Hi, everyone.
I am currently living in Shanghai, China. I was previously doing college entrance essay editing but ran into visa issues (government regulations now require two years postgraduate experience in non-teaching industries for work permits, whereas I only graduated in May 2017). My long-term goal has always been to save up money for housing, apply for HES, spend a year with ICLP working on getting a good foundation in academic Mandarin, and then applying for the Taiwan Scholarship and possibly doing my MA with the multi-university Inter-Asian Cultural Studies program. I really liked Taipei’s friendliness, freedom, and creativity when I visited, and I’m more than ready to leave China. I have several contacts and friends in the city.
However, because of my current visa and job situation, I need to decide quickly whether to try to leave for Taipei now (earlier than originally planned) and explore work options there until the program begins in September (I still need to save for housing) or stay put, grit my teeth, and do teaching work and jump through the visa hurdles here. As a US citizen, I suspect the visa situation in Taiwan would be much simpler. Ideally, I’d like to be doing something in writing or editing, either for a Taiwanese or international company, or, if it comes to it, teaching teens or adults. Freelancing is also an option, although it seems riskier. (I’ve done the kids thing and don’t plan to do it again.) Some of my friends in Taipei have added me to networking groups and promised to make some introductions, but it’s still too early to tell. What would you advise in my situation?
Thanks.