[Raoul]

I would never take on-campus housing in China!

The apartments can indeed range from great to abysmal, but there are other issues as well.

Unis and public schools like you on campus because it's cheaper for them, but it also gives them a higher degree of control over you. Campus housing typically comes with strict rules; you can often forget about living with your girlfriend or even having an overnight guest of the other gender. Nearly all unis are behind gates that are firmly locked at a certain hour- in some places the guards are cool and will wave you on in, but in others you may find yourself climbing a wall if you want to stay out past 10pm.

There's also a privacy issue. In campus housing, EVERYONE knows where you live. You can get a pounding on the door at 7am demanding that you come substitute an 8am class. Students who receive failing grades have been known to camp at teachers' doors demanding a grade change...and others will simply drop in all the time just to hang out, speak English, and ingratiate themselves to you. And, of course, the entire Uni community will always know your every coming, going, and visitor.

Unis often turn off or restrict operating hours for utilities during the long summer and winter breaks. Teachers remaining on-campus have been known to find themselves spending hot summer nights with no electricity or hot water after 11pm, or enduring the interminable Spring Festival break (usually in February!) with no heat. Even teaching a Foundation program and living off-campus, I had to endure offices and classrooms with no heat or A/C during these periods.

To me all this seems a high price to pay for convenience to the classrooms. Get an allowance for off-campus housing...or work somewhere else.