Little known fact: about 2 weeks ago I looked up the price for a plane ticket home. When we got here, we found out that the Global Economic Plunge, or GEP if you will (yeah, I just made that up), had apparently taken its toll on Taiwan just weeks before we landed. Due to the GEP, there have been many language school closings, leaving a surplus of Unemployed English Teachers, or as I like to call, UETs, a population of which I was recently representing. As many of you know, as a UET, I've spent the majority of my time going to door to door to any places that appeared to be language schools, distributing my resume and warning the unaware of Armageddon, which the GEP is sure proof of. Don't deny truth.
Little known fact: I have an agent. After seeing my hopes and dreams in a gutter in Taipei, she took my floundering fledgling of a teaching career into her own hands and vowed to end my affiliation with the UET. She started calling me (I didn't have time to get a manager to take these calls) and setting me up on interviews all across Taiwan. Taichung, Hsinchu, and Shijr. I also had two interviews that I got without her help. I nailed all the interviews; wow'ed them with my English speaking skills, my storytelling voice, my knowledge of grammar, and my ability to write in script. No teaching experience? No problem. I went 4 for 5 getting job offers on the spot (I started off 0-1, then caught fire.) That's 80%, people. To put it in perspective, Sidney Crosby only makes 13.7% of his shots, and most golfers only sink about 18 shots out of like, 70+ strokes (~25%). Heck, even LeBron is only shooting 48.7% from the floor this year. Needless to say, I was a sought after person, partially thanks to my agent, who showed me the money and helped put me in a position to be picky. Which is why I chose the best offer: a competitive salary, decent working hours, and free accommodation, 5 minutes walking distance from my school, in a town called Xizhi (or Shijr), which is a 17-23 minute, $21 NT train ride to/from Taipei City. Check out my pics of the new pad and the view from my balcony on the 23rd floor (score 1 for panorama assist! click for a better look).
On Monday, I begin two weeks of boot camp (training/observations) before I officially become a teacher. Boo-yah, GEP!
3 comments:
WOW so you're better than sidney crosby AND lebron AND tiger?!?!??!
Am really enjoying your blog. Please write more about any culture clashes you experience--especially when you begin teaching.
yeah wow you think you're cool? and you can see china from your howwse?
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