TWW celebrates third anniversary

THOUGHTS FROM THE TOP
Opening words from the publisher

The Weekly Wanderer turned three years old in mid-November. I remember when TWW started as an email newsletter. In the beginning, TWW served two goals. The first: keep my family posted on my overseas wanderings and, the second: keep up my journalism skills.

Almost exactly a year later, I returned to Canada from my two-year tenure in Taiwan. It’s hard to believe that it’s been almost two years since my plane landed in Toronto’s Pearson Airport.

This issue commemorates many of the memories and gives a lot of info to my overseas home, Taiwan. Two years of my life were spent on this little tiny island next to China. Many of these stories have no doubt appeared in the Weekly Wanderer, and many more will for sure pop up in the future.

TWW #128 is the longest issue to date, and is no doubt, one of the most important to me, personally. Take the time to read each story and please take a moment to write your comments. It’s greatly appreciated.

As I said once and I no doubt will say many more times, enjoy The Weekly Wanderer #128.

Phill Feltham

Your turn–take the chance to study Chinese in Taiwan!

Sun Yatsun Memorial Hall is a great place to visit in Taipei. (Phill Feltham)

THE BULLETIN BOARD
BY PHILL FELTHAM
TWW #128

There are many opportunities to learn Chinese in Taiwan. In fact, visas are granted to students who learn Chinese at government-accredited institutions.

Two of the more popular institutions are in:

Taipei: Chung Hua University or CLD Language Center.
Taichung: Providence University.

Foreigners can learn the basics to advanced for one semester (three months). Basic Chinese conversation skills can be learned and developed with continued periods of study.

In order to obtain visa extensions, students must study at least 10 hours a week at two months at a time for up to six months. An ARC (resident visa) can possibly obtained after four months which allows for indefinite stays in Taiwan. Length of ARC is dependant upon advanced tuition fee payments and length of stay required.

MONTHLY FULL-TIME TEACHING SALARIES IN TAIWAN

If you choose to teach English in Taiwan. Here are some of the current salary breakdowns.

$50,000 TWD = $1,533.98 USD
$60,000 TWD = $1,840.77 USD
$70,000 TWD = $2,147.57 USD
For current exchange rate, visit xe.com

*Salaries can be under $50,000 TWD for full-time employees. More salary information can be found at tealit.com.

PART TIME TIP: Part-time workers (paid hourly) can be making considerably less than working full-time. However, laws in Taiwan permit teachers to work up to four schools on their working visa—as long as it’s not longer than 32 hours a week. More money can be made if you don’t mind working more hours.
- tealit.com

LIVING EXPENSES

Websites, such as tealit.com, are one of the best ways for finding a roommate or your own place. The English newspapers, such as the Taipei Times and the China Post, also are good sources of information.

Rent is cheaper outside of town, not to mention the properties are a lot nicer. Spacious studio apartments can be rented for at least $400 US in Taipei County (city outskirts). iT!

You can’t run from your problems.

For those looking to keep fit in Taiwan, gym memberships are available for a fee. Simply present your work permit card. (Phill Feltham)

PERMIT PROBLEMS: THE LIFE AND STRUGGLES OF A FOREIGN WORKER IN TAIWAN (PART

By PHILL FELTHAM
TWW #128

In the opening months of my second year, I applied to all sorts of journalism jobs. My qualifications were sound but I lacked the ability to speak Chinese. After awhile, I gave up on the dream of full-time work and started to freelance for many of Taiwan’s English speaking magazines.

What made me happy? Traveling around Asia, freelance travel writing in Taiwan and other personal goals I had met. It’s funny because what made me happy were the very goals I planned to meet before I moved to Taiwan.

Homesickness also jumps on you like wild fire if you have a tough time adjusting to the culture. You curse the others that are like you and crave the days of normality. Sometimes other foreigners stare at you saying, “What are you doing here?” Pretty powerful poison. What’s the cure?

Focus. Stay focused on what you went abroad to do. If you came to travel, then do that. If you naturally like your chosen habitat, meet the girl of your dreams and choose to stay where you are, then do that with no regrets.

If you live abroad, don’t run. My ESL teacher told me something that has stuck  with me to this day, “Some people leave their country to escape their personal problems. They follow you and the feelings become worse.” It’s true. When you live overseas, you truly find what you want out of life. That is what I owe to Taiwan. iT!

Phill Feltham lived in Taiwan for two years teaching English and freelancing for the local English magazines before returning to Canada to work as Senior Editor for Maximum Fitness magazine. Phill started The Weekly Wanderer while living in Taiwan and continues it here in Canada.

It’s time to go home—when you’re homesick.

PERMIT PROBLEMS: THE LIFE AND STRUGGLES OF A FOREIGN WORKER IN TAIWAN (PART 7)

BY PHILL FELTHAM
TWW #128

When you’re away for a long period of time you get homesick–when you return home you think back on your memories fondly. My time overseas wasn’t what I expected. I had hoped to travel around to many countries and gain tons of new experience.

Photo courtesy of www.smh.com.au

My idea to live overseas was a two-year old idea before it actually happened. Alain, himself, took a year before deciding to move to Taiwan—making that giant leap to live overseas. The contributing factors that kept me from buying the initial plane ticket was college graduation, then the first job, then money and let’s not forget good ol’ fashioned fear.

Now after two years, I can say I’m a ‘vagabond satisfied!’

Two years can really change a person. Some friends who’ve lived overseas have returned home after their time away while others have found new identities and possibly new homes in other countries. Others, who have spent five or six years in Taiwan are now married with children. How could they do it? Some of us can make a life abroad, getting married and spending huge amounts of time away from their families. Others simply have family at home. Thus my vacation from the old life came to an end.

The decision wasn’t easy. I almost found a home in Taiwan. I had friends, co-workers and a life–but an e-mail from my folks made the decision for me.

There were other factors too. Language barriers despite the Chinese lessons, humid weather, harsh pollution and a huge population all made home look more tantalizing.

Now don’t let this grim picture be the official word on Taiwan. It’s not. Every expat is different. It just depends on how the traveler chooses to cope with them. Community.com.tw is a great website for those with culture shock problems.

The two greatest factors in my choice to go home were homesickness and the lack of a career break. English teaching was a job to pay the bills while I traveled Asia—but I had taken a big chance in leaving my career. iT!

Catch the final chapter tomorrow in The Weekly Wanderer. Yes, we mean it this time.

Should you stay or should you go?

Taipei Main Station is the center of the transport universe in Taiwan. (Phill Feltham)

PERMIT PROBLEMS: THE LIFE AND STRUGGLES OF A FOREIGN WORKER IN TAIWAN (PART 6)

By PHILL FELTHAM
TWW #128

Alain’s reason for currently residing in Taiwan is to remain with his long-time girlfriend Jasmine. The two plan wed in the summer 2008. Beforehand, the couple had seen many challenges. Alain left Taiwan after working for two years to live and work in China.

“I moved to Shanghai, but I was still going out with my girlfriend, Jasmine,” he said. “We did the long-distance relationship thing—she came to see me in China, and I went to Taiwan to see her. After about a year and a half, Jasmine came to Shanghai for three months. A few months after she had returned to Taiwan, I returned to Taiwan to be with her.”

Alain and Jasmine currently plan to stay in Taiwan for the next two or three years–then possibly relocate to China, Japan, Russia, Canada or even just stay in Taiwan.

As for Harry, his decision to stay in Taiwan is still up in the air. “I’ll either be back home in one year or I will settle down here with a local. If I do go back to Canada, I do plan on doing small stints in Korea, because as Canadians, we get a longer stay. It would be easy to make some quick bucks there.”

As for myself, I’m a satisfied vagabond. I spent almost two years in Taiwan before moving back to Canada.

Positively or Negatively? I see both but I think that some time home will give me a clearer perspective. iT!

Permit Problems will be concluded tomorrow in The Weekly Wanderer.

Expats tell of the life in Taiwan.

PERMIT PROBLEMS: THE LIFE AND STRUGGLES OF A FOREIGN WORKER IN TAIWAN

BY PHILL FELTHAM
TWW #128

In many cities throughout Japan, nearly all street signs are written solely in Japanese without any English; however, in most of the major cities in Taiwan, nearly all signs on the highway, the subway and in restaurants are in English. The little island prides itself on promoting English culture.

Photo courtesy of blog.wired.com 

Meeting people and the locals is really easy to do—through schools or hostels. Even the bars can be a great meeting place, depending on what you’re looking for. It’s common knowledge, too, when meeting the locals that they’ll show you around the city.

“Basically, The Taiwanese people are really friendly to everyone and anyone. They work very hard,” English Teacher Alain Chartrand said. “Most office employees need to work nine to five–but sometimes work much later to impress their bosses. They say they can’t go home until their boss has gone home. It’s just not done unless they work for a foreign company, and they strive to work for foreign companies so they don’t need to work until the wee hours of the night.”

Harry lucked out when he came to Taiwan—not having to go on any visa runs. “The first boss I worked for had the ball rolling even before I landed. The second job that I got was different. They asked me to do all the paperwork myself–go figure–but, at least I didn’t have to go for a run.”

Another important factor when staying and surviving in Taiwan is an understanding of the language. Mandarin and Taiwanese are the two prominent languages. Mandarin is the most used language and Taiwanese is known and used by mostly the older generations. Harry learned and practiced Mandarin by asking and talking to his friends, co-workers and confidants.

“I learned by constantly asking girlfriends or friends because I hate hearing the same things and not understanding what is being said,” he said. “I’m a language major, so I guess it sort of is in my nature. However, I’d strongly advise people coming (to Taiwan) to invest some time and money into school. It is a better way because although I can communicate in general, I still can’t read and write as much as I’d like.” iT!

Even more Permit Problems tomorrow in The Weekly Wanderer.