Hurdle_bunter

I don't know why my phone didn't ring. I haven't had a missed call or text msg. Perhaps you can somehow send a private msg to me via this website?

uk_vette

Hi Cheryl,

I have many good friends in the university, mostly as students and it was the year leader, like the monitor, she arranged it all.
She approached the University, to confirm it was OK, and to get permission, for me.
After that, there was no looking back.
I would very much suggest you get involved, every University has ''English Corner''
I would start by going along to the university, and just talk to the administrators, of what you would like to do.
I am sure they would welcome you with open arms, if you wouldgive some of your time as a guest speaker / reader.
Then possibly after they know you, you might start to see if you could charge a small fee.
I never bothered to go as far as asking a fee, I was more happy just to see how happy and interested all the students were, this was payment''more than enough for me''

I am always asked to return, but for now I am working in South Korea, and when I do get back to China, there is always so many people to visit, we normally all meet for a great day out in town, and have afternoon lunch, which ofton leads to nice evening meal for every one.

'vette

Aussieoverseas

Thanks 'vette
I am going on holidays soon but will follow up after I return.
C

CJ_Taniwha

Hi,

I'm a kiwi living in Dubai with my Australian wife and 14 month old daughter, and we just found out today that we will be moving to Nanjing in August to work at the Nanjing Foreign Language school so we are very excited to find someone who might be able to help us out with information and experience about moving to China from the UAE and life in Nanjing.

We can't PM you yet until we have 3 posts, but we look forward to talking with you and I look forward to meeting you and working with you.

Aussieoverseas

My husband is the Principal of the Cambridge A level centre in Nanjing Foreign Language School - how is that for a coincidence! We are Aussies and at this time last year we were living in Al Ain! We arrived in Nanjing in August last year.

Let me know what you want to know and I am happy to help.

CJ_Taniwha

Thanks for your quick reply. I guess one of the biggest questions for me would be about language, because when we were in China for a holiday in 2007 we found that hardly anyone spoke English and our Mandarin was woeful!
That was in Chengdu and the beautiful places around it though. How have you got on in Nanjing? Have you found it easy to pick up the language and get around?

Are there many other expat women and families for my wife and daughter to socialise with?

Nanjing looks beautiful, but apart from the cold weather, what else have you found difficult there? And what are your favourite things?

We love Al Ain and were up there for a weekend to stay on Jebel Hafeet in February, to be somewhere with snow now must be a real shock to the system!

Aussieoverseas

Hi again CJ-T

There is a really good international club here and although it may seem expensive to join I have had more than my money worth of fun with them. They facillitate some good outings and groups. Here is the website: [url]www.nanjinginternationalclub.com and their email is nanjinginternationalclub(at)gmail.com

One of the benefits of joining is that they have a great set of "taxi cards" with over 100 different destinations in the city including all the shopping places and restaurants etc.

No-one speaks English so "International Sign Language" is the standard! I went to one of the large markets today to negotiate the framing of a picture - I speak NO Chinese and between me, a girlfriend, a friend who speaks Chinese (by phone) and the lady in the shop we worked it out!

Driving here is even crazier and more dangerous than in the UAE (I know you don't believe that - but it is true!) I catch cabs and busses all over town and once you have your accommodation address you can find out which busses to catch through Google Maps - no problem. The city is a web of bus routes that criss cross and I have no trouble finding my way around at all. Of course if you have a driver then you will have no problems. We do not have a driver. Teachers get paid much more than local teachers but they do not earn anywhere near the big salaries that expat business people do here. Let me know what your accomm allowance is and I can give you a good idea of what you might expect.

I have been challenged by not having work here and that has made it lonely at times. I do not have any children with me - they are all grown up. If you were to be living in one of the ritzy compounds there are lots of young expat Mums, but I doubt it if you will be if you are working at NFLS. Probably more likely to get a flat in the city in high rise. It can be fairly isolating but if you can throw yourself at it I think it can be worked out......it will depend on your survivability really!

Hope this is helpful - if you need more let me know! I am also happy to chat on Skype and will give you my Skype ID in a PM.

Cheers
Aussie!

Hurdle_bunter

Is there anyone else in Nanjing? Aussie_Overseas has fled to warmer climes so numbers are dwindling!

Shaun Hua

Hi,all! I am an Australian Chinese. A few years ago I moved into Ausstralia for work. I was an civil engineer, worked in Perth and laterly in Karrath. Early this year I came back, at the moment I work with one of my friends as an consultant engineer in Nanjing. I was born in Nanjing so I know almost everything happened here. If you want to know more about Nanjing please contact me. Hope to chat with you.

Shaun Hua

I can't open the private message at the moment as my posts are less than 3.

Shaun Hua

CathOnThePalm

Hi Aussieoverseas, I am also Australian and living in the UAE, and am considering moving to Nanjing later this year. I have a job interview next week and may make the move if offered the job...but want to find out more about the city first..

What is the lifestyle like over there? I am very much into a lot of different sport so was wondering if you have any knowledge of sporting groups like running, mountain biking, paddling, etc...

Hope you're enjoying it over there!

Cheers, Cath

johnshuttle

I am an English guy back over here in Nanjing working for a couple of weeks as of 9th April. If you'd like to go for a Tsing Tao drop me a PM.

Any tips for a decent retsaurant in the Baxia district would be welcome as well. I have been to the tepanyaki up by the library / starbucks before and that is a keeper for Saturday night.

Hurdle_bunter

There are some half decent restaurants around here. If I could work out how to send a PM I would do it so send me one instead.

Cheers

johnshuttle

I sent you a PM, but perhaps you don't know how to read those either. Anyways, I will be leaving for Shanghai tomorrow, then on to HK for a couple of days before flying back to Europe.

Maybe catch you for a cold one when I come back over next year.