Job Discussion Forums

SoCalRob · Joined: 28 Aug 2003 Posts: 6 Location: Los Angeles

Hi, I am a first time poster who will be graduating in December and comming to Taiwan in Feb. I am trying to decide where exactly to live and teach and I wanted to ask those of you who live or have lived in Taiwan. I am leaning strongly toward central/southern Taiwan since I understand that Taipei has low pay and high cost of living. I would like to find a city/area that has somewhat of a concentration of "young-professional" types, as in, post-college but still single crowd. Yes I would like to make some money, but I still want a place that is fun. Any suggestions?

TaoyuanSteve · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 1028 Location: Taoyuan

Taipei sounds like it is the best place for you. It is pretty expensive, especially in some places. But if you want a place with a substantial expat community and interesting things to do, it is pretty much your only choice. Kaoshiung is heavily polluted and most other cities lack amenities foreigners want. Oh yeah, about the "young professional" thing... I don't think you'll find that kind of crowd in Taiwan. And "single?" Most foreign women don't come here unattached.

Gstyles · Joined: 07 Jul 2003 Posts: 15

I would stay in a big city if you want to meet lots and lots of other young foreigners and travelers. Taipei or maybe Taichung. Chiayi is in west-central Taiwan, but its much smaller then those cities. I'm in the small city of Dounan near Chiayi and I can tell you there is not much to do here at all, thats why the trains are so great. Taiwan is so small you're not very far from anything.

I've heard from alot of Taiwanese that they don't like Kaoshiung b/c its very hot and polluted (boil your water).

jason_seeburn · Joined: 26 Apr 2003 Posts: 399 Location: Toronto

jason_seeburn · Joined: 26 Apr 2003 Posts: 399 Location: Toronto

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Aristotle · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1388 Location: Taiwan

TaoyuanSteve · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 1028 Location: Taoyuan

Granted, there are tons of local women to date, Mr Seeburn. However, the real purpose of my point about the single scene for the prospective teacher was to inform him that things may not be what he is expecting. There really are no "young professional" types here that I have seen. And since he mentioned single in the same sentence, I assumed he was referring to single foreigners. I guess the ultimate purpose of my advice was to point out that Taipei is probably the best place for someone who hasn't been here before to start out. It is a matter of fact that it has the best resources for a foreign resident in Taiwan. It has the provides the most access to foreign food, English language speaking locals, opportunities to learn mandarin and other things a foreigner needs. It also has the largest foreigner community on the island, something I sensed that the prospective teacher wants. There are all sorts of social clubs, community organizations and support services in Taipei for foreigners.

Point taken about cheap rents. I live outside Taipei for that reason (though I live close enough to go there when I need things). Some things, though, the prospective foreigner needs to consider before choosing to live outside of Taipei: The English ability of the average local is minimal to absolute nil. It's even worse outside of Taipei. It shocks me when I walk into Starbucks in Taipei and the barista speaks English to me. That's because virtually nobody can or will speak English where I live. Simple tasks can become a major chore if you don't speak the language here. Your sense of culture shock and isolation can be increased ten-fold if you choose to live outside of Taipei.

Cleanliness and order is another factor to consider. Taipei is relatively organized and clean compared to smaller centers. For one thing there are uncluttered sidewalks. This is a bigger issue than it seems. Where I live, you have to almost walk in traffic because the already puny sidewalks are blocked by illegal vendors, parked cars and scooters. That is when there are sidewalks. I won't even discuss law and order issues.

I know alot of you will disagree, but I don't think a newbie should venture too far a-field when he first arrives. Take some time, a-culturate a bit and then, maybe, take jobs elsewhere. For everything there is a cost. Yes, costs of living are lower outside of Taipei. However, your potential for isolation, culture shock and loneliness increase exponentially the further you get from Taipei.

Okami · Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Posts: 121 Location: Sunny Sanxia

I would say Taipei or Taichung. I would lean towards Taipei, because I live here. You can get good jobs in Taipei, but it might cost you $100-200US more month, but once you're set up then it's not a big deal. Jobs are plentiful in Taipei now, but it will probably change by the time you arrive in February if SARS doesn't come back.

As far as young professionals, good luck. Most people I know work all the time and then spend their free time in bars or doing other things. Depends on what you like to do and who you know. There are nice looking single foreign women in Taiwan. They will have just as many problems as Taiwanese women. It's a "6 of one, half dozen of another" situation if you catch my drift.

Just rent a scooter to get out into the countryside to get an inkling of what Taiwan was like before they indutrialized, trashed and polluted most of it.

CYA
Okami

jason_seeburn · Joined: 26 Apr 2003 Posts: 399 Location: Toronto

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surrealia · Joined: 11 Jan 2003 Posts: 241 Location: Taiwan

I've lived in several spots in Taiwan, and I prefer Tainan and Chiayi.

If you want an idea of what there is to do in cities in Taiwan, go to:

http://www.geocities.com/allhou/taiwanscene.htm

Gstyles · Joined: 07 Jul 2003 Posts: 15

surrealia,

What specifically did you like about Chiayi? I'm just curious since I live so close to it.

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

seems no more polluted than anywhere else on the island. i used to visit there on weekends and found it quite nice actually. good hiking right on the edge of town, near the sea where you have beautiful views all the time, nice straightforward grid pattern that makes it easier to get around (unlike tainan), nice women, restaurants, and they have an international airport there as well. consider kaohsiung.

surrealia · Joined: 11 Jan 2003 Posts: 241 Location: Taiwan

well, it's cheaper than Taipei. Not as crowded/crazy as Taichung. Not a whole lot to do, but just enough to keep one busy.

Aristotle · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1388 Location: Taiwan

I would say Taichung as well. It is over run with backpacker teacher types so you won't make a lot of money. You used to be able to get a student visa just for asking and the cops wouldn't give you a hard time if you were teaching as well. The regulations have changed recently and you may have to indicate that you want to get a student ARC before you come. The policy is not set in stone and the FAP in Taichung and other places tend to make up there own rules as they see fit.
Good luck
A.