Living on an island as a foreign English teacher has been a unique experience for me. Every day is an adventure, and every moment is treasured. I am grateful for the chance to teach on the outlying island of Penghu County, Taiwan.
Hello! I am Jennifer Lim, a Filipino teacher assigned to be the foreign teacher in three schools in Qimei. Let me walk you through a teacher’s island life.
Teaching itself has its own rewards and challenges. In my case, I have reaped more rewards than challenges. The bond formed with students is profound. I love teaching them English in a fun and exciting way. When I started teaching here, I saw the struggle and hesitation when it came to learning English. To break that, I used gamified instruction to motivate them. I enjoy seeing them having fun while learning. Though some students are hesitant to speak English, they still try their best to communicate with me. Outside of school, students greet and try to talk to me, which I find very fulfilling. To build a stronger connection with them, I spend time talking to them even if there's a language barrier. If the students cannot understand me, I use body language and gestures to communicate. Through that, I am able to engage them more in conversation. Honestly, teaching here was not easy, but it is worth it. The students are lovely and friendly. This is my first time teaching on a remote island, and it has been one of my most memorable teaching experiences. I hope the next foreign teacher will also find unexplainable joy in teaching the students on this island.
Building Connections
As a foreigner, language is one barrier that I am trying to overcome. I try to learn some basic phrases to express myself. Since I am living in a more remote place, I realized that I need to exert more effort when it comes to conversing with the locals. I observed that if I do not initiate the conversation, people will not talk to me. So, when I experienced firsthand how helpful, approachable, and friendly Taiwanese people are, I was eager to befriend them. My first Taiwanese friend is my Teach Taiwan coordinator, Dana. Every time I encounter problems, people here are always ready to extend support and help. My favorite interaction with them is when I give them Filipino food, they give me tomatoes, fish, strawberries, and other Taiwanese food in return. I believe I am not just building connections but also engaging in cultural exchange.
Island Life and Leisure
The work-life balance here is evident. I go to work on time and get off work on time, allowing ample time to explore the island on my own. Every Saturday, I dedicate myself to visiting a tourist spot and learning about its history. I enjoyed sightseeing and learning simultaneously. I got to visit the famous tourist spots in Qimei. Since there are no malls, museums, or parks, I enjoyed the beautiful nature this place offers. My island life consists of swimming, snorkeling, jogging, biking, stargazing, , watching sunset and having picnics near the bay. Sometimes I do these activities alone, and sometimes I go with friends, students, and colleagues. When my Teach Taiwan coordinator, Dana, visited me, I became the tour guide and showed her around Qimei.Those moments are worth remembering.
Filipino Community
If you are a foreigner and afraid of being alone on this journey, worry no more. There will always be a strong community that will embrace you. I found my people, fellow Filipino foreign teachers also teaching in Penghu. Since I am on the farthest island, I take a 2-hour ship ride to meet them. Every moment with them is precious. Their presence alone makes me enjoy my island life.
QiMei
This place got its name from the seven beautiful women who chose to end their lives to save themselves from being abused by pirates, as some local people tell me. Qi means seven, and Mei means beauty. For me, there are indeed seven beauties in this place: its people, its culture, its serenity, its tourist spots, its summer vibe, its water activities, and its hospitality. I included the tourist spots because it is just lovely to see.
Thank You and Goodbye, Qimei
I am happy that my first job abroad was on an island. Now, I am excited to see what awaits me in my new workplace. It is not on an island anymore, but I know I will also have wonderful memories there. To the next foreign teacher in Qimei, I hope you enjoy more. Thank you, Teach Taiwan, for giving me this beautiful platform to share my island insights.
By: Jennifer Pescasio Lim
