Wednesday afternoon, went with a very sweet and nice girl who spoke excellent English to check a couple of universities (The College of International Culture South China Normal University) and their Chinese programme is full time, 20 hours a week and are asking for 8K RMB. Link to the school's site:
http://www.cicgz.com/
Next went to another University right besides the first one, called Jian and Jilin or something like that. Same deal for that one. After talking to my contacts here, they said that it's not worth it and that if I want to focus on biz, then 20 hours a week, is going to take a lot of my time and leave me with not much to work on my biz and instead to get either an exchange language with a Chinese or even better, a pillow dictionary which has been my favorite and most efficient way to learn any language...
Wednesday night, met with Tim and Nick from theelevatorlife.com .They are the coolest, most down to earth yet friendly and helpful guys you can imagine. When it comes to biz, they are the real deal. The funny thing is that they live just 5-6 minutes walk from where I'm staying. Spent all night listening to their tales and tips of doing biz in China and was blown away by what they have achieved in such a short time. 2 years ago, they came to GZ, with no chinese skills, no contacts and 5k and now, they've got amazing friends, killer contacts, built very successful business while speaking speaking good chinese in the process. And they just signed a 7 figure deal with one of the richest man in GZ. Just mind blowing. Some of their other equally awesomely successful friends joined us throughout the night at the bar and it was awe inspiring being surrounded by these brilliant, successful yet cool and down to earth guys. I'm going to party tonight and tomorrow night with them in STYLE...can't wait!
Yesterday, thursday afternoon, also met one of the guys from the forum, BadWolf. He's been outstanding, helping me a lot, giving my number to his hot students and friends who have been sending me texts and calling me left and right. He also hooked me up with a job interview which led to a job offer with another company in a city not far from here. Simply outstanding guy! Big shout to you brother!
First about the interview at his company. It didn't go well as I didn't have a teaching experience and it's very strict in GZ and they require teachers with experience. However, during the interview, the HR girl told me that if I were to go to the north of China, I'd be having a lot of options there in terms of jobs. She was kind enough to give give my number to one of her friends who works for another company and that girl called me a few minutes later and asked me if I was interested in working in Dongguan, a city not far from GZ right between GZ and Shenzen.
She asked me to send her my resume, copy of passport page, 2 recent pics and a copy of my degree. After emailing them to her, she sent me an offer in Dongguan city, not far from GZ. For those interested in the details, it is to teach kids, Monday-Friday, mornings only, from 9 to noon and 2 afternoon per week to do administrative stuff. Pay is 8500RMB/month+1000 allowance/month for accommodation and a bonus of 10k RMB at the of the 1 year contract. She said the company would help me with getting a work visa and if I were to get it myself, they would pay for my trip to Hong Kong to get a work visa (Z visa). She said I would start next week. I told her I'd let her know by Monday of my decision.
However, after talking with Tim and Nick from the elevatorlife.com and after really thinking about it, I decided not to take the offer and instead, will be flying back home on Wednesday and then straight to Edmonton next sunday to get a job in the oil fields, work a few months, have some capital and then return to China without having to need a job. This way, I would be able to totally focus on biz and without any job requirements/pressures. It really is the smartest decision for the long term even tough, I hate to go back to a boring life in Canada and work in AB in the freaking cold there. Yes I would have had a total blast remaining in China, and banging a ton of hot chicks, but I'm at a stage now that I need to be smart and think with the big head and not the smaller one.
China is where I want to be and where it's really at and to give myself the best chance of succeeding, I need to have some capital to allow me to live in China for at least a year without having to work and to totally focus on learning the lingo and building my businesses. I see returning to Canada and working for 3-4 months in the brutal cold conditions of Alberta as the price to pay for a life of freedom and total options and I am willing to pay that price.
So on sunday morning, I will be flying to Manila where my return flight is on wednesday. I'll be partying my ass of for the next few days, both in GZ and in Manila.
I have been hearing and reading for as long as I can remember that China is the place to be for business. But now that I've been here and seen it with my own eyes, I have the confirmation of that it is all true and some more. A LOT more! I can say with total confidence and faith to all of you guys out there who are stuck in a soul crushing, mind numbing "career" or worst a dead end J.O.B. in North America or Europe or anywhere else for that matter, that you need to come check China to see it with your own eyes to believe the magnitude of the opportunities available here. I suggest you start in Guangzhou as it is very developed, within very easy access from Hong Kong and is the world capital of manufacturing and hence, ground 0 for opportunities. And as the icing on the cake or part of the benefits package if you will, are the sea of adorable, sexy, feminine, friendly, sweet and beautiful Chinese women who LOVE western men...
So do your research guys and IMO, the best place to start is at thelevatorlife.com . Watch the videos on the site and get in touch with Tim and Nick. They are some of the the coolest, friendliest cats you'd ever meet. These guys are simply outstanding.