@ EVERYONE, sorry for hijacking the thread.
@ loutou, its the java or nothing! I am all about the java.
The thing is; they gave me the copy of the TESOL, it took me 5 min to stop laughing! I swear! A Photoshop'ed fake copy, and a bad one at that.
So Now I have contacted the "company" and I am waiting for their note stating that I never attended. I am making sure there are no more doors they can use.
Thanks for the HK media tip, will see how that plans out.
Let's face it, regardless whether they need us or not, they do not like us, and will take any and every opportunity to do us one over. (with the exception)
Next country please, can my contract just finish already.
Kunming is like America in the 19th century. People will offer you the bare minimum and if you complain you're escorted out with a solid derriere stamp and a new immigrant is grateful to be offered a job. China's unions are government controlled jokes and only recently have people begun protesting working conditions. Yunnan is backwards and the people are relaxed bordering on lazy and the capitalists getting things done don't trust anyone. It all adds up to a simple supply and demand scenario. As long as there is a demand for these crappy jobs, the conditions of the supply do not change, which realistically boils down to four options: Shut up and work. Get the hell out of Dodge. Try to unionise (and see how that one plays out), or finally, move on or branch out to other areas of business and employment as many of us have done.
Finally: If a school tries to lower salaries they are greedy bastards who don't deserve a shred of respect, especially if they simultaneously are bragging about their successes, and people should be warned about them.
If a school promises to supply the applicants with a TESOL training and does not comply, they should be outed and prospective applicants must be warned.
Btw,, did the school lower the promised pay while at the same time offering accommodation? Does it balance out somehow?
PS. Am I the only one who thought this part sounded fishy and fake?
"..and during my contract the staff at this school have shown me the utmost kindness that continued to the day that I left. Every time I was sick they personally helped me at hospitals and mediated between the doctors and me. Every bill I had to pay, they paid for me and I reimbursed them."
@Dan
I was trying to refrain from flaming Kunming and greater Yunnan. The central government is fully aware of the yunnan cultural issues. Historically, the government dilutes culture with massive cultural imports - moving entire populations. Kunming is slowly starting to experience this - starting with the oil refineries - import of significant outside professional labor forces (I've heard estimates ranging 20k-100k people - rivaling Hongta Tobacco) so expect this culture of malaise to slowly evolve (but probably not in our lifetime).
China's strategies have historically been dynastic in nature - and I don't see much change in that ideal even with the current government - although I do hope we proceed at a faster pace with renewable energies and environmental cleanup. I would love to swim in Dianchi before my days end (as opposed to swim in Dianchi and have my days ended).
China's contractual processes and legal enforcement system is eons old - it's vastly different from the western concepts of legalism. Japan's system is a hybrid of the two - but at the bottom feeder level - identical. The government and legal system is based on a preference for social harmony - both sides openly arbitrating to a mutually acceptable agreement as opposed to a court ordered settlement - but the desire is win win as opposed to win-lose - which is incredibly frustrating to westerners when one is the wronged or infringed party, especially since the concept of shame was virtually obliterated by the cultural revolution.
I think the cultural revolution gets blamed for too much. A catch all for explaining/excusing current social problems, some of which are part of the historic culture.
How much of it is 5000 years of face? People will try to balls it out and lie thier way out of a corner, rather than lose face.
Also with the Confucian value of everyone in thier place leading to harmony, means that the upstarts cannot be allowed to win.
A bit like 'FFS shoot the messenger, he is making me/us look bad'.
Honesty, and the ability to own up for ones mistakes (to outsiders/not one of us) are not part of the culture. Especially if I see my self as above the outsider.
Rank has its privilages. If I outrank you, my word will be taken over yours. Truth is the victim.
A culture where there are manners, but not courtesy, only deference. 5000 years of fuedal culture, the last 100 years has been a blip, the cultural revolution merely a pimple on the face of the blip.
Just like the excuse: "China is a developing country". When it's convenient they use this phrase. Hell, every country is developing either is a good way or a bad way.
the thing is even if you get cheated by these schools - which you will - there's so many jobs. just jump ship to another job. and get revenge before you go. or wait and serve it cold.
Danmairen, I also noticed it was fishy. That's why I made a snotty remark about it. I actually make a sport of trying to spot fishy stuff in job ads in China.
Business in China is based on connections and community, not on contracts and the written word. That is Chinese culture, and it is simply different than Western culture. One is not right or wrong. One of the reasons I came to China was to experience how other people see the world. If you integrate into Chinese business culture and be a good sport about it, you will find that you will be treated well, in my opinion.
There is such a thing as rule of law. Without that all hell breaks loose. Just sayin'.
