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Where should I go?
MuslimTraveller
11/27/04 at 05:42:35
Asalaamualaikum

Respected brothers and sisters, I have a problem,

I got back to Beijing from Xining, Qinghai Province (North Western China) late last Sunday night Sunday night. The main purpose of my visit to Xining was to meet the Principal of one of the Foreign Language Schools there. He was rather keen to secure my services as an English teacher. He told me (through a translator) that if I worked at his school I would be the first foreign teacher to work there full time. He currently has a part time teacher from the US who works there part time. But since I would be the first full time foreign teacher, I would become the COORDINATOR for all the foreign teachers who come to work here in the future!

Now this school is actually a part time school. It functions on weekends and holidays. But there are keen to secure my services on a full time basis. This is because I was recommended by my best friend and his brother in law (both Chinese Muslims). Now the brother in law happens to be a consultant lawyer for the Principal. Now if I worked full time, outside weekends and holidays I would be sent to one of their brother or sister schools to teach there.

The only draw back is that since Qinghai is a developing Province and Xining is a developing city, the pay would only be 3500 yuan (half of what I'm receiving now). To be honest, that doesn't bother me, because Qinghai is right in the middle of all the Provinces I want to go to anyway. Besides, the cost of living in Qinghai is only a fraction of what it is in Beijng. A bowl of noodles in Xining is 3 yuan. In Beijing its 10 yuan.

I promised them I would consider the offer carefully, because I am not happy with NIT (my current school) anymore. There is a food problem for me in the cafeteria, we now each have a punch card to clock in every morning and evening, and now we all have to work from 8:30 to 5:50. I have had enough. I did not come here simply to work. I came here because I wanted to gain valuable experience while I do extra study, see China, learn the language, learn more abot Islam, learn to read the Quran (possibly even learn Arabic as well) and get close to the Chinese Muslim community. Right now I am achieving only 1 of those objectives.

If I leave I plan to honour my contract. So I would stop working on the 31st of January. I was going to leave 3 months ago, but I did my boss a big favour by sticking around for an extra 5 months, I think that she would allow me to continue living in the apartment for a little while longer until my family go back to Australia after visiting me. What do you think? Should I remain in Beijing where I can get more money (a brother told m I would be able to help the Chinese Muslims more if I had more money), or should I relocate to the North West where there are stronger Muslims?

I want to contact the representative at th Xining Shool very soon to give him an answer. Please let me know what you think.

Wasalam

Yahya

PS: Please do not ask me why I chose to teach English in China instead of a Muslim country in Asia or the Middle East. I constantly get asked this. I have my reasons. Jazakallah khair
Re: Where should I go?
jannah
11/27/04 at 12:54:29
wlm,

I think your choice is a very cool one. It reminds me of the muslim traders and travelers ;) who left to all parts of the world to spread Islam.

About the problem, I think you have to very carefully think about quality of living. If there is a job that pays more, but you are working long hours doing hard work, commuting, the people you work for and with... those are things you have to factor in. If there is a better job with better hours, less work, you can do more things... then that is important too. So it's definitely not all about money.. especially when your purpose is something else entirely living in a foreign country you obviously didn't go there to make alot of money.

So factor in all the details which are just as if not more important than money and pray istikhaarah inshaAllah. May Allah guide you to what is khair.

Re: Where should I go?
jannah
12/28/04 at 09:33:40
bump
Re: Where should I go?
se7en
12/28/04 at 12:23:39
as salaamu alaykum wa rahmatullah,

honestly bro, from the way you wrote your post, it sounds like you already made your decision :)  you mentioned many benefits in taking this new position, and not too many benefits in keeping your old position.

if your stay in china is not a permanent one, I think you should try to spend as much time as you can travelling, learning, seeing new things.. and if you do decide to take this new position, maybe with your extra time you can post more about your interesting adventures :)  or start a blog to document your travels and experiences.

also, I think it is always better for a person to be around a strong Muslim community; our souls need nourishing by our brothers and sisters.

may Allah guide you to the best decision,

wasalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullah

12/28/04 at 12:25:28
se7en
Re: Where should I go?
MIT
12/28/04 at 12:54:54
assalaamu alaikum

Have you prayed salat al-istikhara about this issue yet?

The prospect of working in the Muslim province sounds really exciting. And if you have come more for the experience than the money, and you don't aim to be in China permanently, why not spend the time with the Muslim community. If you are really, unsure of what to do - how about agreeing a contract in the muslim province for a year or 6 months, and then you can extend it if you find you like it.

NS
Re: Where should I go?
sal
12/28/04 at 15:36:25
[slm]
Brother traveller

Both options have disadvantages and advantages ,so no matter which one you have decided to chose .You should not feel you have taken a wrong choise because you will never find things as you want it totally satisfactory ,and this is the feeling we need to avoid that what we chose is what we think is right at that moment and under that circumstance which is right and its not a mistake but is a destiny as long as it is meant to be the best out of other options .if so?  what you (or we )need is how to get used to the choise taken .to use as much as we can the advantage and to not remain stressed because of the disadvantage that appears in the future ,this should be some thing expected at least  emotionally since it’s the fact
That was a general opinion any way but specifically in your case there are two things I think  you need to compare

1-In your present place it seems life is hard but you earn much you teach English but if you have the ability that you can also teach some of your knowledge in ISLAM to who you think can learn .I mean if you feel you feel you  are needed to be there also for teaching Islam well in this case so you are also in another wonderful mission to let you be patient and stay there so don’t go since there are two return good income and good job

2-If you feel you need to learn more first,  and also if the anti Islam factors  there  CAN  AFFECT your  ISLAM for any reason then there is no other choise than leaving this place however  if I were you I would think of to come back there once again as a teacher of ILSAM after I have taken a strong knowledge from where most ISLAM community live  since you already know the place and the community and what to do for who (if you  feel you can give but with no negative consequence on your religion  )

Any of the two options have goods and bads but it depends on how to deal with them practically ,and I don’t see any thing to be worried about in any of them
So
MAY ALLAH CHOSE THE BEST OF THEM FOR YOU

12/28/04 at 15:46:19
sal
Re: Where should I go?
AyeshaZ
12/28/04 at 15:36:43
[wlm]

Subhan'Allah your post sounds exactly like one of our teachers/friends! He moved to muscat recently as an english teacher and Alhamdullilah his e-mails are filled with all the things he is learning, experiencing and most importantly ahh the weather is simply beautiful! He had an opportunity to teach in Morocco before he moved to Muscat but the only drawback of his job was not being with his family (which is interesting cuz his wife is also from Australia :)) But Alhamdullilah now he is going to be reunited soon.
One of things he made sure was that he enjoyed and benefited much from his job, as well as was surrounded by teachers of deen.
May Allah(swt) make it easy for you and please doo share with us what u end up deciding.
wassalam


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