“So, what’s next?”
I didn’t know. All I knew was that I didn’t want to go back to the US. I had been living in Japan for almost 3 years at that point. I was tired of working there, I didn’t like teaching high school, even if I loved the kids. I didn’t like how I needed to decide if I wanted to have a meal or eat fruit. I wasn’t happy that despite being told Japan is a healthy country… I hadn’t been as sick as I was in Japan ever in my life. I normally only get sick maybe once a year. In Japan… at least 5-6 times a year! Don’t get me wrong, Japan is a lovely country. Beautiful, serene and the people are kind. They have a way of living that is so different and yet the same as the US. Not to mention people actually cared about time and being on time! It was a great 3 years.
Still, I was getting that familiar itch in the back of my head. 3 years had been the longest I had lived anywhere in the past 11. I moved from country to country, China, US, Vietnam, US, China again, US… again… Japan… US- no, not again. I couldn’t do it anymore. I didn’t want to do that anymore. So, I started searching. I had 9 months to find a job in another country before my contract in Japan was up. Sounded reasonable. Until I realized that most countries don’t really start looking until 3-4 months before the start date.
Panic. I just quit, I just told Japan that I wasn’t going to recontact, oh god, what do I do? What if I don’t find a new job? What if I couldn’t get all the materials in on time? I’d have to go back to the US. Where I’d have no home, no job, no insurance. Sure, I had a savings, but that would be eaten through and quickly with today’s economy.
Okay, narrow down my search then. Countries in Asia, somewhere where it would be easy to move to quickly. That left most of Southeast Asia, okay, I’ve lived in this area long enough. Maybe Korea? Go back to China? Vietnam? No, I kind of want to go to a new country. Okay, Korea, that’s new… I don’t like to have just one option though, not with the time constraint. So, let’s apply to Korea and to another country but where? Honestly, I’m kind of tired living in a country where I don’t speak at least a little of the language. Korea’s fine, it’s not hard to pronounce and they have an easy writing system… China then? But again, I wanted a new country.
Taiwan. TeachTaiwan. Right there in bold letters. Hm, okay, let me look into them. Good reviews, they allow me to focus on elementary school, that’s nice. I definitely want elementary school. Okay. Why not? Taiwan speaks Mandarin, I speak a little, enough to get by. I’d understand somewhat of what is going on. Okay, Taiwan it is.
Apply to both, pray I get into one.
Then the worst possible thing happened. I got into both. Oh bother.
This should be a good thing, right? I have choices! I can weigh my options and pick the best one. Problem was, they were so much alike it wasn’t like one outweighed the other. It really was down to which country did I wanted to go to.
“So, Korea or Taiwan?”
“Korea has K-pop!” “Korea has great food!” “[Student] is in Korea!” “Korea has K-drama!”
My students were ecstatic for me to go to Korea.
“We can come visit you!” “What city in Korea?” “You should go to Busan! Busan in best!”
They wanted me to go so badly. They wanted it so badly, to them that was where I was going, no questions asked.
For the first time ever, I looked more into each country. Normally, I just pick a random country and go. Learn about the culture while I’m there. Learn about how I need a jacket or how bringing a gift is seen as polite while I’m there or just before I go. For the first time ever, I knew I needed to look more into each country. I had to look at the weather; I had to look at the work/life culture.
Korea… was reading the same as Japan. Sure, I would most likely end up in a bigger city than I had been in Japan, but reading more into it, it would have been very similar. At least in terms of the work/life culture. Not to mention they seemed almost stricter somehow on my outward appearance than Japan was.
No, I wanted somewhere more relaxed, somewhere that wouldn’t judge me as much. The more I looked at Taiwan, the more I saw the diversity, the more carefree life, the more ‘island culture’ as some people called it. They spoke the languages I spoke. They had veggies! They had food that wasn’t ‘this country’s food, but Taiwan style.’ They had fruit that I could eat with my meal! Not to mention TeachTaiwan was already reaching out to see if there was anything they could help with.
“Where in Korea are you going to be?”
Taiwan.
They were confused, some disappointed, but ultimately, they knew the decision wasn’t up to them. I was the one that would have to live in a country I was unfamiliar with.
“Why…Taiwan?”
It was asked like Taiwan was a country no one expected. I was told about how Taiwan was dangerous, because of China. I was told Taiwan wasn’t as rich as Korea. I was told Taiwan is too hot. Most of the things I heard about my decision were negative. A lot of people weren’t exactly against my decision, but they weren’t exactly for it either. This wasn’t the first time I heard negative things about a country I had chosen to live in. China and Vietnam got the same treatment. Japan was really the only one that didn’t. So I was used to not being super supported for my choices.
“Taiwan? Oh cool, where? I just moved from there. What program?”
Taichung with TeachTaiwan.
For the first time, I heard positive things about Taiwan. How the people are so kind, that work/life is good. Yeah, it’s hot in the summer, but winters are mild. The fruit is just as delicious as Japan’s. Oh! Not to mention a good part of them are vegetarian, you’ll get to eat veggies again! Also, it sounds like you’re going to be making some good money.
I grew more and more excited with my decision. Taiwan sounded like the perfect next country for me. Thus started the search for apartments, finding out what schools I was going to be going to, where my new home would be. All of this, was a familiar road for me, but every company does it a little different. China and Vietnam put us up in hotels for a short time until we found a place. Japan was all over the place, some schools had places, other’s told you to find it on your own. Which as a foreigner is difficult. Southeast Asia doesn’t always rent out to foreigners and even if they do, it is rare for the contract to be in English. You need someone you can trust to help you with it. So I was elated when I found out TeachTaiwan had coordinators to help with everything you might need when coming to Taiwan. From figuring out visas to getting an apartment, they had you covered.
My coordinator is amazing! Truly a wonderful woman! She is like my Taiwanese mom. She works so hard for all of us. Helped me with everything that I possibly needed help with. Most importantly she helped me find a home. And let me tell you, she had one heck of a time with me. See, I am not used to studio apartments, but that is kind of your only option as a single pringle. Well, if you want to live on your own it is. And as much as I don’t mind living with roommates, I had grown too used to living on my own. So, studio apartment it was. I had some hopes for my apartment, but really only one requirement: a wall between my bed and the door. Even a half wall was okay.
Do you know how hard it is to find a studio apartment with a wall between the bed and the door? Dang near impossible! The options my coordinator was sending me were few and far between, she trying her best. Each one was laughable and man did we laugh at them. Sometimes it was the price, other times it was the “wall.” But finally, we found one. A wall! An actual wall! Sure, it was a little on the pricier side, but I was willing to compromise. It was clear this apartment was a diamond in the rough. Now all we had to do was pay the deposit and sign the lease. There was a bit of drama with that, but it worked out in the end all thanks to my coordinator.
It’s been 6 months since I first stepped foot on Taiwan soil. My schools have been great, the students are wonderful. I really missed teaching elementary school and seeing their little faces light up with every new word they learn. I missed the 5th graders thinking they are too grown for this whole learning thing but still buying in to what I’m teaching and how I’m teaching it. Surprising everyone with how much they know, including themselves.
I’ve fallen in love with the diversity of the Taiwanese people, walking the streets to find new foods to consume from cultures that I have long since missed. I’ve enjoyed the hesitation on whether that building is actually a store or someone’s home. Still haven’t quite figured that out yet, but I’m learning! I’ve never been a temple girlie, but walking the streets at night to see them all lit up, spotting the road more than Starbucks in the US, is such a beautiful sight, I can’t help but love them. Especially during Chinese New Year.
My coworkers are the kindest ever. Constantly giving me new foods to try and absolutely deciding that there is no way that I’m American, I must be Taiwanese because Americans would never like these foods! Only to say that maybe I’m not Taiwanese, because sticky tofu is still awful, in my opinion. They attempt to teach me Haka and Taiwanese, I’m horrible at both, but I still enjoy learning it. They gladly give me work to do so that I’m not just sitting there doing nothing during winter break, whether it be a winter camp or helping organize the English books in the library. They make sure that I’m not overworked; by insisting I take breaks and rest!
Taiwan has quickly grown into another home and TeachTaiwan has been no small part in that. I’m so happy that I saw their name pop up on my screen. I’m so happy that they responded so quickly to every question I had. And I’m so happy that they chose me to be a part of this amazing country so that I can continue my journey of teaching English as a foreign language.
