Thread: Taiwan

One of my friends is moving to Taiwan in a few days to go and teach for a year.

I was wondering if anyone had any useful information that maybe he wouldn't have been told before, or know in general?

The company he is with have sorted most things, but there are the little nuances and things that only individuals can know and tell about. Some business' don't really think about those things for their employees.

Anything would be of great help.

Thanks guys.

J (WB)

Originally Posted by WanderingBrit

One of my friends is moving to Taiwan in a few days to go and teach for a year.

I was wondering if anyone had any useful information that maybe he wouldn't have been told before, or know in general?

The company he is with have sorted most things, but there are the little nuances and things that only individuals can know and tell about. Some business' don't really think about those things for their employees.

Anything would be of great help.

Thanks guys.

J (WB)

They do eats loads of pussy in Taiwan, thats why I go Veggie in Asia!

Originally Posted by Thehatandswag

They do eats loads of pussy in Taiwan, thats why I go Veggie in Asia!

FFS man you get worse

WB will be heading out with him to take his OH's new kitten ;)

Kill all the cats.

I would love to go out to Taiwan. I would be happy to Telford the way things are going at the moment.

Originally Posted by WanderingBrit

One of my friends is moving to Taiwan in a few days to go and teach for a year.

I was wondering if anyone had any useful information that maybe he wouldn't have been told before, or know in general?

The company he is with have sorted most things, but there are the little nuances and things that only individuals can know and tell about. Some business' don't really think about those things for their employees.

Anything would be of great help.

Thanks guys.

J (WB)

Bollocks! I spent half an hour writing lots of interesting and insightful stuff about Taiwan. Then I noticed the date was July so he's probably discovered much of it. Then I got logged out and lost the post. So briefly...

1. Unless there's a direct plan to come back, assume you'll be there for more than a year. I thought 3 months but stayed for 9 years.
2. Therefore, learn Chinese - it's easy not to, but it's worth it. I never did. You're less likely to be ripped off, you can learn more about the culture and be involve, and it impresses girls. Having said that, girls who can speak English are probably more likely to be well educated and outward looking.
3. Don't trust Hess but do use them to pick up skills. You can earn more elsewhere.
3a. Don't trust any employer or contract. A contract means nothing. And do not let any employer take a months wages as deposit. They do not have a leg to stand on and they rely on foreigners not knowing their rights.
4. Try the food. You'll know you've gone native when you like chou dofu. Go to nightmarkets.
5. Get to know the people and why they behave as they do. Be prepared for them "lying" to you.
6. Girls are great - but be prepared for younger ones to be a couple of years more immature than you expect.
7. Avoid psycho-xiaojies who threaten to commit suicide unless you take them back or bang on your door at 3am. Go for older, 30something women who are considered by Taiwanese men to be on the shelf and yet are more likely to be mature, experienced, well educated, independent, broad minded, aware of the wider world and less psycho.
8. Go to The Voice for great happy hour deals, great company, Nina - a great landlady and her partner Rob, an American. Say Toby sent you and you might get a free drink. Become a regular and you'll get loads.
9. Get out of the city. Taipei is surrounded by mountains. At the head of the river is Danshui, a good place for a day out with markets and other seaside town type things. West coast - ugly as sin, east coast -stunning. Go to Taroko gorge and Sun Moon Lake.
10. Anything else, go to forumosa.com, taiwanease.com (an offshoot) for the foreigner community forums etc, and for jobs, classifieds and personals, tealit.com. Feel free to PM me.