About CharlyShene

Currently Lives:

Citizen of:

Some Forum Posts:

China: expat kinderten teacher wage:

There is no standard salary, very much depends on which city, what kind of kindergarten, your education level (and nationality) etc. First thing I would do is ask my colleagues?

China: best internships:

If you want to organize the internship yourself, then the only way is to apply to the companies and try to do some internet research. If you want someone to help you with the organization, China, accommodation, provide support in China etc. then it makes sense to look for an internship via an agency (the one I know, because I studied Chinese there is: http://www.livethelanguage.cn/internship-in-china/ I never had an internship organized for me by them, but they are a very reliable company in my experience). Costs more, but they will be able to answer those questions.

China: bigger sized condoms:

In Beijing (dont know about Shanghai, but I assume similar), the international supermarkets have different size condoms, but they are very expensive. If you speak Chinese (or your gf does) you can also order them online via taobao.

China: Where to learn Mandarin in China:

If you are looking for a city where people speak pre-dominantly Mandarin then Kunming is not a very good choice as the local accent there is incomprehensible to any speaker of standard Mandarin. Like in many areas in China many people can speak Mandarin there, however you will hear locals speaking Kunminghua with each other which is effectively a different language. If you want to go to a city that speaks generally good Mandarin, then Northern China is your only real option (except maybe Shenzhen). Beijing is an obvious choice (the school I studied there has cheap semester programs, but they also only start in September http://www.livethelanguage.cn/learn-chinese-beijing/semester-program/), but if you didn't find anything you like there, my first suggestion would be Chengde. I spent three weeks studying there and it has no expats (like really not a single one), there is only one small school (http://www.livethelanguage.cn/learn-chinese-chengde/) and life all day is in Mandarin only. Financialy, if your aim is to spend six months just learning Mandarin, I would say go to any state university, they are always the cheapest. If your aim is to learn as much Mandarin as possible, I think it is well worth to spend more money and just study for a shorter period to stay in the budget. You will learn more in two months in a full immersion environment with a good school than in six months in some large group program in a city where people do not really speak Mandarin.

China: Chinese Visa and Tax obligations:

Which visa you are on has no effect on renting apartments. As long as you pay your rent you can rent one, nobody cares or checks your visa. For tax, yes you are liable, but as you are working in China illegally (you are not allowed to work on a tourist visa officially), there is no way you could pay them even if you wanted to.

Germany: Travel to US -- German citizen:

Just fill out the online visa waiver form and that's fine. He will need to be able to name a hotel he will stay at once he arrives in the US. They do not actually check, so he can say anything he wants, but he needs to be able to say one.

China: work permit to china:

depends on the embassy. If they say its ok, then it is. If not then not. If you are working with a good visa agent they should know.

China: Keep US cell number while overseas:

very simple, just bring the SIM card with you and put it into a China enabled phone (not all phones from the US work in China, but smartphones etc. do - China uses the international standards, so basically any phone that works in Europe or any other part of the world will work in China). Your phone company in the US might charge you a lot in roaming charges though...

China: Baby Labor in Guangzhou:

Thank God. I thought you were looking for a job for your baby when I first read the headline. ;)

Date Joined:

8/29/2013

Total Posts:

10

Posts/Day:

0.01