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The Age of Our Discontent
“I’d rather regret something I did do, than something that I didn’t”
Anonymous
Recently, it seems as though all of my friends are embarking on fantastic life changes.
Back home all of my old friends are getting engaged at an alarming rate. Those who are already married, as well as many who aren’t, have begun churning out babies, deciding on careers and purchasing houses.
In Taiwan my friends have been getting restless as well. Almost all of them are either leaving to follow paths similar to those of my friends back home, studying in one of the many free MBA programs at the local universities here or starting businesses.
Whether I’m out at the pub, in the back of my buxiban, or on MSN, small talk has been all but abandoned for serious discussions about the future, the economy and the easiest avenues to employment, stability and security.
It would seem as though 28 is the age of our discontent. I’m 28 years old, and so are most of my friends who have become so fed up with their slowly evolving lives, that they’re making sudden brash changes: having kids with short-term partners, putting down-payments on over-priced houses, proposing marriage to their once unfaithful and unsatisfactory lovers and rushing into poorly planned businesses. It seems like most of them are just clutching at the fastest way to create a fissure in the monotonous landscape of their lives—anything to make them feel like they’re progressing.
I can’t count the number of people who told me last year, in irritated, anxious voices, “I have to get out of Taiwan and do something. Either go back to school, or get a job, or something.”
They then go on to tell me how lucky I am to have this magazine—to actually be doing something.
So many people keep telling me that I’m lucky; that they admire my drive. But I don’t think I’m lucky or admirable. My discontent just arrived unusually early, and I was in the unique position of having the money, resources, and education to start a magazine. Now I know that when I leave Taiwan, I’ll never have to work another crappy, run-of-the-mill job again. I’ll surely be able to land a job at a reputable magazine, news agency, publisher or media company. Yes, when I depart from this sub-tropical island I’ll be one smug wordsmith.
Thus, we arrive at the motivation for the topic of this letter from the editor. My discontent has once shaken me. It’s spurred my girlfriend and me to seek a new home overseas where we can immerse ourselves in another culture, before we’re too old to wander from country to country like postmodern hobos.
In less than a year I will be leaving Taiwan, and leaving Xpat behind. But before I do there are some matters I must address. I don’t want Xpat to disappear when I leave. The magazine must continue. But who will run it? I don’t know.
Xpat doesn’t make much money, but it doesn’t lose it either (which makes it unique among ‘all-English’ magazines in Taiwan). And the situation is improving. Before I leave I plan to expand Xpat into Taipei, encompassing all of the major cities and making Xpat the largest privately owned English magazine in Taiwan. In a few years it will probably even be able to support a couple of full-time employees. But until then, it will remain a resume builder for the motivated.
Perhaps you feel the same discontent that grates my nerves like a giant mosquito hovering next to my ear at 4am. Perhaps you have some education or experience in business, editing or design. Maybe you’ve got a great degree and lots of talent, but not enough experience to get into any of these highly competitive markets back home.
Xpat can give you the experience and portfolio to guarantee your future when you leave Taiwan.
To ensure Xpat’s survival, I’m seeking to fill five positions:
1)Managing Editor
2)Creative Director
3)Web Designer
4)Marketing and Sales Director for North Taiwan
5)Marketing and Sales Director for South Taiwan
I personally handle the duties for all of these positions right now (on top of a full teaching schedule), so you can be sure none of these jobs has an overwhelming workload. Xpat is managed mostly over the Internet, so it doesn’t even matter a whole lot where in Taiwan you live.
Why spend thousands of dollars to go home and pursue your education when you can make the money of an English teacher, live in Taiwan, and get the equivalent of a Master’s Degree in work experience? Why not take advantage of your short work-hours as a buxiban teacher and invest that extra time into your future?
Volunteer with Xpat and you’ll expand your skills, build your portfolio, help manage one of the biggest and most out-of-control art projects any of us will ever encounter, and be part of something truly unique—the first privately owned Taiwan-wide all-English magazine.
And, of course, you’ll get a cut of the profits.
You can find more information about these positions at www.xpatmag.com/jobs.htm. If you’re interested, then drop me a line at xpatmag@gmail.com.
I hope to hear from you soon.
Motivationally Yours,
Sal
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