Job Discussion Forums

[Xenophobe]

I was just wondering how many people out there have come to Taiwan, stayed for awhile, returned home only to realize that finances and lifestyle were better back in Asia.

My wife and I spent five years in Kaohsiung, returned to Canada, where we went up North to teach for a couple of years ( Most teachers average a couple of years in these northern fly in communities). Froze to death, dealt with students who all suffered from varying degrees of FAS, faced hostility on a daily basis and threats of physical violence whenever welfare and treaty cheques came out, dealt with administrators who were more interested in their personal advancement than the problems going on in the schools and consultants, who for the most part, hadn't been in an actual classroom since their graduation yet considered themselves qualified to critique a real teacher . This along with crippling taxes and daily attacks on our son to the point that he had to be taken out of school (again the Divisional administration was useless in assisting us) and escorted wherever he went, helped us to decide to return to Taiwan.

While this was our reason for returning, others may have their own and I'd like to hear some if there are any.

[Rice Paddy Daddy]

Man,

Sounds like Taiwan is gonna be a cakewalk for you guys!

If you two are licensed teachers, find jobs in Asia (Brunei or Bangkok?) in an international school. Very lucrative!

[Nevermind]

I understand the feelings of angst. My wife and I spent one year in Taiwan and then returned to the states. Although certain times were really tough in Taiwan, we miss the freedom, travel, and oddly enough, the relatively low amount of stress there.

A lot of the things I miss the most are the things I took for granted while there. Like Taroko Gorge-the troops of monkeys; Kenting-that place that cooks the really nice breakfasts and the Turkish Ice Cream seller guy; How Taiwanese people freak out if you don't wear a swimming cap in pools and scream when hit by 1-foot waves from the ocean; Hot Springs; Foot massages; that place in Taichung that has all the western restaurants; the churros in the movie theaters; the kids shouting "Ay-Yo" everytime someone farted in class (even when it was me!); Sogo; the crowded buses and trains every holiday; Ji Pi; that tall Taiwanese guy in Hsinchu that stands near the train station and shouts "Good Morning Senor" everytime westerners pass him no matter what time of day it is. I miss all of those things.

We've gotten jobs since we've been back that are OK, nothing to get too excited about. You're right about high taxes, high cost of living, expensive travel and health care, and in the end it doesn't really seem worth it to get back into the money making corporate rat race.

However, just because my outlook has changed, it doesn't mean I should expect the country to change to meet my expectations. I'm trying not to blame anyone or anything here in the states. It's just become a different place with different people and different goals to me. The more judgmental, resentful or cynical (and believe me I have been all three of those things) I get just makes it worse on my own and my family's mental health.

I guess what I am saying is that we are trying to make some goals that will enable us to move forward. My wife and I are enrolling in university here to gain teaching certificates and graduate degrees in ESL teaching. When we reach those goals, hopefully within a year or two, we'd like to return to Taiwan or somewhere in Asia. With those credentials we'll be considerably more marketable. And if our plans change at the end of school, we'll at least have the credentials to do the same jobs here, although it may not be as exciting. My wife has been teaching ESL to adults since we've been back and she really likes it. Not as much as being in Taiwan, but it will do for the moment.

So cheer up and relax a little. You are not alone in feeling the way you do about wanting to return. Just don't forget that although you may miss it, remember that there was a reason why you left. I know for me, I am always finding out that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. Hopefully knowing that you are not alone will help a little bit. Let me know what you think.

[Xenophobe]

We've been back in Taiwan since February and we're happy to be back. We are in a rural area and there is no pollution, little traffic and the cost of living is less than home. There are more than two seasons here which is nice too. I do however miss A&W root beer . The main gist of my initial post was to find out if anyone else was returning after a short time "back home".

[Aristotle]

[Xenophobe]

No, that's in the Territories, we were south of the Bay in Manitoba.

[Ilanian]

A&W rootbeer at Jason's Marketplace in Taipei 101 NT$35

[Aristotle]

A former Taiwan TESOL teacher got stabbed by one of his students in the Baker Lake area a few years back.
You must really like a challenge!
Welcome back and good luck!
A.

[Taylor]

Dear Readers,

This is a very interesting thread, so I hope that others will continue posting on this topic.

Taiwan is a unique place in the world. As an island nation, the number of "outsiders" is obviously low. (Essentially, this is what keeps us employed as English teachers.) The hard-working students are another positive aspect of teaching here.

Moreover, with our abilities to easily earn double or triple the average salary, it is no wonder that we generally enjoy life here.

I was back in the States for almost two years while my Taiwanese wife got her MBA. I did not even meet with some of my old high school buddies who lived only 30 miles away. Everyone seemed only concerned with their own kids, jobs, and commitments.

My point is that I surely do not feel that I am "giving up" anything by living and working in Taiwan.

Someone once passed along this quote to me: "Wherever you are, be ALL there!"

Taylor
Kaohsiung

[Aristotle]

[Incredible Ape]

Interesting thread indeed. I speak as one who taught elsewhere, returned "home", then moved back out, this time to Taiwan.

To get quasi-scientific, I think most westerners feel that at some point they ought to return to their native country. There is no real history of emigration from the west, and anyone moving to Asia would not be doing so for the traditional reasons people migrated to our countries i.e. economic migrancy, war, famine. Hence locals and our fellow countrymen alike see it as bizarre that we choose to not live in the west.

I feel more comfortable living in Asia. I don't see why it should be any more complicated than that.

[Fortigurn]

[Nevermind]

Well, now that we have started talking about it, I have been really anxious and want even more to come back to Taiwan. My wife and I have accumulated some debt though and it would be hard, not impossible, to just leave. August is a decent time, although a little late to come back to the best of my memory.

As I said in an earlier post, we have been looking into getting teaching ceritificates and possibly masters degrees while here in the States. Do you guys think it would be worth it to stay here for up to two years then go back to Taiwan with those credentials? Or just throw caution to the wind and come back? I guess we could try to get the degrees online but I have heard that some schools are beginning to reject online degrees because of so many people using diploma mills.

My thinking is that the cost of getting the degrees may negate any increase in pay we'd get in Taiwan, at least for a couple of years. My main reasoning for getting the degrees would not only be a pay increase overseas, but it would allow us the opportunity to teach immediately upon returning from Taiwan to the U.S. someday. I don't ever want to go throught the life-draining pain of finding work that I went through the first time I came back to the U.S. In other words, if teaching will be the main experience I have while in Taiwan, if we ever return to the US it would make sense to continue in that field, but without a certificate/masters degree it is nearly impossible to teach in the U.S.

Maybe I am worrying too much and thinking too far ahead. All I know is every day I wake up I feel my life and opportunities drift away with each breath. I keep trying to tell myself that I am being "responsible" by trying to make life back in the States work. And it is definitely true that there were many days in Taiwan when all I wanted to do was leave and go home to the States. Any thoughts or advice? Let me know. Thanks!

[Aristotle]

[Xenophobe]

[quote="Aristotle"]