Job Discussion Forums

[rupert shellgame]

I know this has been covered before, but the only other post I found was old and pretty unfocused.

Like many others that are on Taiwan teaching, I'm thinking seriously about going to Latin America. My question is how possible it will be to work the same ours there, at the same kinds of jobs, and make enough money to pay rent, eat reasonably, and throw back a couple bottles every week or so? Will I be able to afford something like a scooter (or am I just projecting scooterland onto Latin America)? Can I get internet, and have a decent but modest apartment? Will I be longing for the ugliness of western Taiwan within two months of scraping?

thanks!

[nineisone]

Hi rupert,

All good questions. Quick note on your mention of scooters: they are used through much of LA and can be common in some areas but are not the necessity that they are out East, especially Taiwan. Quality of makes can be quite poor, as I declined to buy a rather ragged India-manufacutred model during my stay in Peru.

Of course, salary tends to be much lower than in a country like Taiwan, hours can vary. If Classroom and school mgmt. can be grating out East, schools in LA can sometimes be worse. Obviously, job markets in most LA countries are much smaller and jobs less plentiful than Taiwan, China, etc.

Different cultures appeal to different people. And just like there are substantial differences between Taiwan, Japan, and Korea and the varying experiences of living there, the same can be said for the many nations that make up the Americas. LA is not a monolith and my best advice is to research it in a detailed way.

Good luck.

[travelgoddess]

Well, I taught in Tainan back in 2003 and am currently in Bogota, Colombia looking for work.

Other than the pay, the scooter, the kids, and the fruit juice, I pretty much hated my time in Taiwan. So not sure if I am the right person to answer your questions.

It is true that diff cultures appeal to diff people. I would say not only research it before you come here, but travel here first and see if you want to be here. And why you want to be here. I want to improve my Spanish (from completely awful to passing and beyond) and I love the music. This is enough for me to have return to the region a few times and giving the working bit a go this time around. How long I will stay due the working conditions and pay, who knows.

I keep thinking that 1/2 year here and 1/2 in Vietnam (infinately more comfy for me than Taiwan was) would be nice. But thats a lot of temporary and plane tixs.

If you want, drop me a line in a few more weeks and I can give you more details on the job situation comparison. Right now have only been here 2 weeks and can only tell you application and other peoples stories.

Steph

[ghost]

I also taught in Taiwan in 2005-06, and basically hated the place.

Good thing about Taiwan - plenty of jobs with decent pay, and savings. Cheap, and the chance to learn Chinese (Mandarin) at one of the ubiquitous courses held at Universities. If I had not been learning Mandarin there would have been nothing, absolutely nothing to keep me in that polluted, concrete jungle, with few if any redeeming features.

Latin American quality of life is zillions of miles higher compared with life in Taiwan. And most people agree with me on that.

Most teach in Taiwan for the money and savings. People teach in LA for the lifestyle.

Ghost in Korea

[lostinvenezuela]

Well,

I have worked for 7 months in Taiwan, and years in Venezuela. And well, Taiwan is much better.

More money
Friendlier people
Safer

Want to go back.

[Tiger Beer]

I can't speak for Taiwan, but the easier lifestyle of Asia probably will pull you back if you didn't completely dislike Asia while here.

My story is between Korea and Brazil. Obviously I wanted to be in Brazil and taught there and even today I would like to go back. But the $$ is in Korea, and my overall quality of life is higher - I can buy pretty much anything I want including expensive half-way-around-the-world plane tickets without it setting me back much.

While in Brazil, I was finding the work, loving the culture, loving the language, etc. But strugging for basic necessities - paying rent, replacing shoes, budgeting myself for how many drinks I can afford when I'm out, etc.

I ended up back in Korea again because of it.

[naturegirl321]

Basically money is a big difference, also ASia is easier than LA. I couldn't get away from Asia and just got back home after three months in Korea, would've stayed more if my husband weren't in Peru.

Think about making 500 to 1000 USd, split shifts are often a reality here in LA.

Scotters, I wouldn't recommend, driving is dangerous here.

There's internet, you could easily get a good flat.

[naturegirl321]

[ls650]

The problem with your question is that there's a huge variance in both working conditions and lifestyles from one country to the next. Teaching in Mexico can be vastly different from working in, say, Ecuador.

I can tell you this much: when I moved from Indonesia to Mexico, it was a huge improvement. I had to teach fewer hours and yet was paid more money, the culture and history were more appealing to me, etc. In Mexico I was able to live comfortably, buy a small motorcycle, and afford some travel.

I recommend you try to narrow your questions down to a particular country, or better yet, a region within that country, and then investigate that particular area.

[travelgoddess]

It's such an individual preference.

For me in Asia (teaching in Taiwan and Vietnam) I liked:

* the food
* the inability to not have to keep a budget and still save and travel
* the set work hours (even if schedule changes were not uncommon)
* the ability to tune out the language when in a public place
* bicycling (Hanoi, Vietnam) and scootering (Taiwan) around


In Latin America (Argentina, Guatemala, Colombia) I like:
* the art, music and dance, etc
* the people (even though I cant for the life of me figure out who means what when they say it yet)
* the eye candy (HEY, it turns into an issue when you go months without seeing a man you think is attractive! I'm just being honest here)
* I personally want to know more about the culture whereas in Asia although I thought the places I was in were interesting, I hit a wall with wanting to know more and connect pretty early on, and stayed a bit longer for the cash
* the wine (Argentina)
* the language (Spanish, I have not yet been pulled into Portuguese, although if I go to Brasil I bet it wont take much!)


Anyway, thats a really quick list.

The comment about it being more than just regional is spot on to. I could do other lists just between Colombia and Argentina OR between Taiwan and Vietnam (actually, think I did on a thread here somewhere on Dave's!)

There is no right and wrong place. No better or worse place. Its all a personal fit (or not).

And, hey we are SPOLIED rotten with the ability to go and work in many of these places and learn these preferences. So spoiled. That is the part I like to remember when I hit a place I dont really jive with. Or when I am having a frustrating day in a new country (like yesterday).

We are SUPER lucky man, super lucky.

Steph

[MELEE]