Job Discussion Forums

kuberkat · Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Posts: 358 Location: Oman

For once, and this is a rare occasion, I will side with Glenski: basically it depends on who you are and what you want, and what compromises you are willing to deal with.

To me, where I am now (Oman) is the most suitable compromise between several devils and the deep blue sea (aka "home", which is not an option.) I have established myself in a reasonably pleasant job with humane hours and a robust remuneration package. The students I teach are too lovely for words. Unfortunately it appears that work is taboo in their culture, and I am still trying to find a way around this. As long as they don't realise they are learning, things go very well.

What I miss most about where I was before (Taiwan) is the ferocious intelligence and diligence of the students, efficient local coworkers who are in charge of administration... and fiery soup noodles at lunch break. I am not homesick for the pollution that had me sick every few weeks, 40 teaching hours per week or unpaid leave.

It's all about focusing on the doughnut and getting over the hole.

gaijinalways · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 2279

I always thought the donut hoes were the best part Razz

! But seriously, you' re right, it really is hard to say what is best, but it would be in a place where you can enjoy the food, the people, a somewhat modern standard of living, and a decent quality of living. And then, the job itself, if it is too stressful because of bad admin, poor resources, etc.., well there are always other places.

Personally I liked Tawan for the people and the food, but the pollution did me in too.

tedkarma · Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2007 2:34 pm Post subject:

Often the most wonderful locations pay the least. The best in wages is often not the friendliest/best place to live. So balance is the key.

I love Thailand - my home has been here for six years - but wages here su*ck. You work like a dog and earn only enough to live well - but not to save anything.

Maybe the best compromise - for me anyway - was Taiwan. Fairly good wages and good quality of life. When you get out of the cities the countryside is beautiful.

BUT - to a large degree friends and good times together probably decide where you enjoy your life the most (if that is what "best" is).

Food, wages, climate, friends, quality of life - the formula and how it is mixed is different for each person.

kuberkat · Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Posts: 358 Location: Oman

tedkarma (longtimenosee Wink

) wrote:

jonniboy · Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2007 3:04 pm Post subject:

ghost · Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 1693 Location: Saudi Arabia

tedkarma · Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 1:36 pm Post subject:

I think my students - at a two year college on the edge of Taipei - were quite hard working. Most of them took 35 hours of classes per week AND worked at least a part-time job.

Certainly not like my whiners in Korea who at age 26 hadn't worked a day in their life - had twelve hours a week of classes and could seem to get to many of those.

Just my bias - I enjoyed my two years in Taiwan.

shuize · Joined: 04 Sep 2004 Posts: 1270

In a profession in which the barrier to admission is so low (basically a university degree and in some places not even that) it really should come as no surprise that the nicest places (Thailand for example) are going to pay the least. The market has a way of sorting these things out.