Letters from Taiwan: An American's Perspective, #1

By C.W. Vannyel

Although this epistolary is a work of fiction it is, for the most part, a recounting of my time living and working in Taiwan as an English teacher. Each person who lives and works in Taiwan has a different experience, therefore, the experiences detailed in this account should not be considered representative of everyone. Aside from the experiences, the names, dates, and other details have been changed to provide anonymity to those who might be affected by them.

• Language: English
• Publisher: C.W. Vannyel
• Release date: May 31, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386974628

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Foreward

Although this epistolary is a work of fiction it is, for the most part, a recounting of my time living and working in Taiwan as an English teacher. Each person who lives and works in Taiwan has a different experience, therefore, the experiences detailed in this account should not be considered representative of everyone. Aside from the experiences, the names, dates, and other details have been changed to provide anonymity to those who might be affected by them.

Written by C.W. Vannyel

April 4th 2006

Dear Grandma

When I got off the airplane it was so hot. I thought I was going to pass out but that's okay because I am finally here. I am finally in Taiwan. I hope that you are feeling better.:-) I know you were a little bit sick right before I left, but mom said you should be all right.

So everything is okay now. My friend, Lee, picked me up from the airport and we went back to stay at his friend's place. His friend is married and they have a kid. We only stayed there one night before we headed south to visit my friend's mother.

Once I got settled in, his mother offered to rent me a room while I look for a place to live and a job. So that's where I'm at right now, but I hope to find a nice place real soon. I only brought $1,000 with me, but Lee tells me that should be enough. I guess I'll find out tomorrow when I go looking for a place to live. Of course Lee said I need to find a job first and he's probably right so you know how that goes.

Take care, love you!

April 5th 2006

Hi Berry I just sent a letter to Grandma the other day. And I thought I send you an e-mail when I saw this cyber cafe! It's pretty cool it's the first one I've actually ever seen. We don't have these in the US. Basically what it is is a place where people go to use computers because most people don't have home computers. Pretty amazing huh! Anyway everything is fine here I'm doing good I just got off the plane. Yes it's hot as hell you told me it was going to be that way I should have listened to you. I hope everything is going okay for you guys. I know you've been really busy and I didn't get to see you much before I left. but maybe I'll get to take a vacation next year or I might just be coming back next year I'm not sure how things are going to go over here but I got to give it a try. Love you talk to you next time

April 5th 2006

Chuck, Hey bro what's up?

I just sent Grandma a letter the old-fashioned way so you'll probably get this way before she gets hers.

I haven't bought a computer yet but I'm in an internet cafe here in Taiwan. Kind of cool but lots of smoking going on here. I guess they don't worry about second hand smoke that much but they do have some. Anyway it's cheaper than buying a computer and I guess I'll use it until I save up some money from my job.

I don't have a job yet but they tell me it's easy to get a job teaching English here at a cram school. Cram schools are just schools where students go after they finish going to public school to learn stuff that they should have learned during regular classes.

I guess that's good for me and everyone else who wants to make some money here in Taiwan. It's a crazy world isn't it?

Hey I'm out of here! Keep it real.

Dad and Mom

Hi guys!

I'm going to keep this short since I've already sent Grandma a letter and Chuck a letter. I made it to Taiwan all right and I'll be looking for a job starting Monday morning. I don't