Life in China

For every rewarding and magical moment you'll experience in China, there will be a challenge to match it. While the challenges are part of the overall experience, we wanted to let you know some of the difficulties and differences life in China offers so you can make an informed decision about coming. The section below contains a lot of information about living in China. If you are considering applying for a position with Aston, we ask that you read this entire page before making any further inquiries. Even if you are not considering working with us, you'll want to read this before deciding to live and work in the PRC.

The Main Point

This page is mainly geared toward those of you who have never been to China. While some parts may seem negative it's not meant to discourage but to prepare you for the realities of living in a developing country. There are several things you should be aware of from the beginning - some of which apply to everyone living in China and some that apply to Aston alone. People living in China must have a certain level of independence or they are not going to enjoy the experience. Living here means you very often have to change the way you view behavior as it applies to rules of society and do without some things that we take for granted in the west. If you think you could have trouble adapting to living on your own in a foreign country or you have trouble dealing with new and odd situations then you should not be in China.

The most important thing is to read the contract. When talking to Aston, or any other school, read the contract carefully and ask for clarification if you have a question about something. If you don't like the terms of a contract then ask about possible alterations. Most schools don't mind being a little flexible.