The Big Stink

Hello and welcome. Thank you for your interest in my Stinktown blog.
I am writing to you from Sinjhuang City, Taipei County, Taiwan R.O.C. This is about a 35 minute bus ride away from the heart of Taipei City, the second most densely populated city in the world. I am in Sinjhuang teaching English to students aged 7-14 in a cram school, or buxiban.
Although Taiwan is known as a popular destination for English teachers, there is room for more! The best time to find a job in Taiwan is January, although jobs are available year round. If you want to join me in Taiwan all you need is:

- At least a bachelor’s degree in any field
- A 60 day visitor’s visa (You can ask a travel agent if you don’t know where to look. I got mine through http://www.embassylink.ca/)
- Money to last until your first paycheck ($1,500 is a safe amount)

You can find jobs by searching online, checking message boards at your hostel, and contacting agents. I got my job through an agent who e-mailed me job descriptions until I found one I wanted to interview for. Once you have secured a job, your employer should walk you through the process of getting a work permit and Alien Resident Card (ARC). They’ll also give you some kind of training. Once you have an ARC, you can get a bank account. You shouldn’t rent an apartment until you have secured employment for one year, as most apartments want you to sign on for a year as well. You’ll need a genuine Taiwanese person to sign the lease with you, but don’t worry, they are plentiful here.
Why come to Stinktown? To smell the smells you’ve never smelled. If that’s not good enough, keep reading and I’ll tell you what the Big Stink is all about.

* “Stinktown” and “the Big Stink” are terms referring to Taipei City and area. Note that these are not expressions that people actually use.