The types of foreign teachers...

Since a new semester is almost upon us here in China, I thought I'd finally introduce the other foreign teachers to you.All the foreign teachers here are either teachers of English or Japanese, with the exception of one teacher who teaches Business subjects as part of an MBA in English.

They say most English foreign teachers fall into one of two categories:-

A) Old white men looking for young Chinese girls, and/or running away from something back home
B) Fresh graduate students looking to party

I can say we definitely have a few category A and B's at our campus, and you get a variety of accompanying attitudes, ranging from ''i really want to make a difference'' to ''i couldn't really give a shit if they learn anything''.

For privacy issues, I'm not going to use real names here. The following are some of the teachers worthy of note.

First we have Frederick, a 60+ year old American former Doctor. He's a nice and sweet old man, but at the same time savvy and cynical. He's one of those types with an illustrious and colourful history - lived in Canada, Australia, America, France and now between China and Germany, former Economist and then Doctor, properties all over the world. He'll tell you the most amazing and fascinating stories from his past, and seems to know something about every topic. In fact, his life is so fascinating that you begin to question the authenticity, or wonder if he's on every child sex offender list in all those countries he's previously lived in. Certainly China is one place where they don't do much in the way of background check! He luuuves to talk, and I often find myself having to plan an exit strategy after a chance meeting in the dorm halls turns into a 15 minute chat while you stand there in pyjamas and washing in hand.

Next we have Mark, another American 40-50 something. Mark is probably the most cynical person i've ever met. I'm not sure if he was like that before China, or after living here for a couple of years. (China seems to have that effect on all us foreigner). Appart from being cynical he's got one of the most whiniest high pitched voices, which makes for an awful combination when he's tirading and ranting about life in China. Mark also has had a colourful history, and definitely seems to have some skeletons in the closet there. Every time I bump into him theres a good chance he'll be either intoxicated (and the sun will still be out), or i'll smell alcohol on his breath. I can still remember the first time we were asking him for advice about teaching classes in China. He somehow ended up showing us where abouts in the kidneys you should punch the disobedient students and how to get them into headlocks. Not sure if he was just joking but after that run-in we decided to avoid Mark like the plague.

Next, theres the two young american brothers - Brad and Warren., 23 and 24 years old respectively. They're probably the two teachers I hang out with most, since their age groups is closer to me than the 50+ somethings. That's not to say I can relate to them all the time or share all their attitudes and interests.
They both belong to category B, and when i say belong, I mean like a hand fits a glove. Alcohol seems to be the centre of their universe (that and the topic of sex). I don't mind the odd booze up or two, but I'm often declining offers to join them almost every weekend (or even midweek) for a piss-up. Since they're both brothers they're quite close and are on the same wavelength when it comes to humour, interests and way of thinking, however they're attitudes towards teaching and goals here in China are quite different. Brad pays a bit more attention to his students and genuinely wants to learn more about the culture, while it seems Warren is just here to have a good time. Brad would like to make more local Chinese friends, while Warren would be quite content hanging around with foreigners for his entire stay here.

Then we have Sharon and Gregory, a 60+ couple from Canada. Brad, Warren and I affectionately refer to them as 'Mom and Dad'. They're the kindest and friendliest folk you could ever hope to meet, and they're always willing to help you out and share their past experiences in China. They're sociable too, always organizing dinners with the other teachers and inviting us out to do stuff. The Chinese students absolutely love them too, since they feel less intimidated with hanging out with a middle aged couple. I'll often see them having lunch in the cafeteria, with a different student each time. They also treat them like their own children too. It's quite sweet.

Finally theres Aiko, one of the three japanese teachers. When I first arrived I was suprised to find that our university actually has a japanese department, given Nanjing's bloody history during the japanese occupation in World War II. I thought, wow any teacher who comes to Nanjing to teach Japanese must be brave. So when I was introduced to this young and meek looking woman as the japanese teacher I thought to myself, ''wow she's got balls!''
Aiko displays some of the typical characteristic traits you assoicate with japanese people - polite, quiet, and gentle. It's suprising to find a person like Aiko coming to live and work in China on her own, never mind the fact that she's a solo female travelling on her own! Sometimes I wonder how she manages to stay afloat in the chaos that is China, but having lived and studied in hangzhou previously for a year, I obviously underestimate her mettle.

To shout or not to shout

this topic has been in my head since i arrived in china, but has been brought to the fore throughout my vacation last month - Paying for the bill.

it's actually a sticky issue when you get down to the nitty gritty of it, and one you have to consider carefuly.

When I first arrived here in China I vowed i wouldn't let any of the local Chinese pay for my meals, or for anything else for that matter. This was because I knew how low wages were in China, especially for the friends and type of people i would be hanging out with (young and relatively junior in their careers). I wasn't expecting to be dining or hanging out with any fortune 500 CEO's or chinese government officials. Even though i'm not earning fantastic money here vs back home in aus, i'm still earning a decent wage for chinese standards. that, and my financial situation isn't dire. So the idea of having a local Chinese person pay for you just doesn't seem fair or right, well to me anyway.

But then you must consider the concepts of face and tradition. In asian, let alone mainland China culture, if you are a visitor you are not expected to pay for meals or small expenses, your host will happily pay for it all. It doesn't even matter if you host is younger than you or is a student who isn't even earning a wage yet. They won't accept your money. Of course they will also say that when they come to visit you in your hometown, you will pay for their way. But of course, realistically, how many of my friends here will ever have the opportunity to travel to australia?

It was even worse when i was travelling since i was meeting up with friends of friends who lived in my destination cities, whom i'd never met before. So not only had i just met these people, but they were also kind enough to take time out of their schedule to take me around and play tourguide. and they will still insist on paying the bill, every time.

A few times I managed to sneak in and pay the bill before my local friend could get to it, but I later realized it only makes them feel really bad, and in some way makes them lose face. Tradition is tradition. The other option of 'going dutch' or as they term here' A A ' , is also a bad option. If you ever try to pay back your share after they've paid for the bill, firstly they won't accept your money, and secondly they think that you never shout even your family or friends back home. i got that question once after trying to do this.

so you're between a rock and a hard place. try to pay back your share and feel sheepish, or secretly pay the bill before them and make them feel awful. the other option is to just let them pay without a fight and politely say thank you after they've settled the bill, but I can't do that. it is easier to do that when your host is a generation above you though. that, and you would seriously shame an uncle or aunty if you paid for them, creating an akward situation.

the other bad thing about this setup is that you know this dilemma is coming at the end of the meal, so if you are conscious about it you try not to order too much or anything too expensive! which really sucks because i don't like to hold back when it comes to new and exotic dishes!

so what to do? i found the best way is to get them a gift before or after. That or shout them other things on the way, without their consent (cuz they won't accept if you ask). If anyone has their own ideas or thoughts about this i'd love to hear them!