Almost There

There are only 4 days now until I leave! I now have all my paperwork and most of the items ready that I will be bringing with me. One of the more interesting steps in this whole process was applying for my visitor's visa (good for 90 days) to enter Taiwan. American citizens are allowed to be in Taiwan for 30 days without a visa, but since it takes just a bit longer than this to receive my work permit (that I cannot apply for until I am in the country), I needed to have the visitor's visa. I even had to go so far as to buy a refundable plane ticket to 'prove' that I would be leaving Taiwan after 50 days! Once I get to Taiwan and fill out more paperwork with my school, I should have my proper work visa/permit in about a month or so.

I will be teaching kindergarten at a Hess Language School. The school is one of the largest in Taiwan and they have over 25 branches throughout the island. I know that I will be teaching at one of two of the branches in Taipei, but I don't find out which one until I arrive next Friday (after an almost 14-hour flight from Los Angeles!)

I am lucky to have a family friend contact who used to live in Taipei for 15 years (now in Hong Kong) and still owns an apartment there. They generously offered for me to stay there for a week or two until I find a permanent place to live. The apartment is staffed with a driver, secretary and several maids so I'm sure I will be very well taken care of! The driver will be very helpful to get around the first few days since I will not know where anything is and am unable to speak Chinese to ask for directions. I'm sure it will be interesting!

Well that's all for now, I'm off to do some more packing and final visiting...my next post will be once I have arrived!