I'm really glad to finally see you in high definition. Hearing your perspective helps me understand that you sometimes feel a bit disconnected from society while living in Taiwan. I hope you enjoy everything familiar this month and get ready to face new challenges when you come back,and I'll always be here with you. As your viewer, I'm also interested in your progress or experiences learning Chinese. lol
@@Jin-9129 Well having you there in Taiwan helps me connect with the culture and deal with problems that inevitably come my way. You're a gem. Oh, a video about learning Chinese you say? Hehe not a bad idea. 😉
Good to see a new video from you Ryan. That is a very nice property your mom has there. You are totally right about the ease of interactions back Stateside compared to Asia along with the abundance of choices we have at our supermarkets. The Target near my brother's house in VA Beach where I was staying last year was a smaller one and even that one put every PX Mart to shame. I'm looking forward to starting over in Taichung next month after everything I've been through here in Tainan and I'm also nervous as hell since I haven't taught in a public school classroom in four years. I will say though, having done a day job at a middle school and interviewing at a local elementary school reminded me how much more comfortable I am in that environment compared to academies. Anyway, stay safe and enjoy the time back home.
Hey George, I'm glad I'm not the only one who recognizes these big differences between home and what we have in Taiwan. Yes, life here is quite a different kettle of fish compared to the expat teacher life in Asia. Being nervous about a new school and a new system is totally normal but you have enough past and recent experience to swim once the new school year starts and I'm sure you'll enjoy the atmosphere of the public school much more than the cram school gig you had previously. Really glad you got that all sorted out my friend and can't wait to hear about your experience there.
Thank you Ryan. I agree it's always a challenge adjusting to a new environment anywhere. But I'll always remember these words an old high school friend said to me that ultimately pushed me toward Taiwan back in 2020: "If you have to be on unsteady feet, at least do it somewhere you feel will be less toxic." I just wish I had gotten that chance four years prior but I am grateful to finally be here despite the difficulties.
@@PsychoGemini Oh yes, it's taken me a long time and many failings before old wise words finally sank into me. Would we do things differently in the past if we could? Probably. But let's be happy for where we are now and do our best in the future.
It’s good to see an update video, bro :) I’m glad you’re enjoying being back home for a bit. Lake Isabella and camping sounds fun. Did you have a good 4th? A dating video would be fun to see. That’s wonderful that things are looking promising in the relationship. Did you get to watch new episodes of House of the Dragon or will you wait to see it with your gf?
Hey Sis, we had a quiet 4th of July up at my mom's new house near Lake Isabella but I had more than enough fun camping with the boys. Okay, I'll make it a point to talk about dating in Taiwan. I just finished watching the third episode of season 2 and so far so good. Hope you and Corwin are doing well!
@@ryfree Ooh, that’s always fun to check out a new house. That’s nice that you guys had a mellow time. Cool, that’ll be entertaining I’m sure. A video on the tension between Taiwan and China will be interesting, too. Glad your enjoying it, too. We had to watch a Season 1 recap on UA-cam since we were feeling a bit lost. Thanks bro! He says thanks, but that we’re melting 🫠. I hope you and your family are well and staying cool :)
@@DianaGrigg I would be lying if I said I haven't felt utterly lost watching season 2 as well. And as far as the melting is concerned, I'm in the high desert of California now and it feels like an oven every time I leave the house. Enjoy the AC my Sis :)
@@ryfree Hah, I’m surprised. Your memory is extraordinary. Oh gosh, that makes it difficult to be outside. The desert 🌵 is no joke right now. Thank you and you do the same, bro :)
It's great they cover the ticket. I'm assuming that you only get the money if you buy a ticket. I wonder if you would have went back to the U.S. if you had to pay a percentage. Would you consider staying in Taiwan over a future summer, or would you always want to go back? Teaching internationally too, I have really enjoyed summers where I haven't gone back to the U.S. and can just enjoy where I am at. But most expats I've worked with look forward to going back, I think . . . Would the school pay for language classes for you or anything like that?
Great questions! I actually didn't feel the need to head back to my home country and was hoping to use the airfare and travel somewhere more exotic. Then I looked at the fine print in the contract and it said I had to go back to the USA. I'm somewhat pragmatic so I couldn't let a free ticket go to waste so I decided to come back in the end. But I would like to use more of my vacation time to explore other countries and even Taiwan where I work and live. Luckily I should have 2-3 weeks in August free after I finish summer school and before the new school year begins. Language classes aren't included in the contract unfortunately but my coworkers are fond of helping me in that department. How are things arranged where you're at?
That's interesting it has to be your home country, but I guess that it makes sense on their end. We technically have a travel stipend, but it is just added to our end of year pay, so you get it whether you spend it or not. And no, we don't get language lessons covered, but in Africa people really, really love to help you learn. And formal language lessons once or twice a week are affordable even for someone on tight budget, like 9 dollars an hour. We didn't fly this year because it's expensive, but we are taking a bus to see another country very close to us. @@ryfree
@@nameuse11 Thanks for getting back to me, I found everything you said very interesting. I really like the idea of a travel stipend that you can use as you like. It's also great to hear that the locals are really friendly there. Wish you happy travels this summer. I'm sure a bus ride across Africa is quite the experience.
Hi Samke, congratulations on the interview. Make sure that you check the lighting and audio before the interview. You want to appear bright and the sound to be clear. Let them know Ryan sent you.
I'm really glad to finally see you in high definition. Hearing your perspective helps me understand that you sometimes feel a bit disconnected from society while living in Taiwan. I hope you enjoy everything familiar this month and get ready to face new challenges when you come back,and I'll always be here with you. As your viewer, I'm also interested in your progress or experiences learning Chinese. lol
@@Jin-9129 Well having you there in Taiwan helps me connect with the culture and deal with problems that inevitably come my way. You're a gem. Oh, a video about learning Chinese you say? Hehe not a bad idea. 😉
So great to see you!!
Thank you Leah! Are you enjoying your vacation so far?
@@ryfree we’re still teaching summer camps but as soon as we’re done, we’ll be able to enjoy the summer!
Good to see a new video from you Ryan. That is a very nice property your mom has there. You are totally right about the ease of interactions back Stateside compared to Asia along with the abundance of choices we have at our supermarkets. The Target near my brother's house in VA Beach where I was staying last year was a smaller one and even that one put every PX Mart to shame. I'm looking forward to starting over in Taichung next month after everything I've been through here in Tainan and I'm also nervous as hell since I haven't taught in a public school classroom in four years. I will say though, having done a day job at a middle school and interviewing at a local elementary school reminded me how much more comfortable I am in that environment compared to academies. Anyway, stay safe and enjoy the time back home.
Hey George, I'm glad I'm not the only one who recognizes these big differences between home and what we have in Taiwan. Yes, life here is quite a different kettle of fish compared to the expat teacher life in Asia.
Being nervous about a new school and a new system is totally normal but you have enough past and recent experience to swim once the new school year starts and I'm sure you'll enjoy the atmosphere of the public school much more than the cram school gig you had previously. Really glad you got that all sorted out my friend and can't wait to hear about your experience there.
Thank you Ryan. I agree it's always a challenge adjusting to a new environment anywhere. But I'll always remember these words an old high school friend said to me that ultimately pushed me toward Taiwan back in 2020: "If you have to be on unsteady feet, at least do it somewhere you feel will be less toxic." I just wish I had gotten that chance four years prior but I am grateful to finally be here despite the difficulties.
@@PsychoGemini Oh yes, it's taken me a long time and many failings before old wise words finally sank into me. Would we do things differently in the past if we could? Probably. But let's be happy for where we are now and do our best in the future.
It’s good to see an update video, bro :)
I’m glad you’re enjoying being back home for a bit. Lake Isabella and camping sounds fun. Did you have a good 4th?
A dating video would be fun to see. That’s wonderful that things are looking promising in the relationship.
Did you get to watch new episodes of House of the Dragon or will you wait to see it with your gf?
Hey Sis, we had a quiet 4th of July up at my mom's new house near Lake Isabella but I had more than enough fun camping with the boys. Okay, I'll make it a point to talk about dating in Taiwan. I just finished watching the third episode of season 2 and so far so good. Hope you and Corwin are doing well!
@@ryfree Ooh, that’s always fun to check out a new house. That’s nice that you guys had a mellow time.
Cool, that’ll be entertaining I’m sure. A video on the tension between Taiwan and China will be interesting, too.
Glad your enjoying it, too. We had to watch a Season 1 recap on UA-cam since we were feeling a bit lost.
Thanks bro! He says thanks, but that we’re melting 🫠. I hope you and your family are well and staying cool :)
@@DianaGrigg I would be lying if I said I haven't felt utterly lost watching season 2 as well. And as far as the melting is concerned, I'm in the high desert of California now and it feels like an oven every time I leave the house. Enjoy the AC my Sis :)
@@ryfree Hah, I’m surprised. Your memory is extraordinary.
Oh gosh, that makes it difficult to be outside. The desert 🌵 is no joke right now.
Thank you and you do the same, bro :)
It's great they cover the ticket. I'm assuming that you only get the money if you buy a ticket. I wonder if you would have went back to the U.S. if you had to pay a percentage. Would you consider staying in Taiwan over a future summer, or would you always want to go back? Teaching internationally too, I have really enjoyed summers where I haven't gone back to the U.S. and can just enjoy where I am at. But most expats I've worked with look forward to going back, I think . . . Would the school pay for language classes for you or anything like that?
Great questions! I actually didn't feel the need to head back to my home country and was hoping to use the airfare and travel somewhere more exotic. Then I looked at the fine print in the contract and it said I had to go back to the USA. I'm somewhat pragmatic so I couldn't let a free ticket go to waste so I decided to come back in the end. But I would like to use more of my vacation time to explore other countries and even Taiwan where I work and live. Luckily I should have 2-3 weeks in August free after I finish summer school and before the new school year begins. Language classes aren't included in the contract unfortunately but my coworkers are fond of helping me in that department. How are things arranged where you're at?
That's interesting it has to be your home country, but I guess that it makes sense on their end. We technically have a travel stipend, but it is just added to our end of year pay, so you get it whether you spend it or not. And no, we don't get language lessons covered, but in Africa people really, really love to help you learn. And formal language lessons once or twice a week are affordable even for someone on tight budget, like 9 dollars an hour. We didn't fly this year because it's expensive, but we are taking a bus to see another country very close to us. @@ryfree
@@nameuse11 Thanks for getting back to me, I found everything you said very interesting. I really like the idea of a travel stipend that you can use as you like. It's also great to hear that the locals are really friendly there. Wish you happy travels this summer. I'm sure a bus ride across Africa is quite the experience.
Since you mentioned dating, which apps/sites do you recommend?
I've used OK Cupid, Bumble, and Tinder. I've met women with all three. Happy hunting!
Hi Ryan my name is samke I am from South Africa i need your help I just got an interview with the agent that you are using and I need help please 🙏🏾
Hi Samke, congratulations on the interview. Make sure that you check the lighting and audio before the interview. You want to appear bright and the sound to be clear. Let them know Ryan sent you.