All good advice Eddie!

> My name is Eddie Mills and I'm the Director of the International
> Education Exchange Association, Inc. (IEEA). My family and I really
> enjoy our life in China and we wish to help Hainan through education
> and poverty relief efforts. (www.hainan.motime.com or
> www.ieea-china.org )

> We have had the honor of dining with the Vice-premier of China, the
> various officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing and
> Hainan Province as well as other officials from various provinces of
> China. I've received the "Coconut Island Friendship Award"
> which is offered by the Foreign Affairs Bureau to those who have
> contributed to Hainan.

> This blog probably won't win any awards for being humorous but is
> written to provide reliable information concerning teaching and
> studying in China. Hopefully, it will be easy to understand by all
> who wish to be informed from experience instead of hearing from the
> six month novice, who is like a flea jumping from one school to the
> next inflicting pain and anguish.

> After eleven years, I have seen it all, heard it all, and mostly
> realize that the problems that expats face in China are largely due
> to the "rumor mill" that is running crazy in China. The
> "he said/she said" or "I heard this" has probably
> caused more confusion in China than anything else. Most problems stem
> from the wrong EXPECTATIONS prior to arrival.

> Here are some expectations that the Chinese have concerning Western
> teachers and also what your realizations should be prior to arrival:

> EXPECTATIONS/REALIZATIONS:

> 1. You are a teacher not a tourist - Realize you are coming to China
> to teach and not to be a full time tourist.

> 2. You are considered an expert, so behave like one. Realize if you
> are not qualified to teach ESL or English, by all means prepare
> before arrival. There is no excuse for not being prepared prior to
> arrival.

> 3. You are expected to follow China's laws and regulations. Realize
> if you have trouble with rules and regulations, don't come. It's
> expected for you to conform.

> 4. If you want to study Chinese, come as a student and not as a
> teacher. Realize schools hate a teacher who shirks his/her duties in
> order to study Chinese. Don't be a freeloader.

> 5. If you want to preach Christianity from the classroom, realize
> teachers in Western countries can't, so don't try here.

> 6. If you want to promote some form of politics in the classroom,
> realize you will find yourself in serious trouble with the school and
> possibly on your way home.

> 7. If you love to complain, realize the school officials and teachers
> won't listen. Teachers who grip about everything are avoided like the
> plague.

> These are simple thoughts but if you are not careful, you will arrive
> in China, visit the local expat hang-outs, hear the various troubles
> at schools, and without realizing what's really happening, you will
> fall into a trap of paranoia that will affect your stay in China.

> Make friends with your FAO -- Foreign Affairs Officer. He or she will
> be surprised that you are willing to ask questions, especially if the
> other foreigners are misbehaving. Seek out the Dean of the English
> Department. Find out what their expectations are and what you can do
> to correct any situations that might be left over from a previous
> expat.

> Most of all, be willing to be an ambassador for your country. Behave
> yourself, act like you have an education, be civilized and willing to
> learn from an ancient civilization that is rebuilding it's country.
> If you act right, the Chinese officials will act in accordance to
> your efforts. If you behave childishly, wildly, drunkenly, angrily,
> or unprofessionally, don't expect your stay in China to last or to be
> happy.

> Most of all realize that BLAMING others is a weakness of our Western
> culture. Westerners are so quick to blame others without regard to
> their stumbling efforts to teach in China. If you stumble, fall over
> their cultural ways, or step into your own pitfalls, than by all
> means accept the blame.

> Make your stay pleasant, informed, and friendly.