Job Discussion Forums

[A.K.A.T.D.N.]

Everytime I think something negative about Korea while I'm eating, I choke. I literally do, as if Korea is trying to kill me. Well, almost. Like today.

Today I was sitting in a restaurant pondering the difference between Taipei and Korea and I just couldn't fathom why Korea was so bottom-of-the line. Then, all of a sudden, a large fry almost got stuck in my throat(Should I say anything negative about this gem of a country, particularly amongst expats?) Well, I guess I will.

Korea is a real dump in comparison to Taiwan. I mean, it's not only one physically, but also mentally.

It's a cinch living here in Taipei now that I've experienced Korea. I can't see how some people can complain about Taiwan. I think there are a hundred things I could come up with to put Korea down, but not so Taiwan.

In any case, this isnt' my objective. My objective is to just speak the truth, of what I've experienced, so let's just look at a few facts I've noticed for now, just in case I can't make it here either.

-No burning toxic waste in the streets here(Glass, cans, plastic, etc.)
-No bumping, staring, xenophobia.
-The women aren't too vain.
-No 'Wae-gukin!' cries and jeers from kids/adults.
-No drunks/smoky PC bangs.
-The air pollution is no where as bad as Seoul's.
-Traffic pretty much runs at an even and orderly pace.
-No harsh and loud bellowing in what should be civil speech.
-No stupid giggling and pointing from teenage girls/kids.
-More architectural stimuli to meet the eye.
-No stupid idiot screaming drunk in my hotel room next door, and that
at 4:00am.
-Much better styles of clothing.
-No damn Korean nationalism and American/Western hatism in the air.

Crud, I can't see how some people could think that Korea is a better place to teach. Perhaps I'll change my mind tomorrow, but I really found out the insanity I had to go through in Korea, and Taiwan, in comparison, is ESL civilization at last.

Now if I could just find a darn job.

[Aristotle]

Korea is hot in the summer and freezing in the winter.

[MTurton]

[ScottSommers]

While I respect Michael�s judgment, my opinion about working in Korea is a little different.

I taught in Korea from 1994 to 1996, so it's fairly obvious that Taiwan is a better place for me to live, but that's not because Taiwan is a better place for everyone. Korea can be a rough place, and that it's easy to find a lot of negative things about living and working there. The same can also be said about Taiwan (take a look at Dave's Job Information Board http://www.eslcafe.com/jobinfo/asia/sefer.cgi?Taiwan).

There are also many benefits that employment in Korea offers that can not be easily found in Taiwan. It is not unusual for a Korean commercial school to offer teachers paid airfare, free apartments, and cash bonuses to look after the incidental costs of moving there. The purpose of these perks is to assure that even if you just graduated and have no cash whatsoever, it would be possible for you to start making cash for them immediately and reliably. While some Taiwan schools offer similar benefits, they are few and far between and usually inferior to their Korean counterparts. Typically, the attitude of employers in Taiwan is that you�re on your own.

In addition, because Korean schools have put out so much cash for you, it is necessary for them to make sure that you can make money and turn over students. You may have heard horror stories about teaching there, but typically no school here will give you anything that could really be called training--much less pay for it.

A further problem lies with labour difficulties. I can't speak for Michael, but I am pretty sure I know Aristotle�s answer if I ask what he thinks about the outcome of potential payment problems with employers in Taiwan. In 1996, there were several teachers at my school who had payment disputes with our school. And even though it was a high-ranking university, once the labour board got involved, the money immediately appeared. As I have said about Taiwan, if there is a dispute about payment, your employer will win; not sometimes, not most of the time, but ALL of the time.

Taiwan is great. I love living here and I hated Korea, but that's not because working here is better. Taiwan has a lot of redeeming feature, but it also be the worst place in the world if you have a bad employer.

[riser]

I worked in both Taiwan and Korea. I have to agree with AKATON. Taiwan is a wonderful place to live and work. The people are warm, freindly, sincere and welcoming. Korea tends to leave a negetive impression on many people. I had a university position in Korea and lived on campus so I was I bit isolated from many of the negative aspects that AKATON mentioned. Nonetheless, when asked I find it hard to come up with positive things to say about Korea.

[ScottSommers]

Of course I agree with Riser. I have lived here for almost 8 years, but there are reasons that we like Taiwan that are not shared by some of those reading these posts. We both came here as experienced teachers, and we both had jobs before we came here. For those coming to Taiwan with little or no teaching experience and no money, you will not be able to expect your school will support you. Some schools may, but you shouldn't count on it or you'll end up in big trouble.

[MTurton]

[Rice Paddy Daddy]

[MTurton]

[Rice Paddy Daddy]

MTurton - interesting comments.

Your comments also relate to my expereince about working in Korea, Japan and Thailand. Foreigners seem to be 'tolerated' to a certain degree but the locals don't really want them around save for what they can 'use' them for.

I guess Taiwan isn't really all that different.

Xenaphobia and racism are common in this region.

When I arrived in Taiwan I caleld a few of the buxiban managers, who asked me over the phone, "Are you Black?"

Since then, one of my students did their speech on: "Not All Blacks are Bad."

[ScottSommers]

I said

[Fortigurn]

[Fortigurn]

[Waldorf Salad]

Children shout "waiguoren" at me every day, but does that reveal an underlying racist attitude? Sounds a little far-fetched. These kids are just excited about seeing a foreigner, though it can be annoying sometimes (especially when they shout 'meiguoren' (American)). I've had whole villages running after me in Indonesia. That doesn't mean that they were racist, they were just excited. I�m not saying that there's no racism in Taiwan. Of course there is. It's everywhere. But I'm rather a foreigner in Taiwan than a foreigner in Europe. Two of my Chinese Australian friends told me that there are certain places there where they can't go. I can't think of any place in Taiwan where I have to fear for my life, because I'm white.
A big difference with western countries though, is that are laws against racism. An ad in today's China Post:

"Looking for Caucasian teacher"

If a school in my country would advertise with a line like this, they would probably be forced to close their business.

[Aristotle]