HELP!
I know I normally like to dispense advice, but now I need advice...
You all know that I having a grand 'ole time at grad school here in CUHK (ahem, there is some sarcasm here in case you can't hear it). I literally was just marveling at the fact that I have been here for 4 months and I haven't gotten a single request from a fellow grad student begging for me, the only native English speaker for miles around, to proofread her very urgent and very important journal paper/conference paper/dissertation/etc. Of course, I have had a prof ask me to do a "small favor" of english recordings. It seemed like an easy thing to do and it was a prof asking, so I didn't have much wiggle room to say no. What should have been very easy, actually turned out to be a nightmare of hours of recording and rerecording. I swore to myself that I would avoid these type of "favors" at all costs in the future. But then, it turned out not to be so bad when I found out they were going to pay me for it. (I think that was a decision that came after they realized I was getting annoyed and that they were going to need to ask me to record "just one more time" for another 4 or 5 sessions.) So I got my check in the mail yesterday and I don't feel so bitter anymore. Actually, more like "sweet, dough for tuition."
But karma is awfully strange...just after that peaceful reflection that I wasn't getting hounded for my "special skills", I found that I got a friendly email from one of the grad students (who I have NEVER talked to) entitled "Hi, can I ask for a favor?" She wants me to proofread her 25-page conference paper. There was no mention of reimbursement of any kind.
What is the proper response? If there is nothing in this for me, I honestly don't want to get into it. But I'm starting to wonder if in Chinese culture it's improper to say right up front "I'll pay you!" and any offers will only come after I agree to it. Nevertheless, how do I make it clear that I willing to entertain the idea once I can weigh out my reimbursement offer (if there is one!)? And what if the offer is crappy? Treating me to lunch at the school canteen won't cut the mustard.
And I surely don't want the whole department thinking I am a drop-box for manuscripts (or better yet, that I can translate crappy writing into beautiful prose!). Should I be worried that I am setting a precedent?
You all know that I having a grand 'ole time at grad school here in CUHK (ahem, there is some sarcasm here in case you can't hear it). I literally was just marveling at the fact that I have been here for 4 months and I haven't gotten a single request from a fellow grad student begging for me, the only native English speaker for miles around, to proofread her very urgent and very important journal paper/conference paper/dissertation/etc. Of course, I have had a prof ask me to do a "small favor" of english recordings. It seemed like an easy thing to do and it was a prof asking, so I didn't have much wiggle room to say no. What should have been very easy, actually turned out to be a nightmare of hours of recording and rerecording. I swore to myself that I would avoid these type of "favors" at all costs in the future. But then, it turned out not to be so bad when I found out they were going to pay me for it. (I think that was a decision that came after they realized I was getting annoyed and that they were going to need to ask me to record "just one more time" for another 4 or 5 sessions.) So I got my check in the mail yesterday and I don't feel so bitter anymore. Actually, more like "sweet, dough for tuition."
But karma is awfully strange...just after that peaceful reflection that I wasn't getting hounded for my "special skills", I found that I got a friendly email from one of the grad students (who I have NEVER talked to) entitled "Hi, can I ask for a favor?" She wants me to proofread her 25-page conference paper. There was no mention of reimbursement of any kind.
What is the proper response? If there is nothing in this for me, I honestly don't want to get into it. But I'm starting to wonder if in Chinese culture it's improper to say right up front "I'll pay you!" and any offers will only come after I agree to it. Nevertheless, how do I make it clear that I willing to entertain the idea once I can weigh out my reimbursement offer (if there is one!)? And what if the offer is crappy? Treating me to lunch at the school canteen won't cut the mustard.
And I surely don't want the whole department thinking I am a drop-box for manuscripts (or better yet, that I can translate crappy writing into beautiful prose!). Should I be worried that I am setting a precedent?