I grew up in America, 30 years old, licensed teacher, and I have worked in Taiwan for two years (currently at a senior high). I learned some mandarin and was interested in Taiwan for years but the humidity and heat is too much, especially with how long their hot season is. I also don’t know of Taiwan’s situation years from now. I don’t believe anything will happen soon, but 10 – 15 years from now? Who knows. I wouldn’t want to settle down only to move if something happens or raise a kid with the looming threat of invasion over their head.
I plan on going to either Korea or Japan. The thing is that I want to marry and settle down. Having one or two kids isn’t off the table.
Japan:
I have been friends with two Japanese families (one for 9 years and the other for 6 years) and I have a good exchange friend from the US who moved back to Japan. I’ve met all of them and we keep in touch, so I know I’ll have a support and community group. I also have been learning Japanese while in Taiwan. Having all four seasons is nice and autumn weather is my favorite so settling somewhere north of Kyushu and south of Hokkaido would be ideal.
I’ve heard that mixed kids (I’m white) face a lot of bullying in Japan (is this all over the country or mainly rural areas?) and that it can be harder to marry, but that feels like everywhere. Not saying I’d only marry a Japanese woman. I could marry any nationality or a white woman, but I’m more concerned about how mixed kids are treated.
I’m also a practicing Christian and I would prefer marrying someone who at least is okay with me attending church or helping out with community events. I know Christianity is a small minority in Japan, but how open would a non-Christian be to being in a relationship with a practicing Christian? The families I know are fine with it but then again I’m not dating any of them.
Korea:
I don’t know a lot about Korea. I do not have any current friends there so I’d start out as a loner. The air quality is worse in the western part of the country compared to Japan, but it may be more ideal for having a family.
I’m sure I’d have a better chance in finding a partner who is also a practicing Christian, statically-speaking.
Not too worried about NK starting drama (far less likely than Taiwan and China due to Korea being recognized by the UN) but I know beauty standards can be a burden for younger people, which sucks.
I know I can Google this but I would like thoughts from other teachers who have settled down in these countries. Thanks in advance.
TL;DR
Moving from Taiwan as a licensed teacher and experience with high school teaching. Want to settle down and marry. Know a little Japanese. Have a group of families in Japan that I know already. Know little to nothing about Korea but think it might be better for a family.
Experience:
US –
entomology at a university/co-teacher
Taiwan –
public elementary/lead teacher
International department at private high school/lead teacher
3 comments
>US – entomology at a university/co-teacher
Most likely you don’t have a chance subject-teaching at a Japanese university without Phd and more the 3 published papers.
>Taiwan – public elementary/lead teacher
Getting regularly licensed in Japan to teach by taking classes and tests in the Japanese language is a long, loooooong, longshot. There are [Special and Provisional](https://www.reddit.com/r/teachinginjapan/comments/r4tiqg/holders_of_special_teaching_licenses_how_is_the/) teaching licenses you can get but those take years to work up to the level you can get asked.
>International department at private high school/lead teacher
To teach at an International School, you would need 3~5 years teaching **in the US** with a state-issued teaching license in a subject that is in demand (STEM good, English bad). Increasingly only teachers with Ed.Masters are hired. Competition for jobs is fierce.
>International department at private high school/lead teacher
There are microscopic number of these private high schools with jobs in their “international departments,” but it can take years of living in Japan cultivating “connections” to get a job offer.
Note: Your Taiwan experience will not all that impressive to Japanese schools hiring. You could expect a drop in wages and rank.
>I plan on going to either Korea or Japan.
There was a fellow in here yesterday who was adamant that Korea was dying and that he needed to evacuate as soon as possible. He seemed a little unhinged though.
>I’ve heard that mixed kids (I’m white) face a lot of bullying in Japan (is this all over the country or mainly rural areas?)
My kids have not reported any issues, and when I spy on them in the park they certainly seem to have a large number of friends. I’m on the Chiba side of the Tokyo city limits so pretty suburban.
>it can be harder to marry,
All of my coworkers are married, many of them have been married more than once. Not sure if that’s a good thing or not, but certainly it implies spouses are not in short supply.
>I’m also a practicing Christian and I would prefer marrying someone who at least is okay with me attending church or helping out with community events.
I know a few practicing Christians of differing denominations. You shouldn’t have much difficulty finding a church to attend. I’ve never heard of any issues with the extracurricular activities beyond the usual scheduling difficulties that families have.
Are Japan and Korea your only options? From what you write about yourself, you’d need a great deal of language skills to land a proper job here in your field. And with the bag of skills that you carry, you really don’t want to dive into the dumpster that’s euphemised as “English teaching” here.
If you want to stay in Asia, how about China? It’s large enough to find a climate zone that suits you.
Also, you’re only 30. There’s no need to think about settling down just yet. And if you do, I would first look for the right wife and then decide together with her on where you want to live happily ever after.
Good luck!