What We Forgot About China, and What You Don't Know

Roughly two weeks ago we celebrated China Week here at Edvectus. It's one of our favorite weeks of the year - in fact, sometimes we do it twice a year. Why? Because it's an excellent opportunity for us to inform curious educators not only about the teaching opportunities in China, but the vast and extraordinary culture, geography, and lifestyle of this interesting country. To make things even better, we participate in several Edvectus-style traditions here at the office: sharing fun facts, eating Chinese food almost everyday, and other internal events like our famous China Week quiz, (which this year resulted in 3 stages due to the first two rounds requiring tie-breakers).

teaching in chinaThe deep history and traditions of China go so far back that at times it has proven difficult - even for the country itself - to present accurate dates and data on  significant events. (This is further complicated by the reign of multiple dynasties, their respective rule over specific areas of the country during wars, and discrepency in regards to which story is true and which is not. As they say, "history is written by the victors".) Regardless, much of its history, customs, and traditions are still very well alive today, and somehow seem to blend seemlessly with the country's advanced modern technology. This often makes being in China feel like you're living simultaneously in both the past and the future, depending on the location.

Many of China's rural areas and countrysides are nothing short of gorgeous, while their massive, bustling, and tech-driven cities can overload you with urban excitement and a neverending list of things to see and do. Often, people forget (or just don't realize) that China isn't small - it's the most populous country on the planet with 1.4 billion inhabitants, and a land mass 2.2% larger than the United States. This makes for some truly amazing geographical features and an impressive variation of localized traditions from region to region. It also means that there's a lot to experience - from stunning national parks with some of the world's most jaw-dropping views and tourist features, to quiet farming towns with green rolling hills, and even villages built entirely over the water. One thing that China is definitely not, is boring!

Let's forget about the Great Wall of China, or Beijing's Tiananmen Square for a minute - these are things you'll surely see if you want to, and you probably will at some point. But if you're going to spend a couple years teaching there, it's important to explore and experience the myriad of off-the-beaten-path destinations that most people never see while visiting China. Thanks to affordable and extensive high-speed train systems, you can easily and quickly traverse massive areas of the country. Take advantage of this and consider that you have the opportunity to experience an abundance of things you can't do anywhere else on earth, like:

.... and those are just a tiny, tiny example of the endless awesome things that China offers. Furthermore, most of them are free, or extremely affordable.

Let's think about something. New York City has a current population hovering somewhere around 8.5 million people, and it's the most populated city in the United States. On the other hand, China has nearly a dozen mega-cities with populations larger than New York - up to five times larger. Let that sink in for a minute. When you consider how long it'd take you to do everything interesting, fun and intriguing in New York City, it really puts into perpective the endless options available in China.

It can be quite neat (and convenient) to pickup your phone and have a roll of toilet paper delivered to your apartment in mere minutes. Eating a fresh and filling breaksfast for less than a dollar can be something that takes absolutely no getting used to. Visiting a welcoming and tranquil water-village where you literally can't go anywhere without traveling by small boat is an experience that you'll never be able to forget. The sheer size, variety of culture, and multitude of scenery make China a place unlike anywhere else.

It can be surprising how a country that's often so harshly criticized by the western world actually has the world's fastest growing economy, and a higher number of wealthy people than the US. With the number of millionaires increasing more rapidly in China than anywhere else on earth, it's easy to understand the growing demand for private international schools, and, western teachers required to work in those schools. The best part is that new international schools are sprouting up everywhere - not just in the big cities. If you want to work and live in a more relaxed and quiet rural or suburban area, don't worry - there's no shortage of vacancies.

For many western educators, this is great news. The ability to engage in a successful and legitimate career on the other side of the world presents great opportunity. Here's how you can benefit from working in China as a teacher in an international school:

  • Earn a great salary that's worth more than at home, because your living costs are greatly reduced
  • Get free housing, free healthcare, free flights home & back during the off-season
  • Free tuition for your dependent children at a ptrivate international school
  • Access to easy & cheap travel not only in China, but throughout the whole region
  • Meet new people, make lifelong friends, and experience a radically different culture
  • Learn new language, try new foods, visit places you never imagined seeing
  • Enhance and improve your resume/CV with impressive international experience
  • Advance your career more quickly, gain rapid promotions through performance/commitment
  • Put more money in the bank than you ever could while teaching in your home country

There's a lot to be said about teaching abroad, especially with the current state of educational affairs in many western countries. In fact, a recent article we wrote has shown that international teachers are happier, and more of them are choosing to stay abroad after their initial contracts are completed. Only 2% of teachers who ventured abroad returned home in less than a year. A low 8% stayed abroad for only 1-2 years. The remaining 90% of teachers stayed abroad for more than 3 years, with 35% of those staying between 5 to 10 years, and 29% staying more than 10 years. Those numbers speak for themselves.

As the internet and other technologies make international business more and more common, borders are increasingly becoming seen as not much more than mere points of entry.

The decision to teach abroad is a big decision - make no mistake about it. Hoever, it's definitely becoming more normal, more popular, and we think you'll find China to be an all-around excellent destination for both your professional and personal growth.

If you're interested and ready to learn more, visit www.Edvectus.com today. Our service is 100% free for teachers, and always will be. There's no hidden costs or fees, and we don't take a percentage of your pay. We simply deliver the best service possible, with honesty, integrity, and transparency. Furthermore, every employee at Edvectus has either taught or lived abroad for an extended period of time. We have over 50+ years of combined experience in education. We're not just another recruitment agency, we're specialists at what we do, and we're here to help you find your position as a successful international teacher.

You can learn more about teaching in China and see the most current offerings at the following links:

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