Ben trying some of the exotic foods Taiwan has to offer
I don't have an addictive personality, but I sure did get hooked to living abroad.
When I was a junior in university I signed up for a film studies trip to Jamaica. I went with a great group of 10 University of Pittsburgh students to make a short film on a community center in rural – and I mean seriously rural- Jamaica.
We lived with families, ate homegrown foods, talked with lots of different community members, and fended off malicious insects. We experienced absolute euphoria while swimming in natural cavernous springs (according to ‘Smokehouse Da’ Walkin’ Pharmacy’ they had been frequented by Bob Marley). We dealt face to face with the hardships rural Jamaicans must overcome on a daily basis. We also accepted an invitation to a chicken killing, where a few of our own wielded machetes and did the deed.
I got hooked to it. No, not to beheading chicken, but to the thrill of experiencing something previously unknown and alien. I quickly became addicted to experiencing something new and culturally authentic. After Jamaica I saved up to spend my last semester of university in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I had such a great time there, at times it seemed as if every bite taken during my host family’s Sunday’s asado BBQ was a little bit of paradise.
Graduation from the University of Pittsburgh came and went. I grew weary just thinking about the possibility of settling into a career in the US. Not after my time abroad and not with Bush planted in the White House. No way was I going to surrender my soul to some mundane job. Isn’t there more to life? As The Strokes Julian “Jules” Casablancas asks, “Is this it?”
Ben helping his students celebrate Halloween
I wanted to go to Asia, but I was short on cash. How could I make living abroad a possibility?
It didn't take long to realize that teaching was my best option for living abroad. Then I realized it wasn’t just the ‘best option,’ but it was actually something to be incredibly excited about. Look at what teaching in Taiwan offers. An opportunity to: make some money, learn a new language, spend quality time with local people, impact people’s lives in a positive way, live in and learn from another culture, impress locals by eating spicy stinky tofu, etc. This list could easily be 5000 words long.
Being a teacher abroad has been one of the best experiences of my life. Living abroad has given me an excellent opportunity to grow as a person. Teaching abroad has also given me a great life path. As my teaching skills improved, I realized that I actually really enjoy teaching. My time in the classroom isn't always nirvana, but it does offer more than a sniff of Taiwanese teen spirit. Teaching is more than interesting, it actually gives you an opportunity to have genuine cultural exchange.
Ben exploring one of Taiwan's many nightmarkets
Always challenging, usually fun, never dull, after three years of teaching and traveling in Asia I feel great about my time abroad. So if you think I’m biased about traveling, well, I am. If you travel for the right reasons, you can have a treasure chest of great memories when you find yourself homeward bound.
That movie we made in Jamaica was no classic, but what we documented will always have a special place in my memory bank. It helped inspire me. Now every time I wake up, I remind myself that as long as I let myself, I don’t know what incredible people, tastes, sounds, smells, and sights await.
In addition to interviewing, Ben is currently working on a culinary tour project in Asia. Check it out at www.globaltastetours.com
Ben Finkelstein
2009 All rights reserved, Reach To Teach - Teaching English Abroad
Teach English in Taiwan | Teach English in Korea | Teach English in China