by Wuji on Sun Mar 05, 2017 8:59 pm
I don't know about China much at all, outside of the bit that I have read. I spent a large portion of my life in Mississippi, which up until recently had one of the lowest minimum wages in the country, an a huge cost of living (at least, it's on par with Oregon, so the cost of living compared to what you make is terrible). I haven't been to the area lately, but it was pretty bad when I was there. The children would bully the teachers (I saw a 12 year old beat the crap out of a teacher when I went to school). The level of poverty was so low that most people had 2 jobs to survive. I mean, 200 a week on a full time job, before taxes. Nearly impossible to live on. Not saying one is worse then the other, an I know as far as the States go, there are far worse areas to live in.
Your teacher sounds really cool! I would absolutely love to meet him. When I'm done with this, I'm going to go check those pictures out. My teacher learned from Yu Hualong directly, though from what I understand he was in China for only a year. He learned from some other people too, though as far as what he learned from Shrfu Yu Hualong, I think in the next year I'll be coming up on what he had learned (from him anyway). Me and my teacher get along very well, and I love how he teaches. I just want to continue on with what I want to learn. It oesn't have to be China, I'm happy with Taiwan too. I just know as far as allowing people in, and teaching, China is a lot more easy going. I have a friend who didn't even have a Diploma/GED when he went to teach. If I recall, technically the Chinese Government more or less suggests a degree be had to teach, but it isn't always possible.
The same guy ended up tutoring people privately and made way more then he said he ever did teaching. He said private tutoring/teaching was what really worked for him. So, lets play this out in two scenarios. China, and Taiwan. If I came to where you're teacher is Maarten, how is it living and teaching there? is it affordable for a three person family? We don't live on a lot right now. Right now we are living on my student loans mostly, the grant is mostly sucked up for my classes and books. Loans, a paper route (900 a month), state assistance, etc. All together we end up with about 17k. Which is enough, but barely. It doesn't leave much left over. How would living there on a teachers salary compare to what I'm getting right now? Also, who is the XYLH teacher that you speak of in Henan?
On the other side, what would be the difference to living in Taiwan? It kind of seems like it would be less of a culture shock, and education would be easier. e're really thinking about home schooling, just trying to still figure out ways to get social experience for our son. I don't plan on staying anywhere right now, ideally we want to travel for a few years. Though at some point, we do want to buy a house. From what I've looked at, Taiwan is awesome. China did scare me a little bit for the long term because of the pollution. There are to companies (start ups) in Oregon alone that are trying to sell clean air to the Chinese people. Literally, clean, local air, in bottles. I also think that growing up in a different country would provide a lot of benefit that you don't find in America. One of those being that a second language is common, if not a third language. Also, the idea of teachings more hands on with book learning makes a lot more sense, and is far more engrossing of a teaching method.
Why talk about a volcano and show pictures when you live close to one and can go to it physically? Being able to both read about something, write about it (like essays), and being able to physically see it and experience it brings about a new level of learning. American history as the most boring subject to me. Even World History, even though I love it. Sitting in a class room and just memorizing facts instead of experiencing and feeling the history, it's a big difference. Would you remember more about the Egyptian Pyramids if you walked through them, touched them, too pictures, or if you just read about them? Or would doing that make reading about it more enjoyable. Just my personal idea on education, and I hope to be able to add some of that to how my son learns. China is the first place on the list, or Taiwan, though we have a small list of other areas. We haven't completely decided on where to live when all is said and done.
I have decided that it wont be America. With a criminal record, it really limits my choices of work. Regardless of the facts behind it, doesn't matter. I really want to hear more about living and working in both areas, and the teachers. You mentioned your teacher Maarten, and I'm going to check out the videos you mentioned. I would like to hear about the other teacher you mentioned too. As far as teachers go, what good teachers are available in Taiwan that teach XYLH? At one point, I really wanted to learn from Yu Hualongs son. I know he teaches up in Canada, I think Victoria? Something like that. But going up there, living, staying, isn't plausible. I also wouldn't be able to teach there to pay the bills.
Thanks for all the help everyone. It's been very helpful thus far!