Introductions

What...aren't New Zealand and Australia basically the same thing?

Welcome maverickoconnell. Looking forward to hearing about your impressions of and experiences in China. There are a lot of people here with a lot of knowledge. You will find them very helpful. By the way, I'm from Brisbane, Australia. Where is your home town?

Hey Maverick ---

Welcome to the Saloon!   

All the best,

Sam

What...aren't New Zealand and Australia basically the same thing?

About the same as Canada and the USA I reckon. 

Hi all,
I am skippyteach. I am an American from the southeast US although educated in the northeast. I am in China--at 55 and not sure exactly how it happened--as a result of the US economy and the laying off of teachers in my state. I have been in China since October and I am now in Jinan. I am adjusting and like it here. I made the trip by myself--wife refused to come. Nice to meet everyone--Cheers.

Wait, so as I understand it, you were not able to make your wife come?

About the same as Canada and the USA I reckon.

So, pretty much the same?

Yep, tied to force her into the luggage but she kept making noise....nope in China on my own.

Welcome.  Nice to meetcha.

Yep, tied to force her into the luggage but she kept making noise....nope in China on my own.

Does she realize that you can't swing a dead cat in China without hitting a beautiful female? (You shouldn't swing dead cats, though.)

G'day skippyteach and welcome to the Saloon.   I like it when our new members tell us a bit about themselves. If you had not done this, I would have assumed you were an Aussie like me, because of the skippy in your name. We had a well known television  program, here in Australia, called "Skippy the bush kangaroo". I'm ten years older than you and unfortunately ill health stepped in and prevented my dream of teaching in China. I'm glad that you were able to follow your dream before it slipped away.   The folk here are very helpful and I am able to at least hear directly about their experiences as well as see some really great pictures. Thanks again and I look forward to hearing more about your China experiences.

Thanks for the warm welcome! Sorry to hear about he health issue.  It is nothing short of ironic that I am in China--was never a place I was burning to go--finished my under grad in ancient near east history and culture and lived and worked in Mexico and central america as a journalist but never studied anything about Asia--and here i am, in the one place on the planet where I have no real training--but I love it so far--in spite of the quirks and silliness. I have, without doubt, the best teaching job of my life--either university or secondary and I've been here over a month and no student has tried to whip my ass in the halls. And yes, I don't think you could make one rotation with said dead cat without smacking a host of hotties. So, thanks again everyone--looking forward to meeting more of you and getting to know whazzup. Best wishes from Jinan.

Scotto,
I finished high school in 1973 and finished my B.A. in 1997--I left school several times in that process either out of annoyance or because I was offered a job that I felt was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Each time I left it cost me--not just in $$$ but in many other areas. So, I can affirm what everyone else is saying--gut it out. The rewards are both in esteem and cash--especially if you plan to teach/live abroad. Best of luck.

G'day skippyteach and welcome to the Saloon.   I like it when our new members tell us a bit about themselves. If you had not done this, I would have assumed you were an Aussie like me, because of the skippy in your name. We had a well known television  program, here in Australia, called "Skippy the bush kangaroo". I'm ten years older than you and unfortunately ill health stepped in and prevented my dream of teaching in China. I'm glad that you were able to follow your dream before it slipped away.   The folk here are very helpful and I am able to at least hear directly about their experiences as well as see some really great pictures. Thanks again and I look forward to hearing more about your China experiences.

Skippy, The Bush Kangaroo was a populular Saturday morning TV show in the US back when I was younger (I'm also 55), but Skippy is also a popular nickname too along with a brand of peanut butter.

Skippy, welcome to China.  I hope you will enjoy your time here. 

Welcome Skippy

here's a Skippy I love



Here's a Skippy i don't love