Job Discussion Forums

[Wonder]

Just a shot in the dark here, but I just started a teaching job in Dahlin, about 15 minutes by train from Chiayi, and I'm hoping someone from the area reads this post to inform me of the teacher's hangouts in Chiayi or where ever you may be!

I am feeling a tad isolated at the moment but still happy. My employer. called Melody School, seems very good so far and I found the school all by myself without an agent .

The only draw back is the remote location. However, Chiayi is not far so please post something if you are close and feel like going for a beer or two. Perhaps there is a network that gets together sometimes.

[surrealia]

Wonder:

Hi there. You might want to try Calgary Cafe, Calgary Deli, or American Pie to meet other foreigners.

Go here for addresses.

Oh, and don't let other folks posting here scare you away from Chiayi. Chiayi is a very safe place.

[davidpaulcoombs]

Foreigners get together on Sundays to play frisbee at Nat'l Chiayi University. Many also live in the Dong Yang area and hang out at the M Mart, a little store where one can sit outside and drink beer. I frequently hear of work in Chiayi - not always full time, but I think there's enough to get by.

[Wonder]

WOW

I would like to sinerely thank all of those who have responded thus far to my initial post. Frankly, it is much more than I expected! ( I also got a few pm's). I am happy to see people in this area making an effort to make a newbie feel more comfortable.

I am especially excited about the frisbee info. Would that be Ultimate Frisbee by any chance? I played in the Vancouver League for five years so I would love to come out once in a while. Exactly what time on Sunday?

I also like the idea of sitting at the M Mart and drinking beer outside. One of my favorite activities . The outside thing adds a lot of appeal. I used to do that in Seoul a lot. I taught in Korea for two years, but I am finding Taiwan much better for intangible reasons.

Anyway, please keep the info coming and much appreciated so far.

Cheers

[Aristotle]

This is an official SSETT work advisory for all foriegn nationals in the greater Chaiyi City and Chaiyi County areas.
The post about the death of Ms. Bretel, is not an isolated incident. It is the first such incident in several years to result in a death of a teacher. We feel that this represents a new danger for all foreigners regardless of nationality.
We strongly recommend all persons in the area of Chaiyi County, to use extreme caution and relocate to safer areas.
This danger specifically applies to non Asian females. There have been several unconfirmed reports of abductions and sexual assaults in the area prescribed.
http://www.eslcafe.com/jobinfo/asia/sefer.cgi?display:1039500887-24054.txt
[email protected]
Effective: December 22, 2002

[surrealia]

Please read:

http://www.eslcafe.com/jobinfo/asia/sefer.cgi?display:1020211434-27536.txt

and

http://www.eslcafe.com/jobinfo/asia/sefer.cgi?display:1023371098-7485.txt

and

http://www.eslcafe.com/jobinfo/asia/sefer.cgi?display:1043986979-2468.txt

for alternative viewpoints about living and teaching in Chiayi.

[Aristotle]

You will notice that all of the replies stating that Chaiyi is a safe and great place to work and live come from men. The only woman who has commented about her experiences in Chaiyi on the same board, fully corroborates the warning.
http://www.eslcafe.com/jobinfo/asia/sefer.cgi?display:1042248384-90767.txt
Luck has nothing to do with it! It simply is not worth the risk when there are thousands of jobs all over Asia that pay more and you will survive unmolested.
Please stay away from Chaiyi, Taiwan.
A.

[surrealia]

I politely disagree, Aristotle. I don't think there's any evidence that women have it any worse in Chiayi than in any other place in Taiwan.

[brian]

[Aristotle]

Ms. Elisabeth Bretel was murdered in Chaiyi, not anywhere else in Taiwan. There have been no reports of murders of foreign women in Taiwan except from Chaiyi. Not only was this woman murdered but the police covered it up to protect the murderer or murderers.
This case stinks of organized crime involvement and the corruption that is so prevalent in Chaiyi.
A.

[brian]

The incident involving Ms Bretel was tragic. I have very little understanding of what actually happened, and only know what I have read and heard. Apparently she was teaching English in Taichung, had relaionship troubles with her Taiwanese boyfriend and was found dead. Police reports state that it was an accident or suicide (I am afraid that I cant recall which); other sources state that she was killed by her boyfriend.

Assuming that it was in fact the latter, then it is certainly a miscarriage of justice that the offender was never prosecuted, however it does not, nor should not, tarnish a whole city nor area. Crimes happen in every city of the world (and Taiwan is no exception). I have never even been to Chia Yi myself, but logic tells me that there is no reason that that city would be any more dangerous than any other because of a single incidence of police incompetence, corruption or maybe a misunderstanding on behalf of the people that believe that a wrong was done.

I guess the issue that I have is that SSET tries to portray the area as some sort of 'Golden Triangle' of crime, when other posts made by people who actually live there dont seem to bear this out. As SSET isnt even a registered, or even accepted authority here, it is very misleading to post suggestions to the contrary.

Other than the incident involving Ms Bretel, what other confirmed reports does SSET have to suggest that Chia Yi is in fact as dangerous as you claim. You have been making these assertions for months now, so why not provide some evidence.

[Aristotle]

The fact is that the Chaiyi representative to the national legislator of the republic of China was elected from a jail cell. He was in that jail for organized crime involvement and illegal weapons charges.
The Mayor of Chaiyi city was indited for organized crime involvement, twice but never convicted as all the evidence and witnesses disappeared. The gangsters who control Chaiyi openly state that that city and county is their territory and the government of the republic of China has no jurisdiction over them there. That is why so many of the Chaiyi government officials are in jail in other areas.
I cannot recommend strongly enough that people stay away from Chaiyi.
As for SSETT.
We are not a criminal organization thus we do not require recognition from the criminals of Republic of China which currently control Taiwan.
We get our authority from the teachers we help and serve as well as their students.
If you wish to become a member you may have access to much of the history and information of SSETT.
Don't be put off by the requirements they are there to protect as well as detract.
A.
Your response is typical of the responses from overseas Chinese who will do or say anything they can to protect the criminals who currently control Taiwan. You know little to nothing about what goes on here, you just don't want to hear the truth.
If you would spend half as much time trying to fix your corrupt and dysfunctional island as trying to deny the fact that it is in such a horrible state. Taiwan could really be an amazing place.

[surrealia]

Bravo, Brian! I agree with you 100%!

Again, there is no evidence that Chiayi is any more dangerous than any other city in Taiwan.

[Aristotle]