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d moon
Joined: 01 Jul 2003
Posts: 53
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 Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2007 9:16 am Post subject: Moving from the Mainland to Taiwan - worth it? |
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Hello,
I'm considering a move to Taipei early next year when my contract ends am wondering if anyone else has successfully made a move from the Mainland and how you found it.
I live in a major city. I can get everywhere by bicycle, all shopping is convenient and close, cost of living is cheap and the work is plentiful. Anyone with half a brain can easily clear 1000 euros a month and if you're willing to hustle, considerably more. It sounds like you guys have to work a bit harder for your cash there.
Rent is cheap, or in my case non-existent, there's many interesting travel opportunities and the teaching is genuinely rewarding due to the broad range of students, anything from musicians to bankers and NO children.
So it would seem I should probably just stay here. Nevertheless I'm interested in coming to Taiwan. It sounds as if Taipei has a more cosmopolitan atmosphere than say Beijing (I've never been to Shanghai) which despite its charm feels like a cowtown sometimes. I'm also interested in learning more about Buddhism and that's not really possible here like it is in Taiwan.
I have a BA in English but that's it which would mean Universities are out. I don't mind teaching in private schools, in fact it's nicer in many ways as classes are small and students motivated. I should also add that I'm 35 which seems to be a disadvantage in Taiwan.
So I should probably just stay put right? My impression is that most of the work there is teaching kids, something I'm in a position to refuse to do here as I have a pretty good reputation both with my employers and students.
So has anyone made the move and regretted it? Or on the flipside, wondered why they didn't go to Taipei in the first place?
I'd be interested to hear... |
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MomCat
Joined: 02 Dec 2004
Posts: 297
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| Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2007 2:47 pm Post subject: Re: Moving from the Mainland to Taiwan - worth it? |
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| d moon wrote: |
Hello,
I'm considering a move to Taipei early next year when my contract ends am wondering if anyone else has successfully made a move from the Mainland and how you found it. |
I moved to Taiwan after two years in China. I moved primarily because I came to loath the Chinese government. Other changes that I appreciate here are: It's cleaner, public health awareness is higher, I don't need to leave the country to get decent medical or dental care, better food is available, there is less staring and spitting, begging is rare, there is much more opportunity for intelligent conversation, the traffic is saner (not to be confused with sane), I'm not cheated in every financial transaction (okay, that was an exaggeration) and there is an active expat community.
Caveat - I didn't live in a big city in China and I don't live in a big city here so your experiences in Beijing may be very different than mine were.
| Quote: |
I live in a major city. I can get everywhere by bicycle, all shopping is convenient and close, cost of living is cheap and the work is plentiful. Anyone with half a brain can easily clear 1000 euros a month and if you're willing to hustle, considerably more. It sounds like you guys have to work a bit harder for your cash there.
Rent is cheap, or in my case non-existent, there's many interesting travel opportunities and the teaching is genuinely rewarding due to the broad range of students, anything from musicians to bankers and NO children. |
If money is on the top of you "want" list and you will only be teaching for another year or so, moving might not be a good idea. The cost of moving and the start-up costs in a new place can eat into your savings. It also takes a while to build up to higher earnings. If you're expecting to be here for a few years I think you could do as well financially.
| Quote: |
| So it would seem I should probably just stay here. Nevertheless I'm interested in coming to Taiwan. It sounds as if Taipei has a more cosmopolitan atmosphere than say Beijing (I've never been to Shanghai) which despite its charm feels like a cowtown sometimes. I'm also interested in learning more about Buddhism and that's not really possible here like it is in Taiwan. |
Taiwanese Buddhism is from China, not India. If you're looking for the Buddha that taught compassion and that joy comes from the inner you, it's not here. The Buddhism here is mixed with superstition, Earth Gods, Taoism, Confucianism and ancestor worship. (All very fascinating in they're own right.)
| Quote: |
| I have a BA in English but that's it which would mean Universities are out. I don't mind teaching in private schools, in fact it's nicer in many ways as classes are small and students motivated. I should also add that I'm 35 which seems to be a disadvantage in Taiwan. |
If you want to teach adults your age is not a problem. I always put a plug in for my hometown, Hsinchu, when someone wants to teach adults because I think there's a lot of opportunity here. An embryonic city-site is here http://www.ourhsinchu.com/
| Quote: |
| My impression is that most of the work there is teaching kids, something I'm in a position to refuse to do here as I have a pretty good reputation both with my employers and students. |
There are adult cram schools. Taipei and Hsinchu both offer good opportunities.
Good luck,
Cat |
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