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| Beware if you are an ABC/CBC/BBC | ||
| If you were born in Canada/USA/Britain/Australia/New Zealand, or like me, you have been living in one of these countries most of your life and you are of Oriental heritage (especially if you are 0% mixed) and you are thinking about teaching in China/Taiwan, then here is something you should be aware of. My name is Thomas Wang, I live in Vancouver (Canada) and I have been back from Qingdao since January 12 after teaching for 9 months in Qingdao. Forget about the lies and false advertisements, or as some people would call them, "misunderstandings and/or miscommunications. What I found most shocking, depressing, and downright insulting was the fact that many people (be they young or old) didn't think that I should be teaching them or their children because I do not "look like a foreigner". Hey, I can't help the fact that both my parents are of Chinese heritage and I was not adopted. Before going to China, I was told by some online friends that I would be warmly welcomed in China because (1) I speak "fluent American English" (2) I can speak very good Chinese and (3) I am a Chinese from abroad. But I soon found it otherwise. Alright, so it didn't happen all the time and there were plenty of students who enjoyed having a foreign teacher who could speak Chinese. But it's comments like "I don't want my child to be taught by a foreign teacher who doesn't look like a foreigner" and "It's just not that interesting to be speaking English with a foreigner who is of Chinese heritage" that made me wanted to go home. So to my fellow Chinese Canadians, Americans, Australians, and New Zealanders: consider this before going to China to teach! I know this is also the case in Taiwan as my cousin Mike taught there for a year and had the same experience. I am going to Dalian in 2 1/2 weeks, I hope I won't be facing the same kind of discrimination and prejudice as I did in Qingdao but I know I probably will. Oh well, such is life. At times I really wish I was white or hell, even black -- just as long as I didn't look CHINESE! My e-mail address: tw@canada.com |