Posts tagged how to

A year ago, I scoured Lonely Planet Taiwan, Rough Guide Taiwan, Culture Clash: Taiwan, and the grand interweb, searching for ways my Western habits might be offensive to the Taiwanese.

But, I found living here a far better tutor.

I’ve noticed certain traditions and gestures remain meaningful, remain adhered to, and I thought they’d be useful to share.

So, if traveling to Taiwan, you can assuredly avoid culture clash induced awkward situations with these tips:

Don’t beckon someone to “come here” with your finger(s) curing upward and toward your face—it’s interpreted as a very crude gesture. Instead, flip it over: face your palm toward the ground, bend your fingers downward toward your legs.

Don’t leave your chopsticks standing straight up in your rice—this display appears at funerals and so, has a morbid connotation.

Use two hands to give and receive gifts, business cards, awards and, if you can, money, although in the haste of the western pace that is infiltrating, this is not always followed at stores.

Don’t give white flowers or a watch as a gift, they both symbolize death.

Be prepared that basically without exception, if a Taiwanese person invites you to an event or meal, they will insist on paying and most likely will get their way no matter how much you try to beat them to the check. In turn, it would be culturally sensitive of you to pick up the tab if you are the invitee, but on this rule the Taiwanese are flexible and understanding of the cultural differences.

How often do you encounter a “Simultaneously travel, immerse in a fantastically opposite culture, pay off debts and save money” how-to?

I work at Gloria English School. It’s in a southern Taipei suburb, and its not ideal (only 20 hours a week but over six days, free dorm-style living, no subway system, few western comforts) but I know what I’d do differently, so if you’d like a job in Taiwan teaching English, consider my suggestions:

Prep:
1. Locate your passport.
2. Locate your original college diploma (any major is OK).
3. Locate the nearest Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office, where you’ll begin your visa application process.

Browse listings:
4. Visit Dave’s ESL Cafe, the top site to view English teaching jobs posted around the world.
5. Go to the International Job Board page and search for listings in Taiwan.
6. Prioritize jobs listed in Taipei, Kaohsiung, Tainan, Hualien, Taichung, Taitung, Kenting and Tainan. These are Taiwan’s largest cities with great access to trains and to English speaking activities and Western comforts, which you’ll find you need once in awhile if you’re here long term.

Compensation:
7. It’s approximately 32 New Taiwanese Dollars to 1 U.S. Dollar. Easily calculate the proposed salary in USD here.
8. If it’s not offered, ask for the e-mail address of a current teacher, whom can give you a clear picture of the life style and work environment.
9. Don’t settle for a 6-day work week. Taiwan is so small and easy to travel in a weekend, you could even fly to Japan or Hong Kong for a weekend. So having two days is important to make the most of your time and preserve sanity.

Considerations:
10. Food, transportation and housing costs half as much in Taiwan. Only beverages and technology cost comparable amounts to the U.S.
11. Those with interest in Asia/World history will find Taiwan an amazing treasure: remnants of Japan and China abound, not to mention Taiwan’s rich aboriginal tribe culture.
12. Chinese classes can be booked easily, so if you’re interested in becoming fluent in an important global language, Taiwan is the right place to immerse yourself in—they speak Mandarin. For language junkies, they also speak other dialects—Hakka and Taiwanese.

Lastly:
13. Only the South of Taiwan (south of Hualien and Kaohsiung) looks like a tropical island—Hawaii-esque. So, don’t expect that type of paradise in the north; instead, the North is full of mountains, hot springs forests and waterfalls—equally gorgeous, but no bikinis or ocean swimming.