Laura's job log: 16

TEFL teacher no more, Laura Carr is ready to board the plane back from Taiwan to the UK and job interviews.

Coming up for air

It’s the day before I leave Taiwan.

In the last couple of weeks I’ve been on a whirlwind trip around Taiwan, visiting places I should already have visited. I’ve finally been on a Taiwan-style snorkelling trip (see picture). Yes, that’s right - a snorkelling trip - NOT a scuba-diving trip…we even had a lesson on how to put the mask on correctly! I’ve organised and cleaned the apartment from top to bottom. I’ve done some last minute shopping and bought presents for my family. I’ve packed up four boxes of all the stuff I’ve collected over the last two years and sent them to England. I’ve packed my hand luggage bag (with no liquids or gels) and my back pack. The cat has had all the treatments she needs to get her into the UK. Her forms and certificates have been filled out and stamped by the correct authorities. I think, I think, I think I’m ready to go.

Destinations

And what am I going back to? Well, my very first serious UK job interviews for starters! I’ve been offered two interviews for instructing/teaching jobs at a further education college. Unfortunately for me, the first interview is the morning after I get back so I’ll turn up hideously jetlagged and emotionally wrecked most likely. Although they gave me the option of rescheduling, I thought that it would prove I was keen if I turned up as planned. I’m very nervous about the whole thing, but I suppose at worst I’ll mess things up terribly and get some valuable experience in the art of interviewing. At best, I’ll be offered a great job and will escape the call centre.

Passport control

Although I’ve wanted to leave Taiwan for six months now, I feel very torn about leaving. It’s an easy place to live - I have enough money to eat out whenever I want, go out on the weekends without having to worry whether or not I can justify the next drink, and buy clothes with wanton abandon! I’ve made some good friends, and I’ve had a fantastic experience teaching the little monsters. I’ve been made to feel very welcome, but I’ve never truly felt that Taiwan was my home which is why I’ve always known that I wouldn’t become a lifer.

So, goodbye scooters, pollution, MSG-laden food, mafia, chopsticks, cheap clothes, tiny clothes, apartment living, breakfast stalls, neon-filled streets, betel-nut girls, typhoons, 7-elevens…

Goodbye Taiwan!

Have you coped with derelocation? Send your comments and experiences to Laura.

See Laura's earlier writings

• Laura’s 15th job log - graduation time
• Laura’s 14th job log - why am I leaving?
• Laura’s 13th job log - a bold new plan
• Laura’s 12th job log - marathon efforts
• Laura’s 11th job log - bribery and future options
• Laura’s 10th job log - where's all this heading?
• Laura’s fairly recent job logs
• Laura’s earliest job logs