I am going to China in a month, what advice do you have for me?

Ha ha, it seems a lot of people are telling you about China who have never been there.

My advice is that you should

1. Go local as much as possible. Eat the local food and to the places that local people go to and hang out with locals too.

2. Don't get into the habit of complaining and blaming everything on the Chinese. I have worked in many countries and the same problems that occur in China also occur in other countries including western countries.

3. Make sure you have enough money, schools do rip people off, so only go if you have enough money for the plane ticket there and back.

4. Use and plan your weekends wisely. Head off on Friday night, go to other cities and towns and be back on Sunday evening. Most summer school teachers sit around doing very little during their time off.

5. Make friends with the local teachers and treat them with respect.

6. Bring gifts from your country. If you have a teacher assistant bring a stuffed animal or two from your country. Maybe some little gifts for your students as well, like stamps, coins etc.

Enjoy your time there. China has its problems and not all Chinese people are nice, but don't stress too much about things as many Chinese people are lovely and there is much to see, do and experience in China.

Do not drink the tap water and DO NOT USE ICE IN A DRINK. The ice is made with the local tap water.

Check the caps on bottled water before you take the cap off. They often refill used water bottles with tap water and sell it to the unwary. Only buy US or European brands and make sure the cap seal is intact. The only way to be sure is to drink pressurized beverages like club soda or beer.

Ignore these tips and spend a week on the toilet.

Go vegatarian . they do eat dogs there and the way they raise, and kill then is more than enough to turn your stomach .


Why would you want to go to China ? It's a polluted mess. I can safely bet you one thing : once you have been there you will really apprerciate America .

It would be great for such a trip, teaching English at colleague then have a trip around. You don't need to worry about the safety there if the colleague provide rooms for stay. And you will get help from your students for traveling around.

- Always give/take important stuff like money etc. with both hands.
- If you smack while eating, you like the food.
- If someone wants to drink alcohol with you, you'd better drink and hope that it's not Baijiu :P
- Don't always say yes, when you're invited, Chinese people are often just polite...

hi,

glad to hear that you are going china to teach english at a college.

As a chinese, we like foreigner english teacher very much!

So just do it!!


Someone said, "I think dream will be changed with time,when i was a middle-school's student,to be a teacher is my dream,because i like my english teacher very much,and also think it can make a contribution to country better.however,now i want to be an interpreter,after meeting my foreigner teacher,

i feel chatting with her is very interesting and comfortable,speaking english let me feel happy,

i like speaking english,so i change my dream."
...

Best advice? Stay home and just watch documentaries to more safely learn about China.

Whatever you do, make sure YOU DON'T MISTAKE BABIES FOR CHICKEN WHEN YOU EAT.

Nowaday more and more foreigners come to china.As a chinese i would like to say "welcome to china". when you come to my country i would like to give you some advices. Firstly, china has so many delicious traditional food, it deserve you to have a taste. secondly, tne countryside is very beautiful and the air is fresh you should go to have a look.Finally, before you go to China you should take a guide book.

First,you can learn some easy Chinese ,such as thanks and where is the toilet.Actually,you don't need to be too worry about it.As you can ask the people in the street like students.Most of them can speak a little English and they are willing to talk with foreigners.

First, to research and know their culture, know what to and NOT to do.
Learn their religion, know which way to respect and what not to eat and what textures means rude to them.
Always have a good relationship with local people(maybe students, teachers...), than they will update you the latest news, latest things to have attention to, even tell you everything from the cheapest and safe place to live, or for some, recommend you job opportunities to work there...
Be polite, and respect others will work for anywhere in the World, right? So be it.

Too many advice to fill the page, since you're only to be there for a month, just beware of pickpockets, scams, pretty young girls talking to you on the streets. Dont eat cheap food and drink off the streets, eat in 5-star hotels perhaps the safest, even so avoid cold cuts, sushi, cold dishes. Lastly dont criticize the corrupted CCP and dictatorship in public or to someone you dont know well enough.

Take a trip to Hong Kong to get freedom of speech/press/assembly and access to facebook, twitter, youtube. www.DiscoverHongKong.com