Meet the Blue Jays and Robins!

Now that we have been working with our kindy classes for a couple weeks, we wanted to share some pictures of our classes!

Rayanne is teaching the Blue Jays pre-kindergarten class (4-year-olds that have been in the program for a year). Here they are with their awesome (U of M colored, of course) 3-D glasses hand-made by Teacher Rayanne herself:

Lance is teaching the Robins preschool class (3-year-olds that are brand new to the program and know no English!). Here are a few pictures of Teacher Lance and his Robin babies:

And a video of one of those rare moments of cuteness in the Robins class :)

Becoming a Minority

I spent 22 years of my life as a white, middle-class English-speaker in the United States. I’ve always considered myself to be very sensitive and sympathetic to minorities, but after just a few weeks living in Asia, I know that I am a straight-up fool to have thought that I knew anything about living as a minority. Here in Taiwan, there is no doubt by looking at me that I am a foreigner, and with so few Westerners around (at least, in comparison to the extremely high density of Taiwanese and other Asian foreigners in our city), I stick out like a sore thumb. I don’t speak a lick of Mandarin, which has posed quite a challenge living in a country where we are lucky to find bad English translations on restaurant menus or toiletry labels, let alone cab drivers, store clerks, or food service employees that can speak to us with any level of clarity.

Here in Taiwan, I am a minority. And it is really hard. Lucky for us, Taiwanese people are gracious towards Westerners and are very patient with the language barrier. From what we have heard from other foreigners that have traveled to China and other Asian countries, this isn’t true everywhere. And from what I know about the way that many of my fellow white, English-speaking Americans view minorities in the U.S. (especially the older generation), we are not so gracious to our minorities either.

It may seem strange that being here in Taiwan has given me more motivation than ever before to learn Spanish. It’s definitely not because there are many Spanish-speakers here. It’s because I have realized that I am the Hispanic here in Taiwan. The Hispanic, Spanish-speaking population, in particular, is growing rapidly in the U.S., and while the demand and prominence of bilingual speakers is growing, as well, American society (other than Mexican border states, maybe) is not especially accommodating to Hispanics. And it is sure isn't gracious. English is definitely the second language here, like Spanish is in the U.S., and many people at least know a little, but it is still far from easy to get by without Mandarin.

So, for anyone that has ever made an ignorant remark about how “this is America” and non-English speakers “need to just learn our language” or has avoided or looked down upon people that look or speak differently…come to Asia. Or another place that will make you feel like the most lost and confused fish-out-of-water possible. Become a minority. Really truly walk a mile in some one else’s shoes. Then try to go back to the States and look at a foreigner the same way. I know I never will.

What to do when pre-departure panic sets in

So you’re about to depart on a grand adventure - whether it’s studying abroad, working abroad, backpacking through Europe, moving to the far-off land in which you’ve always dreamed of living - and as the countdown shrivels away, your panic grows at a frighteningly rapid pace. You have been planning this trip for months, maybe even years, and the anticipation has brought nothing but sheer excitement. But now that your departure date is visible on the calendar and the reality is setting in, all you can think about is what creative ways you can come up with to get out of the trip altogether. How will you pack for months or years abroad in the humorously limited baggage allowance offered by your airline? How will you function in a culture that doesn’t speak your language? How will you survive without mommy and daddy and all of your childhood best friends by your side? And for God’s sake, what will you do without the Super Bowl, country music, and Thanksgiving!?

Before you start cancelling your plans and coming up with detailed dead pet stories to give you an excuse to stay home, take a deep breath and use the following tips to help keep your cool until you hop the pond.

Remember that the anticipation is the worst part. The days and weeks leading up to an extended trip abroad are the most terrifying part of the whole experience. Because that is when the doubts and what-ifs and how-can-I-fit-everything-in-before-I-go-so-I-don’t-miss-home are all you have left. You’ve booked your flights, applied for your visa, and done your research. Don’t let the restlessness and fear of the unknown completely distort your expectations. Once you arrive at your destination and realize that it’s not so scary after all, the excitement will return, and you will be glad you didn’t back out.

Be prepared. The best way to reduce your fear of the unknown is to reduce the unknown. Do your research about the place you’re headed to. Find out what American amenities will be available and which ones you need to stock up on before you go. Learn a little about the culture and climate and must-see destinations. Talk to anyone you know that has been there. Make a packing list and gather all of your necessary documents. Plan some excursions before you hit the jetway. The more prepared you are, the less anxious you’ll feel. 

Remember that keeping in touch with family and friends is easier than you think. In today’s technologically saturated world, keeping in touch with people around the globe is easier than ever (as long as you can master the time change!). If you are going to be away for more than a few weeks, you will want a way to easily contact home. Most phone plans don’t include international service, so be sure to bring a laptop or tablet with a webcam. If you don’t have one, it’s worth the investment – many tablets are under a couple hundred dollars and will improve your travel experience in countless ways! With Skype, FaceTime, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, email, and many other social media outlets at your fingertips, you’ll hardly feel like you’ll need to catch up with anyone when you go back home. Set up some regular Skype dates with family, and start a Facebook thread with your closest friends. You won’t miss a thing.

Know that you’ll probably be less homesick than you think. If you have ever experienced a sensory overload…welcome to your life abroad. You will be far too preoccupied with the new landscape, climate, wildlife, language, and culture that you will hardly have time to remember that you have a home to miss. Plus, if you stay connected as mentioned above, you won’t yearn for the company of family and friends like you might think you will. And if you make friends and invest yourself where you are, you will start to build a sense of “home” abroad. You might be surprised to find out that you feel most homesick when you hop on your flight home.

Be intentional about investing in your new home and experiencing the culture. If you follow this rule, you won’t have to worry about having a miserable experience. Even a “bad” experience will be a good one. No travel experience is alike, and I know many stories of life-changingly fantastic trips and plenty of not-so-awesome ones. The key to a successful expedition is gaining something – cultural expertise, checks on your bucket list, memories, friends, lessons learned, maturity…it’s all valuable. The worst thing you could do is go home regretting a lonely summer spent in front of your computer screen missing home. Staying connected to home is important, but there is a necessary balance to fending off homesickness and being present in your adventure.

Don’t let other people’s reactions to your plans freak you out. If I had a nickel for every flabbergasted reaction to my not-so-conventional response to the age-old question of “What’s next?”…I could have paid for my travels a few times over by now. I recently graduated college and just got married, and my husband and I are moving to Taiwan for a year. Most people give responses like, “I could never do that” or “You’re so brave!” The kind of responses that stir up the fear in me and make my insides scream, “I’m not brave, I am terrified!” But then every once in awhile, someone will admit, “I wish I would have done something like that when I had the chance” or “I’m so jealous!” And that is what is really behind most people’s reactions. They’re impressed and even a little jealous of your courage, ambition, and the voyage that lies ahead. So let the shocked reactions fuel your sense of adventure and give you an extra boost of excitement!

You may feel like a wreck now, but know that soon, the jumbled mess of emotions and fluttering butterflies that currently lives at the bottom of your stomach will be a distant memory as you snap a few pics of one of the Seven World Wonders that you’re really glad you didn’t miss out on. So, if pre-departure panic is plaguing you, never fear. It will all be worth it in the end!

Tips for Visiting My Favorite City: Sydney, Australia

Check out my latest StudentUniverse post:

A WEEKEND IN SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA

Hsinchu Apartment Tour!

Check out this video to see what it's really like to live in Taiwan!

This apartment is on Jinshan 25th St. in the East District in Hsinchu City. It is about a 12 minute walk to our school, American Eagle Institute Science Park, (just a few minute drive on a scooter), and we pay $11,000 NT per month. Everything is included except for electric, which we haven't had to pay yet, so we're not sure how much that will be. It has a laundry facility (about $70-80 NT to wash & dry one load), free workout equipment and microwave downstairs, mini-fridge in the room, air conditioning, underground garage for scooter. We also have a separate shower - most Taiwanese apartments just have a shower head in the bathroom with no shower curtain or separate shower floor or anything. Also, in most places in Taiwan, you can't flush toilet paper, so our deluxe toilet with bidet helps a little with that issue! This is by far the nicest and homiest place we could find in our price range (anything more than a studio in this neighborhood is about 3 times the price). So, if you are looking for a place in this area, this will put your options into perspective. If you are looking for multiple bedrooms, kitchen, etc. you will have a bit of a commute to get to this part of town.

We hope this is helpful to any one wanting to know what apartments in Taiwan are really like!

How I Saved Over $1500 On An iPhone + Plan

Check out my new StudentUniverse blog post!

How I Saved Over $1500 On An iPhone + Plan

Thanks for reading :)

Getting Connected: Getting the Job

A lot of people ask us, "How did you get your teaching jobs in Taiwan?"

Here are some helpful hints to get you from point A to point far far away.

First of all, let me start by reminding you about how most people get jobs today. They know someone. And if they don't know someone, they know someone who knows someone, and if they don't... you get the idea. It's all about who you know! Personal recommendations and getting connected to people is easier and easier because of our connectedness to social media. For that reason, it makes it harder and harder to get jobs based solely on a good resume, the right experience, and the right degree. Yes, those things help, but let's be honest. When it comes down to you and the other guy who knows the owner's son, you are left looking again. That all needed to be said to make this first point:

Get connected. Go to your Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, and whip those social media accounts into shape. Make them snap, crackle, and pop. If you are going to teach abroad then you are almost guaranteed to be hired from abroad. This means you’ll have a Skype interview or two and your future employer will look at your social media use.

Talk to EVERYONE about it. Seriously. We were planning on teaching abroad over a year before leaving for our jobs. We didn’t know what country, what age, how much we would make, or anything else about it at all. We didn’t know anyone who had ever done it before. BUT, as soon as we started telling people what our plans were (and if you are in college and almost done, you’ve heard the ominous “what’s next?” question), we started hearing about a cousin or a niece that did the same thing. Every time someone said they knew someone who did it, I followed up with a “That’s awesome, would you mind giving me their contact info?” I would then send them an email asking about his/her experience and every single time they would tell me more than I needed to know. Almost everyone who teaches abroad is willing to talk an ear off to another individual interested in teaching abroad. Even before I went to Taiwan, I was ready and willing to talk to people who were even remotely interested. So to conclude this tip: tell everyone about how you are considering teaching abroad and you will meet the right people. And it often feels much better to talk one on one with several people than to read a hundred blogs like this one from those who have done it.

Once you’ve selected your destination, do your homework. If you followed tip #2 correctly, you should already know at least one person who has taught where you plan to teach. If not, repeat tip #2. (I guess you don’t have to, but you will certainly feel more comfortable.) Ask this person about how they got his/her job if you haven’t already. Ask if there is a job board he/she recommends or a Facebook Group (yes, that’s actually how we got our jobs). Make this person your best friend to the end. If they get you connected to a few interviews, great. But keep them in the loop. Let them know about the school you are interviewing for. See if they know if it is a quality, trustworthy school.

The interview. Just be yourself. You already know this one. If you do a Skype interview, dress up! Because it’s fun, and you don’t know what to expect.

Last, but possibly the most important, enjoy the unknown. Don’t fret or stress too much about not knowing much about the job, the city, the language, the food, etc. Those are all part of the adventure. Just make sure you have been given a contract, read it thoroughly, had other eyes on it, and as long as you agree with it and have asked around for recommendations for the school, put the ink to the paper and say, “see ya later!”

Start Your Semester Off Right: Say No to Overcommitment

Check out my new blog post for StudentUniverse! 

I learned my lesson the hard way in college...

Start Your Semester Off Right: Say No to Overcommitment

Enjoy, and stay tuned for the first official Beaudry's Abroad post coming at you in the very near future from my Mr. Beaudry himself!

-Rayanne