DreamChaser | Ines Lin
General Information
Name: Ines Lin
Pronouns: She/ Her
Age: 29
Job Title/Company: Mandarin Tutor/ Bubbly Chinese
Education Background (if any): International Business
In-depth Questions
1. Tell us a little about who you are.
I am a Taiwanese girl who left her cat in Taiwan and flew to Budapest to pursue her dream. A bubbly Mandarin Tutor, a professional Chinese teacher, bachata dance lover with a plum croissant addiction.
2. What sparked your interest in starting your business(es)?
Be independent and rely on my own, be able to decide my schedule and price, and be free to create my own content.
3. If applicable, tell us about your full-time job and/or any side hustles you might have.
I am a Mandarin online tutor and my brand is called “Bubbly Chinese”. The reason I called my brand “Bubbly.Chinese” is that I am a bubbly mandarin tutor from Taiwan, the origin of bubble milk tea, and I believe that language is a tool to communicate, just like dialogue bubbles.
My income is mainly from my own tutoring business. I can survive on that and live a comfortable life in Taiwan but I always feel that something is missing in my life, I need more stimulation, inspiration, and exploration.
Therefore, on my 29th actual birthday, after my birthday dinner, around 23:00, I was searching for opportunities to work abroad. Then a notification popped up, a school in Budapest is looking for a Taiwanese Mandarin Teacher to join a project which is sponsored by the Taiwanese government. I applied for it immediately without even checking what kind of place is in Budapest. I got the interview, and after two weeks, they informed me that I was hired. The moment I got the news, I was crying, laughing, and singing at the same time. My main responsibility in the school is to lead two beginners’ courses, host monthly cultural events, and promote the school by running social media.
4. Who are you most influenced by?
I have many heroes in my life, but females most inspire me. One is my grandma, who lived in a harsh environment and went through wars and domestic violence, but she still raise her 8 children well by herself. Although life is bitter for her, I never heard her complain a single word.
Another one is Yeonmi Park, who is the as same age as I. I am inspired by her resilience in life and her keenness to grow herself. Others are many strong females who dare to pursue their destiny and not restricted by society's values and biological clock.
5. What was your first job and how long did you hold that position?
I worked in a French-style Teppanyaki resturant as a waitress in college. I did that for almost a year to save money to go on my exchange program in Germany.
6. Can you share one of your proudest achievements with us?
Be the only person from my college to go to Germany with 2 20 kg pieces of luggage by myself in the last year of my college. I am proud of myself for challenging myself to step out of my comfort zone, embrace different cultures, and be brave to try new things and experiences. It is not the proudest achievement but the achievement that shows who I am now. When I am struggling in a low tide, it reminds me that I am a brave girl who can overcome difficulties in life.
7. What were your initial goals with your work? How have they evolved?
I started Bubbly.Chinese simply because I want more control of my time and money. Now it has become a tool for me to connect to the world. I like to make my teaching material using the inspiration I get from real life. I like to learn stories and new cultures from my students. Making great content motivates me to explore and experience more, and I hope the stories can positively influence my students. At the current stage, I am relying on teaching classes. For the next stage, I want to sell content, courses, and learning materials.
8. What do you think is the most important life skill you learned through your work?
Be positive, believe in yourself, and keep trying. These are important for entrepreneurs to survive, and I think they apply to real life too. Because of these mindsets, I learn not to compromise with an unsatisfied situation, an unhappy living environment, or a date that doesn't appreciate me.
“I am proud of myself for challenging myself to step out of my comfort zone, embrace different cultures, and be brave to try new things and experiences.”
9. Where do you hope to be in five years?
I hope to settle down in a place that has all four seasons and is not too cold in the winter. A place I can dance and the people are open-minded.
10. What is a typical day like for you?
Waking up around 8 and make breakfast, have a cup of coffee, and start my first class in the morning. During the buffers, I use the time to do marketing and administration work and prepare content and materials. I always try to finish my work by 7, so I can go to a dance class or social dinner.
“Sometimes staying in the same place is a failure and simply taking a small step forward is a success already.”
11. What was the biggest obstacle you’ve faced so far in the process of pursuing your goals?
Anxieties. They are caused by the feeling that I am not good enough compared to others and then it causes procrastination.
12. What is the best piece of advice you have received?
When I was still hesitant should I leave my company and create my own business, a friend told me,in "What would do if you fail? " "Go back to the company," I said. My friend, "Then you are already failing now." Sometimes staying in the same place is a failure and simply taking a small step forward is a success already.
13. When do you get your best ideas?
When I have enough sleep, with good music and a cup of hot cocoa.
14. Can you share with us one time that you failed and what you learned from that failure?
When I had just started my business's social media account for marketing, I was trying to copy what others did or take suggestions from friends, and by doing that, I didn’t have my own identity. It took me a while to establish my own style. I realized that I need to like the content first, so people will like it later.
I was comparing myself to other, more advanced channels and got the anxiety that I was not good enough. Creating content and sharing it becomes toxic for me, so I stop for a while and focus on things that make me happy. Now I can make content for me and my audience comes. Everyone has their own pace and starting point. I can get there one day if I just keep doing what I am doing now. I have also learned not to be a perfectionist. Being productive is more important than being perfect.
15. How do you unwind?
I unwind by dancing, cuddling with my cat, and eating comfort food.
16. What did you want to be as a kid?
I want to be a teacher who can grow other people, a flight attendant who can travel around the world, and a bride just for the pretty wedding dress.
17. Can you share a sacrifice you have made to pursue your dream?
Being away from my hometown, family, friends, and my cat.
18. What would you tell someone else who is interested in entering your field?
Be passionate about teaching and not just do it for money. Do it because you love it and the money will come after. You won’t be a teacher, if you don't have students. Besides teaching skills, finding the right students is crucial. Having your own personality and creating stylish content helps to attract the right students. Most importantly, as an educator, you need to have empathy to understand students’ needs and remember to keep learning!
19. What do you hope people take away from your story?
I hope my story can inspire people who are unhappy with their lives and afraid to change. Please believe in yourself. Stepping out of your comfort zone is already a success. I also want to inspire girls in Taiwan or anywhere. We, girls and women, are more than what society tells us to be. Don’t compromise with the traditional values of society if you don’t like them. Find your destiny and follow it!
