Introduction

We at DD Dragon believe that everyone ought to spend at least one year in China. Why do we make such a bold statement? To find out why, you need to know something of the history of this giant of a nation.

What do you know about China, the world's oldest surviving civilization? Sure, you've heard the dinner-party chit-chat about the population stats. There are more than 1.3 billion people living in China (in spite of the One-Child-Per-Family law). That's one quarter of the world's population, and if every one of them were to jump at the same time, they'd affect the earth's orbit (or so the story goes). You've probably also heard that The Great Wall is the only man-made structure visible from space, and that the Chinese written language has a different picture for each word (more than 70,000 altogether, which keeps Chinese students very busy).

But did you know that until about 500 years ago China was probably the most technically advanced nation on earth? The Chinese built massive sailing ships (some much larger than the US Navy's aircraft carriers of today), invented the rudder, maneuverable sails, gunpowder, fireworks, silk fabrics, and porcelain (which we still call “China” today). A mere 300 years ago China accounted for 40% of the world economy, dwarfing even the British Empire in its hay day, or America at present.

But then things went wrong. Their emperors mistakenly assumed that the outside world had nothing interesting to offer in terms of trade or inventions. They closed their borders, forbade the building of large ships, and banned trade with foreigners (whom they considered “barbarians”). Thus, China missed out on the Industrial Revolution that swept Europe and then America. Worse still, the Chinese leadership led the country on a Communist path soon after the Second World War, making the Chinese people among the poorest in the world by the 1970's.

However in the early 1980's the Chinese Communist Party did a complete about-turn, allowing capitalism to regain the upper hand. And so, for the past 20 years or so, China has benefited from miraculous economic growth and modernization. In fact, the country is undergoing the most rapid transformation ever experienced in human history. Never before have so many people been lifted out of poverty so quickly. And the signs of progress are evident everywhere: Shanghai alone currently has over 2800 skyscrapers under construction. China recently put a man in space, only the third country ever to do so. And Beijing is gearing up to host the 2008 Olympic Games.

Despite this recent great leap forward from poverty to prosperity, China still retains its ancient charms. Tucked away in parts of ultra-modern cities one can still find 8 th century hamlets with red-roofed temples, cobbled streets, and arched bridges over quaint canals. Being such a massive country, one can explore its ancient relics in such diverse landscapes as the Gobi Desert, the jungles along the Vietnam border, the rolling plains of Inner Mongolia, or the snow-capped mountains of Tibet.

And if all this talk of travel and adventure isn't enough to wet your appetite, this probably will. Everything is unbelievably cheap. From train tickets and restaurant meals to groceries and clothes, you won't believe the prices. Where else in the world can you buy a goretex jacket for $15, and still have change? A subway ticket on Shanghai's ultramodern underground system will only set you back $0.25. The average Shanghai resident only earns $130 a month, but because prices are so low that doesn't seem paltry at all. In fact, many families live on $130 a month, and still have money to save.

Our Offer

We're looking for young and outgoing people who feel up to the challenge of spending a year in China, teaching well-behaved kids the basics of the English language. Suitable candidates will be interviewed by telephone , and thereafter will be sent a comprehensive contract outlining the duties and benefits of being a DD Dragon employee.

Some of the benefits of teaching at a DD Dragon school are:

1. You will be met at the airport on arrival in China (usually Shanghai) and will be given thorough training . During the training period (up to one week) you will be given free accommodation (in a nearby hotel) and will be given an allowance of RMB100 per day

2. We will pay for your transport from Shanghai to the branch where you will be teaching.

3. Throughout your one-year contract you will be provided with free accommodation (your own room in a furnished apartment).

4. After undergoing a physical examination shortly after arriving at your branch you will be eligible for a Working Visa , which will be organized and paid for by the school.

5. For teaching up to 25 hours a week, you will be paid RMB8,000 per mont h (US$1=RMB8.27). For any hours taught in excess of that, you will be paid at the overtime rate of at least RMB100 per hour.

Since the cost of living in China is very low, your salary will be more than enough to enable you to live well and save. Here are some prices you may be interested to know: a beer in a convenience store costs RMB3, a packet of chips is also RMB3, a take-away meal delivered to your doorstep: RMB6, a McDonald's hamburger: RMB8, a short taxi trip: RMB10. And all these prices quoted above are for Shanghai, the richest and most expensive city in China. If you live in any of China's other cities you will find the prices even cheaper.

Your total eating costs per day would be less than RMB30, which would include three take-away meals delivered to your house or work, and snacks throughout the day. Entertainment and international telephone calls notwithstanding, you can live on RMB1000 per month (as mentioned above, that is the average monthly income in Shanghai).

So what are you waiting for? Come and see this ancient yet modern land for yourself. Until you've witnessed the incredible transformation underway across China, you can't fully grasp what's about to happen on the world's political stage. Before too long, certainly within our lifetimes, China will become one of the richest and perhaps even the most powerful country on earth. So grab the bull by the horns. Come and see the future for yourself, and make money while doing so. Learn a bit about the culture, and perhaps even some of the language. It'll give you the edge over all those who haven't.