We've been in China a year now and thought we had most things covered, well not really covered just the nous to be aware of them. But again, as soon as you let your guard down you get trampled.

Our new school had a fantastic website, even a quick responding FAO. On arrival however there was a different picture.

The school comes under the name Canadian- American School, which could lead you to believe they have some connection with those 2 countries. Not at all. There is no Canadian/American syllabus, no Canadian or American foreign teachers here. The name is just that a name. For all purposes we could be working at "Suck Eggs" School.

The frustrating thing here is the school is private and has been running for some years now, it is not about to change and really feels very much like a "Cowboy" school. Not only do they have a retention problem with foreign teachers but also a constant flow of local teachers.

Frustrating things here for a foreign teacher are:
1. All Chinese people speak in circles, but here if you speak to the FAO directly she then sherks the responsibility to the "dean" of the English dept who then sherks it back to her. It could go on and on.
2. Private School, cost cutting is premium. The internet is a rabbit run mess, which only sometimes works. The internet is not free, it is on one account for the foreign teachers and they divvy it up amongst themselves.
3. The school working week is based on a 2 week cycle. One week you work Mon- Fri, the next Tues - Sat. Thus giving you a 3 day weekend one week and a Sunday off the next.
4. The Swimming Pool and Chinese lessons advertised on the website are just that, advertised. The pool is empty and won't be refilled and the Chinese classes are organise them yourself. Maybe you can give an English class and they can give you a Chinese class.

It is tolerable for the short time I'm here, the local Chinese teachers I work with are fantastic. But like most places it's the "leaders" or management which let the side down. I would not come back, nor recommend it to anyone else.