Damn, I miss Taiwan!

[Baas Babelaas]

Yep, I miss 'The Rock'.

Been away for two and a bit years, mostly in China.

Everything here is just that little bit less pleasant/useful/nice etc.

I miss my scooter, I miss my students, I miss the easy money, I miss access to mountains and beaches (the beach here is nice, the water is too filthy to swim in), I miss the semblance of order (yes, it's much worse in China), I miss well educated people (they're parrots here), damn I even miss scooter punks (they're bicycle punks here).

I had some rough times in Taiwan, but I remember the good stuff mostly. Every day is a struggle here - the hardcore staring, the overcrowded streets, the stares, the permanent construction, the stares, the feeling that what you're eating/drinking isn't what it says it is, the stares (which are hardening now - nationalism is surging here).

Yeah, in a bit I hope to back in Taiwan, for a visit at least, try to track down my students, who will be all grown up, maybe hire a car and do a month long tour of the island (something I never did when I was there).

Yeah, The Rock aint a bad place at all..

[Buttercup]

I miss it too.

I'm trying to use my time in the UK to regroup and formulate my next plan. The city is vile; vulgar, dirty, unfriendly and very very boring. Trying to get out to the countryside a lot. Enjoying red deer.

[almas john]

Good God, what a depressing thread. It's like having fellow inmates of Alcatraz make a successful break then write back to those still imprisoned to say they miss captivity.

[TainanCowboy]

Heck, even Alcatraz has a lovely view of San Francisco.

[Baas Babelaas]

AJ, often prisoners have trouble readjusting to life on the outside and repeat offend, just to get back to the place/system they know

[Buttercup]

I wasn't imprisoned in Taiwan. I loved living there. I left almost entirely because I couldn't stand my job, and because the EFL industry in Taiwan was bugging me. I couldn't find a way to stay and create a better career than the horrible one I had. Wasn't prepared to give up on life and settle for flushing my head down the toilet by teaching exam prep to elementary/preint level students for ever and ever amen.

If I'd had a viable way of getting a visa and an income, without cutting off my ear, then I'd still have been there. The rest of my life was great and I'm missing my friends so much.

Never mind, though, there's a lot of other stuff to do in the world.

(btw, this is not to insult anyone who does the job and loves it, it was just wrongwrongwrong for me. I'm teaching very similar stuff in a different environment, and I'm starting to remember why I started teaching at the start of my career. )

[Baas Babelaas]

For me, my students were the ones that kept me there on the dark days when I wanted to up and leave. They were small bundles of pure joy.

And I'm glad I stayed for three years. I was ready for a break after that though.

I'm still trying to figure out why I came to China though - so totally different to Taiwan, in so many ways. No love for this place, no affection, no joy. Just grim will to get through a few more months, then onto a place with a good quality of life and where the people smile.

[almas john]

BB wrote:

AJ, often prisoners have trouble readjusting to life on the outside and repeat offend, just to get back to the place/system they know Sticking my tongue out...

Yes, I read about your "repeat offending" in the thread you started about the dangers of too much shagging. I hadn't realized that there was an element of criminality to the activities.

Anyway Mate, as a resident of the Glorious Middle Kingdom you have a valid excuse for missing Taiwan.

And as for Buttercup, if you miss Taiwan so much, you can always come back. Or, if it is mostly a matter of missing friends, I could pop the Chief, Loretta and a few others in a box and mail them to you.

[Namahottie]

I wasn't imprisoned in Taiwan. I loved living there. I left almost entirely because I couldn't stand my job, and because the EFL industry in Taiwan was bugging me. I couldn't find a way to stay and create a better career than the horrible one I had. Wasn't prepared to give up on life and settle for flushing my head down the toilet by teaching exam prep to elementary/preint level students for ever and ever amen.

Amen!

I while my time there was overshadowed by severe depression, I still had moments that out shine now. Being able to look back over a year's time and see growth was the best! Riding my scooter, speaking Chinese, etc... I still plan to come back, and hope its before I hit 40.

TC:

Heck, even Alcatraz has a lovely view of San Francisco.

[Mucha Man]

...And as for Buttercup, if you miss Taiwan so much, you can always come back.

An interesting variation on the usual theme:

Look, if you like it so much here, then why don't you just

COME BACK!!!