Korean Job Discussion Forums

[napoleon8]

I'm thinking about flying to Taipei and looking for work there (my hagwon went out of business). What have you heard about Taiwan?

[Mr. Pink]

Earthquakes! Badly built housing.

Manderian!

No thanks.

[waterbaby]

Take a look at the Taiwan Job Discussion Forum over on the International board.

[Hankukin]

I lived in Taiwan for 4 years and my Taiwanese wife and I will be heading back after our contracts are up here. I have an open work permit so it`s definitely a better place for me. The Taiwanese are more helpful, food and rent(outside Taipei) is cheaper and the opportunity to make more money once you`ve established "guanxi" is there. Also, long term people often break away from EFL into more lucrative careers once they`ve learned Mandarin.


Go For It

[buddy bradley]

The Taiwanese are very friendly.

Learning Mandarin is actually useful as it's spoken in a lot of countries, unlike Korean and Japanese.

It's easier to work illegally and make a lot of money.

The Taiwanese can't cook.

It's fucking hot and humid.

There's a Church of Satan in Taipei and Gaoxiong so getting laid is easy.

They like Americans.

They prefer South African teachers to Kiwis and Ozzies.

You can dress like crap when you go to work.

There are cameras everywhere so stealing is difficult but still possible.

They can't hold their drink.

[TECO]

Of the 3 - Japan, Korea and Taiwan, I'd say the Taiwanese are the most friendly.

I think Seol and Tokyo are more interesting places to live but Taipei is a great jumping off point for exploring S.E. Asia.

You can make just as much teaching English in Taiwan as you can in Korea - most of the work is kids but you can get find adult classes as well.

Privates can be lucrative also.

It must have been 30 degrees yesterday - T-shirt and shorts!

Also, dress code in Taiwan is waaay more relaxed than in either Japan or Korea - No Tie for the guys at my school!

All in all, a good experience but not as lucrative as working in Japan.

Cost of living, as mentioned, much cheaper than Japan, for sure.

Check the Taiwan Times or China Post for job listings or [url]tealit.com[/url]

Good luck!

[jajdude]

"There are cameras everywhere so stealing is difficult but still possible."

A strange comment?

[buddy bradley]

Why is it strange? Stealing is great fun and pretty easy at some smaller stores here in Korea, my puritan friend.

[gypsyfish]

I couldn't wait to return to Korea when my contract was finished in Taiwan. I didn't like the weather - very hot and humid when it wasn't raining. Surprisingly, the couple month winter was chilly and humid. Many apartments don't have heaters, so I had to buy a couple of blankets.

I didn't really care for teaching ankle biters, but, I worked at one of the large chain schools and they did give a lot of support. Most jobs are teaching kids. You will probably work six days a week and be paid hourly - you miss a class because of a typhoon, earthquake, or power outage(they all happened to me while I was there), you don't get paid for that time.

I had been told the money was better in Taiwan, but, after paying rent and utilities (few schools provide housing), I didn't find that to be the case. I didn't do privates there, but I don't here either, so it's a wash as far as jack is concerned.

I lived in Taipei County and probably would have felt better about living there if I'd found a place in the city. I had to take a lot of busses and I hate that. They do have a subway, and it's very good, but, when I left there in 2000, it didn't go as many places as the Seoul one. It was pretty new at the time and not crowded.

On the plus side, the people were pretty friendly, the restaurants were better than in Seoul(though, Seoul was much better when I returned after my 'sabbatical'), and the bookstores were better. The movie theaters were pretty good, too. Better newspapers, too.

Some people really like it. I makes me sad that I didn't, because, up to that point, I always enjoyed myself where ever I lived, but not in Taiwan.

And ... buddy bradley is a jerk.

[shawner88]

[buddy bradley]

What's with what? Are you a Yankee puritan or something? C'mon, you can troll better than that my illegal friend.

[JennyJJ]

I lived and worked in Taipei for two years and LOVED it! Very friendly people, no one stares at you or giggles as you walk by . . .
Lots of good private work and no problems with immigration.
Saved a little less than Korea, but quality of life was MUCH higher.

[buddy bradley]

[hellofaniceguy]

It's a hit or miss thing. Everyone has a different opinion. Your best bet is to just go! But, if you don't like sunshine and warm weather, don't go. It's warm. But after a few weeks, you'll get use to it. Jobs are are over! Work is not a problem. You'll need to get a health check up in order to get your allien ID card, ARC. Blood test, etc. Somethings the Taiwanese do a heck of a lot better than the koreans. One thing for sure, the Chinese school owners, called Bushibans, really want their money's worth! They want workers to work all the time! Unlike korea where the workers have long work days but non productive, the Chinese business owners really push for productivity. Food? Great food! Night life? Just like other places, depends on what you want. Motorcycles? Gesh!! They come out of the woodwork! But at least they are more respectful when compared to koreans.

[JennyJJ]

Stealing scene?
Good, I think.
The only problem is that if you get caught they just beat the sh*t out of you - none of that messing with the police stuff.