Honesty’s the best policy.

So, 2 years and 8 months ago, I finished my final project in the final year of my communications with multimedia degree course and I sat back with a pint of Guinness in me hand and I says: “I want to go to Asia”.

The month was June and I had just finished a hard slog of three years of study. Half of the first year was getting back into the swing of studying after a 4 year interlude! Anyway, the final project was handed in and that’s when the teaching began. Teaching in Ireland that is. Me moulding minds!

So it was off to Gormanston College for, what turned out to be, two great months of teaching Spanish and Italian teenagers the joys of the English language! Seriously, it was a laugh and it was to prepare me, albeit in a small way, for what was to come.

So, after a summer of ups and downs, swings and roundabouts, strikes and gutters, the faithful day came at the start of August that was to change my life, irrevocably. It was the day when I was asked:

“Well, do you want to come Harbin to teach?”

“Where the f**k is Harbin?”, says I.

“North-East China”, came the reply.

So, being quite the spontaneous and impulsive person that I am, I said: “Yeah, why the jaysus not”. That wasn’t before I perused, what was the first in a line of the most meanlingness contracts I have ever , and will probably ever, have the displeasure of perusing! And I mean that! Although sometimes entertaining to say the least,  the contracts are legally binding, however,  I am of the opinion that they are not worth the paper they are written on. It is easier than easy to do a runner on one of these “contracts”. Of course, this could be said of any contract, but with schools in China, it’s somewhat different.

Personally, I have always seen my contracts out, but I could easily see a time when I wouldn’t have any qualms whatsoever, in breaking one of these contracts, safe in the knowledge, that once I stay away from whatever school I am running from, all would be rosy in the garden.

Lots of people, on different forums and what have you, would more than likely disagree with me, saying that the subsequent school will look for a letter of release. This is true, but how difficult is it for anyone to say no to any school who may look for a letter. There are PLENTY of schools looking for teachers so keep in mind who needs who the most. 

Anyway, I signed the contract and two weeks later, I was on a plane to Harbin….

…to be contd

 

A school to avoid.

First things first, I’m going to name names here. The worst school that I have ever worked for is Aitong Kindergarten. I’m not going to beat around the bush here, this school is dodgy with a capital D!! They, as yet, have no idea how to offer foriegn teachers a stable and fair work environment. Lacking in any oraganisation ability they instead resort to trying to control, bully and blackmail a teacher into submission.

Once they have you on contract they will exploit every loop hole in there to get more out of you. If you are planning to work there I seriously advise you to not do it, if you are going to do it, look seriously at the contract.

1. Ask about travel time.
2. If a bus that is supposed to turn up doesn’t, do they pay for your taxi?
3. If they give you overtime is it compulsory or optional? If you don’t do it will they fine you? Because they want to, they really want to.
4. If they make a mistake about scheduling, it changes every day / week and without any notice, do you get fined?
5. Holidays, if you give notice will you get any?
6. If they call you with 5 minutes before a class and want you to come in now, can you tell them to fuck off? 
7. Most importantly get all of this in writing, in the contract. Clear up the loopholes, cause they are gaping!

It’s not just me, other people have been cheated, lied to and abused by this sham of a school. Apart from cheating me out of 3,000RMB, they have also cheated other teachers out of apartments, visas and flight tickets. I know of one occassion that the Canadian Embassy has been called to deal with them. I myself called the Irish Embassy on one occassion.

 

An introduction to Haharbin.

Ok, so the first post. Let’s see…. where to start? Right, my aim is to provide a point of reference for foriegners hoping to visit/ move to/ fly over/ avoid Harbin. I want to give you the reasons why and why not, the pros and cons, the good, the bad and the ugly of this seldom talked about backwater in China.

 Why should you listen to me? Well, I’ve lived here for almost 3 years. I have lived with what Harbin has to offer and to live without what Harbin is lacking. This city has got a hold of me. I don’t know why. But for the sake of filling out a few inches I’m going to try to define what Harbin has to offer.

1. Beer, Ha Pi beer is the best beer in China. Ask anyone, anyone who disagrees is wrong.
2. Learn Chinese in Harbin, the dialect is the most standard. How do I know? The taxi drivers told me so.
3. Rough, Harbin is the wild north east. People haven’t really caught on to the whole gentrification thing yet, most bars don’t even have a mirror in the toilets.
4. Food, the place has loads of great restaurants and cheap, so cheap. Take 50RMB with you, eat your fill, stagger out with enough money in your pocket for a bottle of vodka in Blues bar (more on there later!).
5. Sights, Ice lantern festival, temples, blah blah blah.
6. Shopping, markets, department stores, enjoy haggling over a pair of 2RMB socks.
7. Small foreign community. There are about 800 foriegners here, last thing I heard. Locals love nothing more than to welcome you with a loud “HHHHEEEEEELLLLO!”.
8. Emmmm, taxis. A rollercoaster ride.
9. Ehhhhhh, weather, cold in winter, hot in summer. Winter is for hot pot with as many friends as you can find. Summer is for beer gardens with as many friends as can stand up.