Comments, Feedback, & Suggestions

A little piece of advice:

There are many a small city that deal with foreign companies and who can use a translator/lawyer for contracts, etc. You would have to 'get your foot in the door' to establish credibility but if you could translate competently, you could be the sole 'Rosetta Stone' for miles around!

I'll give you a free source: Shaowu, in Fujian Province, has many German (chemical) companies resident. No one in that small city speaks German, and all of the contracts are drawn in English. If you could arrange to bridge that gap, with standard legalese thrown in, you would be king (a little king, after all, Shaowu was a stopover port on the river for emperors for over 3000 years - 'Welcoming Gate' still stands).

My advice, don't just sign contracts. Take them home and think. And think. Don't feel at ease with something? Cross it out. Don't agree with something (whether you think it will or can apply to you), cross it out.

IF you are the competent, capable, tried-and-true educator that you purport to be on your resume, you really can write your own contract. My school used to pay a certain amount (a rebate, actually) for once a year home travel. I balked at this because I am required to teach the graduate courses during the summer which meant no chance of going home. Now, we're all paid 10K RMB each June regardless.

In response to Standard Holiday Pay at Universities

My two cents: read your contract thoroughly BEFORE signing. Ask any questions BEFORE signing (and make sure you formulate your questions three or four different ways to insure that you're getting the correct answer). Strike out any clauses that you're uncomfortable with and be prepared to 'leave the table' if they balk.

ALWAYS negotiate the contract beforehand...DO NOT even try to renegotiate...by that time, it's too late.

As Greg mentioned, it doesn't matter about other people's contracts, the rule of law, or SAFEA's guidelines. The ball is in your court IF the school is courting you. If you appear desperate to the school, then nothing they say, or agree to, is going to work to your advantage.