Taipei 101
Well, I've made it half way through training for my new job. So far, so good. I have experienced the expected level of stress. It hasn't been nearly as stressful as when I took the CELTA course but, as in all new jobs, you have some performance anxiety. Or at least I do.
The trainers have been pretty decent so far. The method of teaching is far more technical then anything I did in Japan. Games everywhere though, so hopefully I can fit those into my lessons without to much trouble. I had a pretty bad game when I was doing storybook time for one demo. I'm not very inventive when it comes to thinking up games. But the observer said it was all good (I think he was just being nice.)
Most of my fellow trainee's are pretty cool. Its a group of 33 people from lots of different places. I've met more South Africans in the past week then I have ever seen in the past. I guess Taiwan is a popular place to go from there. Lots of UK people and many Auzzies. A bunch of Americans and I think one or two other Canadians. A pretty diverse group I would say. I think it's a little funny that they don't recruit more from North American since that is the English that they are trying to teach. Of the 4 or 5 trainers we have only one of them is from NA.
We had a Mandarin lesson at the end of training on Thursday. I think I will struggle with it even more then I did with Japanese, but it was at least a fun lesson and the lady who taught the lesson was kinda hot. Makes it a little difficult to pay attention to what she was saying.
I haven't done much sight seeing yet and I doubt I will be doing any before I leave for my placement. The training is pretty intense. I will be going to Hsinchu city next Thursday. When I get there I will be going apartment hunting immediately. This has been the biggest problem I've had with this company so far. I have to shell out between $1000 and $1500 just to get a place to live. They said nothing about that kind of cost in the lead up to coming. It has put a bit of a damper on my excitement to be here. Oh well, what large company is ever completely honest with their new recruits?
I have a pretty sweet schedule. I will work Mon-Fri 4:30 to 9:00. Only problem with this is I get paid hourly so it doesn't translate into much money. I think I will be looking for private tutoring. At least I will have lots of time to do it.
I am staying in a pretty run down hotel for this training and I have a roommate with me. He's a pretty nice guy. I think we have a lot in common so its been pretty easy living with him. However the internet in this hotel is probably worse then dial-up ever was. On many occasions we can't even connect so there is no checking FB or emails. I did get a prepaid card for my cell phone. The way I understood it was that it is unlimited internet and a bunch of minutes of calls. Don't need the calls so I should be good to go with that. Only problem is I don't even get cell phone reception in the room. All I can say is, at least I don't have to pay for the hotel while I am in training. I think I would have changed if I had to pay. The best thing about this room is that there are 5 movie channels on the TV.
Well, that's enough for now.
Bye bye. (I would say it in Mandarin but I already forgot how. doh)
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