PsyGuy wrote:
> Whats the waiting plan, March? Thats nutter talk. Your missing out on opportunities
> sitting on your hands. Right now everyones waiting meaning everyone else isnt flooding
> whats left of the IE market, minus China (and China absorbs a LOT of ITs), when
> it vanishes in a vapor there wont be a lot of vacancies left to absorb the fallout
> from Chinas IE market evaporating.

I'm not actively looking for any other opportunities. I'm happy at my current school, and also married to a trailing spouse (who is a citizen of my host country). Thus, I only even considered leaving my present position for the "perfect" fit elsewhere, which I thought the China job was (for salary, curriculum, PD, clerk position for the wife). So the choice is between China or staying where I'm at, and as I said, I'm content to stay if the coronavirus isn't ameliorated soon.

Update from OP: contacted my Search Associate. I suspect my email of this nature was not the first, nor the last, that the Associate will be responding to regarding China. As sid noted above, the Associate replied with understanding and empathy, which was very nice to read. Plan is to play for a little more time, but I think given the circumstances and the global emergency distinction, there wouldn't be a penalty for backing out this time. It's not an ideal option, but there it is.

First post: I got a job through Search in China for August 2020. With this coronavirus raging, it's suffice to say I'm having serious apprehensions and second thoughts. I have the opportunity to re-up with my current school which I'd be fine with; I've been here 5+ years, the HOS has given me wide latitude, and so I have about another month before I have to declare I for sure won't be back. But then I'd be reneging on the contract with the school in China. Search, as any recruiter, takes a hard line on backing out. But under its section on "political unrest and natural disasters" it states: "We also know that each situation that occurs is unique and that individuals need to make their own decisions when situations arise."

I decided to move on mostly for the benefits and was pretty excited for the new opportunity. But it's clear this epidemic is not going away anytime soon, I've read in the Lancet it's expected not to peak until April 2020.

Do you think Search be understanding if I decided to re-consider this in light of current events while I still have the opportunity to stay with my current school? I'm honestly open to both staying the course and re-considering but trying to weigh the pros and cons of each.