Frequently+Asked+Questions+by+New+Teachers


 * Should we go ahead and purchase our one-way tickets to Shanghai now?**Please contact Curt Larson, ( curt.larson@concordiashanghai.org ) CFO for Concordia, and let him know where you wish to depart from. He will then arrange for your tickets. Arrival in Shanghai will be August 2 this year.


 * Regarding the relocation allowance, should we be saving our receipts from our doctor's visits, moving costs, etc. in order to be reimbursed? Or is a check for the amount just given upon arrival?** The school asks that you provide receipts for any of the above items. If you need all or part of your allowance before arriving in Shanghai, Curt is able to transfer it to your account. When you arrive in Shanghai, you will be given the remainder of your allowance. Basically the allowance can be spent on anything associated with the transition and settling in to life in Shanghai.


 * I'm curious about that first week. Will we have someone helping us navigate getting cell phones, buying a bed and food, turning on utilities in the apt., etc.? I can't believe what a whirlwind those first few days will be!** That's what I and a number of other staff are here for!! The orientation process involves shopping, getting used to the area and settled in your apartment (the focus of the first week), and getting used to the school (during the second week). It is also a great time to form a bond with the other new staff coming in. You will be greeted at the airport and then brought to either your apartment or a hotel close to the school (if your apartment is not ready.) Housing details won’t be finalized until June, so I cannot give you any details at this time. We will do trips to furniture stores which will allow you the time to buy furniture or general household items. It is a busy time.


 * Will someone be at the airport to meet me?** Yes! Someone will be at the airport to meet you. Just look for the Concordia sign or the smiling faces!!


 * Where will I be taken after arriving in Shanghai? What if my apartment is unfurnished?** Typically you will be taken to your apartment. Some apartments-particularly for singles, are rented from individual landlords and come furnished. Others do not come furnished but we will rent some basic furnishing to use for the first month (a bed, sofa, dining table and chairs). All apartments come with major appliances like refrigerator, stove, washer, and dryer. In rare cases when an apartment is not ready, the school will pay to accommodate you in a hotel close to the school until the apartment is ready.


 * What school resources should I bring to Concordia?** This is always a difficult question to answer as what one person thinks you may or may not need is not necessarily what another may think. This always depends on what area of the school you are teaching in and also how much you want to spend on shipping. If it is a resource or item that you really like, bring it along with you. If you have assessment tools that you are familiar with, bring them along and share them with your team. If you have charts that you like, bring them along too! It is always worthwhile to contact your team leader or mentor and get advice from them as well.


 * How much money should I bring to have in that first week? Should I bring US dollars or Chinese RMB?** The school will give you your relocation allowance (or the remainder of your allowance) once you arrive in Shanghai. This will be in Chinese RMB. If you are bringing cash, the school will be able to give you the best rate for converting it to Chinese RMB. There are also a number of international teller machines with which you can access debit or credit cards.


 * How far will I be living from the school? Is there an area map?** All of the apartments rented by Concordia are a short distance away from the school. Currently they are all within a 15 minute walk or a short bike ride from the school. Look at the maps provided in the Faculty Handbook located at the [|Staff Website] . We will be renegotiating a number of our leases this summer and I will not be able to confirm where housing will be for the fall until that process is completed.

[|http://www.concordiashanghai.org/community/our-neighborhood] for more information.
 * What sort of conveniences (shops etc) are in the area I am living?** The area around our neighborhood is growing very quickly. There are a number of restaurants, including Chinese, American, Mexican, Japanese, Vietnamese, and Brazilian. There is a large supermarket/"Walmart" type store called Carrefour where many people do their shopping, as well as western markets (The Pines, Pick Fresh & City Shop) which import many items from overseas. Not far from our neighborhood is a store where you can also buy a variety of food and other items in bulk, kind of like Costco or Sam's Club, called Metro. For those who enjoy fresh fruit and vegetables there are many markets scattered throughout our area. In addition to the gym and weight facilities at the school, we also have a large gym called Mega Fit - you need to pay a yearly membership to join, and some staff have taken advantage of this convenience. There are bicycle shops, DVD shops, and a wide variety of other conveniences for us! Also click


 * What is the Concordia medical insurance like?** Concordia offers world-wide medical insurance for overseas hired expat teachers as part of their benefit package, which includes spouse and children through four years of undergraduate study. There are a number of facilities here in Shanghai where expats can go that have Western-trained doctors and offer in-patient and out-patient services. There are also provisions for transfer to treatment centers of excellence in Bangkok or Hong Kong as well as in your home country when appropriate care is not available in Shanghai. For more information regarding benefit coverage and healthcare in our area go to the Medical Insurance section of the [|Staff Website].


 * Do most Concordia employees see dentists and other specialists in China, or regularly schedule checkups over breaks in their home countries?** Both happen. Some staff organize routine check-ups (both physical and dental) when they return home during the summer. There are also doctors and dentists here that are fine to use.


 * Is it wise to stock up on regularly taken medications and things such as contacts before leaving or is it easy to get prescriptions filled there?** When visiting the doctor at a clinic or hospital in China that has a pharmacy on site you will be able to fill prescriptions before leaving. They will generally carry both local and imported medicines. We have also identified local pharmacies, which can be very helpful in locating appropriate medications and at reasonable costs. If you have particular medications, though, that you need to use, you are best to check with your own doctor before coming over. Sometimes it may be difficult to get some medications into China, and to do so, you will need a prescription from your doctor. In relation to contact lenses it would be wise to stock up before coming over. These products are available here in China, however it is sometimes best to go with what you know!


 * Who can I contact if I want to organize airfares for flights at Christmas?** Below are two email addresses you can write to if you want to book flights home or to anywhere else. When making reservations remember to request an official fapiao which you can submit to the school to avoid taxes on your yearly home leave allowance. It is advisable to reserve seats, particularly for Christmas and Chinese New Year as early as possible to guarantee seat availability. Apollo Xu at flyfatman@yahoo.com or Sherry Sun (Tel + 86 138 0169 6578) at insightsun@gmail.com


 * Will I need to buy a transformer to switch from 220V to 110V?** China, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries use 220V electricity; the U.S. uses 110V. A transformer is the 'something' you use to change power from 220V (110V) to 110V (220V). Most newer laptops and desktops can operate on either 220V or 110V. Check the user manual or power adapter that came with your computer to be sure (you can ruin the computer if it does not work on 220V and you plug it in here). It is possible that some other equipment from the US might have problems even if the voltage is transformed because China uses 50 cycle power verses 60 cycle power in the U.S. If you are coming from Australia or New Zealand, you will not have to worry about voltage, as China uses the same standards. You can purchase a transformer before you come, but they are also available once you get here. Most Australian/New Zealand plugs will fit into the wall sockets here, however if they do not, it is very easy to get adapters that will. US plugs may or may not work in China, but, as previously mentioned, you can purchase plug adapters here.


 * What kind of computers does the school use?** As of the Fall of 2010 the school became an Apple school. The laptop computers provided for teacher are MacBooks. Administrators and office staff currently use a mix of PC and Apple formats. All students in Grades 7 & 12 are required to have their own approved MacBook laptop. At Grade 6 all students have a school provided laptop. In Preschool through grade 5 there are 1:2 computers in each classroom with the ability to check out laptop carts and iPads to have a 1:1 ratio. Contact Tom Reed at tom.reed@concordiashanghai.org if you have questions.

Keep in mind that teachers with MS and HS age children will be paying for computers and interim trips shortly after their arrival on campus.
 * Should I buy a laptop for myself?** You will not need to buy a laptop as a teacher as the school provides one for your use. The school has its own Authorized Apple Service Center. See the Teacher Handbook in the [|Staff Website] for more details. Contact Tom Reed at tom.reed@concordiashanghai.org if you have questions.