Search found 348 matches

by vandsmith
Mon Jul 20, 2020 2:08 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: and it continues
Replies: 27
Views: 39277

Re: and it continues

fangpiren wrote:
> [quote=TheHuman post_id=59292 time=1595216826 user_id=250723]
> @fangpiren There are millions of Uyghur people in concentration camps in
> China being tortured, sterilized, and forced to work that would disagree
> with you. There are millions of people in HK that have suddenly lost their
> freedom of speech that would also disagree with you. India, and a host of
> other SEA countries that have recently had their land stolen by China would
> also disagree. I lived in China for years and just recently returned to the
> US. While I do miss a lot about China, I do not miss the fear of exit bans
> or arbitrary arrest. I would never post this while I was still living in
> China, as I could be arrested. I personally knew people who were exit
> banned from China through no fault of their own. As a person living in
> China, you have no choice but to post positive things as you could also be
> arrested.
> [/quote]
>
> I think we got a tRumpster on board! Like a tRumpster, this fool just makes
> shit up and gives no thought to what’s he’s saying.
>
> First of all, regarding the Uyghurs, as an American you really do need to
> keep your mouth shut when the issue of human rights comes up. Our country
> was founded on 400 years of slavery, oppression, genocide and non-stop war
> mongering. Americans are literally the last people on Earth that get to
> call out other countries on human rights violations. Second of all,
> regarding the Uyghurs, they are not in concentration camps, they are in
> detention centers and the conditions in those centers, from everything that
> I have seen, are very humane. Are
> you trying to draw similarities between Nazi concentration camps and
> detention centers? If you are, you would do better to comparing them to
> America’s detention centers where we still have thousands of children in
> cages that have been separated from their parents.
>
> Regarding Hong Kong and their lost freedom of speech, again look at your
> own country. Peaceful protesters were scattered by the presidents security
> personnel because he wanted to have a photo op at a church. Protesters in
> Oregon are being snatched off the streets by goons in unmarked cars. Insult
> a judge in America and you face jail time. Not to mention the 2,000,000
> Americans in our for profit prisons who lost the most fundamental act of
> free speech, the right to vote.
>
> Regarding SEA land grabs - and once again, look to your own country. Our
> entire homeland was one massive land grab. Who are you to now point a
> finger at China and accuse them stealing sovereign territory.
>
> Last of all “the fear” you mention - what exactly are you talking about? I
> walk down dark alleys in China that I wouldn’t dare look down in America. I
> dare not make eye contact with cops in America for fear of a slap to the
> head but I have read cops in China the riot act more than once. The Chinese
> are the most fear-free people I know. They are loud, opinionated and they
> advocate for themselves as much as any free people I’ve ever met. Maybe
> this “fear” you have when you are in China has more to do with your
> xenophobia than anything else.
>
> For myself, I speak my mind wherever I am in China, probably too much so,
> and I do call them out on their bullshit whenever I see it. It don’t scare
> me none.

well the hypocrisy is noted but does that really mean no one can speak up on injustice or fear tactics or authoritarianism if their home country is also guilty of those things? you're more than welcome to read the riot act (wtf?) to chinese cops, though i'm not certain why they'd care. in addition, not really sure why you'd want to run the risk of being arrested.

again, not sure why this becomes a measuring contest of abuses against citizens? there is no question china has created these detention/re-education centers for this minority of people and religion. "very humane"? as opposed to what? even if they're posh, upscale mansions they are still trying to eradicate and bring in line a whole group of people, banning the growth of long beards and demolishing mosques. it's completely okay to recognize the problems in one's home country and in another country.

anyways, i'd question who is/was the real trumpster here since it seems like you are making excuses for china. every state makes their own way with their own actions, but those actions are open to scrutiny - even on a tiny forum like this.

v.
by vandsmith
Fri Jul 17, 2020 4:12 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: and it continues
Replies: 27
Views: 39277

Re: and it continues

yeah, i'm not sure i'd ever go to china. too many friends have told me about crackdowns and raids, surprise enforcements of rules, and quaranting random areas to make people do drug tests, interrogations, and detentions. i am guessing you're going to see many avoid or possibly even thrown out of china over the next 2 years. these actions aren't new, just heightened.

v.
by vandsmith
Sat May 23, 2020 9:13 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: So, if the border isn't open...
Replies: 29
Views: 34157

Re: So, if the border isn't open...

i would say C but depending on the school, option D. this would involve hiring teachers already within the country at a reduced salary/benefits (i wouldn't say local hire numbers but minus some of the stuff, e.g. initial flight into the country). but it's totally dependent on each two-week block that we go through from now until mid-august.

to be quite honest, being from canada and how close it is to the US, i feel way safer staying overseas this summer.

good luck!

v.
by vandsmith
Thu May 21, 2020 2:42 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Staying for the Summer, or flying home for a visit?
Replies: 13
Views: 16177

Re: Staying for the Summer, or flying home for a visit?

for me it's way more dangerous at home than were i am, with people complaining about how their rights are infringed and how they're not gonna take it anymore. also, while i like my in-laws, 2 weeks with them in quarantine eats nearly half the time i have back home and also eats away at the sane half of my mind.

v.
by vandsmith
Sat May 16, 2020 9:51 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Seems like schools hold all the cards at this point...
Replies: 8
Views: 11714

Re: Seems like schools hold all the cards at this point...

i'm not sure of a situation (. or not) where schools didn't hold all the cards (so to speak). the biggest problem for ALL schools right now is the status on travel and border restrictions. once that is cleared up - or made clearer - over the next 4 weeks, teachers and schools will begin to solidify things. even if your job is secured, what if you can't get there? i'm not sure i can think of a worse way to begin a school year than by doing "distance learning." even worse if you're new and your first meetings with students are on a computer. yuck.

v.
by vandsmith
Mon May 11, 2020 11:12 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Racism in China
Replies: 12
Views: 17996

Re: Racism in China

the racism against anyone with different colour of skin has always been bad in china (and korea) well, well before COVID.

and in general, if you have a passport from an african country, it's already hard to break into many places.

v.
by vandsmith
Mon May 11, 2020 11:10 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Let the Bloodbath Begin.....
Replies: 14
Views: 18802

Re: Let the Bloodbath Begin.....

blackspec wrote:
he exact same work at home
> and not sit 2 meters apart for each other with masks and eat lunch in
> silence. I am interested in hearing the feedback from the students.


why do they have to sit in silence??

v.
by vandsmith
Wed May 06, 2020 10:01 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Golf in the Middle East
Replies: 6
Views: 9390

Re: Golf in the Middle East

Abu Dhabi has at least one as well that isn't too outrageous.

v.
by vandsmith
Wed Apr 15, 2020 9:33 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Reopening
Replies: 5
Views: 9478

Re: Reopening

many of the schools opened today and we start on friday. for the next three weeks it will all be half-days. i hear germany is opening on monday.

i'm not comfortable with it really, and i think i will be wearing a mask. i really miss the kids and they miss me but after a holiday, i am more interested in seeing the numbers in a week or two when those who traveled during the holiday have symptoms appear. i am worried about my colleagues mostly. the . doesn't seem to affect children in the same fatal way (generally speaking).

admin offers support and understanding, and will probably be flexible with a lot of stuff, including leaving time. however, we'll get about 2 hours each day after school to plan with our colleagues (observing proper distancing of course). there are a ton of guidelines to follow, maaaaany of which are near-impossible to enforce but we'll give it a shot. the government has mandated an opening so we have no choice. the only kids that won't return are those with family members sick. if kids show symptoms at school, even mild ones, we are to send them home for 48 hours. teachers are to also follow this rule.

i personally feel it's too soon, especially after this holiday. if a parent asked my opinion, i would tell them to keep their kids home if it is possible or if they were worried. i would also encourage them to use a mask if possible. but that is not the school position.

stay safe, good luck!

v.
by vandsmith
Thu Mar 26, 2020 6:31 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: SEARCH/ISS and Coronavirus (breaking signed contract)
Replies: 5
Views: 9101

Re: SEARCH/ISS and Coronavirus (breaking signed contract)

i recently received a notification from search. in it, it says, "The bottom line though is that we will not penalize any of our candidates for taking actions designed to protect themselves and their families, as long as this is done as far as possible with the support and agreement of the school." take that for what you will.

good luck.

v.
by vandsmith
Thu Feb 20, 2020 7:01 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Director Invited me Out - Help!
Replies: 40
Views: 73203

Re: Director Invited me Out - Help!

sid is correct.
the optics aren't great but as long as you don't start exerting your influence it should be no problem.

but also consider what happens if things don't turn out nicely...

good luck!

v.
by vandsmith
Sun Feb 09, 2020 12:58 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: The Job Search is Not Going Well...
Replies: 13
Views: 28446

Re: The Job Search is Not Going Well...

well if getting into an international school doesn't work before the next school year, you could at least go and do ESL and keep applying to schools - maybe get some substitute work at the school of your choice.

good luck!

v.
by vandsmith
Fri Feb 07, 2020 4:47 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: The Job Search is Not Going Well...
Replies: 13
Views: 28446

Re: The Job Search is Not Going Well...

Awildsheepchase112 wrote:
> shadowjack wrote:
> . You are not a strong candidate (sorry), so you will eventually land something, but
> maybe not
> > until late March or April after all the other pieces have been shuffled.
> >
>
> Is that because I just need more experience?


assuming that your CV/resume and references are all good, then yes. it's a unusual that you wouldn't have more interviews. maybe you're limiting your geographical search too much?

i got my last posting in early april, so there's always a chance.

good luck!

v.
by vandsmith
Fri Jan 24, 2020 12:23 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Current 2019 list of countries with best savings potential
Replies: 66
Views: 108727

Re: Current 2019 list of countries with best savings potenti

Heliotrope wrote:
> wander wrote:
> > 1. Is anyone else sick and tired of the same posters cluttering up the
> > board with their nonsense? It makes it very difficult to follow the actual
> > conversation.
>
> You are right.
> Often I find it hard to resist to correct @PsyGuy. Initially I do it so others who
> read the topic won't be misinformed by what he says, but that's only an excuse for
> the first two or three replies. Anything after that is indeed clutter and me being
> competitive.
> I will try to refrain from commenting so much myself in the future.
> I apologize.

i mean, it's worth it to point out for readers, i.e. that it's their opinion, but as you say it can get cluttery.

v.