Job Discussion Forums

[chi-chi]

Ok I think that I've posted some helpful advice on here, so hopefully one of you guys can help me out.
I really like Taiwan and want to stay here and also keep my current apartment (stay in the same city.)
Unfortunately, my job is a real bummer. Without going into detail, it is so bad that I have gotten complaints from the management and the parents after two days of working there. I want to leave asap. I am not a good fit there.
My arc is being processed. I've already got a new paper? put in my passport, but my boss won't be picking up my ARC until early in May.
There is a clause in my contract saying that I can leave anytime during the 1st month, (I just started last week though I've been here awhile.) I just need to give them 3-4 weeks to find another teacher.
Someone told me that if I want to leave, it will be easier to do it before I have a ARC. I think I will be getting that on May 3...if I have them cancel it, my tourist visa is good only until May 20. I just want to change jobs without having to go to HK.
Anyway I don't know how to put all this together but I just want to get out but I CANNOT afford a trip to HK and wouldn't want to go there right now anyway. I can tolerate the job for a little while longer if you guys think it's actually better to wait and leave after I have my ARC.
If anyone has any ideas you can respond on here or PM me.
Thanks
Chi-Chi

[Sunpower]

Where are you?

If you don't take the job and the ARC that goes with it, you'll eventually have to leave the country on another "visa run.'

Have you thought about going the "Student Visa" route?
If you're in Taipei, there are a lot of schools that you could sign up with in order to get your visitor visa.

I paid about $10,000 for 3 months of language classes and that gave me a visa that was good for 6 months or about 180 days.

You have to renew it at the police station every 2 months, though.

Obviously, there are both pros and cons to this but I know quite a few seem to prefer it this way.

Good luck - But if you don't accept the ARC and quit the job you have now, you'll have to leave the country and re-enter on a 30 day visitor visa.

[Okami]

If you're in a large city such as Taipei, Kaoshiung, or Taichung, you should have no problem. Taipei would be the best though.

Complaints are common. The problem is if management holds them against you, because they never stop doing so.

You can easily quit your job, just dop it after you have been paid, unless you have enough money to get you through.

ARC's are a funny thing, because the rules for getting another one change from city/county to city/county. You can explain to the boss, that your not a good fit and ask for a transfer letter for your ARC. They may or may not give it to you. WIth the Ministry of Labor taking over the issuing and processing of ARCs, everything is pretty much up in the air.

I would follow Sunpower's advice. Chinese classes to extend you visa and to teach English, is a very common tactic. I do it. This is not Korea. No one hunts us illegals yet. There are no rewards for turning us in. Just don't do it in Taidong as the FAP there has a police officer who will not hesitate to bust you. You must be absolutely legal in Taidong. Everywhere else is ok.

You will have to take a trip out of Taiwan, go to Japan, get your visa processed and come back in.

CYA
Okami

[Aristotle]

Don't let them have your passport and don't let them put your ARC in your passport.
Ask for an advance and walk out quietly. Get a multiple entry, tourist visa and go the student route until you find someplace you like.
Best advice I can give you in your situation.

[chi-chi]

I am in Kaohsiung and although I don't have my ARC yet, the govt is processing it. I already have a multiple entry visa in my passport and a resident visa. I believe that my boss will be picking up my ARC on May 3.
Can I still do the tourist visa/Chinese classes thing, or am I already locked in?
Btw, if I decide to stay for a while, how do I deal with a bitchy TA (teaching assistant?) And are the TA's normally this bad in Taiwan?

[Okami]

Dealing with TA's: Grab a cup of coffee and read carefully as this could prove insightful

Analysis:
Your Chinese TA (zhongshi) is an overworked under appreciated (normally female) member of society. Add to this family pressure; no chance of advancing in society; the pressure to get married; rude, ignorant, overpaid, and untalkative foreign teachers (waishi); you tend to get a very mean creature.

Procedure:
1. Smile, always no matter what, the more pissed off you are the more you smile. A smile will change your demeanor and how you are viewed.
2. Learn the language or at least seem like your trying to learn and ask them questions about it. My best moment this week was when a student mouthed in English, "F@#$ you" and I whispered back in his ear in Taiwanese, "Go eat $h1t."
3. Talk to your TA, not as a coworker, but as a person. Ask them about their weekend and what they are trying to do with their life. Learn about their boyfriend/husband/lack of, their family, their school, where they have gone, and what they know.
4. Care about your students. I will grab a student and tell him quite clearly in English and Chinese to stop screwing around and study and do their work. I now bring a lighter into class and explain that anyone caught doing their homework in class will see their homework burned in retaliation. Discipline is love; just make sure you know what the difference between discipline and abuse is.
5. Be approachable, look at what they are doing and ask questions. Ask them out to dinner as a group. Do a short language exchange with one of their friends. There are so many little tricks to get your zhongshi on your side that at the end of the day most problems can be traced to you and how you are viewed.
6. Ask about the last waishi. Often he (normally a he) will be the reason why you are so thoroughly disliked. Find out what he did to piss her off, She will more than likely tell you what it is, and don�t do those things.

My head zhongshi went to a meeting and all the other teachers complained about their waishi. She now knows how good she has it. She helps me with a lot of little things and We�ve gotten to know each other better. I�m trying to hook her up on a date with this one English guy. I do a Taiwanese-English language exchange with another zhongshi�s boyfriend. I talk to another zhongshi about living in the US since we have that in common. I help another zhongshi with her English occasionally, tell her about the bad things I learn in Taiwanese and Chinese, and gave her a Swedish porn VCD. I always say high and occasionally talk to the one that I don�t teach with. I also talk to my laoban and his wife(the real laoban) in Chinese and English.

You�ll work it out, quit, or be replaced. I imagine after Korea, that Taiwan should be a piece of cake.

CYA
Okami