On the other hand, these young English teachers wouldn't be there without demand. And you need to make mistakes first to be able to learn from them. I don't know the industry that well, but would expect them to get a lot of stress both from the students, school managers and student families. And without doubt quite a few cases where promised compensation is not paid.

According to my own experience you can only speed up the integration process by a certain measure by listening to more experienced people with the right attitude. Mostly thinking only evolves slowly and making mistakes cannot be avoided.

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Very interesting post by lao moondog.

I am finding myself involved more and more with the education sector in China professionally but from a more technical and commercial aspect. And not really stuff I'm prepared to discuss openly.

Would just like to add that from the viewpoint of industry the only value Chinese graduates from top schools bring with them is guanxi. I.e they can sell b2b products to their classmates later.

Everything else, be it logistics, production management or pricing, has to be taught from scratch at the company. The schools don't cover anything relevant at all, even when graduates come from engineering faculties.

Actually I know several Chinese tycoons who are reluctant to hire from universities as expectations are high, flexibility and endurance levels low and loyalty to the employer very questionable.

Better then to go to vocational schools where graduates can still accept to learn some basic skills and routine before expecting promotion.

These two points are so true, i am seeing it more & more in the provinces outside of BJ & SH. & the china 'country' type tycoons also have a bias toward the BJ/SH mba whiz kids... (they want locals)

Now, factor in the unprecedented urbanisation; (per the Economist)
-By 2025 around 1b living in the cities
-By 2025 15 cities with 25m+ population
-By 2025 200+ cities with 1m+ population
-By 2025 40bn sg m of floor space built

So, expect more mass transit 'fights' !!

Take a look at any society that starts seeing a growth in any particular group of people etc in an area that did not have that group of people before and you will this same thing. There is always of course prejudice involved as well which can always come into play as well. I do not believe that people feeling threatened by the infiltration of a group of people as prejudiced in itself.

In Shanghai with my wife (then gf) and was surprised at how many people shouted things in Chinese at us (obviously not saying hello), not a ton but enough. I am white and she is Thai. If you are going to be prejudiced (aka ignorant) at least know the difference between Thai and Chinese. My Chinese friends in Shanghai said things are different now but we see no reason to go back there ever again.

The only thing the Chinese are prejudiced against is making money.
When the country has barbershops, KTVs, and saunas on virtually every block
they don't have to fight over women, just the money they have to pay.

My wife is Chinese and I am not. We go to China all the time, to see friends and family, and also to travel around and see the country. Except for one single incident in Guangzhou ten or twelve years ago (someone, thinking my wife didn't understand Cantonese, wondered aloud how we wound up together), we have not experienced anything remotely like you've described -- no prejudice, no hostility and only, at most, some polite curiosity on rare occasions. I'm not saying I doubt your experience, I'm merely saying it is atypical and certainly nothing I've ever encountered in the 17 years I've been traveling around China (probably totaling more than a year of time "on the ground" there).

Don't forget the foot massage places! Ah, I love those foot massage places. There's one near where a friend of ours lives in Shenzhen that I've been to so often that they remember me. I love that place -- it's a little neighborhood place that everyone, men, women and children, go to. There are a couple of televisions playing local programs, tea is served (of course), and everything is completely above-board (unlike some of the "clubs").

Hmmmm . . . I think it's time to go back.

+1. That being said, again want to reiterate I see lots of physical violence in the good old USA, never in China.

Loud verbal arguments are a completely different story though...

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Those foot massage places are a real treat. Super cheap and very relaxing.

Any legitimate massage in China is great...

That's pretty naive.


I am ivy league, I can get drunk and insult locals without impunity.

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Define legitimate.
The only thing legitimate about massage places are probably that all of them are used as a front for special services. Apart from some international chain hotels where you pay RMB600 and above for a foot massage most massage joints just rush through the massage portion so that they can get you to try their special menu.