These are just a few precautions to take especially if you are new to China. This is not to say that living and working in China is unsafe or in any way insecure.
I have lived in Beijing for 2years now and have traveled around China in that time and I must say it is one of the safest place I have ever lived in my life.

As I got used to living here, I would and still do go for walks at wee hours of the night on my own, I have gone out and had to take a taxi home late at night, I can use my phone while walking down the street or on the subway/bus seated next to an open window in the middle of traffic, something I wouldn't dream of doing back in my home country especially in the city.

There are video surveillance cameras everywhere even in places where there ideally wouldn't be. Also you will often see police patrolling the streets day and night.
However it is always advisable to lean on the side of caution just to avoid the 0ne-in-a-million-chance occurrences.

Here are a few precautions you could take...

• Do not travel alone if possible

• Pay attention your surroundings, especially in unfamiliar areas

• Avoid large demonstrations or protests

• Carry only as much cash as is absolutely necessary

• Store the currency in multiple locations on your person

• Avoid walking alone in dark alleys or areas at night

• Keep handbags zipped/locked and held close to the front of your body or hands on wallets in jeans

• Register with your embassy and keep their number with you

• Do not go alone to bars.

• Carry a cellphone at all times

• If you are a victim of a crime or are threatened, seek safety and report the crime to the police

• Avoid situations involving people who are drunk arguing and/or causing a disturbance.
• Leave the area before they involve you in their problem

• Adopt a non-confrontational attitude even though you are in the right. Back down even to someone in the wrong to avoid physical contact/fights.

• If you are a target of attention of a drunken group or individual or if someone tries to engage you in a fight or challenges you, back away and leave immediately

• Avoid putting others into a situation where they feel challenged and required to act. Be apologetic and indicate no offense was meant.

• If you are out with friends or acquaintances who drink to excess, urge them to return home as soon as possible.

• Ring Emergency Assistance:
• Emergency Police Assistance 110;
• Foreigners Hotline of the Public Security Bureau (010) 8402 0101 which will help you locate your nearest police station.

• If you find yourself a victim of petty crime such as pick pocketing you can either go to your nearest police station or report it via a special hotline of the Public Security Bureau (010) 6401 132

Article compiled by, Danielle Russell
Visit www.daniellegoestoschoolinchina.wordpress.com

Apply with Nations Abroad now and let us find you a premier teaching position in China and give you a chance to experience an adventure you will not soon forget!
visit www.nationsabroad.com and view what positions are open for you now!!

This is a continuation of the common-scams in China series I started earlier...
Scam # 3: Rickshaw Scam


Some first-time overseas tourists or even domestic travelers visiting the big cities in china e.g Beijing, Shanghai etc fall into the traps of some seemingly “humble rickshaw drivers”.
For example, let’s say, you and a rickshaw driver agree on
a price of RMB 40 for a pedicab ride. While you are on
the ride the price suddenly changes to RMB400!.
The rickshaw driver will pretend to be ignorant and he will
pull out a laminated price list and say it is 400 yuan instead of 40 yuan. When unsure, it is better take a taxi than a pedicab.

Below are a few places in Beijing that this scam is common:
1) Rickshaw Scam at the North Gate of Forbbiden CityThere are two entrances to the Forbidden City – the south gate
( Meridian Gate – Wumen) and north gate
( Gate of Divine – Shenwu Men). The south gate is linked
to Tiananmen Square to the south. You have to enter
Forbidden City from its south gate and exit from its northern gate,
which is officially set as a one-way south to north travel route.
Make sure you are taken by your taxi to the south entrance of Forbidden City
(better yet, take the subway line 1 – its very nice and very cheap!).
Don’t ever take a Rickshaw at the north gate of Forbidden City unless you
feel like getting lost and extorted.
So if you visit Forbidden City by getting to a wrong gate (north gate),
don’t use a local rickshaw to get back to the south gate, just walk to the right gate
(south gate). For the same reason, if you exit from the north gate after
visiting Forbidden City, don’t use a rickshaw for your next place.
2) Rickshaw scams also occur at the entrance to the “Legend of Jinsha”
which is performed at the Beijing Workers’ Stadium in Beijing.
3) Rickshaw
scams could occur at other places in Beijing and other cities. Be Vigilant!

Scam #4: “Black” Taxis
When arriving at the airport, keep away from the taxi
drivers who approach you in the terminal or outside the terminal as they
will charge you much more than the actual price. Just following the sign
pointing to the taxi line just outside the terminal. Taxi drivers should use
their meter; make sure that the driver puts down the flag.
Taking a taxi from
the airport to the downtown Beijing costs just over RMB 100 plus
RMB 5 toll fee.
Beijing legitimate taxi license plates will begin with the “Beijing B”
otherwise it is possibly a black taxi!

Find work in China.Apply with Nations Abroad now and let us find you a premier teaching position in China and give
you a chance to experience a scam-free adventure you will not soon forget!
visit www.nationsabroad.com and view what
positions are open for you now!!

My next few posts will be on a few scams either me or my friends have fallen victim to at one point or another during my stay in China either as I work, live and study in China. It may never happen to you but it could especially when you are new here and sometimes you will not even see it coming.
Some may be harmless or may only cost you a little money but some may be dangerous or easily escalate into situations you would rather not find yourself in especially in a foreign land.

Scam # 1: Tea Scam
At some famous tourist areas, you will be approached by one or three attractive females or gentlemen, who are willing to have a natural and nice talk with you or even give you a free tour of
hutongs(traditional Chinese homes/courtyards). She or he will talk about the interesting
tourist sites in Beijing, or talk about the culture or history of your home country and even world affairs!
Then if everything goes smoothly, they invite you to a traditional Chinese teashop or tea ceremony. You get to the teashop,drink different kinds of tea, they would ask what your favorite teas are and all seems well. The scam starts when it comes time to pay the bill Lo and behold, you find that the tea you drunk apparently costs hundreds or even thousands of dollars! Simply don’t go for it!
To make the tea scam more natural, they would even offer to split the bill and you will even see them pay their part. It is a scam!
In Beijing, it mostly happens in the central part of Beijing mainly, especially around Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and the surroundings.
If you find yourself in this situation just pay what you think you owe which shouldn't even go over 100yuan(about 15$) and leave.

Scam # 02: “Art Student” Scam
Usually at some big tourist sites or public transport hubs: you may be approached by some young man/woman disguised as an "art student" They offer you a free tour of an art show. Thus begins the “Art Student” scam.
They will even take you to an art shop selling all kinds of “artsy” stuff.
This is just a waste of time. You can easily find these art pieces on the market anywhere for dirt cheap. They sell the same “art” at exorbitant prices.
Simply walk away from them.
It happens mainly at tourist sites and public transport hubs They are good actors(actresses) indeed.
To the Chinese locals, they would claim to be job hunters and/or
penniless; to overseas travelers they say they are art students. They are usually very properly dressed and can easily fool the unsuspecting traveler.

Article compiled by, Danielle Russell
Visit www.daniellegoestoschoolinchina.wordpress.com

Apply with Nations Abroad now and let us find you a premier teaching position in China and give
you a chance to experience a scam-free adventure you will not soon forget!

Have you ever asked the question, “Is this really where I'm supposed to be?”


Jarette, Vanessa (middle) and Charles (right)- all teachers represented by Nations Abroad

I was asking this question a lot about a year ago. I had spent three years volunteering for an organization I was passionate about but after 3years it was time to move on. The trouble was, I didn't know exactly which direction I was moving. I knew I wanted to teach but there were many obstacles to cross to get there : My current degree did not qualify me, going back to school was an option but I already had undergraduate student loans I was paying off and I wasn't really looking for more. My plan was to find a good job and try to save up for college. I wanted something professional, something 'WOW!' on my resume. I ended up working for a company called Barnes and Noble in the US. Not a bad job but it certainly wasn't helping me save for the future. It was about this time I met a guy who had just got back from China. He was studying there and told me about the great opportunities to teach English there. He connected me to Joseph Castillo, Founder of Nations Abroad Consulting LTD. The first thing that struck me about Joey was his determination to get me to China. He and Nations Abroad worked hard to get me everything I needed to meet my goals.


Jarette(left) and Charles- 2 English teachers currently with Nations Abroad

Now instead of asking “Is this where I'm supposed to be? I was asking “What great adventure awaits me in China?!”
I have been in China over six months now and I must say its been a great adventure indeed!

Apply with Nations Abroad now and let us find you a premier teaching position in China and give you a chance to experience an adventure you will not soon forget! visit www.nationsabroad.com and view what positions are open for you now!!