Frequently Asked Questions
How do you... you know… make friends?
Post about something you want to do while in Taiwan (like a video of some fluffy pancakes, or some place cool you found) and ask if anyone else is down on your Facebook page sometime before the first conference. Then once you’re there you can not so awkwardly go up to people and have something to talk about, a bonding to plan.
I really recommend trying to carpe diem from the first conference. Our relationships with other sites really started to flourish by conference #3 or #4, like, right when the time we have is dwindling and we’re trying to squeeze in the last of our precious memories.
If you’re trying to make local Taiwanese friends… maybe you can meet them through your hobby-- join a running club (by just going to a track a few times and then seeing groups), take zumba classes, shoot hoops at the park, or maybe you can keep tabs on the goings ons of a local college/ University and get connected that way!
What educational differences between the U.S. and Taiwan should I expect while teaching?
Every school is going to be different, you might encounter some culture clashes, especially if you’re teaching in a more rural area. For example, some schools unfortunately still use physical punishment as a means to discipline students. This physical punishment might not necessarily be hitting, as Taiwan actually has a law against using physical punishment. But teachers might use other methods, such as making the students stand for extended periods of time under the sun, making students jump up and down, or making them squat in uncomfortable positions for extended periods of time.
If you see something like this, it’s important to speak up. Although the local teachers may disagree with you, or claim you just don’t understand, try to be persistent. By voicing your discomfort, or suggesting other methods for discipline, you are slowly making an impact on the general school culture.
Also, if you are sensitive to heat or bugs, be prepared to bring bug spray or a personal fan to work! Most schools in Taiwan do not have AC, and so it can get hot, very hot.
What do you do in your free time?
Our hobbies (which for some people include binging hours of Netflix), hang out with each other, explore our local community or a nearby city (or maybe even a nearby county), you know the usual. But to be honest, many ETAs this year have felt that once the school day ends there is just no energy left for extracurricular activities.
What are some teaching resources you recommend?
getepic.com (it's free for educators with a .edu account)
gonoodle.com
kizclub.com
coolenglish.tw
sporkle.com
Unsolicited Advice
Something I wish I had done earlier in the year:
One thing that is really important to me is exercise. I had a really hard time finding ways to do that at first because of illness, pollution, etc. If this is something that is important to you, find ways to do it. Try to make habits out of daily exercise if you want to because it will positively impact many aspects of your life here. People in Taiwan regularly go for evening walks or go to the local basketball courts to play basketball or use the cool workout machines. Do it! I did it for the first time a little while ago and met some really awesome people and had a really good time. I wished I had done it earlier. Go for it!
Advice: say yes even if you’re hesitant, but, know when to say no.
This may just be something that fits my personal goals for life (and life in Taiwan) but, I did adopt this mentality of saying yes to things, even if it wasn’t something that I was particularly excited about. I am not suggesting you adopt the
You’ve gotta find ways to get out!
This is bittersweet for me, because I spent way too long feeling trapped in the town I lived, with limited opportunities to leave and explore other parts of my county/Taiwan. No matter what, you’ve got to find a way to travel on your own, whether it is car, scooter, or train. My biggest regret is not getting my scooter license sooner - it will save your life.
On bugs:
There are so many and so many different kinds. Wear bug spray especially in the heat, which pretty much means the whole year except maybe January. I highly recommend getting a mosquito net and mattress cover. These give you peace of mind and allow you to sleep well without mosquitos buzzing in your ear. Get the tent looking one, you pop it open and tuck under your bed. Makes you feel really secure and has made the biggest difference in my quality of sleep. The hanging ones are much more difficult because you have to put a hole in the ceiling. I got my mosquito tent at 特力屋 in Yuanlin.
Looks like this:
*note, there is only one person who has been sleeping in a bed tent
I also used this machine to kill the mosquitos that fly around outside the tent. You plug it in and turn on a couple hours before bed when you are not in the room. It seems like it makes the mosquitos and little flies fall from the sky. You put a blue tablet onto the machine. When it gets lighter blue, replace it.
Another annoying bug is the cockroach. If you have small german cockroaches they are much worse so get rid of them. You can get the small square things with poison in them and put around the kitchen. We also used a fumigator and it worked really well. Before you start the fumigator, put everything that is in the kitchen somewhere safe from the poison and put the food in the fridge. Tape bedroom doors and cover drains (cover drains always). Leave house for about 8 hours and open up the fumigator. Clean the kitchen when you get back before putting dishes and food back. Do again in 1-2 weeks. Then you should be good to go. Both the cockroach poison house and fumigator I got at PX mart. Fumigator is round and you peel off the top, flip and puncture small bottle and then leave the house. I believe it then puts out some smoke.
INVEST IN A DEHUMIDIER!!!
I read a lot of blogs that talked about the humidity causing everything to mildew. I'd bought a re-chargable dehumidifier from Amazon before I came to Taiwan and felt for the longest time like I didn't even need it. But then once March hit things got REALLY bad-- clothes, shoes, even my passport.
Get involved in your local community.
It’s alright if you fail socially as in all of life. I didn’t know any Chinese coming into this. I’ve learned so much just by trying, failing, and sometimes getting some judgement from others while other times getting encouragement. You can choose to what experiences to focus on. As I became less proud and self-conscious, my Chinese improved, I made more friends, I got involved in the community, and I was happier.
I’m extroverted, but if you’re introverted then take time to be with yourself, and don’t feel like you’re wasting your time here because you take time to recharger. You will see loads of people at school and around town, and those interactions will be better quality if you’re in a good place too. Also some people just won’t vibe with your personality and you just won’t vibe with some other people’s personalities. That’s totally alright! Rock on, you got this!!
