Life in Taiwan

Pontius Pilate wrote:

That's not a growth wrote:What you doing out there Bacon? My girlfriend talks about me moving out to Taiwan to be with her since she got kicked out of the UK but I'm terrified of living in a country where I don't speak the language. You know much mandarin?

I posted this in another thread. But it might give you some peice of mind about living in a country where you don't speak the language.

Pontius Pilate wrote:Literally made no real attempt to learn Korean. Not in an organised and structured way anyway. I've learned a lot of words, simply from dating girls and hanging out with Koreans. And I actually learn quite a lot from my students. I might take up classes, but in all honesty, Korean is so hard that it's very difficult for a foreigner to become fluent in. I think only Chinese is supposed to be harder.

It's very interesting living in a country where you don't know the language. I often realise that I'm just walking around 24/7 soaking up new information like a sponge. It's also interesting how easily you can get by without knowing the language (and this isn't like visiting Europe, where almost everyone speaks English). A lot of people here can understand very very basic English, but can't/are too afraid to speak it. Miming and gesture skills really come in handy. I even went on a date with a girl who spoke like, really minimal English, and still had a great time. It's really cool how you can communicate in other ways. Oh and smart phones are a god send in terms of language barriers.

Also, I could be wrong, but I think English is the official 2nd languageof Taiwan. So, a lot of people probably speak English there.

Yeah, I'd just hate to feel like I was relying on her when we're out. It was bad enough in the UK when we went to Chinese restaurants and they gave us menus in, and to her spoke in, Mandarin. Feels odd.

Too expensive for me to get over there so it's not like I have to make a decision, anyway.

Somebody Else's Problem wrote:
Reminds me of Sleeping Dogs.

haha, it reminds me of sleeping dogs too. I expect someone to shout out 'WHY DON'T YOU HAVE A PORK BUN?'.. I took this picture with sleeping dogs in mind:

Floex wrote:
Sounds great Bacon, I love the fact the first thing you show is the rubbish trucks What's the place you're staying like?

haha yeah, it really blew me away how clean this place is, and expecting to see an ice cream van but it being a rubbish truck really made me lol.

Here's the place we're staying:

That's not a growth wrote:What you doing out there Bacon? My girlfriend talks about me moving out to Taiwan to be with her since she got kicked out of the UK but I'm terrified of living in a country where I don't speak the language. You know much mandarin?

I'm freelancing over here, my fiancé got offered a job over here and I was like strawberry float yeah do it. I don't speak any Mandarin no, but will be learning soon, you won't have to worry if you can't speak the language - Do you have a degree?* If so you can come over here and teach English, you don't need to know any Mandarin, the schools have Chinese/English speaking assistants, you're only expected to speak in English and they train you up etc.

Pontis hit it on the head with his post though, it's the same in Taiwan.

*If you don't have a degree, and still want to come to Taiwan and legally stay/work, there's another visa you can get and it lasts a year, you can send me a message if you want to know more, a bit long winded going into it in a post.

massimo wrote:Oh man, is that with the sausage style meat inside? Love them.

Yeah they are

Kinetic wrote:Glad to hear it mate. I lived in Taiwan for a year and it was fantastic. Beautiful country and really really lovely people. Make sure you see as much of the place as possible, particularly the outlying islands (Mazu, Jinmen, Penghu, Lvdao, Lanyu, Xiaoliuqiu), which are amazing.

I'd also recommend doing joining some Taiwan hash runs. Great way to meet people, see parts of the countryside you never ordinarily would, get some exercise... and then get smashed afterwards. I'd also recommend buying a second-hand scooter. It's easy enough (ish) to rent them from towns that you visit, but I've gotta say, I do regret not buying one.

Hope you have a great time buddy. I am very envious of you!

Cheers for the tips man the hash runs sound fantastic, def gonna look into that. really want to get a scooter too!

Few random things from today.

Girl with huge white tiger head bag:



Sexual harassment poster on train:



3 Photos I took today that I'm chuffed with, I'd post in the creative corner thread but nobody seems to go there, might as well post them here.. if a mod thinks otherwise feel free to edit em out

Bacon wrote:

That's not a growth wrote:What you doing out there Bacon? My girlfriend talks about me moving out to Taiwan to be with her since she got kicked out of the UK but I'm terrified of living in a country where I don't speak the language. You know much mandarin?

I'm freelancing over here, my fiancé got offered a job over here and I was like strawberry float yeah do it. I don't speak any Mandarin no, but will be learning soon, you won't have to worry if you can't speak the language - Do you have a degree?* If so you can come over here and teach English, you don't need to know any Mandarin, the schools have Chinese/English speaking assistants, you're only expected to speak in English and they train you up etc.

Pontis hit it on the head with his post though, it's the same in Taiwan.

*If you don't have a degree, and still want to come to Taiwan and legally stay/work, there's another visa you can get and it lasts a year, you can send me a message if you want to know more, a bit long winded going into it in a post.

Thanks for the offer of advice, I do have a degree, but as I mentioned above I can't afford to go over there so the decision has basically been made for me.

~Earl Grey~ wrote:The Korean alphabet is surprisingly simple. I can't speak for the grammar, except that they go "se yooooooooooohhhh" at the end of lots of sentences.

네, The Korean writing system is indeed remarkably easy to learn. It's genius. However, being able to sound out words you don't understand only gets you so far.

Grammar, honorifics and the pronunciation are a real bitch for English speakers to get their head around.

Pontius Pilate wrote:

~Earl Grey~ wrote:The Korean alphabet is surprisingly simple. I can't speak for the grammar, except that they go "se yooooooooooohhhh" at the end of lots of sentences.

네, The Korean writing system is indeed remarkably easy to learn. It's genius. However, being able to sound out words you don't understand only gets you so far.

Grammar, honorifics and the pronunciation are a real bitch for English speakers to get their head around.

Just take an etch-a-sketch with you everywhere. Simples.

That's not a growth wrote:

Pontius Pilate wrote:

~Earl Grey~ wrote:The Korean alphabet is surprisingly simple. I can't speak for the grammar, except that they go "se yooooooooooohhhh" at the end of lots of sentences.

네, The Korean writing system is indeed remarkably easy to learn. It's genius. However, being able to sound out words you don't understand only gets you so far.

Grammar, honorifics and the pronunciation are a real bitch for English speakers to get their head around.

Just take an etch-a-sketch with you everywhere. Simples.

I'd like to see you write "hong" with one of those. Can your wrists actuate dual sinusoidal angular modulation 90 degrees out of phase?

That's not a growth wrote:Yeah, I'd just hate to feel like I was relying on her when we're out. It was bad enough in the UK when we went to Chinese restaurants and they gave us menus in, and to her spoke in, Mandarin. Feels odd.

Too expensive for me to get over there so it's not like I have to make a decision, anyway.

Try being sat in a Chinese restaurant in China Town with your Chinese girlfriend who doesn't actually speak any Chinese. Awk-ward..

That's not a growth wrote:

Bacon wrote:

That's not a growth wrote:What you doing out there Bacon? My girlfriend talks about me moving out to Taiwan to be with her since she got kicked out of the UK but I'm terrified of living in a country where I don't speak the language. You know much mandarin?

I'm freelancing over here, my fiancé got offered a job over here and I was like strawberry float yeah do it. I don't speak any Mandarin no, but will be learning soon, you won't have to worry if you can't speak the language - Do you have a degree?* If so you can come over here and teach English, you don't need to know any Mandarin, the schools have Chinese/English speaking assistants, you're only expected to speak in English and they train you up etc.

Pontis hit it on the head with his post though, it's the same in Taiwan.

*If you don't have a degree, and still want to come to Taiwan and legally stay/work, there's another visa you can get and it lasts a year, you can send me a message if you want to know more, a bit long winded going into it in a post.

Thanks for the offer of advice, I do have a degree, but as I mentioned above I can't afford to go over there so the decision has basically been made for me.

You don't need money really man. You can find a job before you're even there. Lots of schools will pay for your flight, and help you get a place to live too.

As long as you're a native speaker/have a degree in any subject. That's all you need.

Tempted to leave the UK and teach English in China

Bacon wrote:

That's not a growth wrote:

Bacon wrote:

That's not a growth wrote:What you doing out there Bacon? My girlfriend talks about me moving out to Taiwan to be with her since she got kicked out of the UK but I'm terrified of living in a country where I don't speak the language. You know much mandarin?

I'm freelancing over here, my fiancé got offered a job over here and I was like strawberry float yeah do it. I don't speak any Mandarin no, but will be learning soon, you won't have to worry if you can't speak the language - Do you have a degree?* If so you can come over here and teach English, you don't need to know any Mandarin, the schools have Chinese/English speaking assistants, you're only expected to speak in English and they train you up etc.

Pontis hit it on the head with his post though, it's the same in Taiwan.

*If you don't have a degree, and still want to come to Taiwan and legally stay/work, there's another visa you can get and it lasts a year, you can send me a message if you want to know more, a bit long winded going into it in a post.

Thanks for the offer of advice, I do have a degree, but as I mentioned above I can't afford to go over there so the decision has basically been made for me.

You don't need money really man. You can find a job before you're even there. Lots of schools will pay for your flight, and help you get a place to live too.

As long as you're a native speaker/have a degree in any subject. That's all you need.

You've got to be shitting me. There must be a catch somewhere.

Why do you think there is a catch? It's exactly the same in Korea.

I only needed money for my first month (after that, I knew I'd be making more money than I could spend). I just sold a few guitars and off I went. I work an awesome job, make good money, have a nice apartment that I don't need to pay rent for, and they paid for my flight to get here. Oh and the babes.

how did you do that?

I done a TEFL course and then applied to lots of jobs.

I might go for something like this. There is nothing for me here, really.

Pontius Pilate wrote:I done a TEFL course and then applied to lots of jobs.

Through an agency? Or did you just send your CV off in an envelope labelled 'Korea (the good one)'?

How well are you reimbursed for your freelance work? I don't have a degree but 4 years commercial experience in website/print design, Windows server/network technical support etc (bit irrelevant).

I can't imagine the work commands as high an income as the UK?

Photos are fantastic by the way.

Igor wrote:

Pontius Pilate wrote:I done a TEFL course and then applied to lots of jobs.

Through an agency? Or did you just send your CV off in an envelope labelled 'Korea (the good one)'?

Yes. There are numerous recruiting agencies (not just for Korea). You could find a job around the world very easily. It took me a few months to get offered a job, but I was pretty picky. I specifically wanted a job in a public school, in a large city of Korea.

Pontius Pilate wrote:Why do you think there is a catch? It's exactly the same in Korea.

I find it hard to believe that they would give you a job, and pay for you to fly halfway around the world. It sounds too good to be true.

^ It isn't too good to be true these English schools are getting paid thousands a month by the rich parents to teach their kids English, they just want white faces to make sure the parents feel their money is well spent.

Holpil wrote:How well are you reimbursed for your freelance work? I don't have a degree but 4 years commercial experience in website/print design, Windows server/network technical support etc (bit irrelevant).

I can't imagine the work commands as high an income as the UK?

Photos are fantastic by the way.

Cheers mate.
And all of my clients/contracts are with people and businesses in the UK or America. I don't design for the Taiwanese. There's not much appreciation for design over here at all, I could imagine rates are abysmal here too.

I think we need to get as many Geordies and Mackems over to Korea to teach English as possible, just so you have a bunch of posh rich kids talking Geordie.