WinterFerret wrote:
> It's not too hard to get money out of a Chinese bank account when outside of China.
> Set up internet banking, and get your bank's app for managing money. Sending money
> is relatively easy through the app, however may still need a working Chinese phone
> number as it is often used for security reasons.
>
> Or just withdraw your last few months salary from a unionpay ATM. This can be kinda
> annoying but works for small amounts, and for small amounts the fees will be around
> that for a wire transfer.

Yes, I have online banking set up, but we are not allowed to make overseas transfers unless it is in person with my bank. We can only transfer to local Chinese accounts via online banking. Also our bank has a pretty small daily limit so I won't be able to effectively withdraw the entire last salary. :-( Thanks for the suggestions though!

Does your school:
a) condense final packets/bonuses so you receive them all at the end of the school year?
or
b) continue to receive your final pay packets/bonuses staggered throughout the summer?

I leaving my school in Shanghai, and my school is saying that it is impossible for them to pay me my July pack packet rolled in with my June pay packet. It is extremely difficult/nearly impossible with Chinese bank accounts to send money out of China, unless you are there at the bank in person! I am worried that my last pay packet will be stuck in my Chinese account. A member of staff from last year ended up having to fly back here to Shanghai in order to transfer her money out. Our school says this is normal practice for international schools. I'd like to know what your school does!

Thanks!

I think this is a decent salary for Beijing, although you will almost certainly need to supplement that housing allowance. Whilst apartment prices in Beijing are significantly less than here in Shanghai- I pay 8000RMB for my apartment here in Shanghai. It's a 35sqm studio. In Beijing, 8000 may get you a small 2br apartment depending on the area. I think you will have a hard time finding anything modern/updated within that budget. EVERYTHING in China is negotiable, and I don't think it would be considered rude to try to bid for a higher housing allowance.
The pollution is certainly a drawback. Since moving here, I have developed asthma (perhaps partly due to lifestyle- I don't exercise much, and rarely wear my mask). That being said, an air purifier/mask can easily remedy the situation. Not every day is polluted... and I don't think that it should be something that is a deciding factor in moving here- just be responsible about wearing your mask/purchase an air purifier. Beijing is quite a bit worse than Shanghai- but in my opinion, the pollution is getting much better in China than it used to be!
If you have any more questions about living in China, feel free to contact me.

Hi everyone,

I've just come across a bit of a confusing situation, and am wondering if anyone can shed some light. I recently applied for a great position, went through several rounds of interviews, and was notified at the beginning of the week that I was selected as one of the two final candidates. They said they would contact our references and hopefully let us know by the end of the week.

Whilst browsing the TES job vacancies this morning, I noticed that the school re-advertised the position yesterday. I'm sure that I have stellar references, and I can't imagine the other candidate had terrible references. I'm slightly confused and wondering if maybe they have decided against the other candidate and myself. Should I contact them and ask for clarification? Should I just wait and see if I hear anything from them in the next week?

Thank you!

Hi there,

It depends what you are after.

I am married, but I love living in Puxi. It has a more authentic, gritty, Shanghai-life atmosphere. Pudong feels sterile, up-town, and modern. Puxi has better restaurant and shopping districts, however, Pudong is much cheaper to live in.

Puxi is good for
night life
shopping
tree-lined streets
history
events
"shanghai" atmosphere
particularly great areas of Puxi I can recommend are of course, the Former French Concession & Jing'An areas

Pudong (aside from right near river) is good for
quiet
suburbian atmosphere nearby the schools
modern living
cleanliness
cheaper accommodation (for what I pay for a studio apartment near West Nanjing, Puxi, you could have a 2 bedroom apartment in Pudong)

This is just my opinion, and widely varies depending on who you are speaking to! Hope this helps.