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[Aristotle]

It does no benefit to anyone to advise people of their rights when they have no way of exercising those rights.
The Council of Labor Affairs on Taiwan is widely regarded as anti labor and anti "foreigner".
The Occupational Authorities on Taiwan continue to routinely ignore even the most serious violations of Taiwan's toothless and widely ignored labor laws and labor rights.
There is no rule of law on occupied Taiwan, only the rule of the most corrupt.
Please read this,
10 Steps to Success on Taiwan!
Good luck!
A.

[SanChong]

[clark.w.griswald]

Aristotle you have posted in this thread a number of time but you are yet to really add anything of any value. You are one of those, a few of which have posted in this thread, who claim that we have no rights and that they can't be exercised even if we did, yet you have never given any evidence that this is the case nor have you spoken of first hand experience. Those who have supported my views here have given examples of their personal experiences that support my own.

[Aristotle]

You would have to be not only blind but incredibly ignorant not to the see the evidence of the anti-labor, anti foreigner practices of the occupational government on Taiwan.
Just pick up the paper or better yet read a little.
After you do that, sign the petition to the ILO.
Please read this,
10 Steps to Success on Taiwan!
Good luck!
A.

[clark.w.griswald]

[Henry_Cowell]

Clark,

"Aristotle" is simpy an automaton -- a bot. He will never respond to anyone's demands for evidence or facts.

[Pop Fly]

Dear Newbie,

I have had countless dealings with the bureacracy of Taiwan. I have always found it to be efficient, friendly and fast. Be it the CLA, MOFA, FAP, Tax office (both Pancioa and Taipei) or, {especially} Health Care Professionals, I found Taiwan to be completely user friendly. Other than my first 2 weeks here working for Kojen while they started my paperwork, I have worked completely within the laws of employment in Taiwan. I dojn't teach privates, nor do I volunteer to. I pay taxes and scoff at the smell of ChoDoFu.

I've had to sue a taxi driver and his insurance company. Actually didn't know I was suing them. It was being done on my behalf by a benevolent manager. By the time the case actually was heard, she was a former manager. I can relate countless stories of how much easier life is for me here than it would be for me in Canada. I am going into the hospital next week for surgery. I was diagnosed last week. Costing me nothing, so I'm springing for a private room. My only evidence that Taiwan is not fully up to speed on how to run a country is the lack of Toradol. It's a painkiller. A very good one. A Toradol/Demerol speedball was given to me when I broke my back skiing. Taiwan has no Toradol. It has Demoral. I'll be fine. But geez Lousie, how backwards does a place have to be to not have Toradol. (sarcasm warning: you just passed sarcastic remarks)

But if it did have Toradol, and I was, again, sent to that lovely place where clouds are rainbows and you're so high you have to look down to see Lucy's Diamonds in the Sky ....that place where all you can do is babble incoherently, and once there, I was to begin to try and write like a thousand monkeys, I would still make more sense than Aristotle.

Don't listen to his drivel people. Got a degree? Want a cool experience? Taiwan is just that. Friendly to friendly people. There is a demand for baby sitters and language coaches. You can work your butt off and make a ton of cash, or drift slowly and comfortably, acquiring creature comforts and cool memories as you glide thru the days.

Is it challenging? If you are, it is. Seriously, I've met the biggest knobs ever, here in Taiwan. I am sad to report that Aristole is actually quite lucid and wel-informed compared to some of the losers I've encountered amongst the ex-pats. But thankfully, while big on being small-minded, they are still small in total numbers. I've also met countless cool folks from all over the world. Life traveller's I like to call them. The major difference seems to be in how seriously one takes one's self. There are those that have read Hesse and those that never got past "For Madmen Only".

As for the locals, I've always found that curiosity is well met here. Got a question? A plethora of locals will compete to help you. Got an opinion about how they do things? You'll add to their sterotypical view of foreigners.

At times it seems like a place that is spinning it's wheels in the mud of progress. Maybe even a "two steps back" kinda thing. But, when all is said and done, I give Taiwan 2 thumbs up. Keep going Taiwan.

Learning. That's living.

I learn lots everyday.

I also teach alot, everyday. It comes with age.

Your lesson today, young Jedi-n00b?

Don't listen to anything Aristotle says. You can indeed fight for your right to be right, right here, on (sic) Taiwan. Write it down, hand it in and the paperwork is filed. It must be attended to. That is the culture. And they are very good at it.

[Henry_Cowell]

Wow! Aristotle is KO'd in a single posting...

Who will wager that the bot will respond with its typical automated reply? Silly bot.

[SanChong]

To add to what Pop Fly wrote, I and almost everyone I know has had very similar experiences in Taiwan.

Here are just a few examples of the kindness of Taiwanese strangers I've personally experienced over the past few months:

1) I needed directions and asked someone. They proceeded to take me on their scooter 20 minutes out of their way to my destination.

2) A food stand owner insisted on giving me my meal for free. This was because I had a friendly conversation with him in Chinese. I actually feel really uncomfortable when this happens (and it's not uncommon). I usually am able to force them to allow me to pay, but this time there was nothing I could do!

3) My scooter broke down and the shop owner worked on my bike for over 30 minutes. He replaces several fuses and parts. He then charged me $100NT ($3). I pleaded with him to charge me the correct amount, but he refused. I bought him a few bottles of tea (and a beer) from 7-11 to make myself feel a little btter.

4) I didn't have cash with me and wanted to use a credit card in a local restaurant. I found they don't accept credit cards, but they insisted I take the food anyway and come back when I had the chance to pay them.

Like anything in life, Taiwan is what you make of it. The experiences above are not isolated and I could come up with a lot more examples if I spend more time trying to think about it. Most of my friends in Taiwan feel very much the same about their experience here. Taiwan isn't a perfect place, but it's one of the friendliest and easiest places to live that I've seen.

I'm not sure why Aristotle's experience has been so different. Perhaps that is something he should think about.

To be very direct and honest: I truly believe it's people like Aristotle who give us foreigners a bad name in so many places. His "opinions" only serve to scare people for no apparent end. He is spiteful, hateful and has some kind of strange agenda which I've yet to figure out. He seems to walk around Taiwan with the impression that he has figured everything out and this country should listen to him. Well, it's THEIR country and we are THEIR guests. Some respect should be shown for that.

As I always say, I wish we could have these conversations without having to respond to Aristotle's negativity. It would make this forum a lot more enjoyable.

[BigWally]

I was really thinking this thread was going the wrong direction and a few great posts turned it from a "brewing argument" to an "insightful discussion".

San, just wondering if you are male or female? Also, would you consider yourself above average when it come to physical appearance? The reason I ask this, is that in my travels I have found that "good-looking" people will often have a "benefit" (for lack of a better word) awarded to them that others may not in the same circumstance.

I hope that this not what you are referring to, as the picture you paint of Taiwanese is a nice one. I've heard the stories of their society being helpful, friendly and accomodating, almost to a fault, and would like to think that they are above the pettyness of superficiality.

On a competely off-track sidenote, I'm only 2 weeks now till I arrive , and the weather Gods have decided to give me a little taste of what to expect in Taiwan here in Canada. We're sitting at 45*C (with 59% humidity) today, so its been nice to get outside and have a chance to acclimatize myself a little bit.

[BigWally]

[ghost]

I

[Henry_Cowell]

I think that "ghost" should stick to using ghost (rather than one) to refer to his person.

Mixing the two in the same posting is terribly confusing.

[englishgibson]

Clark and Herny do not only have their plentiful experiences on the mainland of China, but they also can share so much in Taiwan related threads.
We are all so happy to have you guys.

Peace to our experiences
and
cheers and beers to our forums

[Dr_Zoidberg]