| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Precise
Joined: 23 Mar 2007
Posts: 140
|
 Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 3:59 pm Post subject: What's so good about Taiwan? |
 |
|
| Ok here is my situation. I am a fresh graduate with a BSc. degree in International Business. I've never worked overseas but I want to try out this ESL teaching thing because it looks like a rewarding opportunity. I am considering either Japan or Taiwan. I know all about teaching in Japan and the ups and downs. The thing is, I don't know anything about the teaching situation in Taiwan. How would a 23 year old fresh graduate like it there? Is Taiwan a good experience for a newbie? Is it a good place to live? How is the pay and the cost of living? Are the locals friendly or xenophoibic (like in Korea)? Is it better to work in the cities or the rural areas? How are the necessities over there (internet, heat, water)? Your advice is appreciated. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Jamer
Joined: 12 Jan 2006
Posts: 39
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 11:59 pm Post subject: Re: What's so good about Taiwan? |
|
|
| Precise wrote: |
| How would a 23 year old fresh graduate like it there? |
Can you handle crowds? Lots of pollution?
| Precise wrote: |
| Is Taiwan a good experience for a newbie? |
It was a good experience for me just don't come here with any expectations and just accept things the way they are here
| Precise wrote: |
| Is it a good place to live? |
Depends on how you interpret it. The Chinese have a thing of keeping what needs to be clean, clean, and then letting the rest go straight to hell. So it can be very dirty here. The amount you make from teaching is good and will provide you with a comfortable lifestyle. Along saving a bit-depending on your lifestyle.
| Precise wrote: |
| How is the pay and the cost of living? |
Depends on where you live and and your lifestyle. In Kaohsiung, I easily saved 900-1000 dollars a month. In Taipei, I'm barely making it by living a pretty frugal lifestyle...Note I do not drink.
| Precise wrote: |
| Are the locals friendly or xenophoibic (like in Korea)? |
Naw, they are pretty cool. Just don't expect any deep relationships with many of them
| Precise wrote: |
| Is it better to work in the cities or the rural areas? |
Cities-you'll go nuts with boredom in the rural areas
| Precise wrote: |
| How are the necessities over there (internet, heat, water)? Your advice is appreciated. |
Cheap.
Overall, I wouldn't recommend Taiwan at this moment due to its slumping economy. The jobs are becoming fewer and fewer here, hours are getting less and less due to the fact that the supply of English teachers and English schools is oversaturating the demand. I'm currently in Taipei and considering moving out of TW because the job situation is so difficult. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Precise
Joined: 23 Mar 2007
Posts: 140
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 12:29 am Post subject: |
|
|
| really, so you think it won't be worth coming to TW in the next 6 months to a year b/c of the economy situation and over saturation of teachers? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Toe Save
Joined: 04 Oct 2004
Posts: 202
Location: 'tween the pipes.........
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 2:47 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Precise wrote: |
| really, so you think it won't be worth coming to TW in the next 6 months to a year b/c of the economy situation and over saturation of teachers? |
There seems to be this thinking that the job market is saturated. I don't buy that at all. There are still lots o fjobs, just that laobans can be pickier about whom they hire. Gone are the days when any greaseball could land in a job. But a competent, caring individual should have no trouble finding work.
About your timing? If you can't be here and be sponsored before 6/30, wait until 2008. You will lose a bucketful of money to taxes otherwise. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
trukesehammer
Joined: 25 Mar 2003
Posts: 168
Location: The Vatican
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 11:42 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| There seems to be this thinking that the job market is saturated. I don't buy that at all. |
Yeah! What LS said. I keep hearing the same thing about job shortages but I just don't see it. Maybe it's a little saturated --I mean, 10 years ago, people used to approach me on the street:
"Hey, do you want to work at our buxiban?"
"Can you tutor my little girl?"
"Can you help coach our sales department?"
"Do you want to be my boyfriend and teach me English?"
Now these opportunities have all but dried up; now I just get "assigned" these positions from my school (except for that last one).  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Precise
Joined: 23 Mar 2007
Posts: 140
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 12:01 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| trukesehammer wrote: |
| Quote: |
| There seems to be this thinking that the job market is saturated. I don't buy that at all. |
Yeah! What LS said. I keep hearing the same thing about job shortages but I just don't see it. Maybe it's a little saturated --I mean, 10 years ago, people used to approach me on the street:
"Hey, do you want to work at our buxiban?"
"Can you tutor my little girl?"
"Can you help coach our sales department?"
"Do you want to be my boyfriend and teach me English?"
Now these opportunities have all but dried up; now I just get "assigned" these positions from my school (except for that last one). |
Is it that easy to score a date in Taiwan? Are the girls hot? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Toe Save
Joined: 04 Oct 2004
Posts: 202
Location: 'tween the pipes.........
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 12:32 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| trukesehammer wrote: |
| Quote: |
| There seems to be this thinking that the job market is saturated. I don't buy that at all. |
[color=orange][b]Yeah! What LS said. |
Who is "LS"? Credit where credit is due pardner. 
| Precise wrote: |
| Is it that easy to score a date in Taiwan? Are the girls hot? |
Nice follow up question. Some very valuable and sage advice was proffered and that is what you focused on? Consider my advice the last you will get from me. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Imagine8
Joined: 03 Oct 2006
Posts: 40
Location: LinKou Village, Taiwan
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 1:33 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Toe Save wrote: |
| Consider my advice the last you will get from me. |
Ouch. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Precise
Joined: 23 Mar 2007
Posts: 140
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 1:47 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Toe Save wrote: |
Nice follow up question. Some very valuable and sage advice was proffered and that is what you focused on? Consider my advice the last you will get from me. |
Whooah partner, simmer down. It was just a simple question. We're all human here and we all need some affection if we're going to be somewhere for an extended period of time. Geez. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Toe Save
Joined: 04 Oct 2004
Posts: 202
Location: 'tween the pipes.........
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 2:21 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Precise wrote: |
| Toe Save wrote: |
Nice follow up question. Some very valuable and sage advice was proffered and that is what you focused on? Consider my advice the last you will get from me. |
Whooah partner, simmer down. It was just a simple question. We're all human here and we all need some affection if we're going to be somewhere for an extended period of time. Geez. |
Keep objectifying women as sex objects and you'll be looking for "affection" in a place we call Lonelytown.
A lot of us are married or in committed relationships. So I take it personally when guys come along expecting easy "scores" with what amounts to be our sisters or nieces. Equally, I have made a lot of good friends through work here and would hate to see them "scored" upon by someone who is here to just get some.
Tell me to simmer down all you want. I thought your quetion was crass. So, no, I won't simmer down. The Hammer was joking to make a point about how easy it was compared to how less easy it is (to find work). It was, in no way, an invitation to open a discussion on the "scorability" of our hosts. May I suggest you direct such inquiries to asiafriendfinder.com. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Precise
Joined: 23 Mar 2007
Posts: 140
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 4:07 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Toe Save wrote: |
| Precise wrote: |
| Toe Save wrote: |
Nice follow up question. Some very valuable and sage advice was proffered and that is what you focused on? Consider my advice the last you will get from me. |
Whooah partner, simmer down. It was just a simple question. We're all human here and we all need some affection if we're going to be somewhere for an extended period of time. Geez. |
Keep objectifying women as sex objects and you'll be looking for "affection" in a place we call Lonelytown.
A lot of us are married or in committed relationships. So I take it personally when guys come along expecting easy "scores" with what amounts to be our sisters or nieces. Equally, I have made a lot of good friends through work here and would hate to see them "scored" upon by someone who is here to just get some.
Tell me to simmer down all you want. I thought your quetion was crass. So, no, I won't simmer down. The Hammer was joking to make a point about how easy it was compared to how less easy it is (to find work). It was, in no way, an invitation to open a discussion on the "scorability" of our hosts. May I suggest you direct such inquiries to asiafriendfinder.com. |
Actually, a lot of people use Dave's Cafe to learn about the 'scorability index' of a foreign country. My main question, however, was about living and working in Taiwan, the 'scorability' one was just a side question meant as a joking reply to someone else's comment. I think you need to stop being such a stiff or you might find yourself having blood pressure problems down the road. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Jamer
Joined: 12 Jan 2006
Posts: 39
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 4:37 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| trukesehammer wrote: |
| Quote: |
| There seems to be this thinking that the job market is saturated. I don't buy that at all. |
Yeah! What LS said. I keep hearing the same thing about job shortages but I just don't see it. Maybe it's a little saturated --I mean, 10 years ago, people used to approach me on the street:
"Hey, do you want to work at our buxiban?"
"Can you tutor my little girl?"
"Can you help coach our sales department?"
"Do you want to be my boyfriend and teach me English?"
Now these opportunities have all but dried up; now I just get "assigned" these positions from my school (except for that last one). |
That's kinda my point..It's getting that way (saturated) and only seems to be getting worse, I had a hell of a time getting a job here as I went through multiple interviews employers from all over, and I am pretty well qualified IMO-3 yrs chinese language, 4 yr degree(not fake), US citizen, 1 yrs experience teaching in TW and not that it should matter in any way(but it's TW)-I'm a young white male. Moreover, the job situation I have now is not what I desired and/or expected, but then again I'm in Taipei-pretty competitive up here. Guess I'm not trying to really to turn people off, just want to make sure everyone knows if you do come here-come prepared with money, correct visas and a concrete plan of action, don't want to people to go through what I went through. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
trukesehammer
Joined: 25 Mar 2003
Posts: 168
Location: The Vatican
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 5:12 am Post subject: |
|
|
Toe Save wrote:
| Quote: |
| Who is "LS"? Credit where credit is due pardner. |
"I am not lysdexic."
Oops! Sorry about that. By the way, what does Toe Save mean, anyway?
...As for the are-the-girls-hot question, I'd rather not touch that one but shall instead refer you to the following website: http://www.styleintaiwan.com/ |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Toe Save
Joined: 04 Oct 2004
Posts: 202
Location: 'tween the pipes.........
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 6:11 am Post subject: |
|
|
| trukesehammer wrote: |
By the way, what does Toe Save mean, anyway?
|
 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Precise
Joined: 23 Mar 2007
Posts: 140
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2007 12:07 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| trukesehammer wrote: |
Toe Save wrote:
| Quote: |
| Who is "LS"? Credit where credit is due pardner. |
"I am not lysdexic."
Oops! Sorry about that. By the way, what does Toe Save mean, anyway?
...As for the are-the-girls-hot question, I'd rather not touch that one but shall instead refer you to the following website: http://www.styleintaiwan.com/ |
Well that about sums it up. Taiwanese girls are hot. How bout the beer in Taiwan; it it any good? If you get paid like 60K Can you still have fun and save money? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
