No time. | Blog @ Changchun China

So I’m going to quit one of my part-time jobs. I’ve been thinking about it for a few weeks and now I reaslise that I need to have some free time in my life. At present 6 days a week I leave home by 7 and get home after 8 and It isn’t worth it.

My mind was decided last week when my boss thought it funny to pay me 200元 less than I was meant to get. Now 200元 may not be that much – when I first came to China I would have let it go – but not now. If he is going to mess with me then I’ll repay him with the same courtesy.

I get paid by the hour so he knows exactly how many classes I did, yet when I told him he said I was mistaken, he simply didn’t listen to anything I had to say. It’s strange because I have had a good working relationship with him previously, I have never had any complaints. Why would he try this on?

I told him in as many ways possible that he still owed my the 200, then I told him in Chinese, I asked him to him to ask the students whether I was there or not. He still continued to disagree with me. I think he must have really been short of cash or something (by skimming the 200yuan) because he knows that if I quit on him he is in a difficult situation. He also knows that there are lots of other places I could work and that I don’t have to work for him.

I will tell my boss after I get paid this week that my price has gone up. So If he wishes to retain my services he must pay me more as my time has now become more valuable. If he doesn’t agree (and this is what I really want) I will endeavour to find him a replacement teacher but I can’t guarantee anything. He knows how difficult it will be to get a replacement at this time during the term, especially as his classes are during the week and most teachers in Changchun work during the week. But this will be his problem not mine.

By forcing his hand I will either get a raise or I will have some free time to do the things I want to do. Either way I can’t lose.

Ultimately though it’s the students that will suffer. It’s very sad but that’s how it is. The administration at this university desn’t care abut the welfare of its students. I do care, but I can’t let that feeling put me in a disadvantageous position especially when it comes to salary. If I say that ‘I can’t quit because I owe it to the students’ then I cut my own throat as effectively it means I can’t quit. It’s tough but that’s just the way it is here.

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6 thoughts on “No time.”

Hey you make interesting reading!
I am actually comming to Changchun and wonder if I might ask you a few questions.
I was supposed to be there this evening but an impacted incisor has prevented me travelling today.
Is there a reasonable dentist there?
The above email address will reach me 24/7.
Thankyou in advance
I am Kelvin in Perth, Australia.

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hi dear friend:
How do you do. It is a realy suprised me. I am a Chinese student in Manchester. Today I am trying to find some intresting blog in the web in UK, then find your blog. Changchun is my hometown. It is a place I have dreamed 30 years. I past the first 14 years in Changchun and I have many friends in Changchun. If you have some problems in Changchun, please chat with me. Do you know where is the ” Sidalin dajie” and “Nanhu”?

Best wish
Xiaodong Lou
29/10/06 in the University of Manchester

Reply ↓

Best wish
Xiaodong Lou
29/10/06 in the University of Manchester

Reply ↓

Is there a reasonable dentist there?

Yes, there are some dentists here that are up to the standards we expect in the west. One that springs to mind is very near to zhuozhan just off chongqing lu. I’ve been told they are very good and also it will only cost you a fraction of the price back home. You can negotaite the price beforehand if you like.