Hello, everyone. My boyfriend and I (he's Chinese, and soon to be my husband ), are currently living in Japan. I'm an American. I'd planned on going to college here, or at least a junior college, as I'm only eighteen, but it turns out neither of us like Japan. So we may be moving to China around the end of summer. He is actually not from Shanghai (sorry! I know this is supposed to be strictly Shanghai), but from Jingzhou (Hubei). However, I'm fairly certain there are no "Expats in Jingzhou" sites.

So I suppose my real question is, will it be possible for me to find work, without any kind of college degree? I'm only just starting to learn Chinese, but I tend to be a pretty fast learner when it comes to languages.
I was also wondering if anyone happens to know about how much an appartment sells for in that area? I know there's plenty of information on Shanghai apartments on this site, but I've been completely unable to find anything about the Hubei-region in general.

Sorry again for this not being about Shanghai, and if you know any sites that might be more appropriate, the help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

In cities where there are almost no foreigners, you can easilly opt for a teaching job. Especially because you're a native speaker and the school can provide you your appartment too. I know some small cities and villages are really in need of teachers and offer good packages. They don't ask for degree's but want to attract teachers, which is difficult because their remote location.

Additional if you want to live in China, you should obt for a Z visa and then a work contract and degree is nesecarry. Otherwise you'll have renew your visa from aboroad. See my post on visa issues for more info.

Otherwise contact your counselate in China for some help and info as well.

Ivo

yes i agree with itv, yes i think no problem to find a teaching job in such kind of area at all, for its really very romote and countryside place. though i think if u want to be teacher, to get a degree is really necessary. but because of the area condition restriction, they wont demand too much. if you are a native american, i mean not an american borned chinese, then to find a job in that place should be more easy.

but in my view, if u really deside ur mind to move to china to work. then whatever, better to learn a little bit basic chinese, it will be more convinent for u to live here. and of course if u'd better to get a degree. i think u also know nowadays, whereever u go, the degree is all very important. it can give u more chances. especially to a person who dont have any experience, this time the degree seemed more important.
anyway. good luck.

Agree with water lilly here,

Without a decent degree you're considered as the same group who didn't went to school at all. So if possible try to study for your degree (online, part-time) and then make the big step. It will make your future more stable

Good luck

Ivo

I've been to Jingzhou (many years ago) when I was living in another small town in Hubei (Huangzhou) and working for a voluntary organisation from the UK (VSO - quite like the Peace Corps). Seemed like quite a nice small town and probably changed quite a lot since then. As previous posters have said, teaching English will not be a problem (VSO had several teachers at Jingzhou Teachers College), with or without a degree (though the visa issue might indeed be important - maybe the school/college could help you if you worked in education). Anything else, then I would guess that your Chinese would be much more relevant. You will have great novelty value there (esp if Caucasian, harsh but true) - I often thought I could make a nice living as one of those motorised rickshaw drivers (taxi drivers nowadays). As for housing, presumably your soon-to-be-husband has family/friends there? I would have thought that would be the only way to get any info on the state of the property market there - if its anything like the rest of Hubei, I wouldn't reckon on it being a great investment (not yet anyway), so I would wait to see if you like it before investing.
I've just found the website for Jingzhou Teachers College (otherwise known as Jingzhou Normal University, otherwise known as Yangtse University - hahaha!) - they are looking for English and Computer teachers - http://www.jznu.net/index.asp, in Chinese but there is a small English section.

Good luck and let me know if you want any more info about 'wonderful' Hubei! (my wife is a Hubei ren)
Nick