About Us

We are Belinda (Bil) and Barry (Bea). A bilby, sound alike, is an endangered Australian bandicoot shown in the header image of our blog. So, BilBea represents us and our Australian heritage.

We study (education and coding), teach (English as a Second Language and English teacher training), travel, code and enjoy life’s little surprises from living within different cultures.

Currently we live in China, just south-west of Shanghai and looking to stay for a while.

News

No shocks here
13 May Jiaxing is 1 hours drive from Shanghai, is very flat (no mountains) and didn't feel a thing from the earthquake in Chengdu yesterday. We are fine. However thousands in Sichuan provence are not. Building standards are being questioned (i.e. lack of reinforcement) but these stories are being blocked (by the GFC) with an everything is fine attitude.

If only there wasn't so much face involved (or corruption for that matter), things would improve so much quicker.
No holiday pay!
9 May Jiaxing College/University does not pay holiday pay over the months of July and August despite having these months stipulated in the contract. The contract needs to cover these months in order for the teacher to legally stay in China by having their residency permit extended. However, there's no protection for the teacher to guarantee working conditions or reliability of salary. How this "arrangement" is legal is beyond me.

Teachers beware and ask every question imaginable no matter how simple it sounds.

Contact

BilBea
Currently Jiaxing, China
Contact us