Introductions

They're going to think I'm a liar and will fire me for it during my probationary period

Whoa,  Probation period is a RED FLAG!  If they are paying you less and other stuff/requirements in contract, I would re-think this job offer.   

 I'm extremely hard to annoy, always give everyone the benefit of the doubt, and, or so I've been told, "have never met a stranger."

Nice to meet you! I'm , so I'm afraid that I've had too many "life" lessons, so I'm almost the opposite to you. I live in the land "down under" so I hope you will keep us updated on your experiences. Please take care and know that there are a lot of good,trustworthy people in the Saloon who are always prepared to help; you need only to ask.

 I'm extremely hard to annoy,

I'm looking forward to meeting you.

Whoa,  Probation period is a RED FLAG!   If they are paying you less and other stuff/requirements in contract, I would re-think this job offer.    

http://middlekingdomlife.com/guide/safea-contract-now-includes-probationary-period.htm

Don't worry, I immediately did a double-take when I saw it. They're not paying me less. I also had a Chinese family friend (a businesswoman/lawyer) double-check the contract for me (in both English and Chinese).

Hahah, look at all the people ready to try to see if they can annoy me. I don't mean friendly-annoy, I mean, like, if someone cuts in front of me while driving, worse things have happened; if a waiter is slow with the food, more time to talk; etc. Let's see how this translates into a classroom, though.

Oh, by the way: I noticed that my organs now belong to Raoul.

Hey how come zero gets to be a barfly and he only has 76 posts, RD?

by not asking about barfly status 

 

Snap.

Snap....Crackle and Pop.
This is not a matter we discuss publicly. Doing so will be...counter-productive.

Hi everyone! I heard that this place had some pretty good microbrews on tap, so I thought I'd swing by. I heard about this place in passing from some of my former colleagues in the tiny hamlet of Linan and even though I've moved on to the big city of Shanghai, I now have no expat coworkers and am eager for some interaction with other laowai as phrases like "open the air conditioner" are actually starting to sound like proper grammar.

Anyway, I've been in China for the better part of two years and still happy to be here and in my time here have worked at a university, a Chinese run international school, volunteered with a NGO, and now opening a new page as a corporate English trainer. I came here right after I graduated from college in the US and although I did go back this fall to do some job hunting, the prospects in China proved to be much better and I'm back.

The first round's on me!  

Well, toodle-pip and jolly well about time I am personally familiar with this newbie, and a nicer person one can hardly find. This member should be treated with due respect as she and I are both survivors of a rather unpleasant place called TianMu College...carpets that would eat you, buildings so creepy even the wild cats gave them a wide berth...the horror, the horror...
Welcome, Gigantor (Only I can use that nickname, fellas )...make mine a double absinthe with a side-car of laudanum drops and extra wormwood...

Mine's a Dancing Camel,fullricebowl, that's the delightful name of our local microbrew
 

Welcome Fullricebowl. I look forward to hearing about your experiences in China, since I must experience it through folk like yourself, who are kind enough to take time out to pass on info. If there is any juicy, tasty news that is for female ears only, you can let us know eventually when you get to the ladies lounge.

Just because I happen to wear size 9 shoes (which translate into a 40-41 here) which apparently no Chinese shoe stores carry (with the possible exception of some kind of black velcro shoe or hip ugg-style boot) hardly qualify as "giagantor". I'll have you know, 9 is a very average shoe size where us giagantors, erm, us Wisconsinites come from.


Dancing Camel? Sounds nice- I am a fan of beers with animal names. My favorite back home was Fat Squirrel- made by the makers of the always delicious Spotted Cow.


Perhaps you've already heard most of my crazy adventures which happened when I was a newbie along with ericthered. Accidentally telling a taxi driver to take us to a brothel, climbing a sacred mountain in the middle of the summer with no water- life here is a lot less interesting now that these kinds of mistakes are happening less frequently...

Lol I wear a size 13 shoe so no store ever has my size. I only ever found on store in the past and when I was there I bought 6 pairs of shoes from the delighted staff (probably so happy because they thought they had no hope of ever selling them)

Pshaw...you are also very, very tall Oh, yes, I have told about our adventures, though not the dear-God-the-west-bus-station-has-moved-somehow-now-we-will-die-in-the-rain-in-Hangzhou death march...

Welcome, CaTigeReptile (can we call you CTR or something shorter to type than your full name? No worries, we're big on nicknames here and sooner or later something will stick - that's how you know you've been accepted  ) and welcome, fullricebowl. Always great to have more females at the bar.