International
A Letter for my teacher
By Name Withheld
Oct 29, 2009 - 10:08:33 AM

Dear Luo Laoshi,

Hope your life has got back on the right track.

This is ---, your friend and forever student. I have been thinking about writing to you for a long time, I want to let you know about my opinion on your life and the status of my life here in Shenzhen. It is really a long story about my life ,this time I will only focus on what I think about you experience in that god damned place.

I think you have a very enjoyable life in china until you get to Baotao as an English teacher in that stupid training school. But the thing is, in china, it is very normal to work over time and do things not abided by the contract.

Take me for example, in my contract with my company, we will have two days off a week and eight hours per day, but the truth is we have to work six days per week without any extra pay for the additional four day each month. And when we are late for one minute in even a single day of a month, we will lose our 100 Yuan which is used for encouraging workers to go to work on time, if we have never been late, then the company gives us 100 Yuan, but if we are late on one day or having one day sick leave, we will lose that money and 20 Yuan's punishment. $#%^& strict, right?

Every day, I get up early just to earn that stupid 100 Yuan and avoid not being punished 20 Yuan. I got 2000 Yuan per month plus the bonus. Pretty low salary. is not it . I hate to work on Saturday and Sunday ,I want the freedom back as I feels at university.

In my previous job, I did feel what you said about in your job that someone steal your idea and retell it to the supervisor and when he or she get appraised or something by what the idea has brought. The guys who come up with that idea get nothing, not even the thanks for that disgusting guy or girl who steal our mind.

When I was doing a primary school English teaching job, I and some of my colleagues and our department chief work together and discuss about our future plan on how we are going to enter into the market which are already took up by other training schools. I did figure out a perfect plan and I let my director know and she told it to the principal, and the principal did love that idea, but in the end, she did stand in my face saying that she thought up with that idea. #$%^ that.

But I can never really believe those things did happen to you, my poor teacher. I would like punch those guys who did that to you. With your considerable experience in teaching, you can come to (City name), and easily find a job with salary over 10000 per month. However, [this] is a hectic city .And I told my sister about you, she said she would be the first student of you in whatever training school you are teaching for.

You are always welcomed to [this city].Hehe.

Hey, man, forget those unpleasant things and stupid people. You always have the support from me and your rest of the students.

We all love you and wish you good luck and happy everyday.

Be happy!

Thanks Mate!

Your letter is really appreciated. I am so sorry to hear of your own troubles at work. Many westerners have little idea about how some employers in China treat their staff.

But you know, the times are changing, and the old ways must pass away because too many Chinese people know too much about the way of life in the west and if they get too angry, then China will have lots of civil unrest.

Employers should think about this thing. Instead of treating workers like donkeys and dangling carrots (which they can never quite catch) in front of their noses, they should treat them so well that the workers will gladly help do everything that is needed, even if they don't get paid.

I wish you well in your life, and hope one day to come down and see you.

Best Wishes

R.P. BenDedek - rpbendedek@hotmail.com

Luo Laoshi.