Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Ryst Helmut]

In before the lock!


But yeah....my Taiwanese students are MUCH MUCH MUCH better than my Korean students. If I didn't have so much invested in Korea I'd be off to Taiwan (after Turkey, of course).

!shoosh

Ryst

[sparkx]

[Ryst Helmut]

It's the "name calling"....but then again, I never did read the 'rules.'

I did it in jest with another poster who was also retorting in jest...but the thread got locked. I asked why, I was told it was locked because of the same thing going/starting here.

No me importa.

!shoosh

Ryst

[Ya-ta Boy]

I worked in Taiwan for 9 months in between stints in Korea. I didn't enjoy it as much.

For one thing, I'm not fond of tropical weather. I hated waking up at 7am in a pool of sweat. Then it got worse.

I found the Chinese to be cooler toward foreigners. Cooler in that they didn't stare and cooler in that they didn't particularly want to meet a foreigner. They just seemed cool to the whole idea. I've had hundreds of pleasant conversations with convenience store clerks in Korea. Zero in Taiwan. (Just one example.)

I was working for a bushie ban owner who ended up in the pokey. Crooked hakwon owners is not Korea-specific.

Chinese is a lot harder to learn to speak and impossible to learn to read. (IMO). There was almost no English on signs or menus anywhere in Tainan, where I lived.

Earthquakes made me nervous. My room had one glass wall. I couldn't pull my bed far enough away from it when the earthquakes were shaking the glass.

Scooters are everywhere and the resulting pollution can be pretty bad.

The beach in Tainan had dead dogs and rusty tin cans all over it. Not very nice.

Winter weather is nice. You only need a jacket at night. That's good because you already have it on when you go to bed. There isn't any central heating.

I know these are all negatives, but I didn't hate Taiwan. I just don't want to go back to live/work there.

[Zark]

I taught at a small college just outside Taipei (for two years). Loved it. I like Chinese culture and enjoyed learning Chinese. It is difficult yes, but Chinese characters are fascinating to me.

I found it to be a much more relaxed culture - though there is a system of favors/obligations in the culture that can be wearisome (particularly at work).

Yes, Taiwan itself is beautiful. Just a few minutes outside any town is incredible countryside.

One plus is that most Taiwanese have a relative living somewhere else in the world - often in the West and they don't have the provencial thinking of the Koreans. You'll find them quite world wise.

Personally, I quite liked the fact that they didn't stare or wet their pants over seeing a foreigner. I got over wanting to be special back in '92. Just want to live my life and enjoy myself.

[PaperTiger]

Every place has its ups and downs...but I've heard some of the ups and downs of Taiwan is bolder gangsters and even bolder theives. I've read on the internet (if you can believe anything you read THERE) that you really have to choose your battles more wisely there and really lock your goods up tight. Any insight on that score?

I imagine the food is better there...but it's just as Confucian if not more there.

[paperbag princess]

as a veggie, i was very impressed at how wonderful the food is. and they understand vegetarian. there's none of this "ham isn't meat" b.s that you have here.

i think i'm going after this contract.

[joe_doufu]

[Moldy Rutabaga]

I loathed Taipei.. unceasing rain every time I've been there or passed through, dirt, high prices, bored to tears. Now, that's just me and other experiences may differ. But I would spend a little time there before taking a job.

Ken:>

[jajdude]

Taiwan is a good place to NOT drink. The alcohol is the worst, unless you stick to strictly foreign stuff like wine or liquor. Even "Corona" is crappy there. Is it made in CHina?

The TV was good. Several good movie ch