Job Discussion Forums

[Ferfichkin]

Hi there, well I guess my question is pretty obvious. I'm a 28 year old Canadian guy who is thinking of coming to Taiwan to teach english. My friend went there for a year a loved it, and since I don't know anyone else who taught english overseas I figure I'll take his word for it that Taiwan is a pretty good place to be. Anyways, from everything that I've heard and read Chinese girls are fairly open to sex with white guys. Well, I'm a white guy but I'm just not that into the idea of becoming the Don Juan of Taiwan. That's not to say if some beautiful Chinese girl comes up to me in the street begging me to come back to her house I'm going to run away, it's just that I don't want to spend my year in bars trying to seduce, or be seduced, by the local women. I'm not interested in a relationship with a Chinese girl either because of the language barrier. I've seen what that's like first hand, my friend married a Polish girl and you're constantly having to adjust your speech. That would be O.K for a date, but in a relationship it would get exhausting.
O.K, so that brings me to my question. What are the odds of a 28 year old guy finding a relationship with another expat in her 20's or 30's in Taipei. I'm not talking about a heavy duty, "when are we gonna get married" type of thing, just a "well were in Taiwan, so we might as well be in Taiwan together" type of thing. I figure living in a foreign country it would be nice to have someone to lean on. Plus I like sex but don't like the idea of getting aids. I imagine if you're living a swinging single type of lifestyle in Taipei with the local girls for a year you're asking for trouble. O.K. so basically it comes down to this. My friend told me there are a lot more male expats than female expats in Taipei, but from what he told me, and from what I've read, most male expats are dating Chinese girls. Now in theory that means there are quite a few single expat girls in Taipei, but who knows. So, in your opinion, being someone who lives there and knows the scene, what are the odds of a decent looking guy finding an expat girlfriend in Taipei? I know there are a lot of variables, I basically just want to know if there are a lot of single expat girls in there 20's and 30's, and I'll handle the rest.
Thanks for your help, unless of course you didn't respond to my post, in which case you can disregard the thank you. Just kidding.
fich

P.S-The opinion of any girls would be greatly appreciated since you would know the score better than anyone.

[serenesanti]

I'm 27 and planning to arrive in Taiwan in mid-August, and I wonder the same things, though from a female perspective. Although there are more male expats than female, I suppose I assume most men go to have a good time with the local girls. This is a generalization, of course, and I may be wrong in assuming it, but I do anyway. I'm not generally attracted to Asian men, and considering I'm 5'11", I doubt I'd find one tall enough anyway! In fact, I may be the tallest girl on the island. hahaa

So although I'm not too concerned about whether or not I'll be going on a lot of dates while in Taiwan, I do wonder what the scene will be like...

[Sheep-Goats]

You're too worried about that crap. Many of the Chinese girls here speak excellent English and you won't have to adjust your speech that much -- if you date a girl for a month or two she'll be able to understand almost anything you say at your normal speed by that time even if she started out pretty bad (though you need something to start with). The expat girls don't get near the attention here that they do back home because a lot of guys see having a local partner as more rewarding in whatever aspects they're concerned about (body type preference, learning Chinese, docility) -- whereas many Chinese men are a bit afraid of trying to approch a western girl, or she's a bit too tall for them, or, as is typical, the guys don't speak as much English as the girls and so have a hard time doing it at all.

In any case, what I'm saying is that if you're a guy you'll find plenty of totally suitable Chinese girls. And if you want a western girl, you'll find your dating dollar goes further here than it does back home with them as the field's a bit more level here.

If you're a white girl your chances with the locals will be fine, but if you're black they might be quite reluctant to date you as the Chinese (and most Asians) have a pale-is-beautiful complex that dates back thousands of years. Anyway, lose the tan if you're into locals. If you only want to date expats you'll have a pretty hard time of it and will have to work at getting your dates like men do back in the States -- eg: get out of your chair and talk to people, don't be snippy unless it's deserved, and take more consideration of what a man wants in a relationship from the beginning instead of getting what you want first and equalizing things later.

I'm male and lived in Thailand for two years before coming here, and while it ain't nearly as easy here as it is in Thailand, it's just fine. Also, after two years of an all-you-can eat Thai buffet, I'm just as open to western girls as locals, given the usual givens.

If you're a total ugly gracless hump, male or female, you'll have problems. Of course.

[clark.w.griswald]

I don't think that you will have too many troubles hooking up with an expat girl. Most foreign girls here complain about the guy situation in that many foreign guys only have eyes for the local girls, and the local guys that have eyes for foreign girls are often not the sort that these girls would choose.

It is very realistic to expect that you could find yourself a foreign girlfriend here. Personally I see some exceptionally beautiful foreign girls here, but I can't get passed the ridiculous fear (based upon some level of fact) that they could be Russian prostitutes. Of course this would be no doubt become immediately obvious when you spoke with them, but I would probably never get to that stage. I am spoken for now so it is no longer an issue, but it is a factor that I recall discouraged me from approaching foreign girls in the past.

[go_lightly]

i wouldn't worry about your "situation" too much, esp. if you will be teaching in Taipei. just approach it as you would re-locating anywhere for a job single, except that the majority of women will be Chinese. also, Taiwanese girls are generally conservative. if you frequent bars & that becomes your dating scene, well then you will probably experience more meaningless hook-ups than deeper connections. but if you are sincere & are really looking for something more than one-night stands (but less than marriage), well in due time you will have someone. you will probably even end up dating a foreigner from the school you teach at. pay less attention to labels & assumptions & just go w/ your heart...also, check out the classifieds under www.tealit.com if you want some insight on dating scene (lots of postings by both expats & locals in English).

[Tornado2080]