AJ Ghiossi
HR Coordinator for Taiwan
AJ with students
It’s amazing to think that just six months ago I was going through the Reach-To-Teach interview process, and looking up employee profiles on this very website.
A lot has happened in those last six months, and while, at the time, my hair may have been growing gray and I may have considered checking myself into an insane asylum, I can now say with absolute confidence that I’ve made the right decision. I’m loving every second abroad here in Taiwan. This is where I’m supposed to be.
I graduated in the spring of 2010 with a degree in History. Like almost every other recent graduate, I was forced to ask myself those all important questions: What next? What do I want to do with the rest of my life? For me the decision came down to two options. I’ve always liked working with kids and knew I wanted to eventually teach, so I had to decide between staying in school and pursuing a Master’s degree in Education, or traveling abroad and teaching English. Feeling like I needed a change from the ordinary in my life, and eager to see the rest of the world, I opted for the latter.
After packing my bags, getting very little sleep, and embarking on a 30-hour journey, I arrived in Cambodia for my TEFL training and perhaps the best month of my life. Upon completion of my program, I was immediately off to Taiwan to begin the real journey.
Admittedly, I was extremely nervous and unsure of myself when I touched down in Taipei. Life in Taiwan was far different than life in Cambodia, and for the first time I felt culture shock. The population density, the sea of motorcycles and cars, and the constant activity all took me by surprise. That said, in only a matter of a few days, Taipei became home to me. Since those first few hours of shock and awe, I’ve come to love this place. Taipei has a wonderful mix of extremely friendly locals and familiar expat faces. The MRT system is beyond convenient for getting around, and I could literally write for days on the night markets and the availabilities for cheap, delicious food almost everywhere you go.
AJ smiles for the camera
Then, of course, there’s the whole teaching thing. Honestly, like many other teachers who have come over here, I figured that teaching English would just be a nice excuse for traveling and a means for funding my adventures. I was wrong. As it turns out, teaching English has actually proven to be more of an actual job than I expected. Though it’s been more work than I anticipated, it’s also been a lot more fun. I love each and every one of my students, and it’s been such an awesome opportunity watching them learn and getting to know their personalities. It humbles me how, after having already been in school for eight or more hours, these kids are still so eager and energetic about learning English.
I’m so happy with the decision I’ve made. The doubts and concerns I may have had at the beginning of this journey have disappeared. If there’s anything else you’d like to know, feel free to ask! Good luck!
- AJ Ghiossi
AJ@ReachToTeachRecruiting.com