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[Kid Presentable]

Hey so I've got another question about another little town that seems boring, but I am talking to someone about a job there later today. My last question was about Fuzhou (Linchuan), Jiangxi and I ended up passing on that because it seemed too boring to live there.

This place is slightly larger, and I don't know much about the school yet. It was an ad I responded to which just said "a university in Suihua". Always pretty shady when they can't just say the name if the school, but I might as well hear their pitch, right?

I'm starting to get the impression that I may have to settle for a dumb little town with my first job, because the good jobs don't get advertised.

This place looks to be about 120 km north of Harbin, anyone been there? Loved it? Hated it? Thanks folks.

[Kid Presentable]

haha important update. this tourist blurb has a hilarious typo in it. 

http://www.3dtourchina.com/dest/city/454

[Stil]

Until you've been there, don't be so sure it's a typo.

[Kid Presentable]

Until you've been there, don't be so sure it's a typo.

I guess you've got a point there. I assumed it wasn't a typo at first until I noticed the rest of it was written non-native English. I think they were trying to say carp. The idea of describing a town by saying "it's like a mountain got crap on its foot" is funny to me. Probably an apt description as well. The lady stood my up for our Skype chat anyway. Her loss.

[Raoul F. Duke]

120 km north of Harbin. Wow.
One thing you can assume: Unbelievably cold!
By that point, on a clear day you may be able to literally see Siberia...because it's just on the other side of that barbed-wire fence there.

Also, it's unlikely that this little city has very many foreigners in it, and therefore probably offers precious little in the way of luxuries- such as butter or conversation beyond the "Weeech is more derlicious- peeessa or hambooorger?" level.

Things to check...

- Is it near an at least mid-sized river, or do they have some other reliable construct for water? If not, there's a strong possibility it could be very dry. REALLY dry. Dry to the point where you only get running tap water a few hours a day, and HOT water only a weak and all-too-brief trickle. Much of North China is in a deep decades-long drought that looks to be permanent, so rivers are GOOD.

- What's their economic base? Being frosty North China, you can assume that winters will be covered by a dense haze of gritty, oily soft-coal smoke. You'll find yourself and your possessions coated in it. Add a lot of industrial affluent to that mix, and you could have a pretty ugly air quality situation. And the really hard-core dirty smokestack industries are a traditional hallmark of Northeastern China.

All this said, though, personally I really like DongBei (the three northeastern-most provinces: Liaoning, Jilin, and Heilongjiang). The people are IMHO among the warmest and friendliest in the whole country. The food kicks ass. The girls are pretty. There are a lot of non-Han ethnics there...Manchus, Koreans, Mongols, and more.

One thing I would NOT assume is that this is a bad city. There will certainly be some compromises to be made, but there's also potential for a lot of rewards...at least for a year or so. You will need to do some homework...and ask yourself a lot of very pointed questions...before going to this town.

[The Local Dialect]

I like Dongbei too. The people are very friendly and if you enjoy adventure you could get yourself up to all sorts of mischief in small Northeastern towns. The cultures are fascinating and there are some beautiful areas once you get out of the factory towns.

But read carefully the thread about Baicheng, especially a guy who pulled a runner from his university there because he didn't like the environment.

You really have to ask yourself if you'll be able to withstand small town China. The people are not going to be sophisticated, you'll be stared at, there won't be much to do, you'll find yourself isolated without many (any?) English speaking people to speak with besides the other teachers at your school. Forget Western food (if you're lucky your town will have a KFC or a KFC knockoff and maybe a dodgy pizza joint), forget English language reading material. Expect to be uncomfortable, and frustrated, and lonely.

Some people can handle this, some people can't. If you decide to go for this job, realize you might not like the city but that if you sign a contract you need to tough it out.

I don't mean to be negative about the place either. I'm sure it isn't a crappy town. Small town living can be very enjoyable in lots of ways, and very rewarding. Dongbei is certainly, in my opinion, a better place to experience small town life than a lot of places but you really have to be realistic about whether or not you'll be able to stick with it for a year.

[El Macho]

Remember, though, that The Internet®©™ can make life much more manageable, even when you're out in the middle of nowhere. You can use taobao to order whatever Western stuff you can't find in your town, and sites like Couchsurfing can do wonders in terms of meeting new people. (Hopefully the reindeer up in Suihua are on CS…I kid, I kid.) I actually use taobao for the western stuff I can't find in Beijing (Hello, Clipper's Tea.)

[Kid Presentable]

Hey thanks for the replies. The bit about proximity to water is fascinating, because I never would have thought to ask, "Hey so I can get water/electricity 24/7 right?". The spoiled American I am, I will expect the water to be available and piping hot.

I am really interested in Harbin, and have been offered a job in Daquing as well (wasn't interested). So chillin' () in Siberia is something I would consider. I'm glad to hear that some of you have positive opinions about the region in general. I think El Macho makes an important point too, in that the ability to have things shipped to me will be the difference between life and death.

Probably going to pass on this one because it's not a stellar job offer anyway, and frankly the town looks a bit grim. I don't mean to ask you all about these little towns as though I've already taken the plunge. I just wonder if there's little places out there that have some peculiar charm people can attest to. After all, I've never been to China. I may have a few more mini-cities to run by you folks before my search is out, I appreciate you taking the time to inform me.

Spring 2011 is getting closer and I hate passing on eager employers like this one. I find their persistence off-putting though, like there's something they aren't telling me. I just read Rollerboogie's big post about taking your time, due-diligence, softening your landing etc. and it was a much needed reality check.

[Day Dreamer]

Hey Kid, if you like DongBei, let me know. I know some good places and the shitty ones in Changchun. You want private or uni? Kids, primary or older? Send me a PM for more info

[Raoul F. Duke]

The Internet®©™ can make life much more manageable, even when you're out in the middle of nowhere.

The bit about proximity to water is fascinating, because I never would have thought to ask, "Hey so I can get water/electricity 24/7 right?". The spoiled American I am, I will expect the water to be available and piping hot.

Things like this, friends, are precisely why The Saloon exists.

Don't remember Rollerboogie's post off the top, but it's a drum I also like to beat a lot. You never, ever want to rush a decision to come to China, or rush a decision to accept a job when you get there. Doing so is just ASKIN' for disaster. I know you may be eager to get going, but stay cool...do the homework and think a lot about what you learn. Chinese school managers are very good at trying to force you into an immediate decision, but you just can't let this work. The ass on the line here is all too yours.

[Paul]

I got emails from 2 separate people about a job in an unspecified university in Suihua.  Both turned out to be recruiting agents, and were very vague over my questions about the visa.  One was named Jennifer, the other Vicckie.   Tread carefully (I trod away...)!

[AMonk]

I got emails from 2 separate people .... Both turned out to be recruiting agents .... Tread carefully (I trod away...)!

 

[Kid Presentable]

I got emails from 2 separate people about a job in an unspecified university in Suihua.  Both turned out to be recruiting agents, and were very vague over my questions about the visa.  One was named Jennifer, the other Vicckie.   Tread carefully (I trod away...)!

Haha, Vikkie is that lady I'm not talking to anymore. It was her offer that prompted this post. Everything I apply to turns out to be a recruiter advertising a vaguely similar position nearby.

[psd4fan]

Doesn't Non-Dave have his own small school there? Contact him for info about the city/town/village.