i cant wait to find my happy place bc its definitely not here
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I would consider doing a Master’s at a Taiwanese university and teach English part time.
There are lots of courses taught in English now.
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While not a luxurious salary, you certainly won’t be broke doing TEFL. Where did you get that idea from? I get the feeling it might be even better than what you get right now.
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I moved here 7-8 (24-25 years old) years ago on a whim after a vacation and now I’m here forever. I had zero plans other than securing a run of the mill cram school job in any city other than Taipei. Turns out it was the best decision I could have ever made. You’ll never know if it will be for you unless you try.
Don’t worry about money. Even getting the bottom barrel pay (600/hr) still lets a 23 year old live an incredibly fun life of working ~20 hours a week, blacking out the other ~148 hours, AND still being able to save a couple bucks a month.
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Have you been here??!?!?!? I cannot stand the heat and humidity here!! PHYSICALLY CANNOT!!!
Get a working holiday visa and spend a year before you make big decisions.
And remember, a dehumidifier in the north is a must if you don’t want to grow mushrooms in your hair 
A large number of teachers struggle to get 20 hours a week. It’s not what it was. Still if you go to the boondocks it’s easy probably.
Advice of doing a masters and working part time is good. You can get a scholarship with the masters too.
I similarly dreamed of basically immigrating to Taiwan, the way my parents immigrated to the UK, when I was in my 20s. I first worked as an English teacher. The salary wasn’t great, but it was more than good enough for me as a fresh-faced graduate with no real responsibilities. I then applied for, and received, a scholarship to study Chinese at a Taiwanese university. It sounds like you’re far more qualified for that scholarship than I was, so if I could get it, you can. Through that, I then got my first “proper job” in Taiwan. It paid worse than English teaching, but I knew that after a couple of years I could start earning much more.
Basically, if you’re willing in to put in the work and spend a few years on a meagre income, you can absolutely do it. As a poster above said, don’t worry too much about it because that’s what your 20s are for. I didn’t start thinking about pensions and mortgages until I was in my 30s and I think that’s fine.
I eventually gave up my dream of “immigrating” to Taiwan, but I still love it, and I’m lucky enough to work for a UK company that allows me to work from anywhere I want as a remote worker so I’m often in Taiwan (another path for you to consider aiming towards depending on the type of career you eventually go for).
Good luck! Don’t let the cynical bastards put you off - Taiwan is awesome!
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Says you who doesn’t ever plan to live in Taiwan long term even after talking about it for years.
Who are you kidding mate. It’s not fucning awesome or you’d be here.
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No. I spent several years trying to find a job in Taiwan that would let me stay long-term, even if it meant sacrificing my London salary and work-life balance, but I just couldn’t find anything suitable. By the time I finally landed this remote job, family obligations have made it so I can’t live in Taiwan permanently. I wouldn’t rule it out in the future when things change, although it’s true that I’d be less likely to quit a good London job to do that when I’m in my 50s.
I don’t have rose-tinted glasses about Taiwan because I lived there for several years and did the grind, but I hate the UK. I feel really happy when I’m in Taiwan. I can’t express how depressing and shit the UK has become.
This raises red flags for me. Considering that you’ve never even been to Taiwan, it sounds like you’ve built up a fantasy version of the country in your mind and are placing your hopes for the future on it. If I were you I’d temper my expectations a bit. Who knows…you may end up loving it, or you may hate it.
I also wouldn’t get my hopes up about working here as a university administrator. Chances are very high you’ll end up teaching.
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It is not that awesome (I agree with @MadamBroccoli about the heat… and let’s not get started on the air pollution, crazy drivers, earthquakes, constant threats from China, barrels of burning ghost money, and generally mediocre food…) but all said, it still seems much more livable than the UK nowadays. Or the USA. Those places are absolutely cooked with social problems, at least for the time being.
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That’s because you aren’t getting paid Taiwanese salaries, Taiwan ‘benefits’, nor deal with Taiwan summers , air pollution , traffic, education system for kids , bullshit around visas , concern about China etc etc .
It’s not awesome. It’s alright, I’m still here with my family, but it’s definitely not awesome. I don’t think you have the right to claim that without living here to be honest, it’s pretty fecking cheeky.
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Such topics and threads can go on forever without any one answer
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Wait until I introduce you to Canada, 2025 edition!
Guy
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China is not better.
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The salary is the only reason, aside from the fact that I spent several years searching for a suitable job and couldn’t find one, why I think it’s unlikely I’ll move there permanently after my family obligations are over.
Okay, let me qualify. Taiwan is awesome if you’re young and have very little responsibilities and obligations (which I think describes the OP and is the context I was actually referring to) or if you have an abnormally good salary by Taiwan standards (which could be a modest international salary). It’s not awesome if you’re older and concerned about savings, providing for a family, or looking to buy a home. I didn’t think I needed to qualify that.
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Good thread. I appreciate all the varied takes here.
I have little to add other than to say that I think the working holiday idea floated above would not be the best plan as helpful posts by @justintaiwan in another related thread make clear.
I agree that the above-mentioned MA application route (with, I would guess, a pretty good chance at getting scholarship support in the current academic climate) would be a better route of entry, especially for a young person who has recently graduated from a top uni.
Guy
I don’t often agree with @afterspivak but he’s hit the nail on the head.
The UK in terms of real estate outside of London/Edinburgh/Cotswolds, or food prices is way better than the current state of Canuckistan.
Same with addiction. Fentanyl is not nearly as much of a problem.
The UK has become such a depressing place due to other reasons besides sky-high prices (although that is a factor), which I won’t go into now so as not to derail the thread…
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I see you Canada and raise you Ireland last 5 years !
Supposedly booming but actually a bit of a shit show in terms of quality of life for many. Badly badly mismanaged by glorified county councillors and ex primary school teachers and medical doctors.
Rapidly increasing emigration of Irish people to Australia again. There’s a reason that far right parties are gaining popularity in many places, (you might want to unlike my post now) , although interestingly they still aren’t popular in Ireland . Germany looks like it’s going down the toilet.
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