Job Discussion Forums

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

that newbies were screwed seems to be the prevalent theme surrounding any negative comments about Taiwan on these boards. I just saw a comment on The Job Information Journal that sort of made me cringe. It's like this.

It's not that I feel "somehow screwed over by the Taiwanese." No, after many years in Korea and elsewhere, I often see people in terms of their honesty, nothing more. In light of this honesty, business tactics stick out the most, since you do have a business deal and you are the sole judge of your business connections. So this I want to say.

As a newbie, if I could be considered one, I find that I haven't been screwed over. I find that the business tactics are't at all honest, are completely innane and if not, plain old deceptive. Do I feel screwed over!

No, I feel I have the right to judge and make comments and that about teaching ESL in Taiwan. It's not a place, for most part, to find a decent ESL job. Why this is must be because of life in the big city and this rather haphazard state of mind the teachers and schools present you with. If anyone has found their shangri la here, I applaud them. But really, who's looking for hugs and kisses other than just a handshake and honesty.

This is all I'm looking for. I'm looking for a contract that computes to fair dealing and honesty. Such contracts are not taken into consideration here. Therefore, you have no environment of trust. WIthout something to guide and restrain the deceptive antics, such as lying to fire you, there's nothing to protect you. Taiwan, for some reason or another, comes out far worse than KOrea did in these areas. THese areas are employer/employee relationships.

I don't claim to have been screwed over. I think the legal aspects are not in line with a workers' expectations. The taiwanese can bend and break the contract and not give you your rights as an individual. Some of them then lie to save face. These aspects make all things consternating for any newcomer, but also for one who's just here to teach. The Taiwanese flat out know this, so they feel that the contract must be made null and void if they are to use you and make you feel under their control

THis is just to say, don't talk about newbies as having been screwed over. It's rather the other way around. We screw them over, becuase some of us have learned the game and this to abide by the law. Bad experiences come, and go, but teachers can last if the school learns to be honest in light of the law and try not to pull the ubiquitous "Sorry, we'll pay you on MOnday because the owner isn't here tonight" when they know darn well they have to pay you on Friday and DO have the money.

Yes, this is being screwed over. But telling them pay me or else, is just a way of using a mutual agreement defense tactic as a sound way of doing business, not our fault. Should we shrug our shoulders and say Okay, this is Taiwan. I love it nonetheless!!

I remember hearing from one guy in Korea who hadn't gotten paid for over two months due to this deceptive practice. Now, he's no longer a newbie, but he knows well their antics towards newbies there, and so should some of you know about this here.

MOst foreigners have run into this game. They've been here for years, but somehow they've found their notch. This doesn't mean the negative comments are any less real.

TO say I'm biased because of illegal practices is just a given. I don't mind the CHinese, but the honesty of living abroad is what you need, not the hope you're here and are in their hands despite dishonesty that makes for a sound mind. I can be biased, but I mostly get upset when it's rather the other way around and when someone uses a sense of biasness to make me look like a fool.

THen some say "You were just screwed over." Well, if this doesn't make an ounce of sense. Yes, some of us were, but not over little things. YOu can get screwed over here, and this makes for some biased feelings and outright negative comments about living and working here. ANd yes, by golly, it is the Chinese, so they have to realize why such biasness exists, not me.