Job Discussion Forums

parrothead · Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 342 Location: Japan

So far, Taichung sounds like the cat's pajamas...the best all 'round town around.

forest1979 · Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 507 Location: SE Asia

Back to the OP's desires...

- living environment away from pollution

- good entertainment

- a high-paying job

- close proximity to the beach

mmmmm, I don't wish to be a killjoy but the first thing you'll have to compromise regardless of where you live is the high pay job. Few jobs in Taiwan have the same financial value as they once had, and if you're wanting to live near a beach AND have good entertainment then really you're making possible locations to live/work very small. Generally speaking you can have the beach but you'll have to live outside a city, which cuts down on entertainment outlets obviously. Maybe a redefinition of what exactly you want is needed?

BigWally · Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 3:01 am Post subject:

Even though I've done it before, I'll make another case for Kaohsiung.

forest1979 · Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 507 Location: SE Asia

Big W,

Thumbs up for your trying.

Far too often people seem to think Taiwan and Taipei are one and the same. As you show, getting to the south of the island opens a whole new world which far too people know about.

louis.p · Joined: 07 Oct 2007 Posts: 107 Location: Tainan, Taiwan

Tainan can be an interesting city and the people there are great (if you speak Chinese).

The food in Tainan is considered the best on the island. You'll need to learn how to order a few dishes in Taiwanese! Wa(high, level tone)gui (low, sinking tone; quick syllable)* //wa55gui21// is excellent and I have yet to find it outside of Tainan.

There are several great book stores and many well-supplied used book stores around Chenggong Daxue (you need to be able to read Chinese to enjoy them).

Tainan has a number of distinct, entertaining districts -- you'll have a lot to explore during the winter months when it is not too hot.

And best of all, rent and food in Tainan is very, very cheap!

But, you will NEED to learn Mandarin. Taipei is the place for English speakers.

*Taiwanese has nine tones. I group them into two classes high, level and low, sinking. This is an awful generalization, but it gets the job done when you are learning the language from vendors. If you speak Mandarin, you can insert Taiwanese words (food terms mainly) into your sentences with the approximated tones and everyone will know what you are saying -- just don't ignore the tones or say them all with a high, level pitch. Distinction is key.