Job Discussion Forums

spoonface · Joined: 24 Apr 2009 Posts: 2

Hello everyone,
I'm REALLY hoping for some help here, I've been trolling through forums and websites for over 3 weeks now and feel like I'm back at square one.
I'm coming up to the end of my one year in South Korea and must admit, I'm scared senseless about my next destination.
I'm a 23 year old british female, one year teaching experience.
The last year has been spent in isolation, central korean city with no friends and a nightmare school. I'm praying Taiwan can and will be a more pleasant experience for me.
Basically, I long to live by the sea again and have a nice climate, but also immersed in the city life and be able to meet fellow teachers and travellers. CAn anyone give me any advice here, bearing in mind I'm a young female?
Also, I'm really confused as to the best option; applying and securing a placement beforehand or turning up and job hunting on the door? I've applied for a few things but yet to have a reply...
I really appreciate any advice, oh, and I'm looking at end of August/beg Sept this year.
Many thanks!!!

TJA · Joined: 09 Apr 2009 Posts: 27 Location: Greater Taipei

Hi,

Everyone's tastes are different, so take this with a grain of salt....

IMO it's hard to find everything you mentioned in one place in Taiwan. The trickiest part is "living by the sea". The best parts of the coast are, IMO, not where the bigger cities are.

Having said that, the Kaohsiung/Tainan area may be a safe bet. There are a lot of schools in that area (so lots of foreign teachers as well), the climate is pretty good, and there are good coastal spots nearby. BigWally will be able to give you more specifics, as he has lived & worked there recently.

Hope that gives you a start....

TJA

markholmes · Joined: 21 Jun 2004 Posts: 661 Location: Wengehua

Danshui (sometimes spelt Tan Sui or a variation of it), just north of Taipei is a nice place, by the sea, lots of schools and on the MRT so you can easily get into Taipei.

dangerousapple · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Posts: 292

Yeah, I enjoy Dan Shui as well, and try to get out there if I get a chance when I go up north. I personally couldn't handle living up north, however, it's just too crowded for me, and the weather stinks. Kaohsiung has everything I want, and great beaches and mountains are nearby.

If I had to move though, I would move to Taichung. I've always enjoyed going there on weekend trips.

StayingPower · Joined: 18 Aug 2006 Posts: 252

Your best bet is to land a job on the East coast, or an area called Hualien. If needs be, stay at a hostel or at place called 'Taipei Hostel,' right downtown. You will find it accommodating.

You won't get an ocean view anywhere, however, and I can see the psychological affect Korea's done on you. Had the same experience. Korea, however, offerred you security. Taiwan, will only offer you the opposite.

BigWally · Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 9:07 pm Post subject:

spoonface · Joined: 24 Apr 2009 Posts: 2

Thanks for your input guys, I'm certainly interested in kaohsiung, it sounds just what I'm looking for Smile

stunnershades · Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 32

i tuaght in taiwan for a year and now im in korea and its way better. im living just outside of seoul and i have no complaints. i work at a public elementary school and its sooo nice. honestly im totally bitter about my year in taiwan and being in korea has been theraputic. stay in korea and get a better job in a public school. taiwan is not the kind of climate youre looking for trust me. its sticky hot 10 months out of the year and theres no real beaches you can go to even though its an island. (except kenting which you could only go to on a 3 or 4 day weekend.)

BigWally · Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 4:12 pm Post subject:

stunnershades · Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 32

yeah true its not bad if you go from kaohsiung to kenting, but you take a taxi ? how much is that? i took an ambulance from kentint to kaohsiung and when i got bit by a snake there and it was about 300$ you must agree to a price before you get in a cab right?

BigWally · Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 4:19 am Post subject:

yup, a whole $300NT per person....i never minded paying $10CDN for a 1.5 hr ride

OuterBanks13 · Joined: 18 May 2009 Posts: 33

Heh, why don't you get a good gig at a public school in Korea and in a bigger city. Better money and conditions than Taiwan.

IrishTony · Joined: 14 Jun 2009 Posts: 17

Hi spoonface

Lots of interesting advice there. Let me give you my two cents:

When you say you long to live by the sea, my question would be do you want to be able to see the ocean from your home, or just be relatively close to the ocean so that you can stroll on the beach at weekends?

Certainly the beaches in the south are best by all accounts. Kending is right in the south, but it's relatively remote and you certainly won't get a taste of city life there.

Kaohsiung is a big city and about 1.5 hrs bus ride to Kending. BigWally says you can rent apartments in Kaosiung with ocean views. I dont doubt him but I wonder if those would be quite far from the city (and possibly your work place).

Moving further north on the West coast you have Taichung, which I think is a great place, 3rd biggest city in Taiwan and I believe it has a big expat community. I don't think its popular for its beaches, but I should point out at this stage that Taiwan is small and no matter where you are you're generally only a short trip from the coast.

Into the North of course is Taipei. You'll certainly get a taste of city life here!! I agree with the other posts, DanShui might be perfect for you. It has many schools, is right beside the sea and has beautiful sunsets. It's also not far from the city via MRT (Taipei train system). Fulong beach in the north is very popular with surfers and not far from Taipei!

If you're looking for activity, big city, etc then the east coast is probably not for you. Hualian is a lovely town, the scenic views on the east coast are stunning. But again you might feel a bit isolated there after a while.

If you're looking to meet new friends here, I can recommend our expat club: www.taiwancelts.com. It's a social club disguised as a sports club Wink

You can meet new friends here.