The International Schools Review Forum

It was really difficult, but I just sent an email to a school in Qingdao, China declining their offer for my wife and I. I've been looking at a lot of schools in China. This job offer made us look critically at living in China. I wanted to ignore the pollution issue, but I finally realized that I can't. I have a 2 year old daughter, and I just don't want to take any chances. We live in Vancouver, BC and have a great environment over here. It would be too hard to adjust to filters and air masks.

It's the pits! I really wanted to experience China as I'm half Chinese, and I thought it would be a great way to connect to my heritage. Please clean up your act China!

esn 19:

Good decision. Health and quality of life. Having lived in China for 7 years I know what a beautiful and interesting country it is, but I still would not go back.

You can still travel in China. A few weeks here and there won't do any damage.

Get that job you want in a country with good air, water, and food.

esn - Vancouver has some of the best air quality going - until you drive out into the Valley on a summer day :-) But China would be very very different and you are making the right choice. However, my friends in Shanghai are loving it and this year, so far, the weather and pollution have been very healthful. Hong Kong is another choice where the weather and pollution is manageable, as are Macau, Xiamen and some other cities.

So I would advise you not to write off all of China, but to do your research and target specific cities and schools.

If you are moving to China you really should check out http://smartairfilters.com/en.html

They proved that the 2000-3000 USD filters are not as effective as 450 RMB ones that you can do yourself. I have one in my wife's apartment in Beijing and 1 in my apartment in Beijing. They work! Even the 200 RMB ones work. You can have several of these for the price of 1 expensive machine and they do a better job.

As a resident of Beijing for 4 years do the math and do it yourself. Because all that you need is a HEPA filter and a fan and you are saving your lungs.

Also check out http://www.stateair.net/web/post/1/1.html this is the US embassy sight and they give you real AQI.

Also make sure you use 3M masks they are the best 9001V or 9002V. These are the most common and work well.

Actually, China has health risks. I've been working in China now for 6 years, and after the 4th year I had to escape the excessive pollution in the north, so I moved to Shenzhen. Working in China has potential serious health risks and you all need to be aware of them when considering China as a teaching option for your family and children. I have self designed HEPA filters in my home, one in the living room and another in the bedroom to filter the air. They go black after a couple of weeks, and are a NECESSITY in China. Water and food contamination is always at the forefront of my mind, and thus my wife and I must purchase imported and canned foods, to ensure that we are not subjected to only the local food problems. We are also like all local Chinese and never drink water from the tap, so you must purchase large bottled water, and we also use this water for all cooking.

That being said, you can lead a very normal and productive life in China, but do not have any illusions about what you're coming to. I have a Respro brand mask imported from the UK that I wear on bad days, and when I was in the Northern part of China, I would even wear it at work (not teaching).

Here are a few articles to consider, as life expectancy IS an issue here.

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/ ... afe-levels

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-2 ... shows.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/02/world ... .html?_r=0

Be cautious and prepared for your journey in China, and you can still lead a very good life here.

Pro

Have you considered Taiwan? Air quality is better there and mainland China is close by.

There is good air to be found in Yunnan and Tibet.

For what its worth

http://shanghaidaily.com/metro/environm ... aily.shtml