WHERE DO I START MY STORY IS SIMPLE I Have BEING LIVING IN TAIWAN FOR 2 YEARS NOW. I AM SOUTH AFRICAN MY HUSBAND TAIWANESE . I HAVE TWO CHILDEREN FROM A FORMER MARIAGE. WE FINANILLY AT THE THIS STAGE THAT MY HUBBIE CAN LEGALLY ADOPT MY KIDS … BUT HERES MY SNAG LAST MONTH WE MOVED TO TAICHONG BECAUSE MY HUSBAND GOT AN BETTER JOB OFFER HE IS A COMPUTER HARDWARE TEC NOW SUDDENLY THE COMPANY CLOSED DOWN AND HE’S OUT OF A, JOB SO AM I .WE SPEND OUR LAST MONEY TO HIRE A PLACE AND SIGHNED A ONE YEAR CONTRACT THE LAST 2 WEEKS WE BEEN LOOKING DESPARETLY FOR JOBS BUT CANT FIND. SUMMER HOLIDAY IS ALMOST OVER AND MY KIDS NEED TO GO TO SCHOOL …SEEING THAT MY KIDS CANT SPEAK (CHINESE YET AND IS STRUGGELING) WE CAN AT THIS MOMENT ONLY SEND THEM TO PRIVATE SCHOOL CAUSE WITHOUT MY HUSBAND FINALIZING THE ADOPTION WE CANT GET ANY GOVERMENT SUPPORT…MY HUSBAND IS A VERY PROUD MAN AND PROBIBLY BE ANGRY AT ME FOR SENDING THIS MAIL BUT I REALLY DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO CAN ANYBODY JUST HELP US GET JOBS !!! WE DOWN TO OUR LAST CENTS I NOT JOKING WE DONT EVEN KNOW WHERE FOOD COMING THIS WEEK… I NOT ASKING FOR MONEY JUST FOR HELP. I AM 30 MY HUSBAND 40 …WHEN WE WAS LIVING IN TAIPEI I WAS TEACHING ENGLISH EVEN THOUGH I DIDNT FINISH UNIVERSITY I STILL GOT A JOB BUT HERE IN TAICHONG I AM LOST …WHAT TO DO!!!
PLEASE ANYBODY HELP
Wow, that’s not a nice situation to be in…
I’m currently looking for jobs in Taiwan and there seems to be quitea few of them going, although I don’t know what he specialises in. I’d go check out the companies websites as I’ve found that quite a few of them offers jobs on there that aren’t available elsewhere.
Companies such as Gigabyte, Nvidia, ATI, HP and Dell have loads of jobs listed on their websites, altough I can’t say where they’re all located.
Sorry I can’t be of more help.
I thought your husband had family here that he was taking care of. Can’t they help you all out some?
You can put your kids into homeschooling for now until your situation irons itself out a little more.
I don’t know what to tell you about getting a job. Especially one in teaching English, but perhaps your husband can find something in his field while you are setting up your homeschool program. Is going back to South Africa an option?
Also typing in all caps, even if your situation is dire, is a major internet etiquette no-no.
My husband has tried all these websites but unfortunely hes too old what can i say 40 is a hard age too look for a new job he also was too long out off the country my husband has only a elderly mother and father who are both over 80 he is an only child we tried to borrow money from friends but as you know that doesnt work. I am so worried havent slept for 2 days I know we will find work but at this moment what about food for the kids… going back to south africa is not an option for I dont have any family there everything seems so hopeless we cant even leave taichong because we all ready sighned an contract …what to do what to do
I all ready home schooling my kids in english but my kids needs chinese my eldest daugter is 7 and is all ready behind because she cant read or write chinese i to send her to kindergarden as soon as possible I am a mother so it worries me lot its turning my inside in and out I dont mind what kind of job I do in south africa i work for an trading company logistics and also for a few marketing companies if anybody know of websites for anything please let me know 
Aniesa, Your situation sounds terrible. I don’t have any ideas for help. I just wante to offer a word of encouragement. Don’t give up. You’ll make it through this tough time if you just don’t give up. I dealt with some horrible things in Taiwan, too. You’ll make it.
Taiwan doesn’t have much in the way of welfare but it does have some. Your husband had better go and get some advice from someone with some authority like your local ward chief (里長 lizhang) or district office (區公所 qugongsuo). Meanwhile, I think the best place for you to go for advice would be a church. I also think you can get the right to public education for your kids if you can get influential people to back you up. Sorry I don’t live anywhere near Taizhong so I can’t be more specific.
[quote=“aniesah”]I STILL GOT A JOB BUT HERE IN TAICHONG I AM LOST …WHAT TO DO!!!
PLEASE ANYBODY HELP[/quote]
People don’t work in Taichung (its the Las Vegas of Taiwan). Please look in Hsinchu for a IT job and maybe commute to Taichung.
Like someone said above, try going to a church. A temple would also be a good place maybe. Basically you need to get to know as many people as possible and quickly.
A bar where foreigners hang out may help lead you to some fast part-time work doing a little teaching. If you could get some substitute work than you’d have some immediate cash low.
Walk into every English school you can find and introduce yourself as available for full or part-time or substitute work. Give them all your number ,and chances are you’ll get at least some sub work real fast. Many schools are often in a jam for an emergency substitute teacher!
I did this on a previous arrival when I had no work and it got me on my feet in no time. Just dress up a little, make some business cards and start getting around the city however you can and introducing yoursel!!
I have a friend who made a living off of just substituting,…and he did it for a few years.
Is he on Forumosa? 
Is he on Forumosa? [/quote]
No, not in Formosa at the moment either.
Anyway, I used his idea of substituting on a previous return as I didn’t want a full time contract with a school. After about a month my phone was constantly ringing for work.
And the nice thing about subbing is you are out of there before you have time to get burned out. 
Sorry for the quick thread diversion, but I’ve read a ton of visa material on this site and I’ve not yet come accross any posts indicating the minimum number of hours one has to work in Taipei to get a work visa/ARC. 20? 30?
14 hours a week
Yes I was going to also suggest working at a foreigner bar or restaurant. I’m sure they would appreciate the help.
You have to convince your husband that while being proud can be an admirable trait, when it interferes with your survival, he’s going to have to suck it up and admit you all need help.
Aniesah, I know how you feel. Had some similar experiences during my first year here in Taiwan, but I pulled through and so will you.
Listen to Hongda’s advise. It’s sound. Get hold of a bike/scooter/whatever and start working those schools. With you being a South African you’ll find sub-work in no time. Hell… you might even find regular work.
And remember, don’t despair.
Lots of luck to you.
Have you tried contacting the Taichung International Women’s Association? Their information can be found here:
http://www.iwat.org/pages/1/index.htm
They may be able to help you, even just by putting you in touch with the right people.
I just wanted to thank everybody who responded I found myself a full time teaching job in mioli its about 45 min with train from taichong the school even offerd to except my kids there for half price I must say I was stressing lot but praying was what helped…All of you god bless…things are looking up for my hubbie too he got part time work at a friends later I know our other problems will get fixed up too…
Once again thank u
love aniesah
That’s wonderful news. Good for you!
Glad to hear things are working out. If there are any other difficulties for you or anyone else reading this thread, I just wanted to suggest the community services people in Tienmou in Taipei may be worth contacting for advice.
There are plenty of opportunities in the IT industry.
Technical writing is one among them.
Several Taiwanese companies are looking for some IT writers to write their manuals. If he has a IT background, it should not be too hard for him, once he gets to understand some of these products.
You could try 104.com.tw
1111.com.tw and a few other jobsites.
How about working for a South-African trading company?
Modelling?
Teaching?
Any other alternative job?
The best way to find a nice job is trying to introduce yourself to a number of influential people and convince them that you/your husband can do a good job for them/their company.
Good luck with it.