Search found 497 matches

by Overhere
Wed Sep 27, 2017 5:34 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Must-have experiences
Replies: 11
Views: 16932

Re: Must-have experiences

Being a parent certainly doesn't hurt but that may not be the kind of experience you are referring to
by Overhere
Fri Sep 01, 2017 4:10 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Visa issues for China
Replies: 5
Views: 11038

Re: Visa issues for China

I'm surprised our HR department is still sane, the changes in visa requirements has added a whole lot of work to be completed in very little time.
by Overhere
Fri Jun 02, 2017 12:08 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Working in Nantong, China
Replies: 14
Views: 27667

Re: Working in Nantong, China

I may be reading your post wrong, but a monthly salary of 15,000 rmb no matter how they label it isn't very much.
by Overhere
Tue May 09, 2017 4:31 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Xujing DIstrict in Shanghai
Replies: 11
Views: 24876

Re: Xujing DIstrict in Shanghai

It appears Line 17 will be opening in the fall/early winter. It will connect Qingpu with the Hongqiao Railway station and Line 10 and 2.
by Overhere
Sat Apr 29, 2017 6:04 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Xujing DIstrict in Shanghai
Replies: 11
Views: 24876

Re: Xujing DIstrict in Shanghai

Xujing is a rapidly growing district in western Shanghai. Line 2 does terminate there but only on the eastern border at the moment so if you are counting on the metro for transport into Shanghai it most likely won't be an easy walk to the metro. There is a Carrefour/mall in Xujing so you won't have to travel far for the basics. Sorry I don't have more specific info on apt compounds but your school and fellow teachers will certainly help you out.
by Overhere
Sun Apr 16, 2017 10:28 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Living in Shanghai
Replies: 20
Views: 40808

Re: Living in Shanghai

Parts of China might pose a "hardship", but Shanghai is not one of them.
by Overhere
Sun Apr 16, 2017 7:00 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Living in Shanghai
Replies: 20
Views: 40808

Re: Living in Shanghai

We use bottled water to drink and cook with but not to wash our face or brush our teeth. We spend 32 rmb every 2 weeks on bottled water so its not a huge expense.

You can safely eat out every night of the week in different restaurants for year and never eat in the same restaurant twice.

There are western grocery stores that sell the same products you buy at home. If you use the wet market then you will have to be a little more careful in your cleaning and preparation.

Wearing your mask will depend on your tolerance level. We should probably wear our's more but don't which is true of the vast majority of people.

I wouldn't worry about your salary, as I believe it will be enough to sent a chunk home to service your loan as well as to live and travel on. Whether your school is a mythical Tier 1,2 or 3 doesn't matter if you are happy and can live with the salary. Psyguy's numbers are pretty close but not completely and simply presenting a list of prices doesn't account for the choices you will be able to make, not all milk cost 20 rmb/litre for example.

Teachers do move from one school to another and policies in some schools have changed recently regarding whether teachers already living in Shanghai would be considered local hires or oversea hires.
by Overhere
Sat Apr 15, 2017 8:57 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Living in Shanghai
Replies: 20
Views: 40808

Re: Living in Shanghai

Shanghai is absolutely safe, apart from the electric scooters on the sidewalks and drivers ignoring pedestrians you have very little to worry about.

Astrill works well as a VPN.

We stream Hulu and Netflix without any problem and use Google and Facebook as well so I wouldn't say our connection is slow.

Pollution is an ongoing issue, one that won't be solved within my time in China. It comes in many forms: water, air, soil etc. Air pollution is the most obvious and it has been improving (at least in Shanghai) and the Chinese government is taking it very seriously. There will be days when you will wonder what you are doing to your lungs but buy a mask (current rage are the Vogmasks, but we use 3M masks we bought at Lowes). Just make sure they are N rated (n90 or N95). We also have a filter running in our apt but you can use a makeshift one made from a box fan and Hepa filter and they work just as well for a fraction of the cost

Here is an example https://smartairfilters.com/cn/en/

Shanghai is a fantastic city with lots of opportunities. We went to see the UK version of Wicked last night and there are many other similar opportunities out there.

Good luck in your preparations.
by Overhere
Sat Apr 15, 2017 10:24 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Living in Shanghai
Replies: 20
Views: 40808

Re: Living in Shanghai

I would suggest waiting to figure out your VPN until you get to Shanghai and can ask your coworkers and new friends which one works the best. We have been through a number of them over the years and there is always a new flavor of the month.
by Overhere
Sat Apr 15, 2017 1:00 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Living in Shanghai
Replies: 20
Views: 40808

Re: Living in Shanghai

Utilities will probably run around 5-700 rmb/month depending on the weather, a phone plan can vary but I would expect 100-200 per month, a VPN/internet connect will be about 3000 per year, eating out again varies but you can eat well from 40 rmb up, groceries can run anywhere from 1500 upwards/month. The metro runs at about 4 rmb/trip and taxis aren't horribly expensive. Air travel out of Shanghai is not cheap, due mostly to the taxes placed on your ticket, but you can find deals.
by Overhere
Fri Apr 14, 2017 6:11 pm
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Tax Questions for Canadian Residents
Replies: 7
Views: 13002

Re: Tax Questions for Canadian Residents

Over the years we have received numerous viewpoints on our residency from both in and outside of government. So I am not convinced advice over the phone is the best. The next step you could take is to fill out the forms supplied by Revenue Canada and have them officially determine your status. One of the problems with that is it may put you on their radar. Here is a link to the leaving Canada form if you already haven't see it.

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pbg/tf/nr73/nr73-12e.pdf

I have had friends get letters from Revenue Canada in return declaring them non resident. Put that in your files and you're good to go without any worries.
by Overhere
Tue Apr 11, 2017 3:21 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Exiting Singapore?
Replies: 19
Views: 46274

Re: Exiting Singapore?

I'm with you, stability and peace is nice
by Overhere
Tue Apr 11, 2017 1:46 am
Forum: Forum 1. From Questions About ISS & Search to Anything and Everything About International Teaching
Topic: Tax Questions for Canadian Residents
Replies: 7
Views: 13002

Re: Tax Questions for Canadian Residents

I wouldn't expect your school to help you much with formal Canadian tax documents. They might give you a statement of income and that will probably come on school letterhead.

As for the tax-free salary, the answer to your question is yes but most of the time I would bet tax free means the school pays the tax.

Sorry, I can't be of much help with your other questions as we went non-resident as soon as we could and haven't looked back.