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English Language Teaching and Learning

Living in Asia

Homesickness: Beating the Blues

Which country is the best to work in?

South Korea is fantastic for party life, as your students, friends, employer, co-workers, and anyone else who knows you will want to take you out drinking on ANY night of the week. Seriously, the party life there rules! But the employers are usually quite bad, unless you put in a lot of effort to learn and become a great teacher. You'll find you can more easily save way more money in Korea than you can in the other countries.

China has many little endemic corruption problems. I've had a friend swindled out of US$1,500 in rent and utilities for a year, after he couldn't update his visa to stay there. The other thing is, they offer a very low compensation, usually about US$200 a month. You're probably better off working in either Japan, Sth Korea, or Taiwan.

Japan is very interesting in it's culture, and life style. Basically, you'll usually go out partying with other foreigners, and probably not so much with the Japanese. Employment conditions do vary, but expect to be treated like you are Japanese to some extents, and the workplace culture can be extremely conservative. There are good jobs available, but you need the actual qualifications.

Taiwan is good, in that you have the best chance to set up a normal life, much like the one that you left behind. Employers do vary, but generally not bad.

Each of these countries have their advantages and disadvantages, as well as their problems and pluses. But most people who have lived in other countries do say that Taiwan is more foreigner friendly. Essentially, it's horses for courses; which ever you like the best.

I've lived in each of the 'big three' (Korea, Taiwan, and Japan), and I'm glad I have. It's really horses for courses.

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japan, korea, taiwan, asia, homesick