Since last I wrote of my immediate circumstances, things seem to be (finally) moving in the right direction.

The demo lessons I performed at that new school (Alphaville School) went quite well. Not only was the interviewer impressed with my ‘passion’ for education, but one of the teachers came by to shake my hand and compliment me on how well my lesson went on his way out. He was described to me as being one of their longest serving teachers, so I am assuming that was a good thing. A bit of a boost.

The result now is that while I have not yet signed the paperwork, it looks like I will have a job come July. I was told that there will be a buxiban-style class for July and August, and that the regular school semester would begin in September. While the pay would be relatively low starting out (NT$50,000), that it would increase as regular classes began (something more like NT$60-70k). And that if I chose to take evening cram-school classes in addition to the regular daytime classes, I could make even more.

Now, I am not so optimistic as to believe I have the job until the paperwork is signed, however, two things make me hopeful.

First, after I did the demo lessons, I was given an envelope and a receipt. When I asked what it was about, they said it was my pay for teaching. They actually paid me a full hour’s wage for the time I spent teaching two lessons! I was pleasantly shocked; I’ve never encountered such a thing here in Taiwan. The Cynic in me always used to assume that excessive demo lessons, or trial periods, were just ways to get free work out of a hopeful supplicant. That I was actually paid for my time gives me the feeling that the people running this school are sincere, organized, fair, and understand what they are doing.

Second, the interview with whom I have been working has been helping me look for a new apartment closer to the school. Alphaville School is in Banqiao (a neighborhood in which I once lived some thirty years ago), and I am currently in Linkou. –While a commute wouldn’t be impossible, the nine kilometers distance takes almost an hour and a half by public transport, and it’s not a straight shoot. Even taking a cab costs NT$500, and wastes forty minutes.

So, based on how things are progressing, things are looking up. The big problem now is surviving without an income until my first paycheck in August (as I have noted before).

[Note: I had found, last week, a beautiful apartment across from the main Banqiao railway station; however, while I would be earning enough to cover the NT$20,000 per month rent, I didn’t have enough to cover the initial deposit plus first and last month’s rent—Just like back home. Ah, well.

On the way home from that viewing, the cab driver with whom I was riding, commented on my leg, having seen my slight difficulty in getting into the car. I mentioned that the injuries were from years of accumulating martial arts injuries. Thence began a pleasant discussion of the state of martial arts in Taiwan vs. China. And when I told him that I had studied Baguazhang, he actually put on a few videos on his monitor featuring demonstrations and lessons.

I was delighted, and as I watched, began to note the different styles of bagua, the techniques, and what (if any) corrections should have been made. And the driver agreed with much of what I was commenting on. It turned out that he also was something of a practitioner in his youth.

It made for a pleasantly refreshing ride!]

So for now, I have informed my current landlord of my intent to move out at the end of the month, and I am looking for a good moving company with a small van to take my things to my new place (when I get one, of course).

Stay tuned for the next turgid episode of Life in Taiwan!