Isn't the whole purpose of living in another country to experience life in a new land? Yeah, teaching salaries in China are really low by U.S. standards, but have you taken a minute to assess how really lucky you are in terms of the local economy? When in a given English school, the English teachers are treated far better than the Chinese staff they work with, and make much more money to boot..... When foreigners in general come in to a country where the average wage of a Chinese worker is 400 US$ a month, and at the cost of 7-day work weeks at least 12 hours a day!!!!!!! I'm sorry. I don't feel sorry for you. If you come to China expecting to save money or pay off loans, then you've come to the wrong country. But if you've come to teach and do a little traveling and hang out with new friends, you CAN live comfortably, like a king in fact! and yes, all on 5000rmb a month. and if you're resourceful, even save a little. so stop complaining, and change your life if you don't like it, cuz they're are other people in the world who actually make LESS money than you do!