Greetings and salutations We actually have a member who saves dragons, so you should be able to hit it off.
The best advice I can give is this: go buy Lonely Planet's China guide and study it. I would also recommend that you, unless you already speak Chinese, take a Chinese 101 course. I worked as an FT at EF in Nanchang and, based solely on that experience, I would not recommend EF as a workplace. Unless if by "glutton for punishment" you mean that you desire secretly to walk up to Evander Holyfield and call him a nancyboy, because the result of doing that would be more enjoyable than working for EF.
Aside from that, I think I will leave the good advice to the more experienced and grizzled veterans here.
Wow, Ericthered, that's exactly the kind of info I was looking for! EF lobbies hard. I bought a mini-guide to China and have read it, but I scan boards for the real lowdown. Non-fiction books, like computers, tend to go obsolete the minute they hit the shelves. Culture is a moving and breathing thing.
Hey there fire dragon. If in trouble, I am sure I could save you.
My Uni hires people with Masters, they are a business Uni so they hire people with business degrees. Send them a resume. Won't need a TEFL course if you work here. You already have classroom experience. Just learn to talk 's l o w l y' and you will be fine.
Missouri University - Dalian Branch Campus should get to them ok - Here is link.
http://chinacampus.missouristate.edu/facultystaff.htm
Thanks, Dragonsaver. Clearly, a person after my own heart! I will check out your link and send a resume. Certainly can't hurt.
Hi FD!! (yeah, we do tend to be quick to shorten names around here) Welcome aboard!!
My buddies on other boards call me FD, and I love it! That's how I think of myself in the cyberworld.
Welcome,
Have a round on Con. He's ignoring our scrabble game again, so I'm sure he's not paying attention to this either.
These are some of the nicest, and strangest people you'll ever hope to meet. They've already got me typing scandalous things at 6 in the am when I can't sleep. Wish I could figure out how the sodium pentothal gets through the keyboard . . .
Looks like Con's tab is getting out of control! Cheers!!!
Welcome Fire-Dragon. Another Anne McCaffrey fan? Will you be bringing your children with you? There are quite a few of us who are not too old, not too young - although you will find the definition of both states changes here quite drastically.
China is an amazing experience.
Hi, Lotus Eater. Should I run for cover? I've never read Anne McCaffrey. I just love dragons, am a fire dragon by birth, and am in search of another perfect tattoo. The boys will not be coming this time around. As to the age thing ... whether I feel old or young depends on the day. My students tell me I look like I'm 23, which is a HUGE ego boost (like I needed one).
Thanks, everyone for the wonderful welcome! I'm excited to know you all better.