Job Discussion Forums

[A.K.A.T.D.N.]

If you really want to make a lot of money here, what gets me is that you really have to live a kind of spartan existence. It seems you really can't immerse yourself in the culture and enjoy the people. You can go out and get drunk, something I've done, but your life soon becomes monotonous, begrudging, enslaving.

The new people here may be so enthralled that a good 40 hours a week is a great elation, since money is there to compel them and enjoying life not a great concern. But soon this becomes a drain, burns you out, embitters you to your stay here. It almost comes to the point that you can't stand it anymore, that you want a change, some way out of the rat-raciness of using your brain all the time at the behest of reason for a reward. When I say reason I mean the Asian thirst for knowledge pig-sucking your mind.

It'd be nice to just live here, enjoy life more, and make less. But then you get to thinking is it worth it? Do you really want to JUST LIVE IN ANOTHER COUNTRY, ENJOY ITS CULTURE AND PEOPLE AND REALLY LEARN ABOUT IT, despite money? I doubt it.

On the other hand, do you want to become a recluse, a stoic soldier and never turn your head to the meandering streets full of shops and restaurants, open markets and what not? Sit at home all the time and watch movies, hang out at internet cafes?

I find if I work too hard, the stress is just too much to unwind from. You know that big mountain is just waiting for you to climb again, only to have the big rock you must carry fall back down again come Sunday. It seems too spartan-like to me.

But you don't want to become a philistine, or the opposite here either, which Lord knows, is easy to do.

[Fortigurn]

I've worked a maximum of 27 hours a week. On what I earn, I can support myself and my wife (who doesn't have to work). We have an expensive apartment, we eat what we want, we go out when we want, and we've bought plenty of new clothes.

If she gets a job, we'll be as rich as Croesus. And we certainly don't feel like we're living a Spartan existence.

[ScottSommers]

Unless he has a substantially better job than most English teachers in Taiwan, Fortigurn's high standard of living is probably the result of a readjustment in his sense of the 'the good life'.

25 hours a week at nt$600/hr comes out to about $nt60,000/month.
That's about cd$2,200
This is the same income you'd expect from a cd$10/hr job over the Canadian working year. In addition, you have to tolerate other 'adjustments' to pensions and social welfare. No Canadian would call this a reasonable standard of living.

While Fortigurn may be able to live here in affluence, AKATDN's description is probably closer to what long-term English teachers can expect -- unless they can escape from classroom teaching.

[Fortigurn]

[ScottSommers]

I agree with you completely. I have a great life here because I don't feel like I'm sacrificing anything. But like you, I live a pretty simple life. I also agree with AKATDN's warning because I understand that some of the reasons a lot of English teachers have trouble with money is because not everyone shares our appreciation of simplicity.

[Fortigurn]