Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mysteriousdeltarays]

Go Baby, Go!

[jajdude]

Note: There is a chance Taiwan may not be as good as Korea, but there is a chance it may be better. It depends on various things.

[TECO]

Taiwan is better than Korea and Japan - for me.

I'd rather have a winter in Taiwan than in either Korea or Japan. I'd also have to put up with humid summers here than the cold winters up in Korea and Japan. Japan was humid as hell also and I don't notice much of a diffference.

I don't teach kids - so can't comment on that.

Taipei is not as exciting as Tokyo or maybe Seoul but there are still things to do.

I have a friend here now who just came from living and teaching in Korea. He told me that he would never go back to Korea. He hates the people, the way they did business with him, the whole feel of the place.

He is much happier living and teaching in Taiwan.

I agree - Taiwanese are much easier to live and work with than either the Japanese or Koreans.

...but not everyone has the same experiences in these countries.

[paperbag princess]

taiwan has so much more to do than korea. the clubs are better, the food is better and you are close to the ocean and camping (yes, we are close to the ocean here, but it's freezing).

all i have to do is convince my boyfriend, and this time next year i'll be living in taiwan!

[Tiger Beer]

[ChimpumCallao]

[pegpig]

[pegpig]

[ChimpumCallao]

[paperbag princess]

tiger beer:

well, after a lot of thinking and a secon trip to taiwan, we're going to stay, but only because we will save more money here.

we went to tarroko gorge (!!!) and taipei. taipei is awesome, that's where i'd want to live.

[Pyongshin Sangja]

I heard girls disappear from bars in Taiwan all the time. Watch out.

[mack the knife]

Ticket price: W370,000 including tax, which is more expensive than Japan, but less than Thailand, Phillipines, or China. Flight took two hours ten minutes.

Hotel price: $50. Friend Hotel near the Ambassador Hotel in central Taipei. Small rooms, but very modern and clean. Cable TV, mini-fridge, huge shower with jet spray thingy. Breakfast buffet included in room price includes western and Asian selections (eggs, ham, sausage, toast, rice, various Asian dishes).

Taxis: start at $2.00 and the meters seem to run quickly until you reach $3.50 or so, and then they slow down. No kidding. Around $30 for ride from central Taipei to the airport.

Buses: will get you from the airport to Taipei for free, or a couple of bucks, depending one where you're heading. Buses are cheap transportation just like everywhere.

Subways: cost $1.00 a ride or a little less. You can take the subway out to Keelung (but you'll purchase a "train ticket" to ride this subway) for a little sight-seeing excursion. Nifty rock formations and dirty beaches. It costs a buck or two.

Food: Small noodle shops abound. Look dirtier than a French whorehouse but you're only paying $1.00 for the goods...so.... Beef noodle soup is great, but you better hope the menu has pictures. Very few of these places had English on the menu. Quite a few buffets, but they make the noodle shops seem like sparkling hospital ERs. You pays your money you takes your chances.

Drink: Visited the "infamous"(?) Q-Bar. Mellow. Trendy. Very Gangnam-ish. $5.00 drinks/beer. Waiters/waitresses were friendly and chatty and taught us all the Taiwanese dirty words. You'll know you've arrived when you see the Bud/Heinie hybrid sign. You WILL miss the Q-bar sign. It's nearly impossible to see at night. As for Taiwansese beer...just like schwag lager you'll find in any Asian country. I'm sure there's good stuff out there...but...

Don't miss: Taipei 101. Yeah, yeah, it's just another big-ass building. Anyway, just shut up and enjoy the ride to the (almost) top on the fastest elevators in the world. There's a truly gigantor luxury mall beneath the tower if that's your scene. Armani, Vitton, all that crap that's so expensive you can just feel your scrotum shrinking as you step over the threshold. The ingenious crosswalk signs. The street vendors selling snakes, scorpions, duck heads and other culinary flotsam you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy.

We spent roughly 2 1/2 days and that seemed plenty to get a feel for Taipei and surroundings. If I had a few more days I'd rent a car and head down the east coast, which purportedly has wonderful beaches.

[Kiddirts]

[Red]

I'll be heading there soonish to chill with my friends there. If I like it, I'll see what sort of job I can get while I'm there on their shockingly short tourist visa*

* I'm used to three to six months. What I read online suggested Taiwan is 30 days.

[Privateer]