Job Discussion Forums

[koreaprospects]

Any ideas? I'm trying to put a full list together now so I don't forget something important.

Can you name a few things which I really shouldn't forget when packing for a teaching post in Taiwan?

Was there anything you or your friends wish you'd packed?

Thanks

[Girl Scout]

Excedrin PM
More shoes in my size
Purell Hand Sanitizer
Cotton Underwear

[ramakentesh]

a printer for your computer - man i had so much trouble finding an internet cafe with one - i had to sneak into a uni to print a one page document...

Dont bring betel nut - youll find that a plenty here.

[Xenophobe]

Other than sugar free products, you can get everything you need in larger centres. Printers are easily and widely available.

[gregoryfromcali]

Lots of resumes/CVs.

I remember when I visited Taipei it took me a couple of days before I could get some copies and when I did they were expensive.

Maybe other people have had more luck than me.

But it doesn't help when you don't know your way around.

[sbettinson]

Most things you can buy here. In your first month money is going to be your main issue and depending on what you would need to buy the price can vary. Foreign goods that are imported will carry a slighter higher price tag. Without specific examples it is hard to give an accurate price range.

I would bring a couple of cans of deodorant with you. Underarm roll ons are plentiful here but spray deodorants don't come in a massive range.

If you are taking any prescription medication I would advise you to get a full years supply or arrange for someone who can get a repeat prescription for you back at home and they can send them as a when required.

If you are coming in the New Year I would advice bringing a couple of items for the cooler weather. It isn't freezing but a jacket and a sweater of some description will help. If you take an XL you can get some things here but I always found the likes of jackets to be too short in the arms! A jacket from a GAP style store here will cost you about 1000NT and a sweater maybe 600 to 800 NT.

Again, if you have large feet then bring some extra shoes.

There is actually one piece of advice that I think many people have never covered but what is a fantastic idea is to first take along your essentials for your first month until you find work. Prior to leaving you should pack a box with some extras that you would like to take with you but don't really need upon your arrival. Once you have established yourself with an apartment you can get someone to mail the box to you in Taiwan. Land freight will take about 6 to 8 weeks but if you are in no hurry then it saves taking it all at once.

Take copies of your CV with you too. You can get photocopies in most 7-11 stores for about 5 or 10 NT per sheet. Printing in Internet cafes is extremely difficult or non existent more like because they are mainly used by teenagers to play networked games.

I would also take along a sleeping bag liner. When I first got to Taiwan the hotels we were in were not great and the bed linen seemed suspect. Also, with the changeable weather they are a perfect thing to keep you covered and are easier to wash than a sleeping bag.

I would also pack yourself a shirt, tie, smart pants and some shoes for any interviews. Appearance can make all the difference.

Good luck.

Shaun

[Girl Scout]

I'd be careful about bringing a printer. I had a printer from America and could not find ink cartridges to fit it anywhere. It was cheaper to buy a printer there then have the cartridges shipped. Besides, printers are too big to carry when moving overseas.

[DirtGuy]

This will sound crazy but I would bring a camping sleeping pad. The thin Ensolite ones people use for backpacking. I brought one with me last January and am bringing one when I go over this January. Tatami mattresses suck IMHO and the beds in hotel rooms have more in common with plywood than anything else. How do Taiwanese put up with this?

DirtGuy[/i]

[izzyismydog]

Most everybody will tell you to bring one thing and not another- which is what I would do, too, cause most everythign that I saw recommended are things that I have seen or bought here in quality equal to or better than at home (ie cheap printers, matress pads, and spray AP). I would have to say that if you know where to look you can find ALMOST everything in Taiwan. This of course varies depending where you are or how persistent a shopper you are. I am a persistent shopper and love love love to hang out in the aisles of Tesco,RT Mart, Watsons or Poya on my breaks between jobs.

I have yet to find cheap Ibuprophen (although I've never asked a pharmacist) as I hate acetamenophen (and that seems pricey, they sell a few pills at a time not monster bottles like at home). For women, they don't sell larger tampons or decent bras. It's hard to buy big sized clothes and shoes, especially with a western fit. I am too big for women's clothes here, and my boyfriend, though thin, hates how pants come up to his armpits. He gets lots of cheap shirts, winterwear, and shoes. He buys pants on holidays. I found clothes in TienMu outlets in Taipei in my size, and saw stuff even bigger (I am a L-XL), which is the only place on the island I can buy clothes, but then I have to dig through bins forever. They even had a lot of stuff (for men particularily) that would belong in the Big and Tall at home.

I have the following things sent to me regularily: a selection of larger clothing, undergarments and shoes that I purchased while home and request as needed, tampons, ibuprophen, daytime and nighttime cold pills (which you can buy as separate components here but then you take like 5 pills), magazines (which you can buy but it's cheaper to ship from home), and the ocassional food item I crave (which actually includes a lot of chinese food stuff that we can't buy here!). I used to have my particular antipersperant shipped, as well as my blonde hair dye, but have seen both here now.