Bookmark and Share

January 2007 ESL Newsletter

Teacher of the Month: Anna Qu

Anna Qu - English Teacher in Taiwan Anna Qu with her favorite students

A whirlwind of frustrating housing, underestimated fleas... all in the midst of a year old relationship. Where does that leave everything five months into a contract?  As unsettled as the first day, more tired than the first night, yet unflinching in the face of any disasters waiting to unfold in the following months. This is probably not what you were expecting in this article, an article supposedly full of exotic adventures and fun times. It is a moment in midst of claustrophobic pollution, financial instability and unsettled future prospects. If you want to come to Taiwan in search of who you are and direction, you might consider telling the flight attendant you got on the wrong plane to the wrong island, you really wanted to go to Hawaii not Taiwan.

Let’s back track… I’m caught in a moment... Taiwan is a place you can find anything as long as you look. An island pregnant with possibilities kicking to burst out, where the natives spit red juices out the corner of their lips while giving you a toothless grin, where often no matter what you drink the night before, you end up with a hangover the next day. Somehow the chaos and the freedom of it all, make it rather 'homey'. Many foreigners have come on a year contract and stayed three to five. Foreigners more than enjoy their privileges, whether it be never getting a speeding ticket because they “can’t” speak Chinese, or having fans of Taiwanese woman clustered around the nightclubs, busy as queen bees in search of a foreign boyfriend. As a female and a Chinese-American one at that, I have had a different experience. While the natives go ‘goo goo gaa gaa’ over the blond-hair blue-eyed boy next to me, they look at me with impatience and a sense of incompetence when I don’t understand them. Often when foreigners pass each other, even though they have never met, they give each other a little nod of acknowledgement. I often have to refrain from screaming “Hey you! I’m an American too!” or something to that affect. These simple actions and situations don't seem much but when it happens over and over, it gets quite tiring and frustrating.

Now that the complaints are all said and done. I have found a fabulous apartment that I can’t wait to go home to at the end of the day. Though people look at me like I’m stupid because I don’t understand them, they are still generally kind and generous and I am always challenged to speak like a native. It makes me study harder and demands that I understand why I’m really here in Taiwan. Just the other day, a stranger in the middle of the street welcomed me to the neighborhood after seeing me move in!

It is difficult to really explain what this experience is like. Most of it is just being here in Taiwan. Some of it is teaching my children. Each of my kids is a bright beacon of light waiting to be loved, taught and filled with knowledge. They have an untainted immeasurable reservoir of love just for me. In the classroom, you realize you have complete control. You are the link for these young sponges to the outside world. It is amazing to see and understand the influence you have over their lives. And if that isn’t enough for you, as an English teacher, you make in a day, what some locals make in a week- no exaggeration! This is a huge opportunity to gain experience, to travel and to earn… more than a decent paycheck.  It’s always important to keep that in mind, as we are lucky to have the opportunity to have this experience.

One of the most unique experiences here in Taiwan will be the people. Regardless of what you are looking for you can find it here. The locals range from 7-11 friends, to chewing betel nut buddies, to superstitious co-workers that tell you about ghosts and feng shui. Filtering out your friends will be a journey all on its own.  You meet foreigners from across the globe who become like family. They are your support group that helps you with any questions or complaints. For the holidays, I had three thanksgiving dinners and two Christmas dinners… so no, coming to Taiwan does not mean you will lose any weight!

More than anything, once you get settled into an apartment and nestled into your support group, Taiwan is a hard place to leave. You get comfortable, you let your guard down, and it’s very easy to be seduced by the sweet homey city of Taipei.

While sitting at a coffee shop one evening, I attempted to capture the aura of the city and what it was like being here. I felt the vivid commotion of the city could only be captured in prose.

A Moment in Taipei
An explosion of the heart,
Footsteps dissipating into the distance,
A rose drooping with wet teardrops in a city of lights, speed and poverty,
Who are you, where are you going?
Streets wide and crowded with the masses.
There passes a pair of stylish comfortable shoes,
A young man limps on with different sneakers, carrying a tray of bubblegum to sell in the streets.
On the corner at the Starbucks sits someone swirling their Caramel Macchiato,
Staring blankly out the window.
The lights flash red and people run.
A woman in a sexy white outfit flirts on by with bold green ‘Heineken’ across her chest.
Boys with long hair and man-bags ease through the streets watching from perfectly plucked eyebrows.
Watch the woman dance through the cars and heavy scooter traffic.
English a language admired by the masses, printed at every turn.
Words are just an expression, a style.
A head sticks out of the crowd, a Caucasian man; he is pushing a stroller.
A female couple window-shops along hand in hand,
A pair of eyes follows them with love, with hate, with envy, with curiosity and with acceptance.
A smile flashes from the man handing out flyers.
He is tired and hungry, he yells louder about the sale.
A girl’s pigtails swing side to side next to a pair of long legs.
She trips and concerned arms extend down lifting her into the air.
The rose is sold at a discount to a mother who gives it to her daughter.

Monthly Events

Kaohsiung Happy Hour with Reach To Teach

Reach To Teach will be visiting Kaohsiung this weekend! We'll be sending Kaohsiung teachers an invitation for a Happy Hour soon. If you are in Kaohsiung and would like to join us, send us an email at: Info@ReachToTeachRecruiting.com. And we'll let you know where we will be.

Belly Dancing
Francy Collazo, a Reach To Teach teacher, will be teaching belly dancing classes starting this month. She would like to invite all interested Reach To Teachers to join her. The information from Francy is included below. For more information, contact Francy at Francy.Collazo@gmail.com

"I am running belly dance workshops starting on Tuesday, December 19th in Banchiao. Class is from 10:30 to12 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Students will pay for 10 classes at a rate of $2500NT. Anyone who is interested can email me and we can all arrange to meet and go to the studio together. It's a 10 minute walk from Banchiao station and any interested teachers can email me for the exact address.

Also I'm trying to open another bellydance workshop in Ximen starting January 13th and ending February 4th. Class will be from 10-11 and on both Saturday and Sunday. It's a workshop so students have to pay for 10 classes and attend both days. The price is 3000NT per person for the ten classes. I have room for up to 12/13 students. The address is: 32F., Sec. 2, Kaifong St., Wanhua District. 2312-1775, it's a five minute walk from ximen station."

Chinese Song Learning Club 中文歌俱樂部
If you want to improve your Chinese, learning Chinese songs is a good way to sharpen your listening and speaking abilities. We will also hold a performance event for you to sing in the Cafe. Give yourself a chance and come have fun with us! (If there's a song you're dying to learn, bring it!!)

First Date: 14 of Jan. PM: 4:00 ~ 6:00
Every Thursday (PM 7:30~ 9:30) and Sunday (PM:4:00~6:00)
2/15,2/18,2/22,2/25 OFF
Address: Language Cafe No40, Lane 260, Guang Fu South Rd. Taipei.
(Blue line, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall station Exit 2)
Cellphone: 0958-132-779 Romona
Payment: 350 ( Incl. Drinks: 2 beers, 2 cokes, tea or coffee)

Are you a Reach To Teach teacher with an event you would like to list here?
Contact Reach To Teach and we'll put it in the next issue!

Return to ESL Newsletters