Eddie Costello / Science Park Teacher

As I am writing this, I am sitting in my parents' home in Melbourne, Australia, in the house I grew up in. Over the past six years, I have travelled extensively, and lived in several different countries around the world. Although I love to live in different cities, I always find that I get homesick. Whether I am in Ireland, Scotland, Canada or Taiwan, I always find that eventually I begin to miss my friends and my lifestyle back home. It is for this reason that I decided to take a 'holiday' this month, returning to my home to catch up with all that I've been missing.
 
It's been so much fun to meet up with my family and friends again. Familiar faces greet me with enthusiasm as I revisit all of my favourite bars and restaurants. They all want to know how I've been doing in Taiwan. I am happy to tell them that I love my new life in Hsinchu. I have a great job and I enjoy the lifestyle. They tell me they are not surprised – I always seem to land on my feet, wherever I go.
 
In the past I have come home from other countries to find my friends and family eager to hear all about my travels. I have told them about the rugged mountains and cliffs of western Ireland, where I lived for over a year, working in backpacker hostels and adventure centres. They have heard about the year I spent living in Edinburgh, Scotland, with its mediaeval buildings and castles. They have listened to my accounts of the west coast of Canada, where the mountains overlook the ocean, and the city of Vancouver, with its similarities to Melbourne. I have told them about my journeys up and down the east coast of Australia, where I spent almost six months living in a tent, picking up work only when it was absolutely necessary. Now I am back to recount to them my experiences in Taiwan.
 
"So what's so good about Taiwan?"  they ask me.
 
To be honest, only a few months before I arrived at Eagle school, I knew very little about Taiwan, as did most of my friends. I knew it was an island off the coast of China, I knew a little about its history and I knew that a large amount of things that we buy in Australia have a tag attached saying 'Made in Taiwan'. Only weeks before I arrived, I wasn't sure of the official language, so I stepped off the plane in Taipei not even knowing how to say 'hello' or 'thank you'.
 
In just ten months, though, I have learned so much about Taiwan and its culture. My friends are amazed as I relay to them what I have learned. They are surprised to hear about the dense population, the never-ending hum of scooters rushing by, and the millions of people going about their daily lives in a harmonious way, despite the congestion and traffic jams. Their eyes light up when I tell them about the mountains and the spectacular coastline along the eastern side of the island. I show them pictures of Taroko Gorge, Yeliou and Kenting. They had no idea that Taiwan was so beautiful.
 
Then I tell them about my life in Taiwan. I tell them that I live and work with the same friends that I go out with on the weekends. I tell them about night markets, KTV, overnight trips to the nightclubs in Taipei, weekends in Kenting, 24 hour bowling, 7-11 on every corner, scooter rides into the mountains and the recent obsession with Hello Kitty. What really draws them in, though, is when I tell them about my job at American Eagle School. I like to describe to them my typical day at work:
 
I begin my day with breakfast, bought from a blue truck or a café, served up to me by a friendly local, always helping and encouraging me as I attempt to order in Chinese. I receive a series of friendly greetings on my way to work from the owners and workers of other small restaurants and shops where I often eat. In all the places I have ever lived, I have never seen so many smiling faces so early in the morning. The friendly greetings continue as I enter the school. I am happy to see everybody, as these are not just my co-workers, these are my friends. Then I begin my first class for the day.
 
I love the enthusiasm of my students at Eagle School. My last teaching job was at a university. I would give a lecture, my students would take notes. There was no enthusiasm in my students. My immersion classes at American Eagle, however, are full of energy. My kids enjoy learning. They want to achieve. This enthusiasm inspires me to make the lessons even more dynamic, more fun. My students respond to this in turn, and around it goes – this creative energy which drives us all to reach ever higher. The greatest inspiration I find at Eagle School is that when my students arrive, they are happy to be here. When I begin the lesson, they are ready to learn. This attitude transforms a regular lesson into a learning experience. It's not a case of me speaking and them listening, we all perform together. We have fun, we take turns, we make jokes, we create ideas, we learn. The classes are so interactive; the students don't just learn from me, they learn from each other, and often I learn from them.
 
My friends look at me with certain envy as I tell them this. Such enthusiasm in the classroom was virtually unheard of when we were students in Melbourne. They are shocked when I tell them that my students are so happy to see me. They are amazed that the students want to sit next to the teachers on the bus when we go on field trips. In Australia, this is unheard of!
 
I tell my friends about school outings and theme days. They are enthralled by the photos I show them of Halloween and Christmas, with every student going to so much effort with costumes, and the transformation of the school buildings as they are decorated to suit the theme of the day. “Do you ever do any work?” they ask. “We work very hard,” I tell them. “But we have a lot of fun at the same time”.
 
I have always believed that life is what you put into it. I believe this is also true of Eagle School. I have enjoyed working alongside my colleagues who always put so much effort into their work, no matter what the task may be. This attitude is infectious, and it inspires everybody, including the students, to do the same. As a result, everybody works hard together, and we all enjoy the rewards. This has created a great atmosphere at Eagle School, and is the reason why working at Eagle is so much fun.
 
I describe this environment to my friends. In the hallways my students rush up to say hello, always wanting to play a game in the time between one class and another. At the school entrance I see the students' parents. Many of them don't speak English, but they tell me through their smiles and gestures that they appreciate my efforts and they are happy with their child's progress.
 
At the end of the day, I will often meet with a few of the other teachers and we will go out for a meal or a drink. I have been lucky enough to make a lot of friends in Hsinchu, and I will often meet with them downtown. It's a good feeling to have so many Taiwanese friends. I feel that I belong.
 
My friends tell me that I look well. In fact, I've never looked better. 'Yes', I tell them. 'I am happy.'  As my friends listen to story after story of my experiences in Taiwan, especially at American Eagle School, they can see that this is true. I have created a new home for myself, complete with new friends and a new lifestyle. And now, as I sit in my original home in Melbourne, I find that once again I am missing my friends and my lifestyle. This time, though, I am missing my friends and lifestyle in Taiwan.