getting a job in that field near impossible. Is bar work an option for example?

(2)Are there any groups in china that can offer support to westerners abroad. You know like societies or clubs or something along those lines. Im a bit worried about being isolated.

(3)Bands. I like playing music more specifically drumming. Its a big part of my life and i dont really want to pack it in. My gf says that in china they dont really have the amateur band scene that they do in the UK. Is this true?

Thanks for reading

Hope to hear from someone

Posted

(1) It's your only guaranteed will be able to get work option. Anything else depends on what you can do, your language skills, and local opportunities - 'China' is a big place, where are you actually going.

(2) Major cities will have various groups, smaller ones will have a bar or two where you can be fairly sure of running into the odd foreigner.

(3) I'd guess your girlfriend is right. You could take your drums to the park and provide some rhythm for the erhus . . .

Posted

Hit me up if you come to Beijing.

The amateur band scene is growing and I have a couple friends in it.

Posted

I can't help you with other stuff, but in big cities like Beijing and Shanghai, there is an increasing number of alternative bands and venues with live music. You can get some info over at http://www.rockinchina.com/ . It seem to be a relatively recent development and quite outside the mainstream, which is probably why your girlfriend is not familiar with it.

There is probably nothing in smaller towns and in the countryside, though. Which city are you going to?

As far as a job in your field, I would imagine that having a UK or European company sending you to China would be your best bet by far. At least in Germany, many companies are trying very hard to enter China, and most German people are very reluctant to go and live there for many years, despite ridiculous salaries being offered.

This will probably entail working for the company in the UK or elsewhere in Europe for a period of time first, though.

Posted

the problem is that salary rate in China. A bar work get you paid around RMB500-1500 a month, and teaching english (without certificates) is around RMB50-100/ hour. I never think of getting a job in China, but i'd rather to do business myself. The cost of starting business is cheap for basic retailing business and fairly good for unexperienced entrepreneur. Think of it.

Posted

there are science universities that teach courses in English you could try and hit them up for a job.

working as a musician or other non teaching job generally pays worse than teaching.

Also these jobs are harder to find, but good luck.

have fun,

SimoN:)

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