Hi!
I am moving to Taipei with my husband and son for 4-5 months starting 10th of September. I’ve been doing some research, but have some issues I would like to confront with you.
-
KINDERGARTEN / BABYSITTER
Our son will be 1 year and 10 months old at the time we come and we will need something for him for 6-7 hours a day. Here at home he is used to being with a nanny (7 hours a day), so ideally I would like to have a similar arrangement in Taipei. Could you tell me what does the babysitter business look like in Taiwan? Do many Taiwanese hire babysitters, or is it just an expat thing? What is the pay range (per hour, per month)? How to find one? Is it normal to hire someone for a relatively short period (i.e. 4 months) off the record, or is there some strict policy?
Alternatively, I read that kindergartens are normally open for children 2 years up - will they accept a child 1,5 months before his 2nd birthday? Is it even possible to find a place for such a short period? How much do they cost? We would definitely prefer a babysitter, but I would like to know about any possible options.
Language is not really an issue (as he is still young enough to feel comfortable in a foreign-language environment) as long as we will be able to communicate in basic English or via some translator
-
SHORT-TERM RENTALS
I know 591.com.tw and found it very useful. However, we don’t speak Chinese (but have friends who can mediate for us in case), and thought about finding a place through an agency. Does it make sense? Do you have any agents to recommend?
We are looking for a 2-bedroom apartment, preferably with a kitchen, and preferably one that will not be freezing in December. It seems that the areas that would be most suitable are Da’an, or a bit further away Beitou/Tianmu - I know Da’an is family/expat-friendly and also quite expensive, but could somebody tell me about life in Beitou/Tianmu? What would be a realistic price for rent in these neighborhoods? Or maybe there are some other areas we should look into? We would actually love to be in some greener area on the outskirts/outside of the city, but with a relatively convenient MRT/train commute to NTU.
Also, my husband is a big fan of Wulai. Would it make any sense to search for accommodation/nanny in that area? We only need to be in the city for 3 days a week and the other 2 we can work at home. What is the Xindian area like?
- TEACHING GERMAN
My husband is a native German speaker. We were thinking about an option for him to work part-time as a German teacher. Is there any demand for that language (or, as crazy as it may sound, Polish)? What is the best way to search for this type of work, legal or not?
I will be very grateful if you share your thoughts on some these issues.
Thank you!
.