Be prepared. Pack early and give your packing some thought. Here are some suggestions:
- A copy of your vital documents:
- Bring photocopies of your passport, degree, transcripts and photo ID in case you lose your passport or other documents and need to replace them.
- Pictures from home:
- Bring a couple of photo albums with you with photos of your friends and family. Condensed versions of your photo albums are fine- don’t bore yourself and your class to tears with ten consecutive shots of Aunt Millie. This is a great way to combat homesickness, and you can also get a lot of mileage out of them in the classroom- your students will be endlessly curious about life in your home country.
- Books:
- Penguin classics are available in English in major bookstores, but contemporary literature in English is hard to find. Bring some of your favorite books with you.
- Teaching Books and Books about Taiwan are also available in the Footprints Bookstore
- Condoms:
- Bring a few boxes of condoms with you when you go- even if you don’t plan on being sexually active you will probably meet another westerner who is. Recently western brand name condoms have become more available, especially Benetton- love sees no color.
- Posters:
- A few posters from home can help your apartment in Taiwan feel like home.
- Movies or TV Shows from Home:
- It is cheap and easy to rent movies in Taiwan, most Hollywood flicks are in English with Taiwann subtitles. If you want to watch your favorite movies without Taiwan sub-titles or editing, bring copies from home.
