Work, childhood, and everything in between!

[ChadCoxRox]

Currently I teach myself with MP3 files and just using language immersion, but when I move in two weeks, my new employer offers classes so we shall see. My current employer is a unique company in the sense that there are two different sets of management and the two staff teams never cross that line. If you are a Chinese staff member than you have a completely different set of rules and boss than someone like me who is American. So even though my branch manager is Chinese, she is not my boss. My manager is the Director of Studies (American) and I rarely ever see him. His boss is the Director of Foreign Affairs (Canadian) and that is the highest boss that exists for those of us that are not Chinese. We only see the DOFA at formal events and even then it is limited. He mainly deals with visa questions and concerns and his wife (Chinese) works in the office and handles the payroll and visa papers, but she does not work for him since she is Chinese. We have Chinese teaching aides who report to the Chinese branch manager who reports to a head boss in some office that we have never seen. The only person above that is the owner who is the wife of the Chief of Police for the whole city (hence why we are rarely under the spotlight).

Thanks for the great details. It all sounds so ideal. I suppose that makes up for the plated penis!!!! How was that btw? What have you disliked versus what have you liked the most? How do you create a life for yourself outside work with the culture transition, etc.? Are there rules about social interactions, engaging with native chinese, religious or secular rules that are difficult or helpful? Sorry to be so inquisitive but most of the other stuff here seems pale in comparison.