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Q: How long did your honeymoon phase with China last?
Pretty much anyone that comes to China goes through that beautiful "Honeymoon" phase wearing a nice set of rose tinted glasses.
Then something happens or continuously happens and it wear off.
How long did you yours last? Was there a clear marking to its end?
Mine was probably 6-8 months. The marking to it its end, was when my school at the time, tried to screw me over when my contact ended. It was like it all came shockingly clear how they saw me... just some novelty training monkey to make them money. I had to do something I despised myself for and withhold student grades until they gave me my promised flight allowance/end of contact pay. It worked but I was left jaded.
I don't think I really had a honeymoon period.
I had a pretty good idea of what I was heading to as far as the dishonesty, spitting, self centered behavior etc goes. Twenty minutes spent online and anyone knows that.
Stepping off the plane and into the airport, then the taxi ride to my new school / apartment / life for the first time was pretty surreal for me. I was appalled and fascinated at the same time and that has basically always been my reaction to China.
I don't think I ever thought it was something it's not, though I do have to say the level of everyday pettiness, deceit and just plain vindictive shit did surprise me when I took a job as a manager. I had always been shielded from the worst of it before then, knew it was there but didn't know the full extent.
Maybe that counts as the end of my honeymoon period.
about 4 months - the first time i was asked to 'review' (change) end of semester exam results.
About 3 months. Around the time the first boss demanded (not asked) I 'trust them' when I knew more about the visa process than them.
icnif77:
I heard the same from my present boss over the Internet.
I was questioning ... : 'How can you trust somebody, if you've never met person before?'
Chinese don't really understand meaning of 'trust me'.
After I started with work in the School here, boss tried several times to make me re-sign 'new Contract's versions' in class breaks, i.e. 'can't read!', and every new copy missed some (monetary) bonus offered in 1st Contract. BuTT ....'Eagle-eye was there!', so 'trust .....nobody.'
I don't think I really had a honeymoon period.
I had a pretty good idea of what I was heading to as far as the dishonesty, spitting, self centered behavior etc goes. Twenty minutes spent online and anyone knows that.
Stepping off the plane and into the airport, then the taxi ride to my new school / apartment / life for the first time was pretty surreal for me. I was appalled and fascinated at the same time and that has basically always been my reaction to China.
I don't think I ever thought it was something it's not, though I do have to say the level of everyday pettiness, deceit and just plain vindictive shit did surprise me when I took a job as a manager. I had always been shielded from the worst of it before then, knew it was there but didn't know the full extent.
Maybe that counts as the end of my honeymoon period.
About the time it took to sober up and leave the arrivals terminal and out onto the street
2 month, hahaha, she tried her best to make her self the boss and such. But I told her no way, its McDonalds tonight.
18 months, China was much different then, especially in the north. Smartphones only help dump people get dumber
I was never in love in order to have a honeymoon phase, and given that when I flew into Shanghai, it was just another city... meh! Of course, going through customs & immigration at Shanghai helped to ensure I'd never have this dream honeymoon....
And, to ensure my rose-tinted glasses didn't get stuck to my face, after getting off a plane the next day, going to the airport toilet - no glasses, no smell of roses either!
Within a week, I was talking to teachers who were telling me about some of the most crap stories - which we all know are true... not long after, I was understanding first hand.
(although, the one about the kid shitting in the airport terminal waiting lounge still hasn't been beaten!)
