Job Discussion Forums

[ash]

[dmb]

I just googled 'Eastenders Taiwan'
this was the first relevant result
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=20746

[izzyismydog]

Hello Ghost etc

Sorry for not responding to your last PM but have been busy working for peanuts and commuting for hours in the huge, expensive city of Istanbul.

I have to say that after 1.5 years in Taiwan I mostly agree with what Ghost has said BUT would say that if you get the right job and find the right city for you, you CAN be happy in Taiwan!

We ultimately got bored with Asia in general (and yes we took advantage of the location and travelled- even in Taiwan there are spectacular sites to behold) so made the move to Turkey- the only other place out of asia we could get jobs that will hopefully allow us to continue to make our monthly student loan payments. Taiwan can be pretty damn boring on its own once you've seen all there is to see (which can take a years worth of weekend trıps up)

Now after about 2 months here we make frequent comments about how much we miss Taiwan... and how cheap this or that would be... or how fast we could get somewhere on our scooter vs. the dolmus... or how MUCH MONEY we WOULD be making if we were doing this in Taiwan etc etc.

We lived in Tainan and the sun shone 345 days of the year and the temples, parades and festivals kept us rolled up in tradition and our students became our friends and even some local co-teachers did the same (though admitted they love practising their English but we'd use them as translators too). We ate like kings on a budget and drank Taiwan beer which is a cheaper version of Efes. We were always within a quick walk to a 7-11 and an internet cafe. Cable TV offered so many more optıons than cable does here for the days we couldn't face the non-english speaking- stare at the foreigners world!

The cıty was park- rich so you could find a respite from the concrete. The beach was only a 20 minute scoot from our door. We were 3 minutes away from the biggest shopping mall in asia where we could buy real imported deli foods or french baking! We were lucky though cause a lot of people had to go off bread and cheese and switch to chıcken heads and rice. Though I don't mind the bones anymore... and eyeballs are a nice crunchy treat.

I now work for a bit less than 15YTL per hour when there I was making about 30 and up. I could walk to work from my nice, safe, 2 bedroom apartment overlooking the park (and costing about 300YTL per month) to work in 5 minutes. Now I wear a money belt and walk 20 minutes or take a 1 hour ride to in-company classes. Split shifts are the norm here so I'm doing this twice a day.

In Taiwan we would have to decline private jobs because there were so many and could sometimes ask for ridiculous sums of money. We felt like Naiomi Cambell when she said she wouldn't get out of bed for less than 15000- but we wouldn't get out for less than 30. Sometimes more if they wanted us too early!

BUT Turkish is so easy to speak! I already know more ın two months than I did of Chinese after 1.5 years in Taiwan. I can get good, unsweetened bread EVERYWHERE and they sell REAL cheese here! The people are friendly and outgoing and don't mind dealing with somebody who doesn't know Turkish- where the Chinese were scared to serve us in a shop even though we knew enough Chinese to conduct a transaction. There is so much culture and history and best of all GOOD MUSIC here that it ALMOST makes up for the shite wage give ya. CUlture and cool things everywhere you look here, but in Taiwan once you get used to it you really have to try to find something interesting. Movies, beer, cable, internet was how we ended up wasting our lives away there... here we waste our lives away travelling in the nasty traffic to ancient ruins across town. Oh well!

We just hope that we can spare the time and the money to do all the travelling here to make it worth it...especially when everything costs so freaking much to do!

And I will refrain from RANTING about the TERRIBLE postal service in Turkey... I mean can there be anything in the world more expensive and RIDICULOUS!? Who puts a 2 Kg limit on a package? WHO? PTT that's who!

I.

[saloma]

Eastenders doesn't air in Taiwan.

[dmb]

^No BBC prime? That rules Taiwan of my list of countries to work.

[ghost]

Most foreigners that ghost has met in Taiwan confess that they are here for the money, and because the jobs they have are pretty 'easy.' Yes - many of the students can be lazy, and sleep in class, but, compared with many other places the jobs here are pretty easy - and once again - the money is pretty good for the hours worked.

Ghost, for example, teaches an average of just 3 hours 4 days a week, and is paid 67.000 Taiwan dollars per month for this priviledge (over $2000 U.S. dollars per month, tax free) - Ghost, furthermore, pays about $260 per month for a large 3 bedroom, and one sitting room/kitchen/bathroom apartment, with a large terrace. It (ghost) eats out everyday at least once - for a tasty Taiwanese meal costing about $2-$2.5 U.S. School lunches cost just $1.5 dollars. So ghost saves at least $1000 month, and most teachers also teach privates, bringing their monthly averages to around $3000 U.S. per month. So, in a nutshell - the salary is twice as high (on average) in Taiwan compared with Turkey, but food/rent etc and other things are just as cheap, if not cheaper in Taiwan. The one exception being cheap hotels - which are not really available in Taiwan - the cheapest ghost has seen are in the $20$-$30 U.S. range - there is no infrastructure in Taiwan for backpackers - unlike Turkey - which has phenomenal choice in lodging with the 'pension' system.

Despite the above advantages - many foreigners do not enjoy Taiwan, because there is nothing to do except go to the 'pub' or spend time watching DVD's or going to the Internet cafes. And the communication problems also make it difficult for foreigners to get to know the locals. The Chinese language is extremely difficult to learn, and most foreigners get discouraged because they cannot master the difficult tones. Most take lessons, but many 'give up' after a few weeks/months when no real progress is made.

In Turkey, the situation is not perfect either, but foreigners enjoy a better quality of life for several reasons, including a key factor being the natural friendliness of most Turks and a culture which is more similar to ours, which makes it far easier to interact with Turks, in comparison with the Taiwanese - most of whom are rather shy and somewhat 'distant' with foreigners.

Foreigners save less in Turkey, but generally have a better time, and enjoy life more. It all depends on what your objectives are.

Ghost in Taichung, Taiwan

[dmb]

ghost, when are you due back? I'd love to meet you for a drink. I might even be able to drag Yaramaz along.

[calsimsek]

I agree with alot of what ghost has said . In away what ghost is talking about is the rule of Demand and Supply.

I'm not sure (ghost will tell us if I'm wrong)but I would think that for personal reasons there are more teachers who want to work and live here full time than Tawain. So the local schools can get away with paying less. My school is not going to give me a good pay rise if they know I can't leave at the drop of a hat.

[NMB]

Izzy could improve his/her situation in Turkey. There is no reason to work for 15YTL. I started in Turkey earning more than that without prior English teaching experience.

[ghost]

[justme]

I knew ghost would come around someday... It's not many people that can leave Turkey and not regret it.

[dmb]

I know many people who left Turkey and returned, myself included.

[justme]

My very favorite-est best friend is coming back tomorrow after leaving for 18 months...

I haven't tried to leave. Just don't see any reason to.

[dmb]

[justme]

Gonna drink ourselves silly at Pano, as per the old traditions.