Let’s face it. When we start to learn a new language, one of the first things we do is learn the bad words. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s just fun or interesting. Regardless of the reason, it’s something that many of us do. When I started learning Chinese, it was no different. After learning […]
How Expensive is it to Live in Taiwan Compared to Other Countries?
The first question you should ask before moving to any country should be, “What will I be doing there?” In fact, we’ve mentioned that jobs don’t come as easily as you might think, especially in a foreign country. You have to have a plan and strategy set on how you will find employment, whether you want […]
Get a TEFL Certification Online or Not?
If you’re looking to teach English in a different country, you have probably come across at least one site trying to sell you a TEFL certificate. If not, you will. But, should you get one before making your move to Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, or other foreign country? What is a TEFL Certificate? TEFL stands […]
MMA Training in Taipei Taiwan
Quite a few posts back, we wrote about some of the various sports, exercises, and activities that are popular in Taiwan. One of the sports he mentioned was mixed martial arts, or MMA. I was lucky enough to have recently been contacted by the head instructor at a brand new MMA gym located in Banciao. […]
Doing a Food Tour in Taipei
One of things Taiwan is best known for is it’s unique and interesting food. However, as a foreigner it can be challenging to actually try many Taiwanese dishes. That’s because you either need to speak/read Chinese yourself or go with a Chinese speaking friend. The bigger restaurants will often have English menus, but the small hole in […]
Even English Teachers Need Resumes
I am about to finish my current teaching contract and while contemplating what I want to do next, I realized that I needed to update my resume. When seeking a new job teaching English in Asia, many people make the mistake of neglecting their resume. Whether it’s from inexperience or an oversight, a poorly written […]
3 Things NOT to do in Taiwan
As a foreigner living in Taiwan there is a pretty solid chance that you’ll get a lot of attention. Because you are often under the microscope, there are some things that you might want to avoid. Basically, there are some social faux pas that you can get away with because you are a foreigner, but it’s […]
5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Coming to Taiwan
Before I came to Taiwan I did a ton of research to find out what life would be like here. I thought I had a pretty good idea of what to expect when I got here and in many ways I did have a much better idea than people who had just shown up barely […]
My Beautiful View of Taiwan – From a Hospital Bed
I found it a tad ironic the first story that popped up on my Flipboard App for my iPhone was that of the American governmental shutdown due to fear of a national healthcare system. You may be asking yourself, “What’s so ironic about that?” If so, that’s a great question, and if not, I’m going […]
5 Interesting Observations When Visiting Home
One of the cool things about teaching English in Taiwan is that you can often get a decent amount of vacation time, although for most jobs it will be unpaid (usually people go on vacation between contracts or in the summer and during Chinese New Year). Chances are if you stay in Taiwan for awhile […]