Hi Guys, well it was interesting reading.

So HOW MUCH does it cost for a small bottle of water and a cheap meal out-like basic noodles?
In Korea you can get a bottle of water for W500 and Sushi(Kimbab) for W1000. It's so cheap.>But luxuries are expensive. A day at a fun park could be 40,000. Movies were around 10,000. Buses are cheap, and the subway in soeul is 800. potatoe chips are 500.

Chow

However, maybe you are not at a very good school. There are some
> horrible, horrible places to work in China, and there are some great
> places to work. Every school has it's problems. I am commonly paid
> late, by one or two days. It is a small price to pay for not having
> to put up with a lot of the bullshit that you have to.

> As for phone cards, you can probably find them for very cheap in the
> same areas you buy your dvd's. Remember to bargain for them. Up here
> in the North East, we pay 25RMB for 45 minutes over seas. Their
> asking price starts at 60, but in China you can bargain on anything.

> I do shave, as a woman, I probably shave a lot more than you do, I
> also go to the spa twice a week. I go for a one hour massage on top
> of that every weekend. I get my hair done and deep conditioned, a
> three hour treatment every 3 weeks. I eat western food with my
> friends atleast twice a week, and have over 300 DVD's in my
> collection. I have a brand new computer, and a brand new laptop,
> digital camera and MP3 player, all I have bought here by saving 1/2
> of my salary each month. I have a PS2, Gamecube and XBox, all from
> doing 4 hours of private tutoring a week. I live a very nice
> lifestyle here, and only on 4000RMB/month.

> Perhaps my area is far cheaper than yours. I do drink, but only on
> Friday nights when my company pays for it.
> I eat a lot of fruit, but buy it all from the street markets, or the
> lady that brings it to my door or work. Very, very cheap. No, I don't
> eat cheese, I am a vegan vegitarian, so yes, that cuts down on the
> cost. I find that I don't even really like western food anymore. I do
> eat three meals a day, plus pringles and stuff.
> I don't know where you are, but ADSL for that much is insane. We
> seriously pay only 100RMB/3 months. And it is a very fast connection.
> We also get free internet access at work. There are small coffee
> shops here that are also internet cafes, where people don't smoke
> nearly as much. ( I totally understand what you mean about nearly
> needing a gas mask to go into the usual ones. Gag! )

> That does suck that you live out of the city, and have to pay so much
> for transportation. Doesn't your school offset any of your travel
> costs? Ours does. It's not much, but it's something.

> Most of us here meet up with friends every night, but not at the bar.
> There are other free places to go, like to the public squares at
> night, the parks, someone's house, etc.

> Good for you for being such an excellent and prepared teacher.
> Seriously. So many people here come along and don't give a rats ass
> about their actual teaching. However, at my school, we have some that
> care a lot,and some that don't. The people who put the extra effort
> in, are usually reimbursed for their extra expenses. Why not? It only
> benefits the school and the students.
> I must admit that perhaps I am one of the lucky ones, and I'm sorry
> your financial experience has been so bad.

> You are right in being angry over the person who gave you false
> information regarding your finances. I'm sorry that has happened to
> you, and also sorry to say that it is common among schools and
> recruiters here.
> However, given my situation, I do feel that people can enjoy a much
> better lifestyle here than they can at home. I feel that 100%. Most
> of us did not have fantastic lifestyles at home, or we wouldn't have
> left.

> You raise a very good point about why people stay here so long. I
> myself am a little afraid of going home, finishing my degree while
> being the oldest student there, having to start all over again by
> living at my Dad's until I can find another apartment again, finding
> another job, etc. Yes, it is difficult.
> Yet I don't think it is bad enough to be a deterrent from coming
> here. This is the experience of a lifetime, and by having more than
> enough money right now, I am also learning that money is maybe not as
> important as we think.

> Sincerely,
> Da Yan Jing.

> Hello Da Yan Jing,