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Dr.K
Talker
Joined: June 18, 2005
Posts: 76
Location: Lianyungang, Jiangsu Provence
Status: Offline
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 Posted:
June 18, 2005 - 08:21 AM |
 
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| Post subject: Possible Relocation - Opinions welcome |
This forum has been a great help in giving me some ideas about China in general, and Shanghai in particular. My thanks to you all.
I may be moving to China in the next few months, if my employer and I can work out the details. However, the place is not really near Shanghai - unless you consider a 1 hour flight close.
The location is Lianyungang, in Jiangsu provence. I realize this is not as cosmopolitan as Shanghai (I was there for a week a little while ago, and will be returning this coming week).
Any opinions on the general state of living in that part of China would be welcome. Specifics would be:
Would a westerner consider it a "hardship posting"? (I have my own ideas about that)
General cost of living (i.e., what would be comfortable to live on, assuming my employer provides an apartment, driver, and cell).
Note I am well established in my career (advanced degree and 18 yrs industrial experience in Chemical Engineering). My family would be staying behind (damn those 2 career things), so I just need basic living expenses.
Thanks in advance. |
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PKMAN
Barker
Joined: Jan 21, 2004
Posts: 137
Status: Offline
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June 18, 2005 - 09:24 AM |
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Don't know where that city is but the "gang" part sounds like it's a port city.
As long as you're not in Shanghai, your cost of living will be very cheap. With lodging, transportation and mobile phone taken care of by your employer, I'd say you'll not need to spend more than US$1,000 per month. Probably in the $400 - $600 range.
But if that city is really small/boring and you can't help but going to Shanghai or Suzhou every weekend for some fun, then obviously the cost goes up.
Working in China for Westerners coming from North America or Western Europe is a hardship post and there should be a hardship premium in your expat package (low 15% - high 50% of your average salary in your home country). If not, you got robbed. |
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Dr.K
Talker
Joined: June 18, 2005
Posts: 76
Location: Lianyungang, Jiangsu Provence
Status: Offline
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| Posted:
June 18, 2005 - 07:02 PM |
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Yes, it is a port city, located midway between Shanghai and Beijing.
Since my family will still be in the US, I am just trying to get a feel for what sort of an "allowance" I should plan on. Since I will not be keeping my vehicles in the US (including gas and insurance), that plus a little extra can easily cover the allowance.
The city is not necessarily small, and boring is something you turn a place into. It is however, not very Western-freindly (as far as I can tell - I'll be doing more exploration this coming week).
Thanks for the tip on the hardship premium. I will carefully watch this. |
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bigspider
Talker
Joined: Jan 21, 2005
Posts: 76
Status: Offline
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June 18, 2005 - 09:33 PM |
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Been there before. About 5million population. Well, there is sea. So cannt be that boring...
I think most locals are just a bit shy at first. Will get over it soon when you know them better. Language would be one problem.
Believe they have daily flight to Beijing/Shanghai. Just make sure weekend flyaway expenses could be covered by allowance. All in all, it is not as fun as Shanghai or Peking. Always good to have options.
Noticed vegetables are a bit more expensive than expected. The rest is fairly bearable.
B. |
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