EllieSLP wrote:
> In my opinion, summer is the worst, but you
> will probably be traveling at that time. Good luck in your decision.

Hi Ellie - just wondering about your comment that it's worse during the summer... Back when I lived there, the winters were worse b/c of all of the coal. Is there less coal being burned now? What do you think makes summers worse?

Thanks!!

shadowjack wrote:
> Did you ever stop to think that the reason your respiratory health is what
> it is now is because you lived in Beijing?

I have considered that - but members of my family have lived there (and still live there) for many many more years than I did and have no respiratory issues, and my asthma started about 4 years after I moved away, so not positive that there's a connection. Also, back when I lived there, the pollution was not as bad (based on what my parents tell me and what I read in the news).

Thanks all for the replies so far - particularly from those who live/have lived in Beijing and have children. This is all really helpful!!

Hi all,

This is my first time venturing into international teaching and I feel like I'm getting a good vibe from an international school in Beijing. It's also the only school so far that I've been getting a positive response from.

My question is - given the pollution in the city, is it worth it?

On the one hand, I already often have chronic asthma/allergy/nasal congestion issues that have me feeling less than 100% (I currently live in Northeastern US). I also have a 2 year old child that I'm not sure I want to expose to this kind of pollution so early.

On the other hand, my parents live in Beijing and I would love for them to get to spend as much time with her as my husband's family gets to now. I also have lived there before and I love (or used to love... so much has changed!) the city. And the school that I'm interested in has a very good reputation and would give me a great start to my international teaching career.

Both my parents and the school say that the pollution "isn't that bad" - but they clearly both have different motivations for wanting me there. The colleagues and admin I'm confiding with about my job search at my current school are trying to convince me that it's "not worth it" - but they all want me to stay, so...

So I would really appreciate any advice from you guys!!

Thank you!